Citronix continuous inkjet printers feature the proprietary SmartFlush™ printhead maintenance operation. Makeup Solvent is used to clean the printhead, nozzle and gutter at shutdown providing a
consistent, reliable daily startup.

SmartFlush™ is designed to provide clean and effortless start-up of a printer ensuring immediate high quality print and significantly reduced downtime by eliminating the daily requirement for manual printhead cleaning. The system operates by activating the makeup solvent vacuum valve delivering makeup to the printhead. The makeup solvent is controlled with the printhead valve and vacuum valve to ensure the nozzle and gutter are clean of ink residue that could potentially alter a successful start-up sequence.

The following tests have been repeated on numerous occasions with zero start-up failures reported; therfore, 100% successful start-ups:

- 50 days without head cleaning

- 30 starts/stops in a day without cleaning

- 30 days after shutdown without cleaning

- 40 consecutive restarts after un-controlled shutdown