Abstract: Systems and methods provide object-based image inpainting. The object-based inpainting can recover part of a missing object or can synthesize visual objects that are entirely missing. In one implementation, an exemplary system generates a target visual object to be inpainted into an image, by geometrically matching key features with a model visual object that can be selected from the same or another image. Borders of the target object are refined through pixel-based contour deformation and textures for the target object are obtained either by pixel interpolation or by patch-based modeling of pre-existing texture in the image. Graph-cut segmentation rectifies image overlap as the target object is embedded in the image. Poisson editing filters visual seams, and edge filling completes visual gaps around the border of the target object.

Abstract: An apparatus for outputting an image by scaling an original image to a different size is disclosed. The apparatus includes an interpolator and at least one line buffer. The interpolator generates lines of the output image, at least one of which is derived by interpolation of lines of the original image, and the line buffer temporally stores pixels on a same one of the lines of the original image for the interpolation, in which the line buffer has single-port memories and each of the single-port memories is accessed for reading and writing values of the pixels which are non-adjacent to one another. A line buffer is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a display including a first display portion, and a second display portion positioned adjacent to the first display portion. The device also includes a scaling factor designation device configured to designate a scaling factor, and an image display control device configured to display an image in the first display portion. Moreover, the device includes a scaled image display control device configured to apply the scaling factor to the image to generate a scaled image comprising a portion of the image, and to display the scaled image in the second display portion.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a first display section configured to display an image, an input receiving device configured to receive an input associated with the image, and a computer processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to determine a selected portion of the image based on the input, to reduce a scaling factor associated with the selected portion of the image as an amount of time that the input device continuously receives the input increases, and to apply the scaling factor to the selected portion of the image to generate a scaled image. The device also includes a second display section configured to display the scaled portion of the image.

Abstract: A system providing a graphic presentation replica of an original graphic presentation represented by an original graphic data set established by an originator employing a first graphic instruction set includes: (a) a data extractor accessing the original data set to generate validation data defining validation parameters for evaluating the graphic presentation replica; and (b) a neutral export unit accessing the original data set to generate neutral model data usable by a second graphic instruction set. A receiver is coupled with the data extractor and the neutral import unit for receiving the validation data and the neutral model data. The receiver employs the validation data and the neutral model data for generating a translated graphic data set to establish the graphic presentation replica employing the second graphic instruction set. The graphic presentation replica is sufficiently similar with the original graphic presentation to satisfy at least one validation parameter.

Abstract: A system for performing non-linear magnification of an image includes a graphics processing unit that runs a shader program featuring a magnification algorithm. The magnification algorithm calculates an index using a position of a pixel and the center of magnification as well as the radius of magnification. The index is used to access a Lookup Table to determine the displacement of the pixel. A magnification factor is also applied to the pixel as is a transparency factor and a border texture map to restrict pixel displacement.

Abstract: A display control device includes a state specifying unit, an information specifying unit and a controller. The state specifying unit specifies a placement state of a medium on a display screen. The information specifying unit specifies either (i) electronic information which is a source of an image recorded on the medium or (ii) electronic information relevant to the electronic information which is the source of the image recorded on the medium. The controller controls such that a specific image representing the electronic information specified by the information specifying unit is displayed on the display screen in accordance with the placement state specified by the state specifying unit.

Abstract: An electronic device including a display section, a control section, a detection section, a storage section, an acquiring section and a setting section is provided. The control section controls images corresponding to plural predetermined scenes to be displayed on the display section in predetermined order. The detection section detects an instruction input to the electronic device by a user. The storage section stores the images of the scenes, and stores setting information corresponding to the scenes in association with the scenes. The acquisition section acquires, from the storage section, setting information corresponding to the scene displayed when the instruction input from the user is detected while display of the images corresponding to the plural scenes being effected. The setting section sets the acquired setting information in the electronic device.

