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An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing for supporting an ink supply in a cavity within the cartridge housing and a color or ink type discrimination structure connected to the cartridge housing, the color discrimination structure being when assembled a generally cylindrical structu

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing for supporting an ink supply in a cavity within the cartridge housing and a color or ink type discrimination structure connected to the cartridge housing, the color discrimination structure being when assembled a generally cylindrical structure having a keyway formed therein wherein the color or ink type discrimination structure may be oriented through rotation about the central axis of the cylindrical structure in one of plural allowable orientations when the cartridge housing is assembled or after assembly to define a color or ink type of ink in the cartridge. Thus, the same structure or parts may be used in different cartridges containing ink of different colors but yet provide color discrimination.

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An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing for supporting an ink supply in a cavity within the cartridge housing and a color or ink type discrimination structure connected to the cartridge housing, the color discrimination structure being when assembled a generally cylindrical structu

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing for supporting an ink supply in a cavity within the cartridge housing and a color or ink type discrimination structure connected to the cartridge housing, the color discrimination structure being when assembled a generally cylindrical structure having a keyway formed therein wherein the color or ink type discrimination structure may be oriented through rotation about the central axis of the cylindrical structure in one of plural allowable orientations when the cartridge housing is assembled or after assembly to define a color or ink type of ink in the cartridge. Thus, the same structure or parts may be used in different cartridges containing ink of different colors but yet provide color discrimination. 13. The ink jet printed system of claim 12, further comprising a second piping segment providing a flow channel in a second direction between said reservoir and said rotating disk cleaning assembly so that used cleaning liquid is returned to said cleaning reservoir. 14. The ink jet printer system of claim 1, wherein said disk surface is located on a radial surface of said disk. 15. A self-cleaning ink jet printer system comprising: a print head having a surface thereon; an ink reservoir containing ink; a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting said ink in a non-printing mode; a rotating disk cleaning assembly for cleaning said print head surface, said rotating disk cleaning assembly including a disk; and an absorbent covering surrounding said disk, wherein said gutter further comprises an internal duct adapted to deliver a cleaning liquid to said absorbent covering. 16. A cleaning mechanism for a self-cleaning ink jet printer with a print head having a print head surface containing a plurality of orifices therein, said printer having a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting ink in a non-printing mode, said cleaning assembly comprising: a rotating disk cleaning assembly for cleaning said print head surface, said rotating disk cleaning assembly including a disk having a planar surface that interacts with said printhead surface, said planar surface being flat such that the interaction of said planar surface with said printhead surface remains constant during cleaning; a means for moving, positioning, and aligning said rotating disk cleaning assembly; a means for delivery of a cleaning liquid to said rotating disk cleaning assembly; a vacuum pump to provide suctioning of said cleaning liquid; and a cleaning liquid reservoir, wherein said cleaning liquid is delivered to said rotating disk cleaning assembly by said means for delivery and suctioned back by said vacuum pump so that contaminants are removed from said print head surface through the suctioning action of said vacuum pump before being discharged into said cleaning liquid reservoir. 17. The cleaning mechanism of claim 16, wherein said rotating disk cleaning assembly further comprises: a shaft connected to said disk for coming into direct contact with said print head to thereby remove contaminants from said print head surface; and a motor for driving said shaft. 18. The cleaning mechanism of claim 17, wherein said disk is surrounded by an absorbent covering that upon contact with said print head surface permits contaminants to be removed. 19. The cleaning mechanism of claim 16, further comprising a pump configured to assist in delivering cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to said rotating disk cleaning assembly. 20. The cleaning mechanism of claim 16, further comprising an ultrasonic transducer configured to assist in delivering cleaning liquid from said cleaning liquid reservoir to said rotating disk cleaning assembly. 21. The cleaning mechanism of claim 16 wherein said rotating disk cleaning assembly is mounted to said print head. 22. A cleaning mechanism for a self-cleaning ink jet printer with a print head having a print head surface containing a plurality of orifices therein, said printer having a gutter integrally connected to said print head for intercepting ink in a non-printing mode, said cleaning assembly comprising: a rotating disk cleaning assembly for cleaning said print head surface; a means for moving, positioning, and aligning said rotating disk cleaning assembly; a means for delivery of a cleaning liquid to said rotating disk cleaning assembly; a vacuum pump to provide suctioning of said cleaning liquid; and a cleaning liquid reservoir, wherein said cleaning liquid is delivered to said rotating disk cleaning assembly by said means for delivery and suctioned back by said vacuum pump so that contaminants are removed from said print head surface through the suctioni ng action of said vacuum pump before being discharged into said cleaning liquid reservoir and said means for delivery comprises an internal duct in said gutter. 23. In a self-cleaning ink jet printer, a method for cleaning an ink jet printer head having a print head surface thereon, said ink jet printer including a fixed gutter assembly, a rotating disk cleaning assembly for removing contaminants from said print head surface and a controller, said method comprising the steps of: (a) translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly from a pre-defined home position to a cleaning position; (b) causing said rotating disk cleaning assembly to come in contact with said print head surface and remove contaminants therefrom, said rotating disk cleaning assembly including a disk having a planar surface that interacts with said printhead surface, said planar surface being flat such that the interaction of said planar surface with said printhead surface remains constant during cleaning; and (c) translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly from said cleaning position to said defined home position. 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of translating said print head to pre-defined maintenance position prior to said step of translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly to said cleaning position. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of translating said print head to a pre-defined printing position following said step of translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly from said cleaning position to said defined home position. 26. In a self-cleaning ink jet printer, a method for cleaning an ink jet printer head having a print head surface thereon, said ink jet printer including a fixed gutter assembly, a rotating disk cleaning assembly for removing contaminants from said print head surface and a controller, said method comprising the steps of: translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly from a pre-defined home position to a cleaning position; causing said rotating disk cleaning assembly to come in contact with said print head surface and moving said rotating disk cleaning assembly at a pre-determined speed and for a pre-determined distance in order to avoid colliding with said fixed gutter assembly; and translating said rotating disk cleaning assembly from said cleaning position to said defined home position.