Cleaning of orifices in an ink jet printing apparatus

摘要

For use in an ink jet printer having an ink jet print head (1) defining a plurality of orifices (9) for ejecting ink droplets (77), an ink cleaning cavity (80) spaced from a printing position for receiving cleaning fluid. A roller (119) which is disposed in the cleaning cavity and partially submerged in the cleaning fluid and spaced from the structure, is rotated so that the fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller. The print head is brought into proximity with the cleaning roller so that the orifices are cleaned by the cleaning fluid carried on the roller and delivered through the cleaning cavity to the print head. <IMAGE>