Abstract: A translational inkjet printhead servicing station for an inkjet printing mechanism, particularly one having imaging printheads for creating photographic quality images, includes a collapsible spittoon having a mouth that collapses during a portion of the servicing routine to save space. Spit ledges extend into the spittoon mouth to capture ink droplets and ink aerosol by-products, with the captured ink draining from the ledges into a catch basin below. The service station includes a printhead wiper blade having a tip that removes ink residue from the printhead. A dual-direction wiper cleaning system removes liquid components of the ink residue from the wiping tip in two opposing directions. In one direction, the liquid ink residue is pulled away from the wiper tip under capillary forces created by a series of grooves formed on the surface of the wiper blade, while in the opposite direction, the liquid components are absorbed off the tip by a wiper scraper.

Abstract: A translational inkjet printhead servicing station for an inkjet printing mechanism, particularly one having imaging printheads for creating photographic quality images, includes a collapsible spittoon having a mouth that collapses during a portion of the servicing routine to save space. Spit ledges extend into the spittoon mouth to capture ink droplets and ink aerosol by-products, with the captured ink draining from the ledges into a catch basin below. The service station includes a printhead wiper blade having a tip that removes ink residue from the printhead. A dual-direction wiper cleaning system removes liquid components of the ink residue from the wiping tip in two opposing directions. In one direction, the liquid ink residue is pulled away from the wiper tip under capillary forces created by a series of grooves formed on the surface of the wiper blade, while in the opposite direction, the liquid components are absorbed off the tip by a wiper scraper.