Cleaning mechanism for inkjet print head with fixed gutter

A cleaning mechanism for an ink jet printer with a print head having a surface containing a plurality of orifices therein, said printer having a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting ink in a nonprinting mode, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a wiper blade assembly for cleaning said print head surface;
• (b) a means for moving, positioning, and aligning said wiper blade assembly;
• (c) a canopy for facilitating flow of a cleaning liquid to said print head surface;
• (d) a means for delivery of said cleaning liquid;
• (e) a means for vacuum suction of said cleaning liquid;
• (f) a filter for removing contaminants from said liquid returned through said vacuum suction of said canopy;
• (g) a vacuum pump to provide suctioning of said liquid;
• and
• (h) a liquid reservoir
• wherein said liquid is delivered to said print head surface by said means for delivery and suctioned back through said means for suction to said filter whereby said contaminants are removed from said liquid returned through said means for suction before being discharged to said liquid reservoir to be dispensed back through said means for delivery.

A wiper blade assembly of a self-cleaning ink jet printer with a print head having surface containing a plurality of nozzles therein, said printer having a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting ink flowing through said nozzles in a non-printing mode and a mounting block, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a wiper blade for cleaning said print head surface;
• (b) a means for moving, positioning, and aligning said wiper blade;
• (c) a canopy attached to said wiper blade and having a channel for delivery and a channel for vacuum suction of a cleaning liquid;
• (d) a filter for removing contaminants from said liquid returned through said vacuum suction of said canopy;
• (e) a vacuum pump to provide suctioning of said liquid;
• and
• (f) a liquid reservoir;
• wherein said liquid is delivered to said print head surface by said delivery channel in said canopy and suctioned back through said vacuum channel to said filter whereby said contaminants are removed from said liquid returned through said channel before being discharged to said liquid reservoir to be dispensed back through said delivery channel of said canopy.

A self-cleaning inkjet printer, comprising:

• (a) a print head having a surface thereon;
• (b) an ink reservoir containing ink;
• (c) a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting said ink in a non-printing mode;
• and
• (d) a cleaning assembly having a wiper blade assembly for cleaning said print head surface, said wiper blade assembly having a cleaning liquid delivery channel and a cleaning liquid removal channel, said wiper blade assembly having a canopy including at least a portion of said cleaning liquid delivery channel and at least a portion of said cleaning liquid removal channel, wherein said wiper blade assembly is operable to contact said print head.