Patent ID: 7967423

Claim:
A continuous inkjet printer system including an apparatus that cleans an array of nozzles of a jetting module of a continuous inkjet printhead comprising: a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a fluid system including a liquid source and a pressure control device, the liquid source including a liquid and being connected in fluid communication with the jetting module; a controller in electrical communication with the pressure control device of the fluid system, the controller being configured to provide a first signal to the pressure control device to cause the liquid to be ejected as liquid streams through the nozzles of the array at a first pressure sufficient to create a stream of print-selectable drops, and the controller being configured to provide a second signal to the pressure control device to cause the liquid to be ejected as liquid streams through the nozzles of the array at a second pressure, the second pressure being less than the first pressure, and the controller being configured to again provide the first signal to the pressure control device after a period of time, wherein the second pressure is sufficiently lower than the first pressure such that the meniscus expands sufficiently to allow contaminants to be dissolved or rinsed away.