CAPPING UNIT, MAINTENANCE DEVICE AND PRINTER

Abstract

The invention relates to a capping unit (1) for capping at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3) of a printer (300), in particular an inkjet printer. The capping unit (1) includes a belt element (2.1, 2.2) having an elongated extent, wherein the belt element (2.1, 2.2) includes at least one flexible cap (3.1, 3.2) for capping the at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3), wherein the belt element (2.1, 2.2) features a resting setting and a capping setting and is displaceable from the resting setting to the capping setting and back. The belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability section (5.1, 5.2) extending over at least a portion of the belt element (2.1, 2.2)'s elongated extent, wherein in the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in a movement plane (13.1, 13.2). In the capping setting, at all positions within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), a course of the elongated extent follows a straight line (14.1, 14.2) in the movement plane (13.1 13.2). Furthermore, in the capping setting, at each position within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of the belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to the straight line (14.1, 14.2) and being aligned in the movement plane (13.1, 13.2). At at least one position within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in the movement plane (13.1, 13.2) away from the straight line (14.1, 14.2) in a bending direction being oriented opposite to the self-stability direction.

Claims

1. A capping unit for capping at least one printhead of a printer, the capping unit comprising: a belt element having an elongated extent, wherein the belt element includes at least one flexible cap for capping said at least one printhead, wherein the belt element is configured to be set in a resting setting and a capping setting, and is displaceable between the resting setting and the capping setting, wherein the belt element provides a self-stability section extending over at least a portion of the elongated extent of the belt element, wherein, in the self-stability section, the belt element is bendable in a movement plane, wherein, in the capping setting, at all positions within the self-stability section, a course of the elongated extent follows a straight line in the movement plane, wherein, in the capping setting, at each position within the self-stability section, the belt element provides a self-stability against bending of the belt element in a self-stability direction, the self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to the straight line and being aligned in the movement plane, wherein, at at least one position within the self-stability section, the belt element is bendable in the movement plane away from the straight line in a bending direction, the bending direction being oriented opposite to the self-stability direction.

2. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein, at each position within the self-stability section, the belt element provides a self-stability against bending of the belt element in a local self-stability direction beyond a limit, the local self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to the course of the elongated extent at each respective position, and in the capping setting, at each position within the self-stability section, the local self-stability direction is aligned parallel to the self-stability direction and the limit is a limiting curve being the straight line.

3. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein, in the resting setting, the belt element provides a different shape as compared to in the capping setting.

4. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible cap is arranged along the elongated extent of the belt element.

5. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible cap includes a sheet metal.

6. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible cap includes a sealing material for sealing a nozzle of the least one printhead when capping the at least one printhead.

7. The capping unit of claim 1, wherein the belt element comprises a plurality of chain elements that are sequentially hinged together.

8. The capping unit of claim 1, further comprising a receiving space for receiving the belt element, wherein, in the resting setting, the belt element is located in the receiving space, and, in the capping setting, the belt element is located outside of the receiving space.

9. A maintenance device for maintenance of the at least one printhead of the printer, the maintenance device comprising: a capping unit as claimed in claim 1 for capping the at least one printhead; and a service device for servicing the at least one printhead, the service device comprising one or both of: a cleaning unit for cleaning the at least one printhead, and an adjusting unit for adjusting one or both of a position and an orientation of the at least one printhead.

10. The maintenance device of claim 9, wherein the service device is a carriage.

11. The maintenance device of claim 9, wherein the belt element possesses two ends arranged opposite to each other, each end being located at one of the ends of the elongated extent of the belt element, wherein the service device is arranged at one of the two ends of the belt element.

12. The maintenance device of claim 9, further comprising a linear guide along which the belt element is movably mounted for displacing the belt element between the resting setting and the capping setting.

13. A printer comprising: a) a print bar comprising at least one printhead; and a maintenance device as claimed in claim 9.

14. The printer of claim 13, wherein the belt element is movable along the print bar for displacing the belt element between the resting setting and the capping setting.

