Ink jet printhead wiper having side surfaces intersecting a top surface

Abstract

A wiper for an ink jet printhead comprises a monolithic body having a mounting portion and a head portion, the head portion including a wiper portion and a beam portion for supporting the wiper portion on the mounting portion. The mounting portion has a bottom surface and a slot centered in the bottom surface where the slot extends toward the head portion from the bottom surface and receives a mounting beam that is movable. The wiper is characterized in that the wiper portion has two non-parallel side surfaces which diverge from the beam portion and intersect a flat top surface of the wiper portion at acute angles so as to form two parallel wiping edges which may alternately wipe the printhead as the printhead moves back and forth relative to the wiper. Because the side surfaces of the head portion form angles of less than 90.degree. with the top surface there is less tendency for the head to trap and ride on ink wiped from the printhead. The beam portion has a hole extending through it thus making it more flexible. This permits a harder material to be used in the wiper without causing damage to the printhead. The wiper is normally supported on the opposite side of the plane of record feed from the printhead and may be raised into the path of travel of the printhead. An optional blotter may be provided for absorbing from the wiper the ink which is wiped from the printhead.