Abstract: There is proposed a washing solution for washing an inkjet printer head which performs printing by feeding an ink comprising at least two kinds of polymerizable compounds each differing in viscosity, a photopolymerization initiator, and pigment. This washing solution is characterized in that it contains not less than 50 parts by weight of a polymerizable compound selected from the polymerizable compounds included in the ink and having a lowest viscosity among the polymerizable compounds, or not less than 50 parts by weight of a polymerizable compound having a viscosity of 30 mPa·sec or less at ordinary temperature.

Abstract: A method of removing ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises transferring the ink onto a film moving past the face. Damage to the face is avoided, since the film does not contact the face.

Abstract: To clean a print head of an ink jet printer comprising an ink gun (1), connected, by means of devices capable of being controlled, to an ink chamber (2), a solvent chamber (8), a vacuum source (16), and an ink collection gutter (22) capable of being connected in a controlled manner to a vacuum source (16), the following steps are performed: (1) an interruption of a hydraulic connection between the gun (1) and the ink chamber (2) is ordered, (2) the gun (1) is connected to the vacuum source (16), (3) the solvent chamber (8) is hydraulically connected to the vacuum source (16) via a circuit (12, 14, 20) comprising the ink gun (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to various embodiments for a flushing system for an ink jet printer, wherein a flushing fluid source provides a flushing fluid to a manifold wherein the flushing fluid is introduced into the printer's lines, and capping device as well as past the print heads, wherein residual ink is reduced or removed.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance device which conveys an ejection receiving medium along a prescribed conveyance path; a recording head which deposits ink on the conveyed ejection receiving medium to form an image, the ink containing solvent and coloring material; and a liquid absorbing member which is made of a porous body having pores, the liquid absorbing member coming into contact with the ink deposited on the ejection receiving medium so that an excess of the solvent is removed, wherein: the conveyance device conveys the ejection receiving medium at a conveyance speed from 100 mm/s through 600 mm/s while the liquid absorbing member is in contact with the deposited ink; and the pores of the liquid absorbing member has a pore diameter from 10 ?m through 100 ?m.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system comprises an ink jet print head including one or more nozzles for ejecting ink drops. A substrate is adjacent to the nozzles. The substrate is adapted to be wetted by a solvent and to produce a solvent vapor in the vicinity of the nozzles.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method of inkjet printing system maintenance is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) moving a maintenance unit to an inkjet print head that is in a position normally employed to dispense ink on a display object of a substrate; and (2) employing the maintenance unit to at least one of clean and calibrate the inkjet print head. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A wiping apparatus has a cover box which covers at least a feeding reel, a take-up reel, a wiping member and a spray head, as well as a sheet-feeding passage for the wiping sheet. The passage extends from the feeding reel to the take-up reel. The cover box has formed therein a member opening through which the wiping member protrudes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for ejecting liquid from openings to form an image on a printing medium, includes a head cap for covering the opening surface through which the openings open when a liquid ejection head in which the opening are formed is not in use and for protecting the openings from external air, a rechargeable battery for activating the image forming apparatus, a fuel cell for charging the rechargeable battery, and a liquid path along which water generated as the fuel cell is activated is introduced into the head cap. With this arrangement, when the liquid ejection head is not activated, moisture retention in the head cap can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides a print head parking structure that provides solvent and/or surface treatments for inkjet print heads. Print heads may be returned to the print head parking structure after a substrate has been printed, after one or more printing passes, and/or frequently enough to prevent ink from drying on or clogging the print heads. Once sealed within the print head parking structure, the print heads (or a portion thereof) may be sprayed with a solvent to dissolve or wash away any ink that has been deposited on the print heads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating liquids used in inkjet recording including, providing a first printing liquid and a second printing liquid that is capable of reacting with the first printing liquid to cause coagulation and thickening if mixed with the first printing liquid, and exposing the first and second printing liquids to each other to form a mixture, wherein when the mixture includes a coagulation-thickening preventing agent which prevents the reaction of the printing liquids.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating polyimide layer includes a print table for affixing a substrate thereon, an inkjet head installed over the print table and having a jetting surface with a plurality of nozzles for jetting polyimide liquid onto the substrate, a polyimide liquid supply tank for receiving a polyimide liquid therein, a cleaning liquid supply tank for receiving cleaning liquid, a wiper cleaning bar adjacent to the cleaning liquid supply tank, and a wiper movable from one side of the jetting surface to an other side of the jetting surface while the wiper contacts the jetting surface of the inkjet head, and rotatable to dip the wiper into the cleaning liquid and then contact the wiper cleaning bar so as to remove cleaning liquid from the wiper.

