Spittoon absorber wetting agent

A method of preventing formation of dried ink in a spittoon used in a service station of an ink-jet facsimile machine, in which ink is jetted from an ink-jet printhead in a print cartridge to clear nozzles in said printhead of any possible ink fully or partially dried in said nozzles, said method comprising the steps of providing a piece of absorbent material in said spittoon and wetting said absorbent material with a substantially non-reactive liquid having a vapor pressure lower than about 20 mm Hg at room temperature, said substantially non-reactive liquid comprising a hydrocarbon compound to increase absorbence by said absorbent material of ink jetted into said spittoon and prevent formation of dried ink in said spittoon.

A facsimile machine including an ink-jet print cartridge and means for printing received transmission, said facsimile machine further including a service station for servicing said print cartridge, said service station including a spittoon into which ink from said print cartridge is periodically spit in order to clear nozzles in said print cartridge, wherein said spittoon comprises a container having a bottom for receiving said ink and wherein said bottom of said spittoon is provided with an absorbent material, said absorbent material wetted with a substantially non-reactive liquid having a vapor pressure lower than about 20 mm of Hg at room temperature to increase absorbence by said absorbent material of ink jetted into said spittoon and prevent formation of dried ink in said spittoon.