Patent ID: RE40294

Claim:
A wet wiping system for servicing a printhead having an orifice plate, comprising: a moveable container having a reservoir of for treatment fluid disposed therein; a first block of porous material disposed within said moveable container for absorbing treatment fluid by capillary action said reservoir of treatment fluid ; another a second block of porous material partially disposed within said moveable container and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to facilitate transfer of treatment fluid to the orifice plate when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said another second block of porous material having substantially greater capillary action than said first block of porous material so that a distal end portion of the another said second block is may be continuously supplied with treatment fluid from said reservoir for facilitating the transfer of treatment fluid to the orifice plate; and a wiper mounted adjacent said moveable container for engaging the orifice plate when said moveable container and printhead move relative to one another; said moveable container and printhead moving a sufficient distance relative to one another in at least one relative axes direction so that a sufficient amount of the treatment fluid from said distal end portion of a transfer element is may be transferred to the orifice plate for transporting dried printhead residue therefrom as said wiper engagingly travels across the orifice plate; and wherein said first block of porous material is a block of open cell foam that substantially fills said moveable container.