XJ128 and XJ128 Plus Printhead
XJ128 Guide to Operation
Xaar Document no: D031010302 Version A
Page 46
Excessive wiping can scratch the nozzle-plate. A soft (SH 30) fluoroelastomer wiping blade available
from Xaar. Please contact your appointed sales engineer for details.
8.3.4 Vacuum wiping
The vacuum-wipe maintenance technique has two main functions:
Removal of excess ink on the nozzle plate area
Removal of contamination on the nozzle plate area
Note that no contact is made to the nozzle plate itself, as this could cause scratching and in the case
of the XJ128/200 and XJ126/360 would permanently damage the non-wetting coating. A wiping
nozzle, which may be a small pipe, drawing a vacuum, is passed along adjacent to the nozzle plate,
‘
vacuuming
’
the ink. This is shown in figure 8.3.
Figure 8.3
–
Vacuum wiping of printhead
The vacuum wiping maintenance method is normally used after a printhead purge to remove excess
ink. This is an ideal maintenance technique for the printheads with NWC.
8.3.5 Blotting
When using the XJ128/200 and XJ128/360 printheads with some inks, it may be necessary to adopt
a
‘
blotting
’
maintenance technique. The blotting pad should be a non
-shedding absorbent cloth or
sponge. Take care not to wipe the printhead across the nozzle plate as this may cause damage to
the non-wetting coating. The absorbent cloth or sponge should touch the ink film on the nozzle plate
and does not necessarily need to contact the nozzle plate. The blotting would be used following a
pressure purge to collect the excess ink that may have collected on the nozzle plate. The procedure
is only to be used with the printheads fitted with the non-wetting coating on the nozzle plate as the
distribution of the ink on the surface of the nozzle plate after the blotting cannot be controlled.
Vacuum
Wiping nozzle