Epson STYLUS PRO 9400 - Cleaning Mechanism

EPSON Stylus Pro 7400/7800/9400/9800 Revision B
Operating Principles Print Mechanism Components 163
2.2.4 Cleaning Mechanism
Major differences in the cleaning mechanism between the previous Stylus Pro 7600/
9600 and the Stylus Pro 7400/7800/9400/9800 are pressure pump and the number of
flushing boxes and maintenance tanks. The pressure pump is newly employed for the
Stylus Pro 7400/7800/9400/9800, and 9400/9800 are equipped with two flushing boxes
and two maintenance tanks (each box and tank are installed on both left and right of the
printer). The waste ink from the cleaning mechanism is transported to the waste ink
pad (Maintenance Tanks) through the tubes.
The main components in the cleaning mechanism are explained below.
 Pressure Pump
A case and film are welded at the Ink Pack side in the Ink Cartridge Case. By
blowing air into the section via the pump tube connected to each of the left and
right Ink Cartridges, press the Ink Pack so that the ink inside the pack is supplied
to the print head mechanism.
 Pump assembly (head cleaner)
When the head is in the capped position (valve closed), the pump motor creates a
vacuum that sucks ink from the nozzles. This is used for removing ink from the
nozzles and nozzle plate, initial ink charge, as well as cleaning. The waste ink is
transported to the waste ink pads through the tube.
 Head cleaner
The head cleaner of the Stylus Pro 7400/7800/9400/9800 employs a rubber only
cleaner not like the rubber-and-felt combined cleaner used for the Stylus Pro 7600/
9600. It wipes or rubs off ink and foreign materials from the nozzle surface.
 Pump motor (stepping motor)
The function of the pump motor differs according to its rotating direction as
follows:
 Clockwise rotation: Releases the pump and resets the wiper
Drives the HD_SLIDE (head gap adjustment)
cam.
See “Platen Gap Adjustment Unit” (p.153).
 Counter clockwise rotation: Drives the pump assembly (pump suction, wiper
reset)
Note : The Motor Frequency values above, given only for information, are values when a 4-
phase, 48-pole stepping motor is driven in 2-2 phase. The same for the motor drive
stepping count.
Figure 2-14. Cleaning Mechanism Components
Table 2-6. Pump Drive Modes
Suction Speed
(Drive Mode)
Pump Wheel
Revolving Speed
Suction
Amount
Motor Frequency
(2-2 phase conversion)
Low speed (IS4) 0.55 rev/sec 0.3g/sec 182 Hz
Standard (IS3) 1.92 rev/sec 1.1g/sec 634 Hz
High speed (IS2) 3.12 rev/sec 1.3g/sec 1030 Hz
Super-high speed (IS1) 5.04 rev/sec 1.3g/sec 1664 Hz
Pump assembly
Pump Motor
Head
Cleaner
Flushing Boxes
Maintenance Tank
Maintenance Tank