Abstract: An ink jet recording head maintenance apparatus of this invention is provided with a plurality of wiping members having different wiping forces to remove residual ink or foreign substances from the nozzle face of the nozzle plate of the recording head. When performing wiping operation, the optimum wiping member is selected from among the plurality of wiping members in accordance with a change in the kind of adhering substances and adhering condition. It is therefore possible to select the optimum wiping member and achieve a good wiping effect without increasing the number of counts of wiping operation.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus is provided which includes a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface. An operation OFF condition of the wiping unit and an operation OFF condition of the suction unit is detected, and the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. If an elapsed time after the wiping operation is longer than a first predetermined time, the wiping unit is actuated, and if an elapsed time after the sucking operation is longer than a second predetermined time, the suction unit is actuated. The first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus is provided which includes a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface. An operation OFF condition of the wiping unit and an operation OFF condition of the suction unit is detected, and the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. If an elapsed time after the wiping operation is longer than a first predetermined time, the wiping unit is actuated, and if an elapsed time after the sucking operation is longer than a second predetermined time, the suction unit is actuated. The first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head maintenance apparatus of this invention is provided with a plurality of wiping members having different wiping forces to remove residual ink or foreign substances from the nozzle face of the nozzle plate of the recording head. When performing wiping operation, the optimum wiping member is selected from among the plurality of wiping members in accordance with a change in the kind of adhering substances and adhering condition. It is therefore possible to select the optimum wiping member and achieve a good wiping effect without increasing the number of counts of wiping operation.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for allowing a wipe member formed of an elastic material to abut against a nozzle plate in which a plurality nozzles communicating with a pressure chamber for holding ink therein are arranged, moving the wipe member along the nozzle plate to remove ink and foreign particles remaining in the nozzle plate, and switching the position of abutment of the wipe member against the nozzle plate, whereby satisfactory sweeping capability of the wipe member can be maintained without providing a wipe member cleaning mechanism and performing the work of replacing of the wipe member with another.

Abstract: In an ink jet head cleaning apparatus according to the present invention there are provided a wiping unit which performs a wiping operation for a nozzle surface of an ink jet head and a suction unit which performs a sucking operation for the nozzle surface, and an operation OFF condition of the ink jet head, the wiping unit or the suction unit is detected, then the wiping unit and the suction unit are actuated selectively in accordance with the operation OFF condition thus detected. With this construction, the operation frequency of the suction unit necessary for keeping the nozzle surface of the ink jet head in good condition can be kept low and hence it is possible to reduce the consumption of energy. Besides, it is possible to diminish the operation frequency of the wiping unit which causes wear or damage of the nozzle surface and it is possible to attain a long life of the ink jet head.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head which has an ink discharge nozzle to discharge ink and an ink non-discharge nozzle to eliminate bubbles, a suction unit which makes suction for maintenance by moving a suction nozzle on the ink discharge side of the recording head, contacting with or closing to the ink discharge nozzle surface of the recording head, and a control unit which controls the suction unit to make suction by a first suction force when the suction nozzle is in the position corresponding to the ink discharge nozzle and by a second suction force when the suction nozzle is in the position corresponding to the ink non-discharge nozzle.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for allowing a wipe member formed of an elastic material to abut against a nozzle plate in which a plurality nozzles communicating with a pressure chamber for holding ink therein are arranged, moving the wipe member along the nozzle plate to remove ink and foreign particles remaining in the nozzle plate, and switching the position of abutment of the wipe member against the nozzle plate, whereby satisfactory sweeping capability of the wipe member can be maintained without providing a wipe member cleaning mechanism and performing the work of replacing of the wipe member with another.

Abstract: An ink jet head cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises a flexible contact member and a driving unit. The flexible contact member is mounted in a position where its top end comes into contact with a nozzle face of an ink jet head having the nozzle face provided with outlets for discharging ink in a form of droplets, and is movable along the nozzle face. On the other hand, the driving unit functions to correlatively move the ink jet head and the contact member. The top end of the contact member is divided into a plurality of sections in a direction orthogonal to the direction of its movement. Thus, a foreign substance holding on the nozzle face can be removed completely from the nozzle face by means of the wipe blade. Furthermore, the growth of the foreign substance can be restrained. It is therefore possible to prevent deterioration of ink discharge stability and straight discharge of ink.

