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IP.com Disclosure Number: IPCOM000027499D
Original Publication Date: 1997-Jun-30
Included in the Prior Art Database: 2004-Apr-08

Publishing Venue

Xerox Disclosure Journal


Disclosed is a method for improved cleaning, maintenance and performance of thermal ink printing devices. The method comprises providing a maintenance fluid that is matched, for example, in physical properties such as viscosity, to those properties of the ink used in the ink printing device, for example, the base fluid or liquid vehicle used in formulating the ink without the pigment and other colored additives present. A matched maintenance fluid allows for effective jetting after wet wiping. By ensuring effective jetting of the ink, the number of purge or waste drops required to remove the fluid ingested by the printhead is minimized. The matched maintenance fluid is also preferably jettable by a thermal ink jet drop ejector. The use of a maintenance fluid that is properly matched to the ink's physical properties enables improved cleaning of nozzles and maintaining reliable jetting performance over time.