Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head configured to discharge liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a reservoir configured to store liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head. The reservoir is provided at a position lower than the liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a supply flow path configured to communicate with the liquid discharge head and the reservoir. The supply flow path is provided with a joint detachable from the liquid discharge head. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a retainer configured to retain the joint detached from the liquid discharge head. The joint has a coupler to be coupled to the liquid discharge head. The retainer is configured to retain the joint with the coupler facing up.

Abstract: A liquid circulating device has: a supply flow path through which a liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source that stores the liquid to a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid; a collection flow path through which the liquid collected from the liquid ejecting head is returned to the supply flow path; and a liquid flowing portion that causes the liquid to flow in a circulation flow path including the supply flow path, the liquid ejecting head, and the collection flow path. An air capturing portion can capture bubbles and is provided in at least one of the supply flow path and collection flow path. The air capturing portion is disposed at a position higher than the position of the liquid ejecting head.

Abstract: A tank unit is configured to introduce liquid supplied from a container and to lead out liquid toward a head configured to eject the liquid. The tank unit includes a storage section that stores the liquid supplied from the container, an introduction section that introduces the liquid supplied from the container into the storage section, an atmosphere opening section configured to open inside of the storage section to atmosphere, and an outlet section that leads out the liquid stored in the storage section. The introduction section is connected to the storage section, extends in a vertical direction in the storage section, and has an open end located within the storage section. The storage section includes a blocking section including a first protruding section located at a position in the vertical direction facing the open end and a second protruding section extending upward from the first protruding section.

Abstract: A variable resistor according to the present invention includes a substrate, a resistive element disposed on a first surface of the substrate, oil that coats an upper surface of the resistive element, and a slide member that slides on the upper surface of the resistive element coated with the oil, wherein an output of the variable registor changes as a position at which the slide member makes contact with the resistive element changes. The variable resistor further includes an oil repellent part that surrounds at least a part of the resistive element in plan view viewed from above the first surface of the substrate, the oil repellant part having surface free energy smaller than that of the resistive element, whereby oil can be stably held on a resistive element surface without forming irregularities on the resistive element surface.

Abstract: A liquid circulating device has: a supply flow path through which a liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source that stores the liquid to a liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid; a collection flow path through which the liquid collected from the liquid ejecting head is returned to the supply flow path; and a liquid flowing portion that causes the liquid to flow in a circulation flow path including the supply flow path, the liquid ejecting head, and the collection flow path. An air capturing portion can capture bubbles and is provided in at least one of the supply flow path and collection flow path. The air capturing portion is disposed at a position higher than the position of the liquid ejecting head.

Abstract: A variable resistor according to the present invention includes a substrate, a resistive element disposed on a first surface of the substrate, oil that coats an upper surface of the resistive element, and a slide member that slides on the upper surface of the resistive element coated with the oil, wherein an output of the variable registor changes as a position at which the slide member makes contact with the resistive element changes. The variable resistor further includes an oil repellent part that surrounds at least a part of the resistive element in plan view viewed from above the first surface of the substrate, the oil repellant part having surface free energy smaller than that of the resistive element, whereby oil can be stably held on a resistive element surface without forming irregularities on the resistive element surface.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that performs printing by ejecting a liquid to a medium from a plurality of nozzles, a first mounting portion that is configured to mount a first liquid container that contains the liquid, a second mounting portion that is configured to mount a second liquid container having a liquid containing amount smaller than a liquid containing amount of the first liquid container, a detecting portion that detects a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the first liquid container mounted in the first mounting portion, and a control portion that calculates a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the second liquid container, based on a standard value representing an amount of the liquid contained in the second liquid container and a standard value representing an ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that performs printing by ejecting a liquid to a medium from a plurality of nozzles, a first mounting portion that is configured to mount a first liquid container that contains the liquid, a second mounting portion that is configured to mount a second liquid container having a liquid containing amount smaller than a liquid containing amount of the first liquid container, a detecting portion that detects a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the first liquid container mounted in the first mounting portion, and a control portion that calculates a remaining amount of the liquid contained in the second liquid container, based on a standard value representing an amount of the liquid contained in the second liquid container and a standard value representing an ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting portion.

