Service station for inkjet printer having wipers with concave wiping edges

摘要

Wiping and capping method and apparatus for use with an inkjet printer are described. The apparatus includes a sled that is mounted to a printer's chassis. Caps and wipers can be mounted on the sled for each of the printer's movable carriage-mounted printheads. The wipers are mounted by a friction-fit connection and deformed around the wiper mounts such that wiping edges of the wipers are concave. The sled and the chassis are cam-coupled for controlled, relative movement therebetween. The sled and the carriage are also cam-coupled for controlled, relative movement therebetween. Movement of the carriage produces slight vertical and lateral movement of the sled out of its nominal position to place it in three primary positions relative to the carriage: an elevated position for capping the printheads, an intermediate position for wiping the printheads and a lowered position for free reciprocal movement of the carriage without interference between the printheads and either the caps or the wipers. The sled is mounted to ensure constant capping force between the caps and their corresponding printheads.