Abstract: In such a manner that ink in each of a plurality of pressure chambers for holding the ink therein is brought to a positive pressure state of being ejected from respective nozzles respectively communicating with the respective chambers to the outside of each of the pressure chambers, a cleaning member abutted against a nozzle plate formed with a plurality of nozzles is moved along the nozzles in a state in which pressure is applied to all of the pressure chambers, to thereby extrude foreign particles outside the pressure chambers by the ink ejected from the respective nozzles to the outside of the pressure chambers, thereby making it possible to recover the ink, whereby the occurrence of a delivery failure due to the foreign particles around the nozzles being absorbed into the pressure chambers, can be prevented, and the foreign particles contained in the ink can be purged without consuming much ink needlessly.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head which has an ink discharge nozzle to discharge ink and an ink non-discharge nozzle to eliminate bubbles, a suction unit which makes suction for maintenance by moving a suction nozzle on the ink discharge side of the recording head, contacting with or closing to the ink discharge nozzle surface of the recording head, and a control unit which controls the suction unit to make suction by a first suction force when the suction nozzle is in the position corresponding to the ink discharge nozzle and by a second suction force when the suction nozzle is in the position corresponding to the ink non-discharge nozzle.

Abstract: A picture image forming system has a large and conspicuous display of stapling positions and thereby helps prevent an erroneous stapling position from being selected. The picture image forming system includes a picture image forming system body for forming a picture image on the basis of an inputted picture signal and for reading image data including the orientation and size of an original to be copied, using a picture image reader. The picture image forming system also includes an operating part for displaying a picture image of only one type of original so as to include a vertical or horizontal orientation and for displaying a plurality of selectable stapling positions on the picture image of only one type of original in layers. The operating part reads one or more stapling positions selected from the plurality of selectable stapling positions.

Abstract: As an image forming apparatus of this invention, a color copying machine in which four image forming units are juxtaposed along the convey direction of a paper sheet is known. Each image forming unit has a photosensitive drum which is in rolling contact with a conveyor belt. Around the photosensitive drum, a charging device, exposure device, developing device, transfer device, cleaning device, and charge removing device are placed in turn along the rotation direction of the drum. An image unit is interposed between the photosensitive drum in the predetermined image forming unit, and the photosensitive drum in the image forming unit, which neighbors that image forming unit on its upstream side. The image unit integrally holds the developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the downstream photosensitive drum, and the cleaning device for cleaning the upstream photosensitive drum. Also, the image unit is detachably inserted between the two neighboring photosensitive drums.

Abstract: A color printer comprises first and second photo-conductive drums which are supported between first and second supporting plates substantially in parallel to each other. Rotational shafts of the drums are attached to the first supporting plates through first and second supporting members and to the second supporting plates through a third and fourth supporting members. The first supporting member has a first driving force transmission shaft for rotating a rotational shaft of the first drum, and a first pivot bearing member rotatably supporting the first driving force transmission shaft. The second supporting member has a second driving force transmission shaft for rotating a rotational shaft of the second drum, and a second pivot bearing member rotatably supporting the second driving force transmission shaft. The third supporting member has a third pivot bearing member rotatably supporting the rotational shaft of the first drum.

Abstract: A color copying machine includes a plurality of image forming sections having rotatable photoconductive drums, respectively. One of the drums, which is used for forming images in black, is rotated by a first drum drive motor, and the other drums are rotated by a second drum drive motor. A plurality of transfer devices are arranged to oppose the image carriers, respectively. A paper sheet is sequentially moved to positions opposing the drums and clamped between the drums and transfer rollers so as to transfer images on the drum to the paper sheet. When a image formation is performed by using the image forming section for black, the first drive motor is operated and the second motor is stopped. The transfer rollers opposing the drums for other than black are moved to positions wherein these transfer rollers are away from the corresponding drums.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for producing a visible image on an image forming medium includes a photosensitive drum for carrying a latent image thereon, a developer for developing the latent image to form a developed image on the photosensitive drum, and a transferring drum for supporting the image forming medium and transferring the developed image onto the image forming medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a stepping motor, which has a plurality of exciting windings, for rotating the photosenstive drum, a driver for driving the stepping motor, and a controller for controlling the driver such that the plurality of exciting windings are switched to be excited in a prescribed manner, the controller periodically varying the switching time intervals for exciting the windings in correspondence to variations in the rotational speed of the stepping motor.

Abstract: An image formation cartridge employed to a printer includes a movable image formation sheet supported between a pair of rotatable shafts, a rotatable ink applying roller unit contacting the image formation sheet and an ink feeding unit for feeding ink from an ink storing container to the ink applying roller unit. The image formation sheet may be wound on one of the pair of rotatable shafts as the shafts rotate in the same direction. Ink may continuously be applied to the image formation sheet through the ink feeding unit and the ink applying roller unit as the shafts rotate.