Abstract: An inkjet printer can appropriately flush two inkjet heads disposed to a carriage. The inkjet printer 1 flushes the first inkjet head 13A before printing starts when print data is received (step ST1), and flushes a second inkjet head 13B while the carriage 14 returns from the printing area C to the home position A after printing ends (steps ST2, ST3). As a result, because the carriage 14 is not moved from the home position A before printing starts, the start of printing is not delayed. Furthermore, because the direction of carriage 14 movement does not change after the second inkjet head 13B is flushed, the carriage 14 returns to the home position A quickly. Starting printing the next print data is therefore not delayed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer can appropriately flush two inkjet heads disposed to a carriage. The inkjet printer 1 flushes the first inkjet head 13A before printing starts when print data is received (step ST1), and flushes a second inkjet head 13B while the carriage 14 returns from the printing area C to the home position A after printing ends (steps ST2, ST3). As a result, because the carriage 14 is not moved from the home position A before printing starts, the start of printing is not delayed. Furthermore, because the direction of carriage 14 movement does not change after the second inkjet head 13B is flushed, the carriage 14 returns to the home position A quickly. Starting printing the next print data is therefore not delayed.

Abstract: A control method for a fluid ejection device and a fluid ejection device reliably eliminate dropped dots while reducing consumption of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles. A fluid ejection device that performs at least one of a cleaning operation that suctions fluid from the nozzles and a wiping operation that wipes the nozzle surface when dropped dots occur determines if an elimination history of removing dropped dots by the wiping operation is stored when dropped dots are detected as a result of testing for dropped dots and determining if dropped dots occur. When a history of eliminating dropped dots by means of a wiping operation is not stored, the fluid ejection device performs the wiping operation. When a history of eliminating dropped dots by means of a wiping operation remains in memory, the cleaning operation is performed without the wiping operation.

Abstract: A control method for a fluid ejection device and a fluid ejection device reliably eliminate dropped dots while reducing consumption of ink droplets ejected from the nozzles. A fluid ejection device that performs at least one of a cleaning operation that suctions fluid from the nozzles and a wiping operation that wipes the nozzle surface when dropped dots occur determines if an elimination history of removing dropped dots by the wiping operation is stored when dropped dots are detected as a result of testing for dropped dots and determining if dropped dots occur. When a history of eliminating dropped dots by means of a wiping operation is not stored, the fluid ejection device performs the wiping operation. When a history of eliminating dropped dots by means of a wiping operation remains in memory, the cleaning operation is performed without the wiping operation.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a discharge state of a nozzle prevents wrongly determining that discharge is normal even though fluid droplets are not discharged normally. In a fluid droplet discharge device such as an inkjet printer, a momentary induced current is produced when a charged ink droplet 17c lands on a head cap 31 with a potential difference. A voltage change detection unit 39 detects the induced current as a voltage change. A decision unit 40 determines that the ink discharge state is normal if the maximum amplitude L of the voltage change detected by the voltage change detection unit 39 in a first period S is greater than or equal to a first threshold value Q. If the amplitude of voltage change detected in a third period U after the specific period has passed goes to a second threshold value R, a decision cancellation unit 41 determines that noise is contained in the voltage change.

Abstract: An inkjet printer can appropriately flush two inkjet heads disposed to a carriage. The inkjet printer 1 flushes the first inkjet head 13A before printing starts when print data is received (step ST1), and flushes a second inkjet head 13B while the carriage 14 returns from the printing area C to the home position A after printing ends (steps ST2, ST3). As a result, because the carriage 14 is not moved from the home position A before printing starts, the start of printing is not delayed. Furthermore, because the direction of carriage 14 movement does not change after the second inkjet head 13B is flushed, the carriage 14 returns to the home position A quickly. Starting printing the next print data is therefore not delayed.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a discharge state of a nozzle prevents wrongly determining that discharge is normal even though fluid droplets are not discharged normally. In a fluid droplet discharge device such as an inkjet printer, a momentary induced current is produced when a charged ink droplet 17c lands on a head cap 31 with a potential difference. A voltage change detection unit 39 detects the induced current as a voltage change. A decision unit 40 determines that the ink discharge state is normal if the maximum amplitude L of the voltage change detected by the voltage change detection unit 39 in a first period S is greater than or equal to a first threshold value Q. If the amplitude of voltage change detected in a third period U after the specific period has passed goes to a second threshold value R, a decision cancellation unit 41 determines that noise is contained in the voltage change.