Patent ID: 7552994

Claim:
A print-head maintenance device for maintaining a print-head of an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge being movable back and forth along a guiding rail, the maintenance device being disposed securely below one end of the guiding rail, the print-head maintenance device comprising: a casing having a bottom, left and right sides formed with a pair of first guiding grooves extending parallel to said bottom, said casing further being formed with a pair of second guiding grooves that are located inwardly with respect to said pair of first guiding grooves and extend perpendicularly from said bottom of said casing; a sliding member disposed within said casing, and having left and right outward tongues engaging slidably said pair of first guiding grooves so as to permit two-way movement of said sliding member within said casing, said sliding member further having a pair of inclined third guiding grooves formed on two opposite inner surfaces; and a shielding unit including a mounting seat disposed within said casing and having front and rear positioning stubs respectively engaging said pair of second guiding grooves in said casing, and two flanges on left and right lateral sides for engaging with said pair of third guiding grooves in said sliding member, and a shield fixed on said mounting seat; whereby, movement of said sliding member along said pair of first guiding grooves in a first direction results in pushing of said mounting seat by said sliding member, thereby moving said mounting seat along said pair of second guiding groove so as to press said shield against the print-head, and movement of said sliding member along said pair of first guiding grooves in a second direction opposite to said first direction results in removal of said shield from the print-head.