Abstract: An ejection complement process is performed during which both a usual ejection failure and a sudden ejection failure can be appropriately coped with, without being accompanied by a frequent maintenance process. In a case wherein sequential printing is not currently being performed, the first detection process is performed with a high accuracy while being accompanied by the maintenance process, and in a case wherein sequential printing is currently being performed, the second detection process that requires only a small process load is performed at a predetermined timing without being accompanied by the maintenance processing. At this time, when the number of ejection failed nozzles detected in the second ejection process has reached a predetermined value or greater, the maintenance process is performed, and only the information for the ejection failed nozzle, detected in the second detection process, is reset.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed a marking station maintenance apparatus comprising a cart frame moveable along a rail support track for passing a marking station. The marking station is configured to mark a substrate media sheet. A first motion support assembly facilitates motion of the cart frame along at least a first portion of the rail support track. The first motion support assembly extends from the cart frame. The first motion support assembly includes a glide surface providing a non-contact bearing support between an air-bearing surface of the first portion of the rail support track and the glide surface. A marking station cleaner is disposed on the cart frame and configured to clean a marking element of the marking station as the cart frame passes the marking station.

Abstract: Printers, methods, and apparatus to reduce aerosol are disclosed. An example apparatus to reduce aerosol includes a print head to generate droplets and aerosol, and to direct the droplets toward a print substrate, a first corona wire to generate first ions having a first electrical polarity to direct the aerosol toward the print substrate, and a second corona wire to generate second ions to direct the aerosol toward the print substrate, wherein the second ions have a second electrical polarity that is opposite the first electrical polarity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a maintenance liquid for property carrying out imprints excellent in patternability. The maintenance liquid for imprints of an ink-jet discharging device comprises a compound comprising an ester group and/or an ether group.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes a plurality of heads having a nozzle surface in which nozzle openings that eject ink are provided; a cover head that protects the nozzle surfaces of the heads, and a cover that covers the heads and between the nozzle surfaces of each head, in which the cover has a conducting portion that conducts with the cover head of the head.

Abstract: A chain positioning system is disclosed that has a chain that contains a plurality of links joined together, end-to-end, with a plurality of pins. The chain can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. The links of the chain limit rotation about the pins in one direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a printing system includes a printhead module that has a printhead and a regulator chamber. The regulator chamber contains ink and a regulator air bag. The regulator air bag and the printhead are in fluid communication with the ink, and the printhead includes a plurality of ejection nozzles. The printing system includes a pressure source to inflate the air bag, thereby displacing an amount of ink sufficient to agitate menisci in the ejection nozzles without pushing ink out of the nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a head including an ejection face including an ejection opening region having ejection openings; a capping unit; an air supply opening and an air discharge opening; a humidification unit; and a recording control unit. The recording medium is conveyed so as to avoid areas within first and second avoidance distances respectively from the air discharge opening and the air supply opening in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The sum of the first and second avoidance distances is greater than a value obtained by subtracting a length of the ejection opening region from a separation distance between the supply and discharge openings in the perpendicular direction and not greater than a value obtained by subtracting the width of the recording medium in the perpendicular direction from the separation distance.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead having a printhead die with an array of nozzles, and a media advance system for moving recording medium along a media path toward a print region. A carriage moves the inkjet printhead back and forth across the print region, and the carriage includes a holding receptacle for the inkjet printhead. The holding receptacle includes a bottom portion having an opening into which the printhead die extends. A viewing hole is disposed in the bottom portion of the holding receptacle for providing an optical pathway between an optical sensor and a portion of the media path. A wick is configured to contact the bottom portion of the holding receptacle proximate the viewing hole for removing accumulated ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head for discharging an ink droplet onto a recording medium in a print operation; a maintenance operation unit performing a primary maintenance operation on the recording head after a predetermined time following completion of the print operation; a standing time calculation unit calculating a standing time between a completion time of a secondary maintenance operation performed in the predetermined time and an end time of the predetermined time; an intensity comparing unit comparing an intensity of the primary maintenance operation and an intensity of the secondary maintenance operation; and a selection unit selecting a type of the primary maintenance operation based on the standing time when the intensity of the secondary maintenance operation is greater than the intensity of the primary maintenance operation.

Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a liquid droplet jetting head having a nozzle; a cap member having a suction port and an air intake port, and being attached to the liquid droplet jetting head to cover the nozzle; a switching mechanism connected to the suction port and the air intake port of the cap member and switching the air intake port to one of a state that the air intake port communicates with the atmosphere and a state that the air intake port is disconnected from the atmosphere; and a suction mechanism connected to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism includes: a case member having a first opening, a suction port connection portion, and an air intake port connection portion; and a switching member contained in the case member to switch a position of the switching member with respect to the case member.

Abstract: A support member includes first portions. At least one of upstream and downstream guides includes second portions. The first and second portions are arranged in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction. Each of the first and second portions extends in the conveyance direction and includes a support surface for supporting the recording medium. At least one of the first portions is positioned between two second portions of the second portions in the orthogonal direction. The two second portions are adjacent to each other in the orthogonal direction. Each of the first portions is at a different position from each of the second portions with respect to the orthogonal direction. Each of the first portions overlaps the second portions with respect to the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus has a configuration in which the volume of a reference space having an upper limit at the bottom of the fluid outlet port in the vertical direction in the fluid tank in a first state for ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejecting head to the fluid receiving unit is smaller than the volume of a space having an upper limit at the bottom of the fluid inlet port in the vertical direction in the fluid tank in a second state that is inclined by 90 degrees with respect to the first state.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a transportation section that transports a medium in a transportation direction; a head that ejects the liquid on the medium; a support member that supports the medium which is in a position facing the head while abutting a surface of one side of the medium; a heat source that is disposed in a position facing the support member; an abutting member that abuts the surface of the one side of the medium on an upstream side from the support member in the transportation direction; and a detection section that detects presence or absence of the foreign matter on a surface of the other side of the medium in an area of the medium which abuts the abutting member.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head having a nozzle surface in which a nozzle aperture is formed; and a wiping device which wipes the nozzle surface of the droplet ejection head by moving relatively to the droplet ejection head. The wiping device includes: a wiping device main body which moves relatively to the droplet ejection head; a drive source which is arranged on the wiping device main body; and wiping units configured to be interchangeably installed on the wiping device main body. The wiping units respectively have wiping members configured to be pressed against the nozzle surface to perform respectively different wiping operations to the nozzle surface. When each of the wiping units is installed on the wiping device main body, a corresponding one of the wiping members receives drive force from the drive source to perform a corresponding one of the wiping operations to the nozzle surface.

Abstract: A nozzle surface cleaning apparatus cleans a nozzle surface of an inkjet head. The nozzle surface cleaning apparatus includes: a wiping device which performs a wiping operation on the nozzle surface with a wiping member having permeability; an observation device which observes a soiled state of the wiping member having been used in the wiping operation; and a judgment device which makes a judgment on appropriateness of a setting of the wiping operation on a basis of the soiled state observed by the observation device.

Abstract: A method of continuous inkjet printing by using a printing fluid comprising water, a soluble or dispersed polymeric component, and less than a total of 10 wt % of low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C; ejecting spaced droplets from a printhead and controlling the spaced droplets to mark a substrate; stopping delivery of the printing fluid to the printhead; and then delivering the maintenance fluid from the maintenance fluid supply to the printhead to purge the printing fluid from the printhead, with the maintenance fluid comprising water and at least 5 wt % low-volatile water soluble humectant having a boiling point of greater than 170C, wherein the concentration of low-volatile water soluble humectant in the maintenance fluid is greater than that in the printing fluid to purge the printing fluid from the printhead.

