Ricoh TH5241 Gen5i Capping Unit

The Ricoh TH5241 Capping Unit is a replacement capping station cap for industrial inkjet printers using the Ricoh TH5241 (Gen5i) printhead — compatible with UV, solvent, and aqueous ink systems. The capping unit seals against the TH5241 nozzle face when the printhead is parked at the home position, preventing ink from drying in the nozzle channels during idle periods, and provides the sealed chamber through which the ink pump creates suction during cleaning and purge cycles.

Product Details

About the Ricoh TH5241 (Gen5i) Printhead Platform

The Ricoh TH5241 — commonly called Gen5i or G5i in the industrial inkjet market — is Ricoh's first thin-film piezoelectric MEMS printhead, featuring 1,280 nozzles in 4 × 320 rows, 600 NPI nozzle density, and multi-drop technology supporting 3–21pl variable drop volume across 4 greyscale levels. Compatible with UV, solvent, and aqueous inks, the TH5241 is used in compact UV flatbeds, rotary UV printers, sign-graphics, textile, label, DTG, and Direct-to-Shape (DTS) applications — including the Focus Atlas-1311 UV, Mtutech 360 Rotary UV, and Mutoh XpertJet XPJ-1641SR.

What Does the Capping Unit Do?

When the TH5241 printhead parks at the home position between print jobs and overnight, the capping unit presses against the nozzle face to create an airtight seal — preventing ink from drying in the nozzle channels. In UV ink environments, photoinitiators cause progressive viscosity increase on air exposure, making a correct cap seal especially critical. The capping unit also provides the sealed suction chamber for cleaning and purge cycles. A worn cap top that fails to seal causes permanent nozzle blockages — problems that would otherwise resolve with a standard cleaning cycle.

Signs the TH5241 Capping Unit Needs Replacing

• Nozzle dropout appearing after idle periods — cap no longer sealing nozzle face

• Cleaning cycles failing to recover nozzles — insufficient suction from a failed seal

• Ink drying on the cap top surface — preventing correct seal contact

• Visible cracking, deformation, or hardening of the cap rubber

TH5241 Maintenance Checklist

• Capping unit (this listing) — replace at every printhead installation and when seal integrity fails

• Head data cables — replace at every printhead installation

• Wiper blade — replace with the capping unit as a single maintenance event

• TH5241 Printhead — available separately at Digiprint USA

Why Buy from Digiprint USA

• Compatible with UV, solvent, and aqueous TH5241 printer platforms

• In stock in Doral, Miami FL — same day shipping before 2PM EST

• We also stock the Ricoh TH5241 Gen5i printhead — contact us to bundle head and capping unit in one order

• Ideal for Latin American TH5241-based UV flatbed and industrial inkjet operations using Miami freight forwarders

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ricoh TH5241 capping unit?
The TH5241 capping unit seals the Ricoh TH5241 (Gen5i) printhead nozzle face during idle periods — preventing UV, solvent, or aqueous ink from drying in the nozzle channels — and provides the suction chamber for cleaning and purge cycles. Replace it at every printhead installation and whenever the seal is worn or compromised.

Is this compatible with the Ricoh Gen5 MH5420 or Gen6 MH5320?
No. The TH5241 has different physical dimensions and nozzle plate geometry from the Gen5 MH5420/MH5440 and Gen6 MH5320/MH5340 — the capping units are not interchangeable. Always confirm your printhead label reads "TH5241" before ordering.

Do you ship TH5241 capping units to Latin America?
Yes — same day shipping from our Doral, Miami FL warehouse. Digiprint USA is the closest US supplier to TH5241-based UV flatbed and industrial inkjet operations in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and the Caribbean.