Cleaning device and a method for cleaning an ink jet printing head

摘要

A cleaning device for cleaning a printing head of an ink jet cartridge of an ink jet printer comprises a box having a base closed by a lid. A resilient support pad laminated to the base supports a cleaning member for cleaning the printing head. The cleaning member comprises a backing sheet laminated to the support pad, and a plurality of upstanding fibres woven into and extending upwardly from the backing sheet. The maximum dimension of the fibres is less than the minimum dimension of the ink jet orifices of the printing head for enabling the fibres to project into the ink jet orifices for cleaning thereof. The fibres are of hydrophobic material but are packed sufficiently tightly together for retaining a cleaning liquid by a capillary type action therebetween.