Self-cleaning ink jet printer system with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer system

A self-cleaning printer system, comprising:

• (a) a print head having a surface susceptible to having contaminant thereon and having a fluid flow passageway therethrough in communication with the surface for conducting a flow of cleaning fluid through the passageway and to the surface;
• and
• (b) a cleaning assembly disposed relative to the surface for directing the flow of fluid along the surface to clean the contaminant from the surface, said assembly including:
• (i) a septum disposed opposite the surface for defining a gap therebetween sized to allow the flow of fluid through the gap, said septum accelerating the flow of fluid to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of fluid, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of fluid and whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the surface while the shearing force acts against the contaminant;
• and
• (ii) a valve in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid through the gap from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction.

A self-cleaning printer system, comprising:

• (a) a print head having a surface defining an orifice therethrough, the orifice susceptible to contaminant obstructing the orifice, said print head having a first passageway and a second passageway therein flanking the orifice;
• (b) a cleaning assembly disposed proximate the surface for directing a flow of liquid along the surface and across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the orifice, said assembly including:
• (i) a cup sealingly surrounding the orifice, said cup defining a cavity therein;
• (ii) an elongate septum disposed in the cavity defined by said cup perpendicularly opposite the orifice for defining a gap between the orifice and said septum, the gap sized to allow the flow of liquid through the gap, said septum accelerating the flow of liquid in the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of liquid, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of liquid, whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice while the shearing force acts against the contaminant and whereby the contaminant is entrained in the flow of liquid while the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice;
• (iii) a valve system in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid through the gap from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction;
• (iv) a pump in fluid communication with the gap for pumping the liquid and entrained contaminant from the gap;
• (c) a controller connected to said cleaning assembly and said print head for controlling operation thereof.

A self-cleaning printer system, comprising:

• (a) a print head having a surface defining an orifice therethrough, the orifice susceptible to contaminant obstructing the orifice, said print head having a first passageway and a second passageway integral therewith and flanking the orifice;
• (b) a cleaning assembly disposed proximate the surface for directing a flow of liquid along the surface and across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the orifice, said assembly including:
• (i) a cup sealingly surrounding the orifice, said cup defining a cavity therein to allow the flow of liquid through the cavity in order to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of liquid while the flow of liquid moves through the cavity, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of liquid, whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice while the shearing force acts against the contaminant and whereby the contaminant is entrained in the flow of liquid while the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice;
• (ii) a valve system in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid through the cavity from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction;
• (iii) a pump in fluid communication with the cavity for pumping the liquid and entrained contaminant from the cavity;
• and
• (c) a controller connected to said cleaning assembly and said print head for controlling operation thereof.

A method of assembling a self-cleaning printer system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) disposing a structural member opposite a surface of a print head for defining a gap therebetween sized to allow a flow of cleaning fluid through the gap, the member accelerating the flow of fluid to induce a shearing force in the flow of fluid, whereby the shearing force acts against the surface while the shearing force is induced in the flow of fluid and whereby the surface is cleaned while the shearing force acts against the surface;
• (b) forming a passageway integral with the print head and in communication with the surface for conducting the flow of fluid to the surface;
• and
• (c) coupling a junction to the gap for changing flow of the fluid through the gap from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction.

A method of assembling a self-cleaning printer system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) disposing a cleaning assembly relative to a surface of a print head for directing a flow of cleaning fluid along the surface to clean a contaminant from the surface, the assembly including a septum disposed opposite the surface for defining a gap therebetween sized to allow the flow of fluid through the gap, the septum accelerating the flow of fluid to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of fluid, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of fluid and whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the surface while the shearing force acts against the contaminant;
• (b) forming a passageway through the print head and in communication with the surface for conducting the flow of fluid to the surface;
• and
• (c) providing a valve to be disposed in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction.

A method of assembling a self-cleaning printer system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a print head, the print head having a surface defining an orifice therethrough, the orifice susceptible to contaminant obstructing the orifice;
• (b) forming a passageway through the print head and in communication with the surface for conducting the flow of fluid to the surface;
• and
• (c) disposing a cleaning assembly proximate the surface for directing a flow of liquid along the surface and across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the orifice, the step of disposing a cleaning assembly including the steps of:
• (i) providing a cup for sealingly surrounding the orifice, the cup defining a cavity therein;
• (ii) disposing an elongate septum in the cup perpendicularly opposite the orifice for defining a gap between the orifice and the septum, the gap sized to allow the flow of liquid through the gap, the septum accelerating the flow of liquid to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of liquid, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of liquid, whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice while the shearing force acts against the contaminant and whereby the contaminant is entrained in the flow of liquid while the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice;
• (iii) providing a valve system to be disposed in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction;
• (iv) providing a pump to be disposed in fluid communication with the gap for pumping the liquid and entrained contaminant from the gap;
• and
• (d) connecting a controller to the cleaning assembly and the print head for controlling operation thereof.

A method of assembling a self-cleaning printer system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a print head, the print head having a surface defining an orifice therethrough, the orifice having contaminant obstructing the orifice;
• (b) forming a first passageway and a second passageway integral with the print head and flanking the orifice;
• (c) disposing a cleaning assembly proximate the surface for directing a flow of liquid along the surface and across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the orifice, the step of disposing a cleaning assembly including the steps of:
• (i) providing a cup for sealingly surrounding the orifice, the cup defining a cavity therein sized to allow the flow of liquid through the cavity in order to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the flow of liquid, whereby the shearing force acts against the contaminant while the shearing force is induced in the flow of liquid while the flow of liquid flows through the cavity, whereby the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice while the shearing force acts against the contaminant and whereby the contaminant is entrained in the flow of liquid while the contaminant is cleaned from the orifice;
• (ii) a valve system in fluid communication with the gap for changing flow of the fluid through the gap from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction;
• (iii) disposing a pump in fluid communication with the cavity for pumping the liquid and entrained contaminant from the cavity;
• and
• (d) connecting a controller to the cleaning assembly and the print head for controlling operation thereof.