Patent ID: 7246875

Claim:
A protector for a capping facility in the form of a capping mechanism for a pagewidth printhead having a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead, and wherein: a) the capping mechanism comprises: i) a capping member which has a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead and which is configured to contact the printhead in nozzle capping engagement, ii) a carrier supporting the capping member, and iii) an actuating mechanism arranged to effect movement of the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is located remotely with respect to the printhead and a second position at which the capping member is located in contact with the printhead; b) the capping member is pivotally mounted to the carrier and is arranged to pivot relative to the carrier during back and forth transitional movement of the carrier between a transition position and the second position, where the transition position is located intermediate the first and second positions; and c) the protector comprises a covering member which is arranged to be engaged by the capping member when the capping member is located in the first position.