CAPPING MECHANISM FOR PREVENTING NOZZLE BLOCKING IN AN INK JET SYSTEM PRINTER

摘要

An ink jet system printer includes a capping mechanism for covering a printer head when a carriage is located at a stand-by position. The capping mechanism includes a cap member supported by a slidable plate. The slidable plate is shifted toward the printer head as the printer head moves to the stand-by position through the use of links, whereby the cap member covers a nozzle portion of the printer head. The slidable plate is shifted by the travelling force of the carriage and, therefore, a separate drive source is not required for the slidable plate.