METHOD OF OPERATING AN INKJET PRINTER
A method of operating an inkjet printer having an inkjet printhead and a rotating platen is disclosed. The platen has disposed on part of the surface of the platen an ink absorbing member and a print media supporting area for supporting print media being printed on. The method includes rotating the platen to place the ink absorbing member in an ink ejection path of the printhead, and receiving ink from the printhead by the ink absorbing member.
1 . A method of operating an inkjet printer having an inkjet printhead and a rotating platen, the platen having disposed on part of the surface of the platen an ink absorbing member and a print media supporting area for supporting print media being printed on, the ink absorbing member having a length substantially equal to the length of the printhead, the method comprising the steps of:
rotating said platen to place the ink absorbing member in an ink ejection path of the printhead; and
receiving ink from the printhead by the ink absorbing member.
2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the receiving step is performed during priming of the printhead.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein said priming occurs during at least one of printer start-up and printer maintenance operations.
4 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
rotating said platen to place the print media supporting area of the platen adjacent the printhead; and
printing image data by the printhead onto a print media surface.
5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the surface of the platen further has a capping member, the method comprising the steps of:
rotating said platen to place the capping member adjacent the printhead; and
displacing the platen relative to the printhead to cap the printhead by the capping member.