Abstract: A printer comprises a platen roller (22), a print head (12) that ejects ink from nozzle holes to a print medium held by the platen roller (22), a maintenance mechanism (13) that cleans the print head (12), and an ejected ink receptacle (18) that absorbs and holds ink ejected and discarded from the print head (12) by the spit operation. The ejected ink receptacle (18) is placed on the side of the platen roller (22) opposite to the side where the maintenance mechanism (13) exists. The ejected ink receptacle (18) comprises a replaceably provided absorbent pad. When the print operation temporarily halts, the print head (12) moves to a position where it opposes the ejected ink receptacle (18) and performs the spit operation for ejecting and discarding ink inside the nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capture member for directly capturing ink droplets ejected to an area other then a recording medium, among ink droplets ejected from a printer head for ink jet recording, wherein said member comprises a porous plastic produced by sinter molding of plastic particles, and contains an impregnating agent impregnated therein.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance facility with a core that mounts in an inkjet printer for movement relative to an inkjet printhead. The core has a plurality of maintenance station mounting sites, each with engagement formations. The core also has a plurality of maintenance structures for operation with the printhead, the plurality of maintenance structures each being mountable to at least one other of the plurality of maintenance station mounting sites.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus and printhead temperature retaining control method capable of suppressing power consumption, and reducing degradation in image quality. To achieve the object, a printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by discharging ink, executes the following processes. A first temperature adjustment process is executed to adjust the printhead temperature to a first adjustment temperature during the non-printing period in which preparation for printing the image is executed by discharging ink from the orifices. Additionally, a second temperature adjustment process is executed to adjust the printhead temperature to a second adjustment temperature during a printing period in which the image is printed on the printing medium by discharging ink from the orifices. The process is executed while providing a quiescent period without printhead temperature adjustment between the first and second temperature adjustment processes.

Abstract: An apparatus is to selectively purge a desired fluid-jet printhead of a number of fluid-jet printheads of a page-wide array fluid-jet device. The apparatus includes a purging insert movably locatable within a fluid channel of the page-wide array fluid-jet device. The fluid channel is to supply fluid to the fluid-jet printheads during normal operation of the page-wide array fluid-jet device. The apparatus includes a movement mechanism operatively coupled to the purging insert to move the purging insert within the fluid channel incident to the desired fluid-jet printhead. The apparatus includes a pressurizing mechanism fluidically coupled to the purging insert to pressurize fluid. The purging insert is to deliver the fluid as pressurized by the pressurizing mechanism to the desired fluid-jet printhead to purge the desired fluid-jet printhead.

Abstract: A method of maintaining an ink ejection face of a pagewidth printhead. The method includes the steps of: flooding the face with ink; positioning a transfer roller adjacent the face and without contacting the face; rotating the transfer roller and simultaneously transferring flooded ink from the ink ejection face onto the transfer roller; and removing ink from the transfer roller.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for spitting are disclosed.

Abstract: A waste liquid tank is arranged outside a printer. A connection port arranged at an upstream end of a duct extending from the waste liquid tank is connected to a transfer device. The transfer device is connected to a discharge side of a suction pump for drawing in ink from a nozzle of a recording head of the printer through a duct.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head, a liquid receiver, a liquid receiver movement mechanism, and a lid body is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle surface. The nozzle surface includes a nozzle opening. The liquid ejection head ejects a liquid from the nozzle surface. The liquid receiver has an opening provided in correspondence with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head. The liquid receiver is capable of receiving the liquid ejected as a waste liquid from the nozzle opening of the liquid ejection head through the opening of the liquid receiver. The liquid receiver movement mechanism moves the liquid receiver between a receiving position at which the opening of the liquid receiver opposes the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. The lid body is arranged at the non-receiving position.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: a print head; a maintaining unit; a timing unit; a notifying unit; a maintenance command determining unit; and a maintenance operation executing unit. The print head is formed with one or more ink ejection opening for printing a printing medium by ejecting ink through the ink ejection opening. The maintaining unit restores the ink ejection state of the print head by flowing ink through the ink ejection opening. The timing unit keeps track of an elapsed time after the maintaining unit has executed a maintenance operation. The notifying unit notifies a user when it is time to execute a maintenance operation if the elapsed time measured by the timing unit exceeds a prescribed time. The maintenance command determining unit determines whether or not the user has issued a command to execute a maintenance operation with the maintaining unit after the notifying unit has issued a notification.

