Ink printing head with gutter cleaning structure and method of assembling the printer

A self-cleaning printer comprising:

• a print head having a surface thereon, the surface including an orifice region having at least one ink-ejection orifice defining an ink ejection path, a first gutter disposed on the surface proximate a first side of the orifice region, a second gutter disposed on the surface proximate a second side of the orifice region opposite the first side thereof, the first and second gutters being disposed on the print head substantially perpendicular to the ink ejection path, and a pump including an outlet connected in fluid communication with the first gutter and an inlet connected in fluid communication with the second gutter;
• a cover member having a first position removed from the print head and a second position substantially over the print head opposite the orifice region of the surface and the gutters for forming an enclosure defining a cavity over the orifice region and the gutters sized to allow fluid flow from the first gutter over the orifice region to the second gutter;
• and
• a seal member positioned for forming a sealed condition around the cavity.

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

• providing a print head, the print head having a surface defining at least one orifice therethrough, the at least one orifice defining an ink ejection path, the at least one orifice being susceptible to obstruction by contaminants, a first gutter disposed on the surface proximate a first side of the at least one orifice, and a second gutter disposed on the surface proximate a second side of the at least one orifice opposite the first side, the first and second gutters being disposed on the print head substantially perpendicular to the ink ejection path, the first gutter being connected to a source of a cleaning fluid and the second gutter being connected to a receiver for the cleaning fluid;
• providing a cover member corresponding in size and shape to a region of the surface including the at least one orifice, the first gutter and the second gutter, the cover member having a first position removed from the print head and a second position substantially over the print head;
• and
• removeably positioning the cover member in the second position opposite the region in sealed relation to the surface around the region defining a cavity therebetween for flow of the cleaning fluid from the first gutter over the at least one orifice to the second gutter.