Abstract: A Cleaning fluid discharge openings capable of supplying a cleaning fluid is provided around a suction port mounted in opposition to a nozzle hole. A negative pressure generating source performs suction from the suction port to take out the cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid discharge openings and to contact the cleaning fluid, thus taken out, with a neighborhood of the nozzle hole, and the cleaning fluid thus contacted is sucked and recovered from the suction port. A member of the suction port is made of a porous resin and the cleaning fluid discharge openings comprise pores formed on a surface of the porous resin. A cleaning fluid supplied to the porous resin is taken out from the pores formed on the surface of the porous resin to clean the neighborhood of the nozzle holes and to simultaneously clean the suction port as a wiping member.

Abstract: The method for shutting down an ink jet printhead and an ink jet printing station, wherein the method includes maintaining a constant positive pressure at the drop generator by closing the cross flush valve or ensuring that the cross flush valve is closed, thereby closing off the fluid return line to create a constant positive pressure through the drop generator and the orifice into the fluid line. The shutdown continues by stopping the flow of fluid from the fluid supply line and circulating cleaning fluid through at least one filter, into the drop generator, out through the orifice structure, into the fluid line, and into a reservoir. The shutdown ends by flowing pressurized air, which is preferably clean of particulates, through the filter, drop generator, orifice structure, and fluid line to displace substantially all the cleaning fluid from the filter, drop generator, and orifice structure.

Abstract: A head unit is inverted so that an outflow port is in the lowest position. Because the top wall of the buffer tank slopes downwards towards the outflow port, all remaining cleaning fluid that was introduced during manufacture is removed. Also, a notch is provided in the bottom end of an ink introduction port. The notch faces towards the outflow port so that bubbles in the ink exit from the notch and are guided towards the outflow port. The head unit is shipped while the buffer tank is filled with preservation fluid that has high wettability and any openings to the outside air are closed off with covers. When the head unit is used, the preservation fluid is sucked by a purging device and then ink, which has a high affinity for the preservation fluid, is smoothly introduced. Also, the inner surface of the filters are treated to increase the wettability by ink after the filters are fixed to the bottom lid. Afterwards the bottom lid is fixed to the top lid to form the buffer tank.

Abstract: An ink jet print station with improved start-up reliability includes an ink reservoir and a printhead. The printhead has at least two drop generators, a return line connected to the generator's fluid ports, an orifice plate connected to the drop generator for forming jets, at least two filters, a controller for operating the valves to control flow, and an ink pump. The ink pump is adapted to move ink from the reservoir to the printhead. Upon startup, fluid is applied independently to the first filter and then the second filter. A method for at least partially filling filters in an ink jet uses the ink jet print station with improved start up reliability.

Abstract: A filler solution of the present invention, which is supplied to fill an inkjet head, contains water and a hydrolyzate of a silicon compound which has a hydrophilic group.

