Abstract: An inexpensive ejection recovery device for an ink jet printing apparatus is provided which can simultaneously perform suction-based recovery operations using a single cap while preventing different kinds of ink from getting mixed in the print head. For this purpose, the ejection recovery device of the invention has a cap to cover a plurality of ejection ports formed in the print head and a pump connected to an exhaust port formed in the cap to generate a predetermined pressure. The cap is formed with a plurality of suction ports and with a plurality of paths connecting each of the suction ports and the exhaust port. Flow resistances of the paths from each of the suction ports to the exhaust port are set equal.

Abstract: In the present invention, the minimum necessary consumption of ink can recover the channel miss state of the plurality of nozzles. The present invention provides a recovery processing method of an ink jet printing apparatus for forming images using a print head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets. The method comprises a first step for detecting channel miss state of said plurality of nozzles, and a second step for executing at least one of different recovery processes depending on the channel miss states of said plurality of nozzles detected in the first step.

Abstract: In order to maintain an ink ejectability of a print head which ejects ink droplets to a recording medium, a wiper wipes a nozzle formation face of the print head. A wiper cleaner is formed with a slit which scrape away adhesions on the wiper when the wiper passes through the slit. A width of the slit is substantially identical with a thickness of the wiper.

Abstract: Heating elements are driven to continuously perform a dummy jet when the number of accumulated printed sheets reaches a predetermined number that causes the image quality deficiency. The surface temperature of a recording head is increased to T1° C. to boil ink in the individual channel. A bubble attached to the common liquid chamber side edge of the individual channel is spaced from the wall surface to be expanded to be integrated with other bubbles, and then, is discharged from the common liquid chamber to an ink supply chamber by its floating force. The bubble can be removed reliably.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording by using recording device for discharging plural different inks, comprising a cap for covering a plurality of discharge ports for discharging the different inks, and a pump connected to a suction port of the cap and adapted to apply negative pressure to interior of the cap, and wherein the discharge ports and the suction port are arranged so that flow paths of the inks flowing from the respective discharge ports to the suction port when the inks are sucked from the discharge ports by driving the pump do not pass by the discharge ports for the different inks.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image in a predetermined image forming region by discharging ink droplets includes an image forming unit for forming an image in the predetermined image forming region, and a suction unit for sucking air including ink mist generated when forming the image by the image forming unit. The suction unit includes at least one suction port provided near the image forming region, and an exhaust path formed below said suction port. The exhaust path includes a slope inclined in a direction crossing a direction of flow of the air including the ink mist sucked into the exhaust path, and an ink collecting portion provided on the slope. According to this configuration, the apparatus collects ink mist generated during recording.

Abstract: There is provided an inkjet printing head carrying a sub-tank from which accumulated gases can be easily discharged. The inkjet printing head includes a sub-tank which has a movable section constituted by a deformable film sheet, a spring for generating a negative pressure, and a supply/discharge channel for supplying ink and discharging accumulated gases. The sub-tank is intermittently supplied with ink from a main tank and reserving the ink. The supply/discharge channel is provided in a position where it does not interfere with the movable section and the spring, e.g., in a frame of the sub-tank. The supply/discharge channel is preferably formed in an upper part of the sub-tank, e.g., a ceiling section of the sub-tank.

Abstract: A printing device, in particular a franking machine, has a print head that can be moved along a first direction into a first longitudinal position, and a station that cooperates with the print head in the first longitudinal position. The print head is cleaned and/or maintained and/or retained and preserved at the station. The print head is designed and/or arranged to move toward the station in a second direction that extends transversely with respect to the first direction in order to cooperate with the station.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet color recording apparatus capable of forming a good image by preventing solidification of ink. The ink jet color recording apparatus has a recovery step of recovering the injection function of a black nozzle by recovering black ink (pigment ink) remaining in the black nozzle into a black cap, and a supply step of supplying color ink (dye ink) to the black cap after the recovery step. Thus, the pigment ink recovered into the black cap by the recovery step can be made into mixed ink hard to dry, and further ink adhering to the inner wall of a suction hose connected to the black cap can be made into mixed ink residue hard to dry.

