A nozzle guard for an ink jet printhead.

摘要

A printhead assembly is provided comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged to eject ink from an associated nozzle opening onto media in an ejection direction, and a nozzle guard arranged to cover the nozzles in the ejection direction so as to provide a space between the nozzles and the nozzle guard. The nozzle guard comprises a plurality of passages positioned so that each passage is in register with a corresponding one of the nozzle openings and an inlet arranged to direct fluid over the nozzles and through the passages so that a fluid pressure within the space is less than that within the space without the fluid. This low pressure region above the nozzles inhibits the build up of foreign particles on the nozzles.