US Patent 7524018 Printer cartridge with capping seal surrounding orifice surface

An inkjet printer cartridge that has a. an orifice plate; and b. a platform surrounding said orifice plate, said platform defining a surface for sealably engaging a cap. By keeping the capping and maintenance separate from the replaceable cartridge, the production cost of the cartridge is reduced. Providing a support platform around the orifice plate that is configured to engage the cap and seal the printhead requires less manufacturing precision than a capping mechanism that directly engages the orifice plate. Production efficiencies from lower precision assembly have particular significance for high volume products.