Abstract: A method for driving the output of a illuminating display is provided. The method includes providing a display panel having a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes at least one diode color. A display controller is also provided that is configured to process video data numbers for display. The method further includes loading a bit of a video data number into a diode driver, sending an output enabling state to the diode driver such that a diode will turn on if the bit of the video data number in the diode driver is enabled while an output enabling signal is activated, maintaining the output enabling signal for a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on a bit position of the bit of the video data number loaded in the diode driver, and repeating the loading, sending, and maintaining steps until all bits of the video data number have been loaded.

Abstract: In a gamma corrector for handling gamma correction data used in performing gamma correction on image data represented by plural component colors for each of the component colors, a storage stores common data employed in common in predetermined gamma correction data in one-to-one correspondence to the plural component colors when generating final gamma-corrected image data. Another storage stores, for each component color, reproduction data represented by removing the common data from the final gamma-corrected image data of each component color in the predetermined gamma correction data. A data processor distributes input image data of each component color to both common and reproduction data to thereby generate the address data. A data coupler generates the common and reproduction data according to address data from the storages and employs the generated common and reproduction data to generate final gamma-corrected image data for image data of the component colors.

Abstract: A color display device has a display screen having pixels arrayed, each of which is composed of primary color sub-pixels capable of reproducing respective primary colors and at least one subsidiary color sub-pixel capable of reproducing gray. While gradation signals are generated and supplied to the primary color sub-pixels on the basis of the primary color components of an image to be displayed, the gradation signal to be supplied to the subsidiary color sub-pixel is generated on the basis of the intensity component of the image. The color display device is attained in which the number of gradation levels can be substantially increased without increasing the number of gradation levels of the primary colors.

Abstract: A display drive apparatus includes a detection voltage applying circuit that applies a predetermined detection voltage to the drive element of the pixel drive circuit, a voltage detecting circuit that detects a voltage value corresponding to a device characteristic unique to the drive element after a predetermined time elapses after the application of the detection voltage to the drive element by the pixel drive circuit, and a gradation designating signal generating circuit that generates a gradation designating signal based on an absolute value of a voltage component according to a gradation value of display data and a value, acquired by multiplying an absolute value of the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit, by a constant greater than 1, and applies the gradation designating signal to the pixel drive circuit, whereby a change in device characteristic.

Abstract: A display control device includes a position specifying unit, an image specifying unit and a controller. The position specifying unit specifies a position of a second apparatus on a display screen of a first apparatus. The image specifying unit specifies one of an image displayed on a display screen of the second apparatus and an image that is designated from among two or more images displayed on the display screen of the second apparatus. The controller controls such that a certain image according to the image specified by the image specifying unit is displayed at a certain position on the display screen of the first apparatus according to the position of the second apparatus specified by the position specifying unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including a pixel array section, and a driving section configured to drive said pixel array section.

Abstract: A liquid detection device includes a casing main body in which a passage is formed and exposed in an opening, a sensor base that is disposed to face the passage of the casing main body, a sensor chip provided on the sensor base, a film that seals the opening in which the sensor base is held, and a partition wall that divides the passage into an upstream side and an downstream side. The sensor chip has a sensor cavity, and the sensor base has a first hole that guides a liquid from the upstream side to the sensor cavity, and a second hole that guides the liquid from the sensor cavity to the downstream side. The sensor base can come into contact with the casing main body through only the partition wall in a depth direction of the opening.

Abstract: Provided herein is a functional liquid supplying apparatus including sub-tanks which supply functional liquid through head-side channels to inkjet functional liquid droplet ejection heads, a main tank which supplies the functional liquid to the sub-tanks by applying a pressure, a functional liquid channel including a main channel connected to the main tank, a branched channel connected to the main channel, and branch channels connected to the branched channel and connected to the corresponding sub-tanks, a buffer tank arranged in the main channel, an auxiliary pressure applying unit used to supply the functional liquid in the buffer tank to the sub-tanks by applying a pressure when the main tank is replaced, and branch channel opening units which are disposed in the branch channels and which supply the functional liquid supplied by applying a pressure from the main tank or the buffer tank to the sub-tanks by performing opening/closing operations.