Abstract: A method for removing liquid in a gap of an ink jet printhead comprising a drop generator, with an outlet valve, orifice plate and charge plate, wherein a cross flush valve is additionally used to form a cross flush pressure in the drop generator, then actuators are used to vibrate the drop generator to a defined amplitude, then the outlet valve is closed to form a pressure spike in the drop generator then the pressure in the drop generator is lowered to a recommended operating pressure to establish a jet array and the system is operated until the gap is substantially free of liquid with dissolved residue.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for cleaning an inkjet printing head which has nozzle openings and ink channels which lead to them, in which electrical drive elements for ejecting ink out of the nozzle openings are located, in which the nozzle openings and the ink channels are forcibly flushed with cleaning liquid. To achieve improved cleaning action more gently and less expensively, the drive elements are triggered in an oscillating manner during the forced flushing with cleaning liquid. A cleaning device for carrying out this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning system for a continuous ink jet printer includes a first solvent supply conduit connected to a solvent source for conveying solvent through a supply opening and onto the front face of the print head. A second solvent supply conduit is connected to the solvent source for conveying solvent through a supply opening and onto a surface of the catcher. The solvent that is supplied to the print head and the catcher is removed under vacuum and returned to the ink supply system. The cleaning system may include an orifice unclogging mechanism that causes said solvent disposed on said front face to flow into said orifice in the reverse of the direction ink flows through said orifice for printing. The cleaning system may also include a piezoelectric element for generating a stress wave in the print head during cleaning.

Abstract: A system, including an ink supply system configured to supply ink to a printhead; and an autopurge unit configured to automatically clean the printhead. The autopurge unit includes a solvent supply in fluid communication with a solvent line, a solenoid housing, and a waste container. The solenoid housing includes a first solenoid assembly disposed within an ink line, wherein the ink line is in fluid communication with the ink supply and a first outlet that is configured to be in fluid communication with the printhead; and a second solenoid assembly disposed within a solvent line. The waste container is in fluid communication with a waste delivery line having a waste inlet. The waste inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with a waste line that is in communication with the printhead so that fluid waste from the printhead is deposited into the waste container.

Abstract: An automatic startup sequence for an ink jet print station using solvent based ink entails introducing a flushing fluid to the drop generator using the flushing fluid pump at a drive level and a flushing pressure that enables flushing fluid to flow through the jet array at a flow rate adequate to permit the catcher assembly to extract the flushing fluid; engaging the ink pump; and increasing the pressure of the flushing fluid from the initial pressure. The increased pressure is high enough for stable drop formation and drop deflection from the jet array and low enough to extract drops from the catcher, and to permit flushing fluid to flow freely through the catcher. The method ends by simultaneously opening the ink supply valve and closing the flushing fluid valve permitting ink to flow into the drop generator; and then stopping the flow of the flushing fluid.

Abstract: A wipe-off unit is provided with a cleaning liquid ejection member in a manner to be positioned below a horizontal surface coincident with a nozzle surface and on a sheet feeding side relative to a pressing roller. A wiping sheet is fed from below to the pressing roller through a space between the pressing roller and the cleaning liquid ejection member, and a cleaning liquid is applied to a surface of the wiping sheet.

Abstract: An automatic start-up for a continuous ink jet printer provides a dyeless flush fluid to the printhead to remove any particles or ink residue from the printhead and to wet the orifice plate before jets form. The pressure of the flush fluid is then raised to cause the flush fluid to begin jetting from the drop generator. Once jets are established, ink is supplied to the drop generator at the pressure of the jetting flush fluid. The flow of flush fluid is stopped. Since the printhead is being supplied with ink, ink replaces the flush fluid as the fluid being jetted from the drop generator. An ink heater is then turned on, increasing evaporation of solvent from the ink jetted from the drop generator. The solvent vapors condense on the relatively cool charge plate and catcher face. The condensate forming on these surfaces provides one final rinse of these surfaces to remove conductive ink from the charge leads and catcher face.

Abstract: A shutdown procedure is provided for removing all solvent ink from the printhead of an ink jet printer system that uses volatile ink for printing a shutdown method is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. Initially, a colorless flush fluid is provided which readily dissolves the ink. The flush fluid is crossflushed through the drop generator and caused to weep out of the orifices in the drop generator to dissolve and rinse away ink residues from the charge plate and the exterior of the orifice plate. The flush fluid is used to rinse off charging electrodes of the charge plate, the catcher face, and the catcher return line. Fluid crossflushed through the drop generator cleans the interior of the drop generator and cleans the crossflush valve.

