Capper assembly for a pagewidth printhead cartridge

1. A capping assembly for capping a pagewidth printhead of an inkjet printer comprising:

a body configured to extend the length of the printhead, the body having a surface opposite the printhead, the surface having a slot formed therein; and

a capping element housed within sad body, said capping element having a rim portion adapted to cap at least a portion of said printhead;

wherein, the capping element is movable with respect to said body between a first and a second position, said first position being where said rim portion extends from said body through the slot, and said second position being where said rim portion is contained within said body during printing.

2. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when said capping element is in sad first position, the rim portion is in capping contact with a prnting surface of the printhead.

3. A capping assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the printing surface comprises a plurality of nozzles, each of the nozzles being arranged in use to deliver ink onto passing prmnt media.

4. A capping assembly according to claim 3 , wherein in said first position, the rim portion contacts the printing surface and seals the nozzles within an internal space of the capping element, therby minimizing exposure of the ink in the nozzles to drying air.

5. A capping assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the internal space of the capping element comprises an absorbent material for receiving ink ejected by the nozzles when said capping element is in the first position.

6. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes a mounting element for removably mounting the capping assembly to the printhead.

7. A capping assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the capping assembly is mounted such that a gap is provided between said printhead and said body, said gap being sufficient to enable print media to pass therethrough for printing by said printhead.

8. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said rim portion projects through said slot and across said gap to be in capping contact with at least a portion of the printhead when said capping element is in the first position.

9. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the capping element is in said second position the rim portion retracts into said slot such that it does not project into said gap and allows media to pass therethrough for printing.

10. A capping assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a spring element is provided within said body, and said capping element is supported on said spring element.

11. A capping assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the spring element is a resilient member which extends substantially the length of the body.

12. A capping assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is formed integral with the body.

13. A capping assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the body is made from metal and said resilient member is pressed from said body.

14. A capping assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is metal insert.

15. A capping assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the spring element biases said capping element into said first position.

16. A capping assembly according to claim 15 , wherein in moving from said first position to said second position, the capping element acts against said spring element.

17. A capping assembly according to claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of said capping element contains a magnetic material and movement from the first position to said second position is due to magnetic attraction between the capping element and an external magnetic source.

18. A capping assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the external magnetic source is an electromagnet mounted on the inkjet printer.

19. A capping assembly according to clam 18 , wherein activation of said electromagnet causes said capping element to move between said first and second positions.

20. A capping assembly according to claim 19 , wherein activation of the electromagnet is controlled by a control system of the inkjet printer.