Patent ID: 8388102

Claim:
A maintenance assembly usable with an image forming apparatus including a fluid applicator unit including a nozzle surface having nozzles, the maintenance assembly comprising: a diverter unit including a receiving member, a liquid outlet and an aerosol outlet such that the receiving member is configured to receive fluid drops emitted from nozzles of a fluid applicator unit and form waste liquid therefrom; the receiving member including a spit plate having an impact surface, the impact surface including a descended end and an ascended end disposed higher than the descended end with respect to the nozzle surface; an aerosol receiving unit configured to receive aerosol formed from the fluid drops emitted from the nozzles; an aerosol passage extending from the ascended end of the impact surface and configured to transport the aerosol from the aerosol outlet to the aerosol receiving unit, the aerosol passage disposed between the ascended end of the impact surface and the aerosol receiving unit; a waste receiving unit configured to receive the waste liquid from the receiving member; and a liquid passage extending from the descended end of the impact surface and configured to transport the waste liquid from the liquid outlet to the waste receiving unit, the liquid passage disposed between the descended end of the impact surface and the waste receiving unit; and wherein the liquid passage and the aerosol passage are separate from each other.