Abstract: An image recording device is provided with: a first guide mechanism for guiding the movement of a print head between an image recording position and a maintenance-receiving position, which is a position different from a support member in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the print head at the image recording position and the support member face each other; and a second guide mechanism for guiding the movement of a maintenance unit between a withdrawn position for separating away from the print head in a third direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the second direction, in relation to the print head at the maintenance-receiving position, and a maintenance position for drawing nearer to the print head than the withdrawn position.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a head including an ejection face including an ejection opening region having ejection openings, the region being longer than the recording medium in a conveyance perpendicular direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; a capping unit for selectively establishing a sealing state or an open state; an air supply opening and an air discharge opening; a humidification unit for performing a humidifying maintenance; a recording control unit for performing image recording; and a flushing control unit. The conveyor mechanism conveys the recording medium in the image recording such that one of opposite end portions of the ejection opening region and one of opposite edge portions of the recording medium are opposed to each other in the conveyance perpendicular direction when seen in a direction perpendicular to the ejection face.

Abstract: A print control apparatus configured to cause a printing unit to perform print processing includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a condition for executing maintenance processing of the printing unit is satisfied, a shortening unit configured to shorten redundant maintenance operations in first maintenance processing and second maintenance processing in a case where the determination unit determines that a condition for executing the second maintenance processing is satisfied before completion of the first maintenance processing, and a control unit configured to cause the first maintenance processing and the second maintenance processing to be carried out after the shortening unit shortens the redundant maintenance operations.

Abstract: A printhead module includes a substrate and a head mount. The substrate includes a bottom surface having a plurality of nozzles formed therein and a top surface on a side of the substrate opposite the bottom surface. The substrate includes a plurality of actuators. Each actuator of the plurality of actuators is configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. The head mount is secured to the substrate and extends over the top surface of the substrate. The head mount includes a first side surface extending upwardly from the bottom surface and a groove formed in the first side surface. The groove is sized and shaped to cause fluid on the first side surface to be drawn by capillary action into the groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate including plural nozzles that discharge liquid droplets; a flow channel member that forms plural individual liquid chambers, the plural individual liquid chambers communicating with the corresponding nozzles; and a frame member that forms a common liquid chamber that supplies a liquid to the plural individual liquid chambers. The frame member covers a first outer circumferential surface of the nozzle plate and a second outer circumferential surface of the flow channel member. The frame member includes a protecting portion that covers a peripheral portion of a surface of the nozzle plate, where the protecting portion is made molten and adhered to the surface of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having a nozzle to discharge droplets; a reciprocally moving carriage on which the recording head is mounted; a rotary conveyance body disposed opposite the recording head and configured to convey a recording medium; a maintenance unit to maintain an optimal state of the recording head; and a drive transmission unit to transmit rotation of the rotary conveyance body to the maintenance unit. The drive transmission unit includes a drive transmission gear to drive the maintenance unit; and a gear moving unit. The gear moving unit includes moving means to move the drive transmission gear at the connection position; and a retainer to retain a state in which the drive transmission gear is moved to the connection position, even though the carriage is moved toward a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A method of controlling a maintenance operation in an inkjet printer, the method includes detecting that ink supply connection to a printhead has been interrupted; detecting that ink supply connection to the printhead has been restored; measuring a time interval between the interruption and the restoration of the ink supply connection to the printhead; and selecting a level of the maintenance operation, depending upon a length of the time interval.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead maintenance system, which can be part of an ink jet printer, for removing ink residue from a printhead faceplate. The printhead maintenance system can include a supply of liquid which can be applied to the ink residue on the printhead faceplate using various techniques, such as those described. The liquid can include a monomer and/or an oligomer. The wet clean system described can be more effective in removing ink residue which can result from certain inks, such as ultraviolet curable gel inks, than previous printhead maintenance techniques.

