Method of removing particulates from a printhead using a liquid foam
View Patent ↗A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a liquid foam on the face, thereby dispersing the particulates in the foam; and (b) transferring the foam, including the particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past the face. Ink consumption is minimized by use of a foam and damage to the face is avoided since the transfer surface typically 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:
(i) providing a liquid foam on said face, thereby dispersing said particulates in said foam;
(ii) transferring said foam, including said particulates, onto a transfer surface moving past said face; and,
(iii) removing foam or ink from said transfer surface using an ink removal system; wherein,
said transfer surface is an outer surface of a first transfer roller and said ink removal system comprises a cleaning pad in contact with said first transfer roller.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface does not contact said face.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said foam collapses to a liquid droplet as it is transferred onto said transfer surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liquid foam is an ink foam.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said ink foam is provided by passing a gas through ink supply channels in said printhead, thereby expelling the ink foam from nozzles in said ink ejection face.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein air is forced under pressure though said ink channels.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein ink in said ink foam is provided by ink contained in said printhead.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface contacts said foam when moving past said face.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface is less than 1 mm from said face when moving past said face.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface is moved past said face immediately as said foam is provided on said face.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface is moved past said face by rotating said roller.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said roller is substantially coextensive with said printhead.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transfer surface is an outer surface of a first transfer roller and said ink removal system comprises a second transfer roller engaged with said first transfer roller.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said second transfer roller has a wetting surface for receiving ink from said transfer surface.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said second transfer roller is a metal roller.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein a cleaning pad is in contact with said second transfer roller.