Printhead maintenance system comprising face flooding system and ink transport assembly

摘要

A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) an ink supply system comprising a face flooding system for flooding ink from the printhead onto the face; and (c) an ink transport assembly comprising: a transfer surface for receiving flooded ink from the face and a transport mechanism for feeding the transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from the printhead. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from the face.