Printhead cleaning system

Abstract

According to an example, an apparatus may include a printhead to deliver a printing liquid from firing chambers through a plurality of bores arranged along a surface of the printhead. The apparatus may also include a cleaning system to apply a pressurized cleaning fluid onto the surface of the printhead while preventing application of the pressurized cleaning fluid into the firing chambers through the plurality of bores.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a printhead including a plurality of bores arranged along a surface of the printhead; and   a cleaning system including:
 a plurality of pivotable nozzles, 
 a pressuring device to, during a cleaning phase of the printhead, pressurize a cleaning fluid to be sprayed out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to clean the surface of the printhead, and 
 a pivoting mechanism to control a movement of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to cause the plurality of pivotable nozzles to be pointed toward sections of the surface of the printhead outside of the plurality of bores of the printhead to allow the pressurized cleaning fluid to be applied onto the surface of the printhead while preventing the pressurized cleaning fluid from entering into the plurality of bores of the printhead. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the printhead is movable between a printing position and a cleaning position,
 wherein in the printing position, the printhead delivers a printing liquid from a plurality of firing chambers through the plurality of bores onto build material particles, and in the cleaning position, the cleaning system applies the pressurized cleaning fluid to remove residual build material particles from the surface of the printhead.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the surface of the printhead is coated with a stick resistant material to reduce sticking of the residual build material particles on the surface of the printhead. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the pivoting mechanism controls the movement of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to position the plurality of pivotable nozzles at angles that are not perpendicular to the surface of the printhead. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning system further includes:
 a drop generator located under each of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to force droplets of the pressurized cleaning fluid to be expelled out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning system further includes:
 a reservoir containing the cleaning fluid, and   a gutter to catch the pressurized cleaning fluid that was sprayed out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles and return the pressurized cleaning fluid to the reservoir for reuse.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising:
 a printhead including a plurality of bores arranged along a surface of the printhead; and   a cleaning system for cleaning the surface of the printhead when the printhead is in a cleaning position, the cleaning system including:
 a plurality of pivotable nozzles, 
 a pivoting mechanism to control a movement of the plurality of pivotable nozzles, 
 a reservoir containing a cleaning fluid, and 
 a pressuring device to pressurize the cleaning fluid to be sprayed out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to clean the surface of the printhead. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the pivoting mechanism controls the movement of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to cause the plurality of pivotable nozzles to be pointed toward sections of the surface of the printhead outside of the plurality of bores of the printhead to allow the pressurized cleaning fluid to be applied onto the surface of the printhead while preventing the pressurized cleaning fluid from entering into the plurality of bores of the printhead. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the printhead is movable between a printing position and the cleaning position,
 wherein in the printing position, the printhead delivers a printing liquid through the plurality of bores onto build material particles, and in the cleaning position, the cleaning system applies the pressurized cleaning fluid to remove residual build material particles from the surface of the printhead.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the surface of the printhead is coated with a stick resistant material to reduce the residual build material particles being stuck on the surface of the printhead. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the pivoting mechanism controls the movement of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to aim the plurality of pivotable nozzles at angles that are not perpendicular to the surface of the printhead. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the cleaning system further includes:
 a drop generator located under each of the plurality of pivotable nozzles to cause droplets of the pressurized cleaning fluid to be expelled out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the cleaning system further includes:
 a gutter to catch the pressurized cleaning fluid that was sprayed out of the plurality of pivotable nozzles and return the pressurized cleaning fluid to the reservoir for reuse.