Abstract: A carriage carries a recording unit and is movable while being supported by a guiding member. The recording unit performs recording on a recording medium in a scanning direction in which the guiding member extends and the carriage moves with the recording unit. The carriage includes a guided member that is in contact with the guiding member at two positions spaced apart from each other by a distance d in the scanning direction. The guided member is swingable in conformity with a bend in the guiding member while moving in the scanning direction. When the guiding member is supported by a plurality of supporting members provided at a span L in the scanning direction, the distance d satisfies Expression (1) below: d=(n+?)×L ??(1) where n is 0 or an integer of 1 at the smallest, and 0<?<1.0.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus improves the operating efficiency while preventing trouble due to the contact of a recording medium with a discharging surface of a recording head. A distance sensor for detecting the distance of the leading edge of a sheet from a conveying surface is provided upstream from the inkjet head in the conveying direction of the sheet. A gap control unit controls a frame moving mechanism to move the inkjet head up so that a gap between the discharging surface and the conveying surface increases when the distance detected by the distance sensor is above a first distance, and the gap distance may be increased by different amounts depending on the distance detected by the distance sensor. A discharging control unit controls the inkjet head to discharge ink droplets after the gap is increased.

Abstract: A print method that prints visible information by ejecting ink droplets from a print head onto a printed object rotated by a rotational driving unit is provided. The print method includes the steps of: carrying out impact position correction that corrects displacements in impact positions of the ink droplets to convert the visible information to impact position-corrected polar coordinate data when converting the visible information from biaxial perpendicular coordinate data to polar coordinate data; generating ink ejection data based on the impact position-corrected polar coordinate data; and printing the visible information by ejecting the ink droplets onto the printed object based on the ink ejection data.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device according to an aspect of the invention comprises: an ejection head configured to eject ink on a recording medium; a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium on a conveying path, the conveying path including a first conveying path positioned where the ejection head forms an image on the recording medium and extending along a first direction; an attaching unit configured to attach a second recording medium having an adherable part adherable to the recording medium such that a part of the second recording medium projects from an end portion of the recording medium with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The ejection head is configured to record an image on the second recording medium in a position outside the recording medium with respect to the second direction.

Abstract: A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume of the ink bag has been reduced to a predetermined volume. The printhead is a pagewidth printhead, having a pagewidth of 100.9 millimetres.

Abstract: The driving device of a recording head having a recording element, the driving device includes: a power supply device which supplies voltage to be applied to the recording element; an output circuit block which converts the voltage supplied from the power supply device into a drive voltage having a prescribed waveform, the output circuit block having a structure in which a plurality of drive circuit units are connected in parallel to the recording element; a recording data integration device which determines an integrated value of a number of recording actions of the recording element according to recording data; and a drive circuit unit selection device which selects at least one of the drive circuit units in accordance with the integrated value determined by the recording data integration device, in such a manner that an on-resistance value of the output circuit block is kept within a prescribed value.

Abstract: A drive signal generating apparatus is provided with an analog signal converting section, a current amplification section, and a power source generating section. The analog signal converting section converts digital data to an analog signal. The current amplification section is provided with a current amplification transistor and generates a drive signal by amplifying a current of the analog signal using the current amplification transistor. The power source generating section is a power source having a voltage determined based on the digital data and generates a power source to be supplied to the current amplification transistor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which are capable of stabilizing the amount of ink ejection and of printing a high-definition image by selecting a driving condition with heat conductivity of an electrothermal converter being taken into consideration. The heat conductivity from a heater to ink is classified into heater ranks, and, on the basis of the heater rank, a voltage of a drive pulse to be applied to the heater is changed.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a controller, control program, and control method for an inkjet recording device, and an inkjet recording device capable of forming a high-quality image by making positional shift of a landing ink droplet inconspicuous through simple control. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A high-quality image can be formed by controlling nozzles (35b, 35c) ejecting an ink droplet landing at a position where the pitch of adjacent landing droplets is larger than a predetermined pitch such that the area of a landing droplet formed by the nozzles (35c) is larger, thereby reducing the gap between landing droplet trains (C, D) by the landing droplet train (C) for ink droplets corresponding to print data.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into segments, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the segments have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different segments by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

