Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a capping and wiping system in a maintenance station which is connected to a common vacuum source. The wiping system includes a blotter-type collection member which presents an air vent when the printhead is in a capped position. When a priming operation is initiated, the air vent route is blocked, and full pressure is applied at the capping nozzle interface.

Abstract: A storage container for temporarily storing an ink jet printhead cartridge during periods of non-use, the container including an improved nozzle capping mechanism which permits a variable range of forces to be applied to obtain the necessary sealing. The membrane is characterized by having, on one surface, a ribbed section which encircles the nozzle area to form a sealing perimeter. The other surface of the membrane has a shallow recess formed beneath the ribbed section, the recess providing for inward deflection along the ribbed area, the ribbed section maintaining an effective seal throughout a deflectable range. The arrangement solves a prior art problem of membrane buckling when excessive force is applied.

Abstract: An ink container for an ink printer is disclosed of the type wherein a foam member is seated within the ink container in which ink is drawn by capillary action through an ink outlet port in the container. The interior surface of the compartment of the container which seats the compressed foam has been treated so as to establish two areas of surface finish. A first area, adjacent the face of the container through which the foam is inserted, has a fine surface finish to prevent the foam from rebounding or bulging back through the entrance face following insertion. A second finish, in the more interior portion of the compartment, is relatively coarser and is designed to prevent the foam member from pulling away from interior corners and insures a more even distribution of the foam.

Abstract: A maintenance station for an ink jet printer has a wiper blade cleaning assembly which contains two wiping blades releasably mounted in slots in a blade holder. The blade holder has two opposing extensions perpendicular to and positioned on opposite sides of the mounted blades. The blade holder is movably mounted in a fixed structural member of the maintenance station and is biased towards the ink jet printhead, which traverses past the cleaning assembly on a carriage to and from the maintenance station, by a resilient urging means, such as a foam or spring housed in a receptacle in the structural member. The blade holder extensions are parallel to each other and the direction of traversal by the printhead.