Abstract: A wiper for an ink jet printhead comprises a monolithic body having a mounting portion and a head portion, the head portion including a wiper portion and a beam portion for supporting the wiper portion on the mounting portion. The mounting portion has a bottom surface and a slot centered in the bottom surface where the slot extends toward the head portion from the bottom surface and receives a mounting beam that is movable. The wiper is characterized in that the wiper portion has two non-parallel side surfaces which diverge from the beam portion and intersect a flat top surface of the wiper portion at acute angles so as to form two parallel wiping edges which may alternately wipe the printhead as the printhead moves back and forth relative to the wiper. Because the side surfaces of the head portion form angles of less than 90.degree. with the top surface there is less tendency for the head to trap and ride on ink wiped from the printhead.

Abstract: A maintenance station for an ink jet printer comprises two modules supported from the printer middle frame by a tongue and groove arrangement and secured in place only by retaining elements integrally formed with the middle frame. The first module includes a wiper element and a cap to provide an air seal around the nozzles. The wiper and cap are mounted on a pivoted rocker element so that as the wiper is moved toward the printhead the cap is moved away therefrom and visa-versa. The second module carries a small DC motor, a nut with a pair of forked arms, and gearing for converting bidirectional rotation of the motor into linear reciprocal motion of the forked arms. The forked arms engage projections on the rocker element so that the wiper or cap is moved toward or away from the printhead depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. In a first position of the rocker element the wiper is positioned in the path of the printhead so as to wipe the nozzles as the printhead is moved back and forth.