Abstract: An ink supply system for purging an inkjet printhead is provided. The ink supply system comprises: (a) a first ink reservoir for supplying printing ink to the printhead; (b) a second ink reservoir for supplying purging ink to the printhead; and (c) a valve having a plurality of configurations, wherein: in a first configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the first ink reservoir via a first ink conduit, and in a second configuration the valve provides fluid communication between the printhead and the second ink reservoir via a second ink conduit.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus includes a recording head ejecting ink for image recording, a rotatable platen facing the head and has recording medium support surfaces supporting one or more recording media during the image recording, respectively, a driver rotating the platen and a controller controlling the driver so as to rotate the platen in such a way that a predetermined surface selected from the surfaces is stopped at a position facing the recording head. The surfaces support the one or more recording media transported in accordance with different transport patterns, respectively and have ink receivers receiving the ink having reached outside both sides of each of the one or more recording media transported during the image recording and being disposed in positions corresponding to vicinities of both sides of each of the one or more recording media.

Abstract: A liquid ejection method includes determining, according to image data, an ejection pixel that is a pixel at which a liquid is to be ejected and a non-ejection pixel that is a pixel at which a liquid is not to be ejected; determining, according to the image data, a nozzle requiring flushing; and ejecting liquid from the nozzle requiring flushing to the non-ejection pixel adjacent to the ejection pixel, the non-ejection pixel being among pixels associated with the nozzle requiring flushing.

Abstract: Printer ink-drop detectors are used to detect ink stalagmites forming on a waste ink receiving spittoon. A warning message can be issued so that the stalagmites can be removed before automatic printer shutdown is initiated. Additionally, a record of the ink stalagmite detection can be stored within the printer for later access by service personnel during routine maintenance and/or resource replenishment.

Abstract: A maintenance method that discharges liquid L collected in a liquid receiver 15 of a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first step of causing a nozzle opening face 43a of a liquid ejecting head 3 to be disposed facing the liquid receiver 15 in a non-contact state and applying an electric field between both, a second step of ejecting liquid D from a nozzle 47 to the liquid receiver 15, a third step of detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction at the time of ejecting the liquid D to the liquid receiver 15, a fourth step of determining a liquid level height H of the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver on the basis of a result of detection of the voltage change, and a fifth step of discharging the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver when the liquid level height H reaches a predetermined height.

Abstract: A method of removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) flooding the face with ink from the printhead, thereby dispersing the particulates into the flooded ink; and (ii) transferring the flooded ink, including the particulates, onto a disposable sheet moving through a maintenance zone adjacent the face, wherein the sheet does not contact the face.

Abstract: A device cleans an inkjet printhead in a franking and/or addressing machine. The inkjet printhead is disposed in a stationary manner such that it can be pivoted in a printing window of a guide plate for the print carrier. A cleaning and sealing device is disposed behind the guide plate such that it can be displaced toward and away from the inkjet printhead. This improves the print quality, prolongs service life, and provides a high throughput rate. Spraying clear is possible both during the print carrier transport and in a rest position without the letter run being soiled. The cleaning and sealing device is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead to be displaced by an associated displacement device. A matched baffle piece is disposed underneath the inkjet printhead such that it can pivot and is coupled to the latter.

Abstract: A method of purging and printing from an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) fluidically connecting the printhead to a second ink reservoir containing purging ink; (ii) purging the printhead using the purging ink, thereby flooding an ink ejection face of the printhead; (iii) removing the flooded ink from the ink ejection face; (iv) fluidically connecting the printhead to a first reservoir containing printing ink; and (v) printing from the printhead using the printing ink.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus for performing maintenance ejection onto a printed image makes it possible to obtain a favorable printing image by rendering maintenance ejection ink dots inconspicuous. Pixel position comparison is performed between an objective pixel and data in a pixel position at the same address to detect whether image data is present at the same address. When the image data is not present in the same position, comparison operation is performed on a subsequent objective pixel. When the image data is present in the same position, processing with an image processing mask is performed on the image data in a print buffer. The image data in the print buffer is combined with the maintenance ejection data to generate image printing data. This image processing makes it possible to thin out dots from the image data and to render the maintenance ejection ink dots inconspicuous.

Abstract: A printer functioning as a liquid ejection apparatus includes a recording head having nozzles, a flushing sheet feeding mechanism, and a cleaning mechanism. The flushing sheet feeding mechanism feeds a flushing sheet for absorbing ink, which is ejected from the nozzles, from a non-flushing position separated from the recording head to a flushing position facing the recording head and from the flushing position to the non-flushing position during flushing. The cleaning mechanism removes the ink absorbed in the flushing sheet after flushing.

