Printer and printhead with active debris prevention

A printer having at least one printhead, the at least one printhead including:

• an array of nozzles and respective ink ejectors that, in use, eject ink onto a media substrate;
• and,
• a nozzle guard positioned to inhibit damaging contact with the exterior of the array of nozzles;
• said nozzle guard having an array of passages in registration with the array of nozzles so as not to impede the normal trajectory of the ink ejected from each nozzle, each of said passages having an inner end adjacent the nozzles and an outer end remote from the nozzles;
• said nozzle guard including at least one fluid inlet opening in fluid communication with the inner ends of the passages
• the printer including a source of a pressurized air in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet opening, wherein said air passes through said passages from the inner ends to the outer ends, to inhibit the build up of foreign particles on the nozzle array.