| 摘要 |
Tubeless printhead-priming cap (12) and system (10) for ink-jet printers are described. The system (10) is preferably implemented, using the existing printer carriage (18) drive motor, by the use of a printhead-sealing cap (12) having a rolling diaphragm in a lower region thereof that defines a chamber(20) within the priming cap (12), with the diaphragm being reciprocated, by a spring-returned lever (26) having a piston (22) on one end thereof, in synchronism with lateral and differential vertical movement of a cap-carrying sled (14). Priming is performed uni-directionally to avoid reverse priming of the printhead(16). The chamber (20) may be emptied by reversing the operation of the priming cap (12) to pump accumulated ink into a blotter (36) by positioning the priming cap (12) against an ink blotter (36) provided in a rotatable member (30)defining a multi-service station.
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