Abstract
Latex PHs need to be wiped in order to remove the ink accumulated in the nozzle plate while printing,
spitting or priming.
Every generation of Latex ink has had more complex requirements in terms of servicing. Wiping is one
of the most affected routines due to the behavior of the ink, that has been getting more and more
stickier in every generation.
The ink paddle generated in the nozzle plate dries creating an ink crust that needs to be removed. The
wiping method has been evolving adapting to the crust behavior.
In order to wipe, the solution provided by Polestar consists in a combination of web wipe material
impregnated in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a force applied by a rubber blade. The system is made of
three blades to apply less force but three times per wipe movement, in order to ensure the proper
cleaning of the nozzle plate without risk of nozzle cracking.
The web wipe needs to have a certain amount of tension to provide the proper cleaning service and to
avoid being unrolled. The current system is providing a small range of solutions to keep this balance,
resulting on the restriction of certain servicing parameters, such as web advance routine or the number
of wipes that can be performed without unrolling the web. In order to maintain the tension, the servicing
movements are also restricted: wipe in the two directions (what we call wipe forward and wipe reverse)
are alternated in order to help maintain the proper tension, and this ends in a reduction of the
throughput in some conditions.
The system below describes a cost-effective web advance solution to keep the proper web wipe tension
in a much wider range of servicing parameters. This system requires a good design to be robust enough
and a proper integration with other printer subsystems.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
INC, HP, "MAINTENANCE CARTRIDGE WEB ADVANCE SELF-LOCKING SYSTEM", Technical Disclosure Commons, (April 20, 2021)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/4242