Non-contact method of removing flooded ink from printhead face
View Patent ↗A method of removing flooded ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead. The method comprises moving a surface past the ink ejection face and transferring the flooded ink onto the moving surface, where no part of the surface contacts the face. The surface can be a surface of a disposable sheet. The disposable sheet can be absorbent. The disposable sheet can be different from print media used for printing.
1. A method of removing flooded ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead, said method comprising moving a surface past said face and transferring said flooded ink onto said moving surface, wherein no part of said surface contacts said face and said surface is a surface of a disposable sheet.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said surface contacts said flooded ink when moving past said face.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein flooded ink is wicked onto said surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disposable sheet is absorbent.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disposable sheet is different from print media used for printing.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said surface is less than 1 mm from said face when moving past said face.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sealing member is positioned adjacent said printhead, such that at least part of said surface, said face and said sealing member define a cavity when said surface moves past said face.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said face is flooded with ink by positively pressurizing an ink reservoir or ink conduit supplying ink to said printhead.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said surface is fed past said face using a feed mechanism.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said surface is manually fed past said face.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printhead has an associated maintenance zone through which said surface is fed for removing said flooded ink.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein an amount and/or a period of pressure applied to said ink reservoir or ink conduit is controlled.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said printhead has an associated print zone through which print media are fed for printing.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said ink conduit between said ink reservoir and said printhead comprises a valve for controlling an amount of ink flooded onto said face.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said maintenance zone is nearer said face than said print zone.