15. The printer of claim 13, wherein the at least one printhead is configured to be positioned in: a capping position, where the at least one printhead is capped with the at least one flexible cap when the belt element is in the capping setting, and a decapping position, where the at least one printhead is spaced apart from the at least one flexible cap when the belt element is in the capping setting, wherein the at least one printhead is displaceable between the capping position and the decapping position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] The drawings used to explain the embodiments show:

[0073] FIG. 1a, 1b each an oblique view of a maintenance device with a capping unit according to the invention implemented in an industrial inkjet printer having two print bars each with three printheads, once with belt elements in a resting setting and once with the belt elements in a capping setting.

[0074] FIG. 2a, b, c each a frontal view of the maintenance device with the capping unit according to the invention implemented in the industrial inkjet printer from FIGS. 1a and 1b, once with the belt elements in the resting setting, once with the belt elements in the capping setting and the print bars with the printheads in a decapping position and once with the belt elements in the capping setting and the print bars with the printheads in a capping position,

[0075] FIG. 3 a detail view of an end of one of the belt elements with the belt element in the capping setting, and

[0076] FIG. 4 a detail view of a sidewall being shown transparent at two places such that one of the belt elements in the capping setting behind the sidewall is visible.

[0077] In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0078] FIGS. 1a and 1b each show an oblique view of a maintenance device 200 with a capping unit 1 according to the invention implemented in an industrial inkjet printer 300 having two print bars 310, 320 each with three printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3. In both figures, the industrial inkjet printer 300 as such is only schematically indicated with a square. In both figures, a part of a machine frame 301 of the industrial inkjet printer 300 is shown in more detail. Furthermore, the two print bars 310, 320 with the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are shown in more detail, too. The further details of the industrial inkjet printer 300 are not shown in the figures because they are known from known industrial inkjet printers. These industrial inkjet printers as the present industrial inkjet printer 300 are for printing on printing substrates in the form of paper webs having a width of 150 cm. Other printing substrates are possible, too. In variants, the printing substrates are for example corrugated cardboard having a width of 150 cm or rolls of stickers, the rolls having a width of 150 cm. In variants, the industrial inkjet printer can also be for printing on printing substrates having a smaller width like 70 cm or 50 cm or widths even bigger than 150 cm.

[0079] The capping unit 1 comprises two belt elements 2.1, 2.2, each having an elongated extent. These belt elements 2.1, 2.2 each comprise a plurality of chain elements that are sequentially hinged together and which each form a cable chain. Both belt elements 2.1, 2.2 have a length measured along the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 and possess two ends arranged opposite to each other, each end located at another one of the two ends of the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2.

[0080] The belt elements 2.1, 2.2 each comprise a flexible cap 3.1, 3.2 for capping the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 of a respective one of the print bars 310, 320. These flexible caps 3.1, 3.2 are arranged along the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 and extend over a subportion of the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2. The flexible caps 3.1, 3.2 are flat elements and include each a sheet metal with silicone as sealing material for sealing nozzles of the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 of the respective print bar 310, 320 when capping the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3. Thereby, the sealing material provides a shape which can be slid onto the sheet metal and is slid on the sheet metal. Instead of silicone as sealing material, other sealing materials like plastic, rubber or any elastomer are possible, too.

[0081] In FIG. 1a, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are arranged in a resting setting, while in FIG. 1b, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are arranged in a capping setting. In the resting setting, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are moved away from the print bars 310, 320 outside a longitudinal end of the print bars 310, 320. Thereby, an underside of the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3, where the nozzles for printing are arranged, is freed. Thus, the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are freed and printing on a printing substrate (not shown) is enabled. As visible in FIG. 1a, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are located in the resting setting in a receiving space 4. Thereby, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 with their entire volume are located inside the receiving space 4. In other variants however, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 can also be located with 80% or more than 80% within the receiving space 4.

[0082] In the capping setting, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 each extend below the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 along the print bars 310, 320. Thus, each belt element 2.1, 2.2 enables capping of the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 of its respective print bar 310, 320.

