METHOD OF WIPING PRINTHEAD WITH TRANSLATABLE AND ROTATABLE WIPER

1 . A method of wiping a printhead, the method comprising:

controlling a lift mechanism to lift a wiper module from a supporting sled to position a porous material of the wiper module against the printhead;

controlling a rotation mechanism to rotate a shaft of the wiper module about which the porous material is provided so that the porous material rotates against the printhead, the porous material being configured to absorb fluid from the printhead during said rotation; and

controlling a sliding mechanism to slide the sled relative to the printhead so that the rotating porous material is wiped across the printhead.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism is controlled so that a gear train rotatably mounted within a swing arm pivotally mounted to one end of the shaft contacts a media transport roller for transporting media past the printhead, the media transport roller having a gear which operatively contacts the gear train of the swing arm as the wiper module is lifted from the sled by the lift mechanism such that rotation of the media transport roller causes rotation of the shaft.

3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the swing arm is configured to pivot relative to the wiper module so that the gear train remains in contact with the media transport roller gear independent of the lifted position of the wiper module.

4 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the sliding mechanism is controlled by operating a motor to rotate a pinion gear on each end of a shaft along a rack on each end of the sled corresponding to each end of the wiper module.

5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism is controlled to compress a compressible core to the shaft of the wiper module against the printhead.