Abstract: An ink mixed with spacer members is ejected onto one or both of a TFT substrate and a CF substrate while an in jet head having a plurality of ink jet nozzles is moved. The excursions of a predetermined number of ink jet nozzles from an end of the ink-jet head overlap those of a next excursion of the ink jet head without causing overlapping of ejected ink within the overlapping area. An abrupt stepwise change in the amount of ejected ink is suppressed whereby an uneven gap is suppressed.

Abstract: An element substrate for a recording head includes groups of heating resistors that are disposed next to one another in each group; logic circuits configured to time-divisionally drive the heating resistors in units of one block; a heat enable signal line common to the groups of heating resisters, the heat enable signal line supplying a heat enable signal to each of the groups of heating resisters; and delay circuits connected to the heat enable signal line at positions between the groups of heating resisters. A signal output from each delay circuit to the next group is inverted.

Abstract: A recovery mechanism comprises a recovery unit for performing a recovery process for recovering from clogging or contamination by ink in the nozzle array constituted by a plurality of nozzles. A conveyance mechanism supports and conveys, downstream, a recording medium that is conveyed from the upstream area of a conveyance path and handed over. A power control unit makes a control unit control the shutoff of a power supply to the nozzle array drive unit that drives the nozzle array when an abnormality occurs in the supporting and conveying of the recording medium that is performed by the conveyance mechanism in the recording process using the ink jetted from a plurality of nozzles or when the recovery unit makes contact with the nozzle array during recovery of the nozzle array in the recovery process.

Abstract: Methods for selecting elements of information displayed on a computer screen for printing by a hand-held printer that preferably incorporates the capability of a computer mouse to more efficiently capture and print such information thereby minimizing the time and effort required for printing such information.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus which includes a plurality of transport belts, upstream and downstream liquid ejecting units that include a plurality of liquid ejecting heads which are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the direction that the printing medium is transported through the apparatus, a maintenance unit that is provided between the transport belts, and a positioning unit that establishes the relative position between the upstream liquid ejecting unit, the upstream transport unit, the downstream liquid ejecting unit, and the downstream transport unit by moving components of the upstream liquid ejecting unit, the upstream transport unit, the downstream liquid ejecting unit, and the downstream transport unit in a direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction such that the liquid ejecting heads of the upstream and downstream liquid ejecting units face the maintenance unit during a maintenance operation.

Abstract: A liquid droplet deposition method of consecutively depositing a plurality of droplets of liquid, which contains solvent and particles dispersed in the solvent and having a substantially uniform size, onto a recording medium includes the steps of: determining target positions at which the plurality of droplets are to be deposited on the recording medium; depositing an X-th droplet of the droplets at an X-th target position of the determined target positions on the recording medium, X being a natural number; and depositing an (X+1)-th droplet of the droplets at an (X+1)-th target position of the determined target positions on the recording medium subsequently to the X-th droplet, after the particles contained in the X-th droplet are aggregated to form an X-th particle aggregate on the recording medium due to liquid bridging force, wherein in the determining step, the target positions are determined so as to satisfy following conditions: L(CX,CX+1)?rX+r_maxX+1, and L(PX,CX+1)?r_maxX+1, where CX is the X-t