Abstract: A fluid control valve capable of reducing or preventing a foam from being retained inside and reducing the likelihood or preventing the other fluid equipment placed downstream from causing a failure due to the foam, and a droplet discharging device using the fluid control valve, are provided. Fluid control valves and include a tank through which fluid flows, an inflow port through which fluid flows into the tank, an outflow port through which fluid flows out from the tank and a valve body for opening and closing the inflow port or the outflow port, the inflow port being provided below the outflow port.

Abstract: A method is described for removing residue from a fluid deposited on the interior surface of an inkjet printhead after the printhead has contained or dispensed the fluid at least once. The method makes use of a reverse flushing technique optionally used in combination with sonication. A cleaning station for flushing an inkjet printhead with a wash fluid, rinse fluid, and/or inert gas is provided as well.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead having a plurality of ink orifices formed therein. During printing, ink drops are ejected through the ink orifices into a print zone between the printhead and a print medium. An air current disruption system directs an air stream through the print zone as the ink drops are ejected so as to disrupt air currents acting on the ink drops during printing and prevent print defects caused by the air currents. The air stream, however, does not disrupt an intended trajectory of the ink drops during printing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for introducing micro-volume liquid. The method includes the following steps. A multi-channel inkjet print head is provided. The multi-channel inkjet print head includes a nozzle plate and a cartridge. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles. The cartridge includes a plurality of channels, communicating with the nozzles on the nozzle plate, and a plurality of openings located at the channels. The nozzle plate contacts with a buffer. The buffer is introduced into the channels via the nozzles on the nozzle plate by pressure. Reagents are introduced into the channels through the openings.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium includes a conveying belt for supporting and conveying the recording medium, and a recording head for recording the image by jetting ink onto the recording medium. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cleaning rollers for cleaning the conveying belt, the cleaning rollers being in pressure-contact with the conveying belt, and a plurality of cleaning liquid baths for respectively storing cleaning liquid to be used to remove dirt deposited on the respective cleaning rollers and for dipping the respective cleaning rollers into the cleaning liquid. The apparatus uses liquid waste as cleaning liquid in a cleaning liquid bath on an upstream side of the conveying belt, the liquid waste having become unable to be used in a cleaning liquid bath on a downstream side of the conveying belt any longer as cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the inkjet chip of an inject device. The inkjet device comprises an ink cartridge, a carrier, a wiper and a wiper stage. The carrier is used to load the ink cartridge. The wiper stage is used to load the wiper. The ink cartridge contains ink and has an inkjet chip. The inkjet chip has at least a set of inkjet nozzles. The method comprises the steps of: (a) relatively moving the carrier onto the wiper stage to locate the wiper to a position where the wiper can wipe the inkjet chip; (b) spraying the ink contained in the ink cartridge onto the wiper to moisturize the wiper; and (c) relatively reciprocating the wiper stage and the carrier to make the wiper wipe the inkjet chip.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system for inkjet printer incorporating a wiper for wiping the printhead including a treatment fluid applicator configured for placing treatment fluid onto at least one element of the printhead and wiper elements involved in wiping the printhead orifice plate surface, the treatment fluid being placed on said at least one element by direct contact of the applicator, subsequently the wiper wipes the printhead, the treatment being available to enhance cleaning effectiveness, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render unwanted accumulations on the printhead more removable by wiping.

Abstract: A printing system that includes a printhead head containing ink, and a tray cooperatively associated with the printhead and containing a waste solution in which the printhead is immersed to seal the printhead to prevent the ink from clogging the printhead when the printing system is not in operation.