[0083] As visible in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the maintenance device 200 comprises two service devices 201.1, 201.2 for servicing the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3. Thereby, one of the service devices 201.1 is mounted to a first end of one of the belt elements 2.1, while the other one of the service devices 201.2 is mounted to a first end of the other one of the belt elements 2.2. Thus, each one of the service devices 201.1, 201.2 is for servicing the printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 of a respective one of the print bars 310, 320. Cables for supplying the service devices 201.1, 201.2 with power and with control signals from a controller (not shown) are placed in the respective cable chain of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2. In one example, the controller for providing the control signals is formed by a separate personal computer. In another example, the controller for providing the control signals is part of the industrial inkjet printer 300. In this latter example, the controller for providing the control signals is incorporated in a control module of the industrial inkjet printer 300 which is used to control the operation of the industrial inkjet printer 300 in the same way as known from known industrial inkjet printers.

[0084] Each one of the service devices 201.1, 201.2 comprises a cleaning unit 202.1, 202.2 for cleaning the nozzles of the respective printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 and an adjusting unit 203.1, 203.2 for adjusting both a position and an orientation of the respective printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 and/or nozzles of the respective printheads 311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3. Service devices 201.1, 201.2 with such a cleaning unit 202.1, 202.2 and such an adjusting unit 203.1, 203.2 are known in the art.

[0085] Both service devices 201.1, 201.2 are carriages and mounted movably along linear guides 204.1, 204.2 of the maintenance device 200. These linear guides 204.1, 204.2 are attached to the machine frame 301 of the industrial inkjet printer 300. They are arranged below the print bars 310, 320 and oriented horizontally along the print bars 310, 320 and extend into the receiving space 4, where they are bent downwards. Besides the service devices 201.1, 201.2, also the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are mounted movably along the linear guides 204.1, 204.2. Thereby, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are each mounted with three small carriages 9.1, 9.2 (see FIG. 4) movably to the linear guides 204.1, 204.2, wherein the small carriages are positioned at positions spaced apart from each other along the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2.

[0086] In order to displace the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 from the resting setting to the capping setting and back, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are movable along the linear guides 204.1, 204.2. Thereby, belt element actuators are included in the service devices 201.1, 201.2 and actuate a movement of the service devices 201.1, 201.2 along the linear guides 204.1, 204.2. As visible in FIG. 1 a, in the resting setting, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are located with the service devices 201.1, 201.2 inside the receiving space 4 at a longitudinal end of the print bars 310, 320. In order to displace the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 to the capping setting, the service devices 201.1, 201.2 are actuated by the belt element actuators and thus moved to the other longitudinal end of the print bars 310, 320. During this movement of the service devices 201.1, 201.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are pulled by the service devices 201.1, 201.2 and displaced to the capping setting. In order to displace the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 back to the resting setting, the service devices 201.1, 201.2 are moved back to the receiving space 4 and push the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 into the receiving space 4 and to the resting setting.

[0087] Since the linear guides 204.1, 204.2 are oriented horizontally along the print bars 310, 320, the part of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 which is located in the capping setting below the print bars 310, 320 extends in the capping setting along a straight line 14.1, 14.2. These straight lines 14.1, 14.2 are indicated in FIG. 1b as dashed lines. Since the linear guides 204.1, 204.2 extend into the receiving space 4 where they are bent downwards, the part of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 which is located in the capping setting below the print bars 310, 320 follows in the resting setting the linear guides 204.1, 204.2 and is thus in the resting setting bent downwards. For this reason, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 provide a different shape in the resting setting as compared to in the capping setting. In order to enable these different shapes of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 comprise as already mentioned chain elements that are sequentially hinged together. These chain elements are pivotable with respect to each other, enabling a bending of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 in a movement plane 13.1, 13.2 assigned to the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 in order to allow for the different shapes of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2. In the present example of the capping unit 1, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are mounted movably along the linear guides 204.1, 204.2 of the maintenance device 200. Thereby, the movement planes 13.1, 13.2 are oriented vertically and run parallel to the print bars 310, 320. In FIG. 1b, the movement planes 13.1, 13.2 are each indicated in the form of a square of dashed lines, showing the orientation of the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2 in space. The squares of dashed lines thus do not show circumferential lines of the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2 but are to be understood as depicting a square shape on the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2, thus visualising the orientation of the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2 in space.

