Patent ID: 7654633
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: B41J,C09B,C09D

Abstract:
1. An inkjet printhead cleaning system, comprising: an inkjet printer configured to print inks including anionic dyes and fixers including cationic polymers respectively as separate fluids such that complexes of anionic dyes and cationic polymers accumulate on a printhead of the printer and other surfaces of the printer as printing is conducted; and a water-soluble solvent and water mixture configured to be applied to the complexes accumulated on the surfaces throughout the printer, the solvent having a dielectric constant from 20 to 43 at standard temperature and pressure; wherein the anionic dyes in the complex are selected from the group consisting of direct black dyes, phthalocyanine cyan dyes, acid cyan dyes, mixtures of acid cyan and phthalocyanine cyan, gamma acid magenta dyes, xanthene magenta dyes, mixtures of H-acid magenta and xanthene magenta dyes, direct yellow dyes, acid yellow dyes, and mixtures of direct yellow dyes and acid yellow dyes; wherein the cationic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyalkylamines, polyethyleneimines and polyguanadines; and wherein the water-soluble solvent and water mixture is one of the following: at least 44 weight % of the water-soluble solvent, the water-soluble solvent selected from the group consisting of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and n,n-dimethylpropionamide; at least 88 weight % of the water-soluble solvent, the water-soluble solvent selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and tetraethylene glycol; or at least 40 weight % 2-pyrrolidone included in the solvent and water mixture.