Patent ID: 6513903
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A self-cleaning print head, comprising:a print head body having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, a cleaning orifice and a drain orifice, and said orifice plate further defining an outer surface between the orifices; a source of pressurized cleaning fluid connected to the cleaning orifice; a fluid return connected to the drain orifice, and a cleaning surface disposed proximate to and separate from the outer surface to define a capillary fluid flow path from the cleaning orifice across the ink jet orifice and to the drain orifice; wherein, during cleaning, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid discharges a flow of a cleaning fluid into the capillary flow path and pressurized cleaning fluid from the capillary flow path passes through the drain orifice and into the fluid return.