Patent ID: 7370936

Claim:
A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a printhead assembly, said printhead assembly comprising: a printhead having an ink ejection face, said face having a first edge portion and a second edge portion opposite said first edge portion; and a film guide sealingly bonded to said first edge portion, said film guide being positioned to guide a film through a transfer zone, said transfer zone being defined by a plane spaced apart from said face; (ii) positioning at least part of a film in said transfer zone and in contact with said film guide, thereby forming a cavity defined at least partially by said film, said film guide and said face; and (iii) feeding said film through said transfer zone and away from said printhead, thereby removing ink from said cavity, said film being fed in a directional sense which is from said first edge portion to said second edge portion.