Xerox Corporation

Ronald Larry Nichols

Scott J Phillips

Roger Gaylord Leighton

Donald J Drake

Andrew Wayne Hays

Elliott A Eklund

Antonio L Williams

Tallam I Nguti

John F Murphy

A method for disposing of waste ink from an image producing machine () is provided. The machine () includes a printhead () that ejects ink in its liquid form from a face () of the printhead (), the ink being phase change ink existing in liquid form above a melting temperature and in solid form below the melting temperature. The method includes: catching waste ink from the printhead () in a gutter (); heating the gutter () to a temperature above the melting temperature; and, flowing the waste ink from the gutter () into a collection container () where it is allowed to solidify.

Apparatus and method for waste ink disposal in solid ink jet printer

A printhead interposing maintenance method and apparatus are provided for maintaining a printhead assembly within a relatively tight space in an image producing machine. The printhead interposing maintenance apparatus for the method includes (a) at least a first home position adjacent a first side of four sides of an operating zone between a printhead assembly and an imaging surface in the image producing machine; (b) a first moving device for moving the printhead assembly from a printing first position adjacent the imaging surface to a maintaining second position spaced further away from the printing first position; (c) a maintenance apparatus movably supported for movement along an maintenance path interposed between the imaging surface and the printhead assembly; (d) a second moving device for moving the maintenance apparatus for contacting and maintaining the printhead assembly, and along the maintenance path from the at least first home position to a resting position adjacent a second side and opposite the first side of the four sides of the operating zone; and (e) a third moving device for moving the printhead assembly back from the maintaining second position to the printing first position.

Printhead interposing maintenance apparatus and method and image producing machine having same

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Canandaigua, NY, United States of America

Ronald Larry Nichols