Method of removing particulates from a printhead using film transfer
View Patent ↗A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) flooding the face with ink from the printhead, thereby dispersing the particulates into the flooded ink; and (b) transferring the flooded ink, including the particulates, onto a film moving past the face. Damage to the face is avoided since the film does not contact the face.
1. A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) flooding said face with ink from said printhead and dispersing said particulates into said flooded ink; and
(b) transferring said flooded ink, including said particulates, onto a film moving past said face, and
wherein said film is guided past said face using a film guide so that film does not contact said face, and
wherein said film guide encapsulates wire bonds extending from said printhead.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least part of said face, said film and said film guide form a cavity for containing said ink.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said cavity is open-ended.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printhead is a pagewidth inkjet printhead.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film guide is comprised of a solid polymeric material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is moved past said face substantially parallel therewith.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is less than 2 mm from said face.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is wetting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a width of said film is substantially coextensive with a length of said printhead.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is fed past a film cleaner after being fed past said face.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said film cleaner is an absorbent pad positioned remotely from said printhead.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said face is flooded with ink by positively pressurizing an ink reservoir supplying ink to said printhead.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein an amount and/or a period of pressure applied to said ink reservoir is controlled.