Abstract: A cleaning station for a vertical nozzle plate of an ink jet printer includes a cylindrical cleaning roller that has an outer surface, and has a substantially vertical central axis and a substantially vertical rotational axis. The roller is spaced from the nozzle plate to form a cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. The roller has a top end above the nozzle plate and a bottom end below the nozzle plate. A drive element is connected to the roller to rotate the roller about its rotation axis. A fluid outlet near the top of the roller directs cleaning fluid onto the outer surface of the roller, and into the cleaning cavity between the roller and the nozzle plate. A fluid reservoir stores cleaning fluid, and a fluid conduit conducts cleaning fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: An automatic start-up sequence is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. At startup, colorless flush fluid is employed to remove in the drop generator and from the exterior of the orifice plate and from the charge plate. Jets of the flush fluid are established. Stimulation is applied to the jets and charge voltage is applied to the associated charging electrodes to deflect the jets toward the catcher. Concurrent with the jets being so deflected, the jetting fluid is changed from flush fluid for cleaning to the ink for printing. The ability to control the jets of fluid with charge voltage prevents splattering of fluid on the charge leads during the transition from make-up fluid to ink.

Abstract: A printer head cleaning system for cleaning a printer head, such as a video inkjet printer head reduces exposure of personnel to hazardous solvent vapors by containing and evacuating evaporated cleaning solvent vapors. The printer head cleaning system includes a printer head drying fixture configured to receive a printer head in an interior of the fixture and a vapor capture device for drawing air through the fixture and past the printer head to evaporate and evacuate vapors of the cleaning solution from the printer head. The fixture includes a first end, a second end, a port for receiving the printer head, and a fluid path within the interior of the fixture from the first end to the second end which passes around the printer head when the printer head is received in the fixture.

Abstract: A shutdown procedure is provided for removing all solvent ink from the printhead of an ink jet printer system that uses volatile ink for printing. A shutdown method is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. Initially, a colorless flush fluid is provided which readily dissolves the ink. The flush fluid is crossflushed through the drop generator and caused to weep out of the orifices in the drop generator to dissolve and rinse away ink residues from the charge plate and the exterior of the orifice plate. The flush fluid is used to rinse off charging electrodes of the charge plate, the catcher face, and the catcher return line. Fluid crossflushed through the drop generator cleans the interior of the drop generator and cleans the crossflush valve.

Abstract: A method for cleaning the nozzle plate of an inkjet printhead includes the steps of: providing a solvent on the nozzle plate; loosening debris collected on the nozzle plate by brushing the nozzle plate in the presence of the solvent with a brush; applying a cleaning solvent to the nozzle plate, and subsequently removing the cleaning solvent and debris from the nozzle plate by vacuum cleaning. Application of the cleaning solvent and the subsequent removal of the cleaning solvent provides a movement of solvent over the nozzle plate.

Abstract: An automatic start-up for a continuous ink jet printer provides a dyeless flush fluid to the printhead to remove any particles or ink residue from the printhead and to wet the orifice plate before jets form. The pressure of the flush fluid is then raised to cause the flush fluid to begin jetting from the drop generator. Once jets are established, ink is supplied to the drop generator at the pressure of the jetting flush fluid. The flow of flush fluid is stopped. Since the printhead is being supplied with ink, ink replaces the flush fluid as the fluid being jetted from the drop generator. An ink heater is then turned on, increasing evaporation of solvent from the ink jetted from the drop generator. The solvent vapors condense on the relatively cool charge plate and catcher face. The condensate forming on these surfaces provides one final rinse of these surfaces to remove conductive ink from the charge leads and catcher face.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a priming fluid in ink jet printers and in particular, to the use of an aqueous priming fluid used in conjunction with aqueous based ink jet inks in ink jet printers using ink jet printheads, such as, piezo ink jet printer heads.

Abstract: Both a cleaning fluid jet apparatus and method for cleaning an array of inkjet nozzles in a printhead is provided. The fluid jet apparatus includes a cleaning head having an array of cleaning nozzles registrable with the array of inkjet nozzles in the printhead, and a mounting assembly that mounts the cleaning head in opposition to the printhead with the cleaning nozzles in substantial alignment with the inkjet nozzles. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is connected to the cleaning nozzles such that the cleaning nozzles discharge a stream of high velocity cleaning droplets that impinges the inkjet nozzles. Both a droplet sizing mechanism and a droplet speed controller are provided so that the size, frequency, and velocity of the cleaning droplets may be selected for maximum cleaning efficiency. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for changing a location of cleaning droplet impingement so that both the inkjet nozzles and the areas immediately surrounding the nozzles may be effectively cleaned.

