RESIDUE GUARD FOR NOZZLE GROUPS OF AN INK JET PRINTHEAD

摘要

A nozzle guard (80) for an ink jet printer printhead with an array (14) of nozzles (10). The nozzle guard (80) has an array of apertures (84) individually corresponding to the nozzle array (14). The ink droplets are ejected through the apertures (84) and onto the media to be printed. A wiper blade (143) sweeps dust and residual ink (144) stuck to the exterior surface (142) of the nozzle guard (80) characterized in that the exterior surface ha s one or more recesses (146) encompassing a group or pod of the apertures (84) to prevent the wiper blade (143) from engaging the exterior surface (142) immediately adjacent any of the apertures (84) in the pod.