Abstract: In a liquid discharging apparatus for discharging droplets from a liquid discharge nozzle to a discharge object to be discharged and in a method for controlling the liquid discharging apparatus, cleaning effects for the ink discharge nozzle and the adjacent areas can be enhanced, and the time required for a series of performance maintaining operations can be reduced. The apparatus includes a platen plate for supporting recording paper as the discharge object, defining a positional relationship between the discharge object and the liquid discharge head, and receiving the droplets discharged from the liquid discharge head. Ink droplets are preliminarily discharged from the ink discharge nozzle to the platen plate.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: First, second, and third ink absorbing bodies are accommodated in a container of a recovery reservoir in this order from the side corresponding to a bottom surface of the container, so that an introduction chamber is defined in the middle of a recovery space. A lid having a shutter plate and a communication hole is located over the third ink absorbing body. The upper side of the introduction chamber is covered by the shutter plate to suppress volatilization of solvent element of waste ink introduced into the introduction chamber. In addition, the communication hole is located in a portion of the upper surface of the third ink absorbing body, so that solvent element of ink absorbed by the third ink absorption body volatilizes.

Abstract: A platen for supporting a reverse surface of a recording medium under a recording head capable of performing image recording with ink droplets on the recording medium, which is conveyed along a specified direction in a main body of an inkjet recording apparatus. The platen comprises an ink receiving portion which receives ink and an ink guiding portion. The ink guiding portion guides the ink received by the ink receiving portion to an ink absorbing member. Specifically, the ink guiding portion guides the ink to an ink guide groove provided in an upper surface of a placement portion, on which the ink absorbing member is placed.

Abstract: A printhead purging system comprises an ink conduit for supplying ink to a printhead, a hammer head for hammering a wall of a compressible part of the conduit, a spring-loading mechanism for priming the hammer head, and a release mechanism for releasing the primed hammer head. Release of the primed hammer head compresses the ink conduit and results in purging of ink from the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printer with a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (28), an ink supply reservoir (6) for storing ink, an ink supply line (3) defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC, and a valve (22) in the ink supply line proximate the printhead IC selectively closing the flow path to the printhead IC.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head which includes nozzles, a paper feeding mechanism which feeds a recording medium to the recording head, a paper discharge mechanism which discharges the recording medium from the recording head, a detecting mechanism which detects a change occurred in the paper feeding mechanism or the paper discharge mechanism, a recovery mechanism which recovers a jetting state of the nozzles, a timer which measures a time elapsed after the recovery operation is carried out, and a controller which controls the recovery mechanism according to the elapsed time. When the recovery operation for the nozzles is necessary, an operation preceding the recording operation is detected, and the recovery operation is carried out promptly before the recording operation, thereby shortening a waiting time of a user.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus including an inkjet head including a nozzle portion having a length in a main scanning direction that is at least the same as a width of a paper to be fed therein, a platen to move between a printing position facing the nozzle portion and to support a rear surface of paper and a maintenance position that is apart from the printing position in a sub-scanning direction, and including a receiving portion to receive waste ink, a waste ink container, and a pumping unit to operate by linking with a moving operation of the platen to pump the waste ink from the receiving portion to the waste ink container.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided with a recording head, a main tank, a tube, a transfer device, a transfer amount determination device and a driving device. The recording head includes a sub tank for storing ink and an ejection nozzle. The main tank stores ink to be supplied to an inside of the sub tank. The tube connects the sub tank and the main tank. The transfer device transfers ink existing in the tube. The transfer amount determination device determines at least one transfer amount of a mixture of the ink and air transferred through the tube while air moves from a first detection position to a second detection position of the tube. The driving device controls driving of the transfer device in accordance with the at least one transfer amount determined by the transfer amount determination device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus uses a printhead, which has a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, each having a plurality of nozzles with a first nozzle discharging a first amount of ink and a second nozzle away having a plurality of nozzles with a second nozzle discharging a second amount of the ink and including nozzles to be used for printing on a printing medium and nozzles not to be used for printing on the printing medium. The printing apparatus selects, from the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, nozzles to be driven within a predetermined period. The printing apparatus controls preliminary discharge control to drive the nozzles to be used for printing and the nozzles not to be used for printing by alternatively selecting the first nozzles and the second nozzles.

Abstract: For a low saturation and high density region in a printed sheet identified based on rasterized data, flushing ejection is executed, with landing positions dispersed in the region. For a region being low in saturation but not high in density, an edge portion of the region is determined as landing positions. During these processes, adjustment is made to the ejection from inkjet nozzels for color components which are not to be subjected to the flushing ejection, to maintian the original hue of the region. This achieves the flushing ejection minimizing the degradation of the quality of the printed sheet. Further, in the variable printing, necessity of the flushing ejection is judged based on details to be printed on a base page. This causes the evacution of the flushing ejection whenever individual printed sheets are produced. Therefore, the print quality is held uniform during the production of different printed sheets.

Abstract: An algorithm for preliminary firing of ink droplets through inkjet nozzles prior to inkjet printing operation is disclosed. According to this algorithm, a calculation is made of a scheduled time of a next nozzle-cleaning operation which succeeds a time instant at which a last firing operation was implemented, by a predetermined reference-time-interval, and an operation is performed concerning a reduction in a frequency at which the nozzle-cleaning operation is repeated, by monitoring the calculated scheduled-time of nozzle-cleaning operation, on a time-line basis.

Abstract: When the number of sheets that have been printed has reached the number of sheets guaranteed for printing, a number representing a upper limit of the number of sheets that can be printed, an ink jet printer declines to perform printing with an ink cartridge for which the number of sheets guaranteed for printing has been set, but when the number of sheets printed has not reached the number of sheets guaranteed for printing, performs printing of an image onto a recording sheet S by using the ink cartridge, the ink jet printer determining the number of sheets remaining N on the basis of the number of sheets printed that have been printed, and displaying on a display unit 82 the number of sheets remaining information display screen 80 incorporating a number of sheets remaining display unit 80b that causes visual recognition of a relation between the number of sheets guaranteed for printing and the number of sheets remaining.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an inkjet printhead is provided. The system including: (a) an ink reservoir for storing ink; (b) and ink conduit providing fluid communication between the ink reservoir and the printhead; and (c) a hammer mechanism for compressing part of the ink conduit.

Abstract: A method of operating a print head comprises heating the print head from a first temperature below a melting temperature of the phase change ink to a second temperature above the melting temperature. The print head has a nozzle plate with plurality of nozzles for ejecting the phase change ink onto an ink receiver. A first pressure is applied to an interior of the print head as the temperature of the print head increases from the first temperature to the second temperature. The first pressure is configured to prevent phase change ink from entering into the print head through the nozzles of the print head. The first pressure is removed from the print head in response to the print head being at approximately the second temperature.

Abstract: A printing device has a printer head that contains a first device for applying the ink onto a substrate. The first device includes ink nozzles for applying the ink. A second device is provided for moving the printer head from its home position into a working area and back. A waste ink container is placed in the home position of the printer head and opposite of the ink nozzles in the home position of the printer head and the waste ink container contains an open-pore absorber material. The absorber material bears a hygroscopic material on its interior and/or exterior surfaces.

Abstract: A method of reducing intermittent weak or missing (IWM) jet failures in a phase change ink imaging device comprises fluidly connecting a positive pressure source to a print head assembly of a phase change ink imaging device. The print head assembly includes a plurality of ink jets for emitting ink drops onto an ink receiver. The method includes activating the pressure source to deliver a positive pressure pulse to the print head assembly. The pressure pulse is delivered at substantially a purge pressure. The pressure pulse has a pulse duration such that the pressure pulse bulges ink from the plurality of ink jets without emitting ink from the plurality of ink jets.

Abstract: A printer comprises: an inkjet head including nozzles for discharging ink; a holding member which holds a print medium; a moving mechanism which moves the holding member and/or the inkjet head so as to move the inkjet head relative to the holding member in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction for printing by the inkjet head on the print medium; and a print control unit which controls the inkjet head and the moving mechanism so as to execute flushing printing on the print medium for preventing clogging of the nozzles while moving the inkjet head relative to the holding member in a first printing direction in the main scanning direction and to execute pattern printing on the print medium according to pattern printing data while moving the inkjet head relative to the holding member in a second printing direction in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is capable of performing a non-margin recording operation without a margin on a recording medium and providing a waiting time between a moment of termination of a movement of a carriage in one of opposite directions and a moment of initiation of a subsequent movement of the carriage in the other direction, if the non-margin recording operation is performed during the movement of the carriage in the above-indicated one direction. The carriage is moved in the other direction (returned) at a speed lower than that of the movement in the above-indicated one direction, so that the back surface of an edge portion (e.g., leading end portion) of the recording medium is protected from contamination with an ink mist produced from the ink droplets.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a liquid-ejected object includes: an object transport unit; a head unit having a nozzle row; a drying unit that dries the liquid of the liquid-ejected object; a flushing sheet that receives the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting nozzles; and a flushing control unit that controls a flashing frequency of the liquid ejecting nozzles of the head unit on the basis of positions of the liquid ejecting nozzles, the frequency is related to a positional relationship between positions of the liquid ejecting nozzles and the drying unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are colorant compounds of the formula wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each, independently of the others, is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each can be joined to a phenyl moiety to form a ring, each R?a, R?b, and R?c, independently of the others, is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitrile group, a nitro group, an amide group, or a sulfonamide group, z1, z2, and z3 each, independently of the others, is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, n is an integer representing the number of carbon atoms in each repeat alkylene oxide unit, x is an integer representing the number of repeat alkylene oxide units, D is an anion, and g is the charge on the anion, wherein said colorant has no more than one —OH, —SH, or primary or secondary amino group per molecule.

Abstract: An ink-jet image forming apparatus includes an ink-jet head having at least a first nozzle portion and a second nozzle portion, where each nozzle portion may independently perform preliminary ink ejection is provided.

Abstract: An ink jet printer for discharging ink drips to a printing medium mounted on a conveying belt and conveyed from a plurality of nozzles, in which the printing quality is improved and the printed speed is raised. A printing medium conveying section has first and second conveying portions connected in the conveying direction of the printing medium and a plurality of conveying belts are arranged by mutually keeping a predetermined interval, in which the conveying belts of the first and second conveying portions are set so that an other-hand conveying belt is located between one-hand conveying belts, and a printing head is constituted of first head set to a position facing the gap between the conveying belts of the first conveying portion and a second head set to a position facing the gap between the conveying belts of the second conveying portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are colorant compounds of the formula wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each, independently of the others, is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and wherein R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 each can be joined to a phenyl moiety to form a ring, each R?a, R?b, and R?c, independently of the others, is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitrile group, a nitro group, an amide group, or a sulfonamide group, z1, z2, and z3 each, independently of the others, is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, n is an integer representing the number of carbon atoms in each repeat alkylene oxide unit, x is an integer representing the number of repeat alkylene oxide units, D is an anion, and g is the charge on the anion, wherein said colorant has no more than one —OH, —SH, or primary or secondary amino group per molecule.

Abstract: A waste ink storage structure including: container walls, defining a storage space adapted to store a waste ink; a waste ink inlet portion adapted to pour the waste ink into the storage space; a vent communicating the storage space with atmosphere; and a valve, provided at the vent to be opened when the waste ink is poured from the waste ink inlet portion.

Abstract: The droplet discharging apparatus includes: a discharging head which has discharge holes for discharging liquid droplets; a conveyance device which conveys at least one of the discharging head and discharge receiving media in a direction substantially orthogonal to a width direction of the discharge receiving media to cause the discharging head and the discharge receiving media to move relative to each other; a belt which holds the discharge receiving media in a discharge region opposing a face of the discharging head whereon the discharge holes are formed, the belt having a purge region comprising an absorbing member which receives and absorbs the liquid droplets discharged from the discharging head during preliminary discharge; and a positional alignment device which aligns a position of the purge region in such a manner that the purge region is positioned between the discharge receiving media.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus using a recording head which can eject ink droplets having different sizes, a problem in which the recording image quality is decreased or mist is generated when the recording is performed on a predetermined area of a recording medium can be prevented. In the ink droplets having the different sizes, the size of the ink droplet used for the recording is set in accordance with the recording area to perform the recording based on the setting.

Abstract: An ink jet method for forming patterned layers on substrates permits a predetermined number of substrates to have respective patterned layers formed thereon. The inkjet method, however, further prevents clogging of the ink jet system when not in use to coat/layer substrates. A further step is provided, after all the desired substrates have been patterned, that making the liquid level of the ink in the nozzle changed within each predetermined time interval during/over the course of a predetermined amount of time. By changing the liquid level of the ink in the nozzle in a given period, each nozzle is able to remain unclogged (i.e., the ink in a nozzle does not have sufficient time to dry/harden prior to being jetted).

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a liquid receiving member, a liquid receiving member moving mechanism, and a liquid ejection head moving mechanism. The liquid ejection head ejects liquid from liquid ejection nozzles in a nozzle surface to a target transported along a target transport surface opposed to the nozzle surface. A portion of the liquid receiving member receives the liquid ejected from the liquid ejection nozzles in flushing. The liquid receiving member moving mechanism moves the liquid receiving member until an opening faces the nozzle surface in printing, and until the liquid receiving portion faces the nozzle surface in the flushing. The liquid ejection head moving mechanism moves the liquid ejection head until the nozzle surface reaches a printing position close to the target transport surface in the printing and a flushing position spaced from the target transport surface in the flushing.