Abstract: A method is described for removing residue from a fluid deposited on the interior surface of an inkjet printhead after the printhead has contained or dispensed the fluid at least once. The method makes use of a reverse flushing technique optionally used in combination with sonication. A cleaning station for flushing an inkjet printhead with a wash fluid, rinse fluid, and/or inert gas is provided as well.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for cleaning an inkjet printing head which has nozzle openings and ink channels which lead to them, in which electrical drive elements for ejecting ink out of the nozzle openings are located, in which the nozzle openings and the ink channels are forcibly flushed with cleaning liquid. To achieve improved cleaning action more gently and less expensively, the drive elements are triggered in an oscillating manner during the forced flushing with cleaning liquid. A cleaning device for carrying out this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A resealed inkjet printer cartridge and method of manufacture in which an ink cartridge is reconditioned, recharged and resealed by a centrifugation process which substantially eliminates “air lock” or interruption of ink flow to the printer head due to entrained air; which provides for welding together recharged cartridge subassemblies without the use of consumable adhesive or glue; and having a keyless cap adapted for use in various keyed cartridge receptacle inkjet printers.

Abstract: A device for applying solvent to an inkjet printhead, the device being arranged to be mounted in an inkjet printer and comprising an applicator adapted to hold solvent and a positioning mechanism arranged to bring the applicator into contact with a substantial portion of the nozzle area of the printhead at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper after wiping ink residue from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The scraper system includes a stationary coarse scraper bar which the wiper passes over to remove the ink residue from the wiper body. The system a fine scraper of a foam material which may be impregnated with an ink solvent. The fine scraper foam is sliced to form segments separated by slits. As the wiper passes over the fine scraper, the wiper tip plunges into the slits to remove ink residue from the important wiper tips, leaving them clean for the next printhead wiping stroke. The fine scraper may be cam actuated to selectively engage the wiper or mounted stationarily. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having scraper system are also provided.

Abstract: The liquid ejecting device includes a member in which a plurality of nozzles are formed; a plurality of ejecting units each of which is formed in correspondence with each of the plurality of nozzles and ejects a liquid droplet from each of the plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of supply passages each of which supplies liquid to the plurality of ejecting units. A first liquid level position for a driving period and a second liquid level position for a storage period which are different from each other are set in each of a plurality of liquid flow passages including each of the plurality of nozzles and each of the plurality of supply passages corresponding thereto. Nozzle plugging can be advantageously prevented. The liquid ejecting device can provide an ink jet recording head having a long service life and also an ink jet printer having a long service life.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus having a cleaning station that cleans the orifice plate with a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid includes a hydrophobic additive that has a strong affinity for the orifice plate material and which coats the orifice plate to form a protective coating. If a portion of the protective coating is removed, that portion will be repaired by the additive.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead having a plurality of ink orifices formed therein. During printing, ink drops are ejected through the ink orifices into a print zone between the printhead and a print medium with an intended ink drop trajectory toward the print medium. An air movement system directs an air stream to the print zone substantially parallel to the intended ink drop trajectory as the ink drops are ejected during printing so as to affect air currents acting on the ink drops during printing and prevent print defects caused by the air currents. The air stream, however, does not disrupt the intended trajectory of the ink drops during printing.

Abstract: A wet-wiping printhead cleaning system including a treatment fluid applicator placing treatment fluid on at least one of two elements involved in wiping, said two elements being a printhead orifice plate surface and a wiper, the system being so configured that treatment fluid is applied before wiping the printhead by projecting treatment fluid onto at least one element through the atmosphere, thereby avoiding direct contact between the applicator and said one element, the treatment fluid being placed so as to be available to assist in wiping a portion of the printhead orifice plate where the nozzle orifices are located to remove debris that may have accumulated, the treatment fluid lubricating the wiper so as to lengthen wiper service life and enhance wiping performance, as well as acting to render such accumulations more removable by wiping, the source of treatment fluid being uncontaminated by contact with either the printhead or the wiper.