Abstract: A droplet ejection device includes: an ejection head having an actuator and a nozzle; an interface configured to receive data; and a controller configured to (a) execute, based on the received data, ejection control in which liquid droplets having respective different volumes are selectively ejected from the nozzle to a medium by driving the actuator and (b) execute recovery control in which ejection performance of the recording head is recovered by driving the actuator. The controller is configured to (c) determine, based on the received data, a volume of a droplet to be first ejected from the nozzle under the ejection control subsequent to the recovery control, and (d) set, based on the determined volume, a condition for driving the actuator to execute the recovery control.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus of the present invention records an image on a recording medium by having ink landed on the recording medium. The apparatus includes ink-jet heads, a dot position memory unit, an image data memory unit, a print data generating unit and a head controller. The dot position memory unit stores therein dot positions which include: black dot positions where only ink droplets of black ink are landed and chromatic color dot positions where only ink droplets of chromatic color ink are landed. The head controller causes the ink-jet heads to eject the ink droplets to the dot positions, so that: only the ink droplets of the black ink lands in the black dot positions stored in the dot position memory unit; and only the ink droplets of the chromatic color ink lands in the chromatic color dot positions stored in the dot position memory unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided including: a recording medium setting portion on which a plural recording media are set in a stacked state; a feed roller that feeds a recording medium set on the recording medium setting portion in a feeding direction; a recording medium return lever that returns a recording medium next or subsequent to a recording medium continuously fed out from the recording medium setting portion along with the recording medium to be fed; a control unit that controls the recording medium return lever; and a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium, wherein the control unit controls the recording medium return lever so that the position is switched from a first position, a second position and to a third position.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording head that records an image on a recording medium, and a conveyor having an adhesive area and a charged area, that is charged by a charging unit. The adhesive area and the charged area are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor and convey the recording medium supported on the outer circumferential surface of the conveyor in a conveying direction. A medium feeder supplies the recording medium to the conveyor.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium is provided. The printing apparatus includes a recording head to eject ink onto the recording medium, a recording head controller to control movement of the recording head according to printing data, which represents the image to be formed on the recording medium, a carriage to carry the recording head in a main scanning direction relative to the recording medium, a plurality of platens, each of which has a holding surface to hold the recording medium thereon and is movable respectively in an auxiliary direction, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a plurality of drive mechanisms, each of which drives one of the platens in the auxiliary direction. The plurality of platens can be moved synchronously with one another.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus is provided. The liquid droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid storage container for storing a liquid therein; a carriage configured to reciprocate; an ejecting head mounted on the carriage and configured to eject liquid droplets; a liquid tank which is mounted on the carriage and is connected to the ejecting head and which is connected to the liquid storage container via a flexible tube; an air supply and discharge unit configured to supply air to the liquid tank and discharge air from the liquid tank; and a pressure controller controls the air supply and discharge unit so as to reduce a pressure fluctuation in the internal pressure of the liquid tank generated due to an inertial force applied to a liquid in the tube when the carriage changes a moving direction thereof.

Abstract: A liquid circulation apparatus includes: a plurality of liquid ejection elements each of which includes a nozzle, a pressure chamber which is connected to the nozzle and accommodates liquid, and a piezoelectric element which displaces a wall of the pressure chamber to eject the liquid in the pressure chamber through the nozzle; a plurality of individual supply channels which are respectively connected to the liquid ejection elements; a common supply channel which is connected to the individual supply channels, the liquid being supplied from the common supply channel to the liquid ejection elements through the individual supply channels; a plurality of individual circulation channels which are respectively connected to the liquid ejection elements; a common circulation channel which is connected to the individual circulation channels, the liquid being circulated from the liquid ejection elements to the common circulation channel through the individual circulation channels; and a control device which controls a

