Abstract: A cover and cleaning device for ink printing heads consisting of a sealing plate pivotably disposed in front of the nozzle plate, said sealing plate having a cut-out with sharp edges in the area of the discharge openings of the nozzle plate, and being held by means of a tension strap. A crank mechanism has a crank pin which engages a slot of the sealing plate for moving the sealing plate back and forth between two detents. The sealing plate and crank mechanism are allocated to the print head. The sealing plate can be coated with a teflon film.

Abstract: An air venting or bleed device for the ink supply systems of ink jet printer unit in which individual printing jets are connected through a distributor arrangement and supplied with printing liquid from a reservoir, with air being bled from the reservoir through an air-bleed passage disposed in the device and communicating at one end with the reservoir, and at the other with the surrounding air, the air-bleed passageway having a diameter sufficiently small to produce a capillary effect.