Patent ID: 6254216
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A clean-in-place system for components of an ink jet printhead defining an interior, where the components include electrodes positioned downstream of a nozzle, comprising:a. a compartment defined within said printhead containing the electrodes, one end of said compartment terminating in an end plate having a slot therethrough to permit ink drops to exit the compartment during normal printing operation;b. a shutter provided adjacent said slot and having an inflatable member disposed within the interior of the printhead, said inflatable member being inflated to seal said slot or deflatable to unseal said slot;c. means for operating said shutter to close said slot and seal said compartment;d. means for introducing an ink solvent to at least partially flood said compartment to dissolve ink which may have deposited on the electrodes; ande. means for removing said solvent and dissolved ink from said compartment.