Abstract: Ink on a transportation roller that touches the printing surface of a recording medium can be regularly removed without affecting media transportation performance. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning lever that is pivotably supported with one end extending to above the discharge follower roller downstream from the printing position and the other end urged upward. When a cover attached to the roll paper loading opening is closed, the cleaning lever is held in resistance to this urging force at a position not touching the discharge follower roller by the fixed knife and movable knife of a cutter disposed downstream from the discharge follower roller. When the cover starts to open, the movable knife on the platen unit moves and the fixed knife separates from the cleaning lever, and the cleaning lever contacts the discharge follower roller.

Abstract: A seal member includes a communication hole that makes a holder flow path communicate with a connection flow path in a state of the seal member being nipped between a holder projection and a connection projection, a holder-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the holder projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the holder projection, a connection member-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the connection projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the connection projection, and a recessed groove that is hollowed in the bottom of the holder-side fitting recess or the bottom of the connection member-side fitting recess along the inner circumferential surface of the holder-side fitting recess or the connection member-side fitting recess.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a head for ejecting liquid, a cap unit for sealing an ejection surface of the head, a humidified air supply mechanism for performing a humidifying operation; a forcible discharge mechanism for performing a forcible discharge operation of forcibly discharging liquid from the ejection ports, a measuring unit for measuring a lapse time after a power supply becomes off and until the power supply becomes on, and a control unit for controlling the humidifying operation when the power supply becomes off, and controlling the forcible discharge operation when the power supply becomes on. When the power supply becomes on, the control unit controls the humidifying operation before performing the forcible discharge operation based on whether the lapse time measured by the measuring unit exceeds a predetermined time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for liquid-phase dispensing of layers onto a substrate of an electronic device. An absorbent material reduces or eliminates splatter of printing material on the substrate during continuous printing operations. The absorbent material can be regenerated by exposure of new surface area or vacuum drawing of printing material through the absorbent material.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including: a head having an ejection face having ejection openings for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium; a convey belt that has a support region for supporting the recording medium and a preliminary ejection region onto which the liquid is ejected in preliminary ejection and that conveys the recording medium in a conveying direction, wherein the preliminary ejection is ejection not contributing to image recording; and a controller which controls the head and the convey belt based on preliminary ejection data such that, until a specific length of time has passed from the ejection of the liquid onto the preliminary ejection region, liquid is landed on a position in the preliminary ejection region in current ejection, which position does not overlap at least one position of the liquid landed after the ejection of the liquid.

Abstract: A method of detecting fluid drops ejected from a fluid applicator unit having nozzles. The method includes establishing a detection zone to detect detection fluid drops transmitted therein and ejecting a set of detection fluid drops through a set of nozzles of the fluid applicator unit through the detection zone to a detection receiving member. The method also includes ejecting a set of warm-up fluid drops through an other set of nozzles to a warm-up receiving member in a manner in which the set of warm-up fluid drops bypasses the detection zone. The method also includes detecting the set of the detection fluid drops ejected into the detection zone.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a head, a liquid-receiving face and a flushing box. The head is configured and arranged to eject a liquid. The liquid-receiving face is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected from the head when flushing is carried out by the head. The flushing box is configured and arranged to receive the liquid deposited on the liquid-receiving face and dripped from the liquid-receiving face.

Abstract: A nozzle surface cleaning apparatus wipes a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head. The apparatus includes: a wiping member which wipes the nozzle surface in which a nozzle aperture is formed; a head movement device which causes movement of the droplet ejection head in a head movement plane and in a head movement direction; and a fine vibration device which causes vibration of one of the wiping member and the droplet ejection head in a vibration plane and in a vibration direction, the vibration plane being parallel to the head movement plane, the vibration direction being different to the head movement direction.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a low surface energy material is applied to a printhead face and a drip bib during a printhead maintenance operation. The low surface energy material forms a thin layer on the printhead face and drip bib to resist adhesion of ink to the printhead. The low surface energy material can be a layer of silicone oil.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes an actuator substrate provided with a pressure generating chamber, a nozzle plate provided with multiple nozzle holes discharging liquid to form a nozzle surface opposite to a recording media, a common passage substrate provided with a common passage to supply liquid to the pressure generating chamber, and a cover member to cover a perimeter of the nozzle surface, with an opening to expose the nozzle holes. In a prescribed direction, a dimension of the opening of the cover Lc, an external dimension of the actuator substrate La, an external dimension of the nozzle plate Ln, and an external dimension of the common passage substrate Lm, satisfy inequalities, La?Lc<Ln?Lm. A supporting member is provided between the opposing surface of the nozzle surface and the surface of the common passage substrate facing to the nozzle plate, to support the nozzle plate.

