Print head servicing system and method employing a solid liquefiable substance

A method of servicing an orifice plate portion of a print head of an inkjet printer having a wiper to remove unwanted accumulations from the portion of the print head, comprising the steps of:

• providing a container of servicing substance which is normally in a non-flowable state at non liquefying temperatures, but made flowable by heating to a liquefying temperature;
• transferring non-flowable servicing substance from said source onto at least one of two elements involved in print head servicing, said two elements consisting of said print head and said wiper;
• heating said substance so as to change the substance from a non-flowable state to a flowable servicing fluid;
• and
• wiping said print head with said wiper by moving the wiper relative to the print head, said servicing fluid acting to enhance cleaning of the print head.

A method of servicing a portion of a print head of an inkjet printer comprising the steps of:

• providing a container of non-flowable substance for servicing said print head;
• providing a tape for carrying said substance;
• applying said non-flowable substance to said tape;
• and
• moving said tape and said substance transported thereon into contact with one of two elements involved in servicing said print head, said two elements consisting of a wiper and said print head, to transfer said non-flowable substance from said tape to said one element.

A wet wiping system for a print head having a thermally controlled orifice plate, comprising:

• a source of solid treatment agent, said source being spaced from the orifice plate for facilitating the removal of debris therefrom;
• and
• biasing means for moving an amount of said solid treatment agent from said source along an engagement axis relative to the orifice plate to facilitate the transferring of said amount of the agent onto the orifice plate for print head cleaning purposes;
• said amount of the agent releasing a sufficient volume of treatment fluid when heated to a sufficient liquefying temperature by the orifice plate to facilitate orifice plate wiping when said orifice plate and the biasing means are moved relative to one another.

A method of wet wiping a print head having a thermally controlled orifice plate, comprising steps of:

• providing a solid treatment agent for facilitating orifice plate debris removal;
• moving a solid treatment agent along an engagement axis relative to the orifice plate;
• transferring an amount of the agent onto the orifice plate for print head cleaning purposes;
• and
• heating said amount of the agent to said sufficient liquefying temperature to cause said agent to release a sufficient volume of treatment fluid to to facilitate orifice plate wiping by an orifice plate engaging wiper.

A printer having a print head with a thermally controlled orifice plate, comprising:

• a solid treatment agent to facilitate orifice plate debris removal;
• a transfer means for moving said solid agent relative to the orifice plate;
• and
• biasing means mounted to said transfer means for helping to direct said solid agent along an engagement axis relative to the orifice plate to facilitate the transferring of an amount of the agent onto the orifice plate for print head cleaning purposes;
• said amount of the solid agent releasing a sufficient volume of treatment fluid when heated to a sufficient liquefying temperature by the orifice plate.