US 12,109,824 B2
Print apparatus and methods
Marcel Llorach To, Sant Cugat del Valles (ES); Ricardo Sanchis Estruch, Sant Cugat del Valles (ES); and Eduardo Martin Orue, Sant Cugat del Valles (ES)
Assigned to HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/773,866
Filed by HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P., Spring, TX (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 20, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/067817
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 3, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/126241, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371347 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 29/377 (2006.01); B41J 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 29/377 (2013.01) [B41J 11/02 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Print apparatus comprising:
a platen to support a print substrate;
a print head to apply print agent to a print substrate supported by the platen, the print head being movable relative to the platen to vary a distance therebetween; and
a suction device having an inlet, the suction device to draw air from between the print head and the platen and into the inlet;
wherein the inlet of the suction device is movable with the print head to vary a clearance between the inlet and the platen, wherein the suction device moves independent of the print head, wherein the inlet is an open end of a nozzle, the suction device being to draw air from between the print head and the platen through the nozzle, and wherein the print head is part of a print head assembly, wherein the nozzle is supported to adopt a standby position in which the open end of the nozzle is between the print head assembly and the platen, and wherein the print head assembly is to move relative to the platen to engage the nozzle and move it from the standby position to an engaged position, whereby the open end of the nozzle moves towards the platen.