Method of wicking ink away from a printhead

1. A method of removing ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving said ink towards an edge portion of said printhead; and

(b) wicking said ink through a wicking channel away from said edge portions, wherein said wicking channel is defined at least partiahy by a film.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said edge portion is a longitudinal edge portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printhead is wirebonded along a longitudinal edge portion and ink is moved towards an opposite longitudinal edge portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ink is moved using peeling action.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said peeling action is provided by a pad being peeled away from said face.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said pad has a sloped contact surface relative to said face.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ink is wicked into an ink collector.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said wicking channel is tapered.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a channel inlet is proximal to said edge portion and a channel outlet is distal from said edge portion, said channel being tapered towards said channel outlet.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is substantially coextensive with said printhead and positioned adjacent a longitudinal edge portion of said printhead.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of vents are defined in said film, said vents being positioned for receiving ink from an outer surface of said film.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is a polymer film.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said film is resiliently displaceable.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printhead is a pagewidth inkjet printhead.