Patent ID: 8905508

Claim:
An inkjet printer comprising: an inkjet printhead including a printhead die having an array of nozzles; a media advance system for moving recording medium along a media path toward a print region; a carriage for moving the inkjet printhead back and forth across the print region, wherein the carriage includes: a holding receptacle for the inkjet printhead, the holding receptacle including a bottom portion having an opening into which the printhead die extends; an optical sensor; a viewing hole in the bottom portion of the holding receptacle, the viewing hole providing an optical pathway between the optical sensor and a portion of the media path; and a barrier projecting from the bottom portion between the opening and the viewing hole for impeding the flow of ink toward the viewing hole a first side wall extending from the bottom portion of the holding receptacle, wherein the optical sensor is disposed proximate the first side wall, wherein the barrier is open at the first side wall; and a wick that contacts a portion of the holding receptacle to remove accumulated ink near the viewing hole when the carriage is moved near a maintenance station.