Wet wiping printhead cleaning system using a non-contact technique for applying a printhead treatment fluid

A method of servicing applying servicing fluid to a printhead of an inkjet printer printing mechanism comprising the steps of :

• providing a wiper mounted for movement with respect to the printhead to facilitate removing unwanted accumulations from the printhead;
• providing a source of printhead servicing fluids;
• providing a non-contact applicator and orienting said applicator to project servicing fluid in a reproducible quantity onto a surface of at least one element selected from a group consisting of two elements, the printhead and the wiper through surrounding atmosphere;
• transporting servicing fluid from said a source to said a non-contact applicator comprising a resilient spring;
• projecting the servicing fluid through the atmosphere from said spring onto said at least one element of said printhead and a printhead wiper;
• and
• wiping the printhead by moving the wiper with respect to the during relative movement of said wiper and printhead to remove unwanted accumulations from the printhead, said non-contact applicator comprising a spring;
• and said servicing fluid being projected by:
• deforming said applicator spring;
• and releasing said applicator spring to project servicing fluid from said spring onto said printhead by rebound of said spring.

A system for servicing an inkjet printer having a printhead reciprocally moved by a carriage and a wiper positioned to move with respect to the printhead in wiping contact therewith to remove unwanted accumulations, comprising:

• a source of printhead servicing fluid;
• a servicing fluid applicator for projecting servicing fluid through the atmosphere onto at least one of the printhead and wiper;
• and
• means for transferring servicing fluid from said source of servicing fluid to said applicator, wherein said applicator comprises an elastically deformable spring for impelling treatment servicing fluid toward at least one of the printhead and wiper.

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

• providing a wiper mounted for movement with respect to the printhead in wiping contact therewith to remove unwanted accumulation from a portion of the printhead;
• providing a source of printhead servicing fluid;
• providing another inkjet printhead as a non-contact servicing fluid applicator and orienting said applicator to jet servicing fluid in a reproducible quantity onto a surface of the printhead of said inkjet printer and the wiper;
• transporting servicing fluid from said source to said applicator;
• jetting service fluid from said applicator through atmosphere onto the printhead of said inkjet printer and the wiper;
• and
• wiping the printhead of the inkjet printer by moving the wiper with respect to the printhead to remove unwanted accumulation therefrom;
• and
• further comprising the steps of:
• vaporizing said servicing fluid to jet ejectingly said fluid from said applicator printhead;
• and
• said servicing fluid being projected from said applicator printhead onto the printhead and said wiper.

A system for servicing a portion of a printhead of an inkjet printer having a printhead reciprocally moved by a carriage and a wiper positioned and adapted to move with respect to the printhead in wiping contact therewith to remove unwanted accumulations from a portion of the printhead, comprising:

• a source of printhead servicing fluid;
• a servicing fluid applicator comprising a pump having an outlet for projecting a reproducible quantity of servicing fluid through atmosphere onto at least one of said printhead and said wiper;
• and
• means for transferring servicing fluid from said source of servicing fluid to said servicing fluid applicator.