Abstract: A head jetting property maintenance device includes a wiping device for wiping a recording head, a capping device for sealing the recording head, and a driving device including two planet gears for transmitting a drive force to the wiping device and the capping device and one rotary device for rotating the planet gears, and the driving device is able to drive the wiping device and the capping device in either of normal and reverse directions of the rotary device by switching the engagement of one of the planet gears to the engagement of the other of the planet gears and vice versa. With such a mechanical arrangement, there is no need that providing flags to detect the initializing positions of the cap and wiper are provided on cams for driving the cap and the wiper thereby effecting sensing them. Accordingly, the assembling and adjustment of the device are simplified, and the cost to manufacture the device is decreased.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning device for an inkjet printing head and a method for cleaning such a head; a wiper to be used for cleaning the inkjet printing head; and an inkjet printing apparatus having such a wiper for preventing the deposition of ink on the side of a printing head. Slits facing to the side of the printing head are formed on a wiper made of a sheet of rubber, which moves relatively with the printing head.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of cleaning the nozzle area and the ink nozzle of a print head of an inkjet imaging apparatus include devices of moving the nozzle area into contact with an imaging media, wherein the nozzle area is moved relative to the imaging media to thereby scrub contaminants and the like from the nozzle area and the ink nozzle. The is accomplished by way of an actuating mechanism that can be configured either to move the print head or to move a backup object which, in turn, moves the imaging media. The print head can be configured to spray ink onto the imaging media just prior to bringing the nozzle area and imaging media into contact with one another, wherein the wet ink can have a solvent effect during the scrubbing of the nozzle area against the imaging media.

Abstract: An ink jet printing device has an ink jet printing head capable of moving back and forth along a print track to perform a printing job. The ink jet printing head has a plurality of nozzles and corresponding driving units. The servicing method has the steps: (1) recording status of each driving unit; (2) determining a service job corresponding to each individual driving unit with a predetermined rule according to the corresponding status of each driving unit when the ink jet printing head needs to be serviced, and (3) driving each driving unit to perform the corresponding service job.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus simplifies the cam mechanism for moving a capping mechanism and wiper mechanism, thereby making the printer smaller. A maintenance apparatus 30 has a capping mechanism 40 for covering or sealing the nozzle surface 15 of a print head 12 having nozzles for discharging ink droplets, a wiper mechanism 50 for wiping the nozzle surface 15 of the print head 12, and a cam 60. The cam 60 is rotatably disposed solid of revolution having on the side thereof a first cam channel 61 for moving the capping mechanism 40 and a cam channel 62 for moving the wiper mechanism 50.

Abstract: A print head mechanism performs printing predetermined image information on a fed recording medium, based on a given control signal. A detector detects an operating rate of the print head mechanism at a predetermined region on the recording medium every time when printing with respect to the predetermined region is finished. A comparator compares the operating rate with a given threshold operating rate. A controller halts the print head mechanism, when the operating rate exceeds the threshold operating rate, for a halting time period corresponding to an excess amount of the operating rate.

Abstract: A liquid collection unit (33) is placed on a movement path of a liquid jet head mounted on a carriage. An opening portion (40) for receiving liquid, which are jetted from a liquid jet head, by performing a flushing operation is formed in the movement path of the liquid jet head. Liquid mist generated by performing a flushing operation is sucked by a fan (55) having blades (55b), and then caught and collected by the centrifugation action of a rotor portion (47) having a large number of flat fins (47b) on the internal surface of a cylindrical body (47a). A filter member (59) is disposed at an air outlet (58), from which air is caused by a fan (55) to flow out. A small amount of liquid mist, which is not collected by the roller part (47), is effectively collected by this filter member (59).

Abstract: A printhead blotter system includes a supply of blotter material in roll form and a blotter backer structure. The blotter is passed over the backer. A fluid dispenser is mounted to the blotter backer for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the blotter portion held against the backer surface. A mechanism is coupled to the backer to move the backer toward the printhead to an engagement position, or away from the printhead to a rest position. The mechanism can engage/disengage the blotter portion supported over the fabric backer with the printhead orifice plate.

Abstract: A printer device having a plurality of print heads for printing onto a print medium. Each of the print heads having a plurality of nozzles formed into at least two rows. A service station housed within the printer device having a plurality of service station units for performing servicing operations on the print heads. A plurality of ink drop detector modules being integrated into respective ones of the service station units for detecting malfunctioning nozzles on the plurality of print heads. The ink drop detector modules may be configured to test the nozzles of each row of nozzles on at least one of the print heads simultaneously. And, according to a preferred embodiment, each row of nozzles of each print head are tested simultaneously to thereby substantially reduce the amount of time required to test the functionality of the nozzles.

Abstract: An apparatus for servicing an inkjet print head includes a print head wiper for wiping the inkjet print head and a wiper cleaner adjacent to the print head wiper for cleaning the print head wiper.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus and method of assembly therefor for cleaning an inkjet print head. The cleaning apparatus comprises a web supply for supplying a cleaning web therefrom and a web receiver for receiving the web. A web drive drives the web from the web supply to the web receiver. The web drive pulls the web from the web supply with a first tension force and also pulls the web onto the web receiver with a second tension force greater than the first tension force, so that the web is wrinkle-free while the web slidably engages an exterior surface of the print head to clean the print head. The web remains wrinkle-free to ensure that the surface of the web will contact the surface of the print head without gaps in contact coverage. This enhances cleaning effectiveness compared to a cleaning web having wrinkles.