Abstract: Provided is a printhead maintenance station which includes a body defining an elongate slot along a length thereof, and a pad mounted on a pad support inside said body. The pad support is slidably engaged to said housing to be slidable to a first position, where the pad protrudes from the slot, and a second position, where the pad is inside the body. The station also includes an engagement mechanism to displace the pad between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording head having a nozzle configured to eject a liquid drop of recording liquid so as to form an image on the recording-medium with a liquid drop ejected from the nozzle of the recording head; a conveyer configured to electrostatically hold and convey a recording-medium by a charge provided to the conveyer; and a cleaning device configured to clean a nozzle face of the recording head based on a tolerance threshold value of contamination of the nozzle face generated by the ejection of a liquid drop and the number of liquid drops ejected from the recording head for image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a carriage comprising a recording head that ejects a liquid toward a recording medium, the carriage configured to reciprocate along a travel path in a widthwise direction of the recording medium; a receiving unit disposed in a position opposed to the recording head so as to receive a fluid which is flushed from the recording head; and a movement device configured to move the receiving unit below the travel path of the carriage to a position which is outside and proximate to an edge in the widthwise direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus includes: a liquid set which includes a plurality of first liquids and a second liquid, the first liquids each containing solvent-insoluble materials, the second liquid causing the solvent-insoluble materials to form aggregate; a liquid ejection device which ejects the first liquids and the second liquid from different ejection ports; and a cleaning liquid supply device which supplies a cleaning liquid causing the aggregate of the solvent-insoluble materials to redispersed. The liquid set satisfies Dmax/Drain?2.6, where Dmax is a maximum of average particle sizes of the solvent-insoluble materials in the first liquids, and Dmin is a minimum of the average particle sizes of the solvent-insoluble materials in the first liquids.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead maintenance station for a pagewidth printer. The maintenance station includes a capper having an open-ended capping chamber with a perimeter gasket for operatively engaging with a printhead of the printer to form a protective seal around the printhead. Also included is an engagement mechanism configured to actuate said capper into and out of sealing engagement with the printhead, as well as an air supply and vacuum assembly with valve arrangements arranged in fluid communication with the capping chamber to facilitate in purging excess ink from the printhead when the capper is engaged with said printhead.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead maintenance station for a pagewidth printer. The maintenance station includes a capper having an open-ended capping chamber with a perimeter gasket for operatively engaging with a printhead of the printer to form a protective seal around the printhead. The maintenance station also includes an engagement mechanism configured to actuate said capper into and out of sealing engagement with the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device one aspect of the invention comprises: a plurality of inkjet heads each having an ink ejection surface; a frame that has a plurality of holes formed therein and supports the plurality of inkjet heads such that the plurality of ink ejection surfaces are respectively exposed from the plurality of holes; a cap comprising a projection formed thereon to define a plurality of recessed portions; and a cap moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the cap and the frame to selectively position the projection at a first position and a second position. The projection at the first position abuts on the frame such that the plurality of ink ejection surfaces are respectively surrounded by the plurality of recessed portions. The projection at the second position is spaced from the frame.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a first liquid jetting head which has a plurality of first nozzles, a head holder to which a first liquid jetting head is fixed, a liquid cartridge which is detachably mounted on the head holder, and which supplies the first liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the first nozzles, and a head cartridge which has a second liquid jetting head having a plurality of second nozzles, and a liquid tank which supplies the second liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the second nozzles. The second liquid jetting head and the liquid tank are integrated to form the head cartridge, and the head cartridge is detachably mounted on the head holder.

Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a line head having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid, the discharge ports being arranged substantially in lines in a discharge surface; a head cap facing the line head, for closing the discharge ports; and a lift mechanism for lifting or lowering the head cap. The head cap closes the discharge ports by being lifted with the lift mechanism substantially perpendicularly to the discharge surface. Also, the head cap comes away from the discharge surface by being lowered with the lift mechanism substantially perpendicularly to the discharge surface to allow a recording medium to be carried between the head cap and the discharge surface.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus which cleans a liquid ejection surface of a liquid ejection head, has: a liquid storage chamber which stores a first liquid; a vibrating device which converts the first liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber into fine particles of the first liquid; a fine liquid particle outlet port from which the fine particles of the first liquid is sprayed toward the liquid ejection surface; and a wiping device which wipes the liquid ejection surface after the fine particles of the first liquid sprayed from the fine liquid particle outlet port are deposited on the liquid ejection surface.

Abstract: Provided is a printhead assembly including a support structure, and a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face. The assembly also includes a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing, and a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. Further included is a pad with an angled contact surface to operatively facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element.