[0088] Both belt elements 2.1, 2.2 provide a self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 of the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2. These self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2 extend over the part of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 which is located in the capping setting below the print bars 310, 320. Thus, the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2 each provide a length of about 150 cm which is about 100% of a length of the print bars 310, 320 and within a range from 90% to 110% of the length of the print bars 310, 320. In variants, the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2 may also extend over a longer part of the elongated extent of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 or over the entire elongated extent of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2.

[0089] In the capping setting, at each position within the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 provide a self-stability against bending of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 in a self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to the respective straight line 14.1, 14.2 along which the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is arranged in the capping setting and being aligned in the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2. Furthermore, at at least one position within the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are bendable in the respective movement plane 13.1, 13.2 away from the respective straight line 14.1, 14.2 in a bending direction being oriented opposite to the self-stability direction.

[0090] In the same sense, at each position within the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 provide a self-stability against bending of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 in a local self-stability direction beyond a limit which is a limiting curve being the respective straight line 14.1, 14.2, wherein the limiting curve provides a length corresponding to a length of the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2.

[0091] At each position within the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2, the local self-stability direction is oriented perpendicular to a course of the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 at the respective position. Thereby, the local self-stability directions at the different positions within the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2 are unidirectional directions defined locally at each position within the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2. However, in the capping setting, at each position within the self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2, the local self-stability direction is aligned parallel to the globally defined self-stability direction. In the present case, the self-stability direction and in the capping setting, all local self-stability directions are directed vertically downward. In other variants, they may all be directed in one and the same direction in space which differs from vertically downward.

[0092] As mentioned, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 provide at each position within their respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 a self-stability against bending of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 in a local self-stability direction beyond a limit. This means in the present example that when a self-stability reference range within the self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 is defined, the self-stability range having a length of 40 cm, the self-stability reference range starting at a first self-stability reference position and ending at a second self-stability reference position of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2, and when in the capping setting, the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is kept at the first self-stability reference position and at the second self-stability reference position on the limiting curve, then, for each position within the self-stability reference range, when an external force is applied to the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 at the respective position in the local self-stability direction at the respective position, the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 maximally allows for a deviation of the respective position from the limiting curve in the local self-stability direction at the respective position by an amount of 1% of a length of the self-stability reference range. In other variants, the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 maximally allows for a deviation of the respective position from the limiting curve in the local self-stability direction at the respective position by an amount of 10% or 5% of a length of the self-stability reference range. For each position within the self-stability range, the deviation of the respective position from the limiting curve in the local self-stability direction at the respective position, which the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 maximally allows for, is the distance between the point on the limiting curve where the respective position is located in case the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is arranged over the entire respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 on the limiting curve and the position where the respective position is positioned when the external force is applied to the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 at the respective position and the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is maximally elastically deflected without getting damaged or breaking when the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is kept at the first self-stability reference position and on the second self-stability reference position on the limiting curve. Thereby, in the present example, the length of the self-stability reference range is 40 cm. In a variant however, the length of the self-stability reference range is 80 cm or even different from 40 cm and 80 cm. In any case, the length of the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2 is longer than the length of the self-stability reference range.

[0093] At each position within the self-stability sections 5.1, 5.2, the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 each have a thickness measured in the self-stability direction at the respective position and a width measured at the respective position in a direction perpendicular to the self-stability direction and perpendicular to the course of the elongated extent of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 at the respective position, wherein at each position within the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2, the width and the thickness of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 are both shorter than the length of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2, and wherein at each position within a subsection of the self-stability section 5.1, 5.2 of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 which covers more than 85% of the respective self-stability section 5.1, 5.2, the width of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 is larger than the thickness of the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2. Thereby, the subsection consists of several regions being separated from each other, each extending over a part of one of the chain elements.

[0094] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c each show a frontal view of the maintenance device 200 with the capping unit 1 according to the invention implemented in the industrial inkjet printer 300 introduced in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Again, the industrial inkjet printer 300 is only shown schematically. In FIG. 2a, the belt elements 2.2 are shown in the resting setting, while in FIGS. 2b and 2c, the belt elements 2.2 are shown in the capping setting. In FIGS. 2a and 2b, the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are shown in a decapping position, while in FIG. 2c, the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are shown in a capping position.