Abstract: There is provided a cap device including: a cap unit which is tiltable in a plane direction of the jetting surface and which comes into close contact with the jetting surface of the liquid jetting head; a flexible discharge tube of which one end is connected to the cap unit, which communicates with an inner space defined by the cap unit and the jetting surface under a condition that the cap unit comes into close contact with the jetting surface, and through which a liquid in the inner space is discharged; and a fixing mechanism which fixes a portion, of the discharge tube, other than the one end to the cap unit.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including: a liquid-ejection head having ejection openings to eject liquid to record an image on a recording medium; a sealing mechanism configured to selectively establish a sealed state and an unsealed state; a humid-air supply mechanism which supplies a humid air into the ejection space; and a controller, wherein, during the sealed state of the ejection space, the controller controls the humid-air supply mechanism to supply the humid air into the ejection space such that one of a density and a viscosity of the liquid to be ejected from the ejection openings becomes less than a predetermined appropriate value, and then controls the liquid-ejection head such that the liquid having an amount equal to or larger than a set amount is preliminarily ejected prior to the ejection of the liquid onto the recording medium for recording the image on the recording medium, is disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from an ejecting nozzle provided in an ejecting head includes a first container that contains a first liquid and a second container that contains a second liquid. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a channel that selectively communicates with either the first or second container to supply the liquid contained therein to the ejecting head, a switching unit that performs a switching operation of switching between a first communicating state in which the channel communicates with the first container and a second communicating state in which the channel communicates with the second container. In addition, if the remaining amount of the second liquid contained in the second container is less than a predetermined value, prohibits the switching unit from performing the switching operation of switching from the second communicating state to the first communicating state.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including: a head unit having a nozzle forming surface on which a plurality of rows of nozzles ejecting a liquid are arranged and of which the nozzle forming surface is wiped by a wiping member along an arrangement direction of the nozzle rows; and a fixing member, wherein the fixing member has a fixing plate section on which an exposure opening section exposing the nozzles of the nozzle forming surface is formed and of which an upper surface is joined to the nozzle forming surface as a fixing reference surface in a state where the nozzle is exposed into the exposure opening section, and a cutout section, which opens the exposure opening section in the wiping direction and exposes an edge portion of the nozzle forming surface, is formed downstream of the wiping member in the wiping direction in the exposure opening section.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including: a first casing; a second casing; and a controller, wherein the first casing is movable between a close position close to the second casing and a distant position farther from the second casing than the close position, the first casing accommodating a head having an ejection face. The second casing accommodates: a support portion having a support face for supporting a recording medium while facing the ejection face; and a moving device configured to move the support portion, such that the support face selectively takes a first state to face the ejection face and a second state not to face the ejection face. A restraining portion restrains movement of the first casing located at the close position, and the controller controls the moving device, such that the support face takes the second state when the controller has received a restraint releasing signal.

