EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000

2.2.7 Capping Mechanism

Ink around head nozzles loses moisture If they are left exposed while the printer is in non-printing or power off status. Therefore the printheads must be capped to avoid increasing viscosity due to dried nozzles. The caps are individually equipped for the black and color printhead. When the ￿￿ moves right from the home position, the cap holder also shifts right and strikes the right frame. This motion opens the air valve and the air in the cap is release. To resume printing, the ￿￿ moves right from the home position to strike the right frame with the cap holder so that the air valve opens. This operation brings the negative pressure in the cap back to normal and the ￿￿ goes back to the home position. Since the power switch of this printer uses the secondary power-on circuit, the printer power stays on to allow the printer to complete the capping operation even if the printer is turned off during the operation.

Black Ink Printhead

Color Ink Printhead

Cap Holder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carriage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cap2

 

Cap1

To the waste ink drain pads

To the waste ink drain pads

 

Capping Unit Frame

Valve Spring

Air Valve

Air Tube

Figure 2-11. Capping Mechanism

Rev. A

2-11