[0095] The print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are mounted movably in vertical direction on the machine frame 301 of the industrial inkjet printer 300 in order to displace the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 from the capping position to the decapping position and back. In the decapping position, the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are located at a position well above the location of the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 in the capping setting such that there is a gap between the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 and the respective belt element 2.1, 2.2 (FIG. 2b). In the capping position, the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are moved in a printhead movement direction vertically downward to their capping position. In case the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are in the capping position and the belt elements 2.1, 2.2 are in the capping setting, the nozzles of the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 touch the flexible caps 3.2 of the belt elements 2.2. As a result, the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 are capped by the flexible caps 3.2 (see FIG. 2c).

[0096] In order to actuate the displacement of the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 from the capping position to the decapping position and back, the industrial inkjet printer 300 comprises a printhead actuator 302.

[0097] As visible in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the maintenance device 200 comprises sidewalls 205 arranged below the print bars 320 and is oriented horizontally along the print bars 320. These sidewalls 205 cover lateral sides of the belt elements 2.2 in the capping setting. Below the sidewalls 205 and below the location of the belt elements 2.2 in the capping setting, there is an opening 303. When printing with the industrial inkjet printer 300, the printing substrate (not shown) is moved through this opening 303 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the figures. In order to enable printing on the printing substrate, the print bars 320 with the printheads 321.1, 321.2, 321.3 can be moved further down than the capping position onto the printing substrate when the belt elements 2.2 are in the resting setting.

[0098] FIG. 3 shows a detail view of an end of one of the belt elements 2.2 with the belt element 2.2 in the capping setting. In this detail view, some of the chain elements 6.1, . . . 6.9 of the belt element 2.2 are visible. Thereby, the five chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.5 closest to the end of the belt element 2.2 are pivoted with respect to each other and guided around a roll 7. The chain elements 6.6, . . . 6.9 further away from the end of the belt element 2.2 are aligned on the straight line 14.2. The self-stability section 5.2 of the belt element 2.2 is formed by such chain elements 6.8, 6.9 being aligned on the straight line 14.2.

[0099] In the view of FIG. 3, it is visible that each of the chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9 comprises at each end a stopper 8.1, 8.2. When the chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9 are pivoted with respect to each other like the five chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.5 closest to the end of the belt element 2.2 shown in FIG. 3, then the stoppers 8.1, 8.2 of adjacent chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9 are distanced from each other. In case the chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9 are aligned on the straight line 14.2 as shown in FIG. 3 for the chain elements 6.5, . . . , 6.9 further away from the end of the belt element 2.2, the stoppers 8.1, 8.2 are in abutment with each other. Thus, the two adjacent chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9 can only be pivoted away from the straight line 14.2 in one direction while in the other direction, the stoppers 8.1, 8.2 prevent and thus limit a pivotal movement of the adjacent chain elements 6.1, . . . , 6.9. Consequently, due to the stoppers 8.1, 8.2, the belt elements 2.2 provide the self-stability against bending of the respective belt element 2.2 in the self-stability direction and local self-stability direction beyond the limit of the straight line 14.2.

[0100] FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the sidewall 205 being shown transparent at two places such that the belt element 2.2 in the capping setting behind the sidewall 205 is visible. In this figure, further chain elements 6.10, . . . , 6.14 of the belt element 2.2 are visible. Two of these chain elements 6.10, 6.14 each comprise one of the small carriages 9.1, 9.2 with which the belt element 2.2 is mounted to the linear guide 204.2. Furthermore, a mounting element 10 with which sheet metal 11 of the flexible cap 3.2 is mounted to one of the chain elements 6.12 is visible. Furthermore, the capping material 12 slid on the sheet metal 11 is visible, too.

[0101] The invention is not limited to the embodiment with the capping unit 1, the maintenance device 200 and the industrial inkjet printer 300 shown in the figures. Many other embodiments are readily accessible to a person skilled in the art, too.

[0102] In summary, it is to be noted that a capping unit pertaining to the technical field initially mentioned that can be constructed simpler and more compact is provided.