Screen mesh catcher for a continuous ink jet printer and method for making same

This invention relates generally to the field of digitally controlled printing devices, and in particular to continuous ink jet printers in which a liquid ink stream breaks into droplets, some of which are selectively collected by a catcher and prevented from reaching a receiver while other droplets are permitted to reach a recording surface. A screen mesh ink drop catcher assembly, which is adapted to catch non-printed ink drops while not catching printed ink drops, includes a housing having a fluid return channel, and a screen extending from the housing operable to collect unwanted ink drops. The housing of the ink drop catcher assembly may include at least one surface, at least a portion of which is grooved and operatively associated with the screen thereby improving ink drop flow from the screen to the fluid return channel. The housing of the ink drop catcher assembly may include a screen support with the screen being at least partially positioned about the screen support. The screen support of the ink drop catcher assembly may include at least one surface, at least a portion of which is grooved and operatively associated with the screen thereby improving ink drop flow from the screen to the fluid return channel.