PRINTHEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING A WICKING ELEMENT AND A PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION
Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure and a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face. The assembly also includes a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing, and a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. Further included is a pad with an angled contact surface to facilitate the transfer of ink from the printhead to the wicking element, as well as a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station has a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, said pad slidably mounted inside said body to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body.
1 . A printhead assembly comprising:
a support structure;
a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face;
a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing;
a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide;
a pad with an angled contact surface to facilitate the transfer of ink from the printhead to the wicking element; and
a printhead maintenance station having a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, said pad slidably mounted inside said body to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body.
2 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , which includes an engagement mechanism configured to displace the pad between the first and second positions.
3 . The printhead assembly of claim 2 , wherein the engagement mechanism includes a motor, which rotates a pair of cams, engaged with respective lugs at each end of the support arm, so that rotation of the motor and the cam causes linear sliding movement of the support arm and, hence, the pad.
4 . The printhead assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pad is reciprocally moved between the first and second positions upon actuation of the motor
5 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wicking element is positioned adjacent a longitudinal edge of the printhead so that the wicking element is able to wick ink away from a longitudinal edge portion of the contact surface and the ink ejection face.
6 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wicking element is formed from an absorbent material and is positioned in a cavity defined between the print media guide and the support structure on which the printhead and print media guide are mounted.
7 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the print media guide has a guide surface for guiding print media past the printhead when the pad is fully disengaged from the ink ejection face.
8 . The printhead assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wicking element includes an ink collector for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead.