Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head member having a nozzle and a liquid-ejecting unit; a main controlling part that drives the liquid-ejecting unit based on ejecting data; a capping member relatively movable between a position away from the head member and a position in contact with the head member; a suction way communicated with an inside of the capping member; and a built-in slide-rotator type of positive displacement pump provided in the suction way. A state-quantity recognizing part recognizes a state quantity related to a dry state in an inside of the positive displacement pump. A judging part judges whether the inside of the positive displacement pump is dry, by comparing the state quantity with a standard state quantity. A preliminary-operation carrying-out part carries out a preliminary operation for wetting the inside of the positive displacement pump, when the inside of the positive displacement pump is dry.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a printhead assembly comprising a printhead having an ink ejection face and a film guide sealingly bonded to the face, the film guide being positioned to guide a film through a transfer zone defined by a plane spaced apart from the face; (ii) positioning at least part of a film in the transfer zone and in sealing contact with the film guide, thereby forming a cavity defined at least partially by the film, the film guide and the face; and (iii) feeding the film through the transfer zone and away from the printhead, thereby removing ink from the cavity.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device is provided in which for a head having a plurality of nozzles, nozzle rows having clogged nozzles are detected in advance and suction is performed on the nozzle rows having clogged nozzles independently, thereby recovering the nozzles, while measures against the thickening of a liquid in nozzles can be carried out. A droplet discharge device includes: a head having a plurality of nozzle rows including a plurality of nozzles on a nozzle surface in order to discharge droplets of a supplied liquid; a non-discharge nozzle detector that detects which nozzle row of the plural nozzle rows has nozzles that are clogged so as to be a non-discharge nozzle; a suction device to seal a nozzle row including detected non-discharge nozzles on the nozzle surface and performing suction to eliminate the clogging of the non-discharging nozzles; and a moisture retaining device to seal the plural nozzle rows on the nozzle surface to retain the moisture of the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An inkjet head including: (a) a passage defining unit having (a-1) pressure chambers and (a-2) inlets opening in its an inlet defining surface and held in communication with the pressure chambers; (b) a filter plate disposed on the inlet defining surface of the passage defining unit; (c) a frame fixed to the inlet defining surface of the passage defining unit, and having an aperture which is formed therethrough such that the filter plate is surrounded by an inner circumferential surface of the aperture; and (d) an elastic plate disposed within the aperture of the frame, and having communication through-holes held in communication with the respective inlets of the passage defining unit through the filter plate. The frame includes an inward protrusion which protrudes inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the aperture.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance assembly comprises (i) a printhead assembly comprising a printhead having an ink ejection face and a film guide sealingly bonded to the face, the film guide being positioned to guide a film through a transfer zone defined by a plane spaced apart from the face; and (ii) an ink transport assembly comprising a film and a transport mechanism for feeding the film through the transfer zone and away from the printhead. In use, the film sealingly contacts with the film guide thereby forming a cavity defined at least partially by the film, the film guide and the face.

Abstract: A capping mechanism is disclosed for a printhead having a plurality of nozzles arranged to deliver ink onto print media which is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism comprises actuating means arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction away from a transport plane of the print media, from a printing first position to a capping second position, and a capping member which is arranged to engage in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead when the printhead is in the second position. Such a capping mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a pagewidth printhead assembly, and further disclosures are made in respect of a capping mechanism for a printhead assembly having two pagewidth printheads and in respect of an inkjet printer having the capping mechanism.

Abstract: Included are a recording medium feeder which feeds a recording medium, a printer which carries out a printing for the fed recording medium by ink discharged from a nozzle surface formed on a print head, and a cleaner (50) which cleans the nozzle surface, wherein the cleaner (50) includes a wiper blade unit (70) which wipes the nozzle surface with a wiper blade (75), and a roller wiper unit (60) which absorbs ink on the nozzle surface by ink absorbers (61b, 62b). The cleaner (50) enables to clean the nozzle surface sufficiently, whereby a good print quality can be maintained.

Abstract: A printhead assembly arranged to impede printhead module nozzles from drying out. The printhead assembly comprises a plurality of the printhead modules arranged along an axis. Capping devices are provided to cap respective printhead modules. A positioning arrangement is also provided for positioning the capping devices relative to the printhead modules so that the capping can be moved between a printing position and a capped position. In the capped position, nozzles of the printhead modules are capped so as to impede the nozzles from drying out.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with nozzles 4 and liquid passages 31, 32 leading to each nozzle. The nozzles, ejection actuators 14, associated drive circuitry 22 and liquid passage 31, 32 being formed on and through a wafer 21 using lithographically masked etching technique, such that the wafer has a droplet ejection side and a liquid supply side. Each of the liquid passages is formed by etching a hole 31 partially through the wafer 21 from the droplet ejection side, and etching a passage from the liquid supply side of the wafer 21 to the hole 31. Etching a hole 31 into the wafer 21 from the droplet ejection side means the ink supply passage 32 can stop short of the interface between the dielectric 23 and the wafer 21. The plasma does not get the opportunity to track along the interface and damage the drive semiconductors. By making the liquid supply passage 32 wider than the hole 31 to account for the inherent tolerances of the etching process, a suitable fluid connection is assured.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a pagewidth printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism has a capping member of a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position, and a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a direction normal to the printhead to effect nozzle capping engagement of the printhead when the printhead is in the second position.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus can reduce operations or time for preliminary discharge and reduce the influence of mist. A recovery mechanism portion is provided in which a slide member on which a cap is mounted is moved along cam surfaces following a movement of a carriage to cause the cap to abut against a recording head for capping. A first preliminary discharge position where ink is discharged from the recording head into the cap and a second preliminary discharge position where a distance between the recording head and the cap is shorter than the distance in the first preliminary discharge position are provided between a recording area where the recording head forms an image on a recording medium and a capping position.

Abstract: A waste ink tank including: a first storing section that stores waste ink and has an evaporation opening for the waste ink; a second storing section that stores the waste ink and is deeper than the first storing section, the second storing section having an evaporation opening which is smaller than that of the first storing section; and a waste ink receiving section which connects the first storing section and the second storing section and into which the waste ink is made to flow, the waste ink receiving section connecting the first storing section and the second storing section at a bottom surface thereof that is horizontal when the waste ink tank is used.

Abstract: An air removing device is connected to a tank to contain ink through a first supply tube, and an ink-jet head is connected to the air removing device through a second supply tube. The first supply tube and ink-jet head are heated and controlled. Air dissolved in ink is sucked out through a hollow fiber membrane provided in a housing by operating a vacuum pump by supplying ink to the hollow fiber membrane while heating and controlling atmosphere in the housing. Thus, air dissolved in ink is removed, and ink heated to a temperature suitable for ejection is supplied to the ink-jet head.

Abstract: A method of controlling an inkjet mechanism having an inkjet head movable between a capped position and a print position comprises the steps of receiving a first switch signal indicative of the inkjet head moving into the vicinity of one of the positions of the inkjet head as the inkjet head is moving towards the one of the positions of the inkjet head, and moving the inkjet head a learned amount towards the one of the positions of the inkjet head after the first switch signal has been received. The method may further comprise the steps of receiving a second switch signal indicative of the inkjet head moving into the vicinity of the other one of the positions of the inkjet head as the inkjet head is moving towards the other one of the positions of the inkjet head, and moving the inkjet head another learned amount towards the other one of the positions of the inkjet head after the second switch signal has been received. The learned amounts may be substantially the same.

Abstract: The printing apparatus comprises at least one printhead provided with nozzles for ejecting droplets of ink in a firing direction towards a printing media, and at least one priming device for performing a priming operation by which an amount of ink is caused to flow through the nozzles for maintenance thereof, wherein the priming device is actuated for said priming operation by a relative movement between the printhead being primed and the priming device, said movement being substantially in said firing direction.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a pagewidth printhead assembly and a capping mechanism. The printhead assembly has a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media as it is transported past the printhead. The capping mechanism has a capping member of a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, a first actuating mechanism arranged to move the printhead in an arcuate direction from a first to a second position, and a second actuating mechanism arranged to move the capping member in a lateral direction relative to the printhead to effect nozzle capping engagement of the printhead when the printhead is in the second position. The capping mechanism may be configured for capping in a printer having a printhead assembly with two pagewidth printheads.

Abstract: A printhead for an inkjet printer, with an array of nozzles for selectively ejecting drops of ink towards a print medium, and a protective structure between said nozzles and said print medium. The structure is configured so as not to obstruct ink drops ejected from the nozzles. The printhead also has an air supply for supplying positive air pressure to the protective structure, the air supply having an air intake with a filter and shut off valve for stopping air supply to the structure when the printer is in a non-printing operational mode; and, an air distribution ducting having one or more air passages in communication with the protective structure. The shut off valve has an apertured member with a plurality of apertures corresponding to each of the air passages. The apertured member is movable between a valve open position in which the air apertures are in communication with the air passages and a valve closed position in which the air apertures are not in communication with said air passages.

Abstract: A capping/purging mechanism is disclosed for a pagewidth printhead assembly having a pagewidth printhead and a plurality of nozzles located along the printhead for delivering ink onto print media which is transported past the printhead. The capping/purging mechanism comprises-i) a capping member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the printhead, ii) means arranged to move the capping member and/or the printhead to a position at which the capping member is located in nozzle capping engagement with the printhead, and iii) a purging chamber arranged to receive material that is purged from the printhead. The capping mechanism is also disclosed in relation to a printhead assembly having two pagewidth printheads, and further disclosures are mede in respect of an inkjet printer incorporating the capping mechanism and a method of capping a pagewidth printhead.

Abstract: A printer includes a recording head and a maintenance mechanism for sucking an ink in the recording head. A plurality of cartridges to be attached to the printer includes a first housing portion for storing an ink to be supplied to the recording head and a second housing portion for storing a waste ink discharged from the maintenance mechanism. In a first one of the cartridges, the flow path resistance of a cartridge side flow path from a waste ink introducing portion to an air communicating hole for discharging air in a waste ink reservoir portion to an outside through the waste ink reservoir portion is lower than the flow path resistance of each of the cartridge side flow paths of the other cartridges (FIG. 14).

Abstract: The invention provides a configuration capable of judging whether an ink jet head is exchanged or whether it is replaced, and changing an amount of recovery operation when the ink jet head is exchanged or replaced. Thus a recording apparatus capable of avoiding a defective ink supply in case the ink jet head is exchanged or replaced, and not wasting the ink by unnecessarily excessive recovery operation, can be provided.