SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESERVING INKJET OPERATIONAL STATUS DURING LONG PERIODS OF PRINTHEAD INACTIVITY

1 . A printhead maintenance station comprising:

a purge station for receiving ink purged from a printhead; and

an inkjet preservation station displaced from the purge station by a predetermined distance, the inkjet preservation station being configured to contact a faceplate of the printhead with a solvent.

2 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 1 , the inkjet preservation station further comprising:

a material configured to contact the faceplate of the printhead with the solvent.

3 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 2 , the material further comprising:

three layers of dissimilar materials.

4 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 1 wherein the three layers comprise:

are an inelastic layer,

a porous layer; and

a layer that enables a solvent provided from the porous layer to be released against the faceplate of the printhead.

5 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 4 wherein the inelastic layer is comprised essentially of polypropylene.

6 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 4 wherein the porous layer is comprised essentially of polymer foam.

7 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 4 wherein the layer that releases the solvent is comprised essentially of PTFE membrane material.

8 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 2 , the material being configured as a ribbon and the ribbon is operatively connected to a first reel and a second reel, the first reel being operatively connected to an actuator to move the ribbon from the second reel to the first reel.

9 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 8 , the actuator being operated to move the ribbon on a time of usage basis.

10 . The printhead maintenance station of claim 8 , the actuator being operated to move the ribbon on a number of times used basis.

11 . An inkjet printer comprising:

at least one printhead module; and

a printhead maintenance station, the printhead maintenance station including:

a purge station for receiving ink purged from a printhead; and

an inkjet preservation station an inkjet preservation station displaced from the purge station by a predetermined distance, the inkjet preservation station being configured to contact a faceplate of the printhead with a solvent.

12 . The inkjet printer of claim 11 , the inkjet preservation station further comprising:

a material configured to contact the faceplate of the printhead with the solvent.

13 . The inkjet printer of claim 2 , the material further comprising:

three layers of dissimilar materials.

14 . The inkjet printer of claim 11 wherein the three layers comprise:

are an inelastic layer,

a porous layer; and

a layer that enables a solvent provided from the porous layer to be released against the faceplate of the printhead.

15 . The inkjet printer of claim 14 wherein the inelastic layer is comprised essentially of polypropylene.

16 . The inkjet printer of claim 14 wherein the porous layer is comprised essentially of polymer foam.

17 . The inkjet printer of claim 14 wherein the layer that releases the solvent is comprised essentially of PTFE membrane material.

18 . The inkjet printer of claim 12 , the material being configured as a ribbon and the ribbon is operatively connected to a first reel and a second reel, the first reel being operatively connected to an actuator to move the ribbon from the second reel to the first reel.

19 . The inkjet printer of claim 18 , the actuator being operated to move the ribbon on a time of usage basis.

20 . The inkjet printer of claim 18 , the actuator being operated to move the ribbon on a number of times used basis.

21 . A method of operating an inkjet printer comprising:

moving at least one printhead module to a first position within a printhead maintenance station to purge ink from at least one printhead in the printhead module; and

moving the at least one printhead in a cross-process direction from the first position to a second position within the printhead maintenance station to contact a faceplate of the at least one printhead with a solvent.

22 . The method of claim 21 , the inkjet preservation station further comprising:

contacting the faceplate of the printhead with a material containing the solvent.

23 . The method of claim 22 , the material further comprising:

three layers of dissimilar materials.

24 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:

operating an actuator to move the material from a second reel to a first reel.

25 . The method of claim 24 further comprising:

operating the actuator to move the material on a time of usage basis.

26 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

operating the actuator to move the ribbon on a number of times used basis.

27 . A ribbon of inkjet preservation material comprising:

a material configured to deliver solvent to a faceplate and nozzles of a printhead; and

a solvent within the material that dissolves dried ink on the faceplate and nozzles of the printhead.

28 . The ribbon of claim 27 further comprising:

a first layer configured to ensure dimensional stability for the ribbon and support other layers positioned on the first layer;

a second layer configured to hold the solvent; and

a third layer configured to receive solvent from the second layer and deliver the solvent to the faceplate and nozzles.

29 . The ribbon of claim 28 wherein the first layer is made of a thin and inelastic material.

30 . The ribbon of claim 29 wherein the thin and inelastic material is polypropylene.

31 . The ribbon of claim 28 wherein the second layer is a thin porous material.

32 . The ribbon of claim 31 wherein the thin porous material is a polymer foam.

33 . The ribbon of claim 32 wherein the third layer is a thin, permeable material.

34 . The ribbon of claim 33 wherein the thin permeable material is a PTFE membrane.