Patent ID: 6910756

Claim:
An ink jet printer system, comprising: an ink jet printhead having an ink drop generator, a catcher located adjacent to the ink drop generator, and a catcher plate located below the catcher; an eyelid for sealing ink within the printhead on startup of the printer system; an actuating means for opening and closing the eyelid; a movable mechanical eyelid stop means which define a first eyelid open position to facilitate printing when said movable eyelid stop means is in a first position, and a second and wider eyelid open position to facilitate printhead servicing when said movable eyelid stop means is shifted to a second position; and shifting means for shifting the movable eyelid stop means between the first and second positions, wherein the eyelid stop means stops the eyelid by physically contacting one of the eyelid and the actuating means.