PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE ASSEMBLY HAVING A CAPPER WITH A CONSTRICTION MEMBER
Provided is a printhead maintenance assembly having an ink manifold with a printhead, the manifold operatively supplying the printhead with ink, and a capper arrangement. The capper arrangement includes a capper operatively fitted to the manifold over the printhead, the capper defining a capper chamber with a constriction member splitting said chamber into an air inlet channel and a vacuum channel. The constriction member is located proximate the printhead to define a blast channel therewith between the inlet channel and the vacuum channel.
1 . A printhead maintenance assembly comprising:
an ink manifold;
a printhead arranged on the manifold, the manifold operatively supplying the printhead with ink; and
a capper arrangement having a capper operatively fitted to the manifold over the printhead, the capper defining a capper chamber with a constriction member splitting said chamber into an air inlet channel and a vacuum channel, the constriction member located proximate the printhead to define a blast channel therewith between the inlet channel and the vacuum channel.
2 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ink manifold includes a paper guide for guiding paper past the printhead without contacting the printhead.
3 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 2 , wherein the capper arrangement includes a perimeter gasket around an edge of the capper chamber, said gasket for sealing engagement with the paper guide to seal the printhead inside the chamber.
4 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 2 , wherein the ink manifold and the capper include complementary alignment features for aligning the capper with respect to the ink manifold, said features including a locating pin extending from a roof of the capping chamber to engage with a complementary slot defined in the paper guide.
5 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 1 , having a vacuum pump connected to a vacuum reservoir, the vacuum reservoir being connected, in turn, to the vacuum channel of the capping chamber.
6 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 5 , having a first solenoid valve and an ink dump that are positioned in a vacuum line between the vacuum reservoir and the capping chamber.
7 . The printhead maintenance assembly of claim 1 , having a second solenoid valve connected to the air inlet channel, the valve having an air intake with a filter for receiving filtered air from the atmosphere.