Patent ID: 7001008

Claim:
A printhead assembly comprising: a printhead including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a print medium, the plurality of nozzles being formed on a nozzle surface of the printhead; a nozzle guard spaced apart from the nozzle surface and positioned to protect the nozzles, the nozzle guard having a printhead side proximal to the printhead, an ink ejection side distal from the printhead and a plurality of channels providing fluid communication between the printhead side and the ink ejection side, the channels being aligned with the nozzles to allow uninterrupted passage of ink droplets from the nozzles to the print medium; and at least one air inlet for directing air into a space defined between the nozzle surface and the nozzle guard, the air inhibiting build up of particles on the nozzles and being exhausted through the plurality of channels.