Abstract: Ink-jet recording apparatus including carriage movable between first and second stationary members, cap movable between first position for covering nozzles of recording head mounted on the carriage and positioned near the first stationary member, and second position spaced from the first position, abutment portion movable by the carriage moving in first direction to move the cap to the first position, and control device for moving the carriage in second direction for abutment onto the second stationary member, setting this position of abutment as provisional point of origin of the carriage, moving the carriage in the first direction for abutment of the carriage onto the abutment portion at a speed lower than a speed of movement of the carriage before the abutment, further moving the carriage for abutment onto the first stationary member, and setting this position of abutment as point of origin of the carriage.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head; a carriage to which the recording head is detachably mounted; and a first head protection member that is arranged on the carriage; wherein the recording head is positioned with respect to the carriage in a relative movement direction by moving the recording head relative to the carriage until a first position reference plane of the recording head and a second position reference plane of the carriage come into contact; the first head protection member is arranged at both sides in the relative movement direction of a nozzle face of the recording head and protrudes further than the nozzle face; and the first head protection member is movable with respect to the carriage in the relative movement direction and moves along with the recording head when the recording head moves relative to the carriage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a recording head having an array of nozzles disposed in a surface of the recording head to eject liquid droplets vertically upward to form an image on a recording medium conveyed above the recording head, a suction cap to cover the surface of the recording head from above, and a waste liquid receiver provided to a periphery of the recording head to receive liquid streaming down the periphery of the recording head upon removal of the suction cap from the surface of the recording head.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a printing apparatus including one or more print heads for depositing printing fluid onto a substrate, wherein the apparatus comprises a maintenance unit for the one or more print heads. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning one or more print heads from adhering printing fluid. The present invention also relates to the use of the apparatus in the automated manufacture of a contact lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink chambers, each ink chamber including a heater element for generating a bubble and causing ejection of ink droplets from a nozzle defined in the ink chamber. The method includes the steps of: operating the printhead in a normal printing mode whereby relatively shorter drive pulses are delivered to the heater elements to eject ink droplets used in normal printing; and operating the printhead in a maintenance mode whereby relatively longer drive pulses are delivered to the heater elements. The relatively longer drive pulses generate high impulse bubbles for recovering nozzles affected by decap.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, including: a head having an ejection surface; a head holder; a capping mechanism for capping the ejection surface, having: a facing member with a facing surface to face the ejection surface; and a protrusion provided on the head holder for isolating, from an external space, an ejection space formed between the ejection surface and the facing surface when a tip of the protrusion contacts the facing surface; and a humidifying mechanism having: a circulation passage whose first and second ends are open to the ejection space through openings thereof provided in one of the head and the head holder; and a humidifier for humidifying an air in the passage, the humidifying mechanism being configured to collect an air in the ejection space from the opening of the first end and to supply an air humidified by the humidifier into the ejection space from the opening of the second end.

Abstract: A hand-held printer that includes an inkjet array having a plurality of inkjets is disclosed. The hand-held printer may include an inkjet cap sized to cooperatively engage the inkjet array, wherein the inkjet cap is movable between and open position and a closed position, and a plurality of wipers carried by the inkjet cap, wherein each of the plurality of wipers is configured to engage one of the plurality of inkjets as the inkjet cap moves from the open position to the closed position; and wherein each of the plurality of wipers includes a gasket configured to form a seal adjacent to one of the plurality of inkjets.

Abstract: A recording device includes a conveying part that conveys roll paper, a support part that supports the roll paper, a recording part that that ejects liquid and records an image on the roll paper; a heating part that heats the support part to dry the liquid discharged on the roll paper, a cleaning part that cleans the recording part, and a controller that causes the conveying part to convey the roll paper at a first speed when the recording part performs a recording action for recording the image, and causes the conveying part to convey the roll paper at a second speed, which is slower than the first speed, after the cleaning part performs a cleaning action for cleaning the recording part.

Abstract: There is provided a cap device including: a cap unit which is tiltable in a plane direction of the jetting surface and which comes into close contact with the jetting surface of the liquid jetting head; a flexible discharge tube of which one end is connected to the cap unit, which communicates with an inner space defined by the cap unit and the jetting surface under a condition that the cap unit comes into close contact with the jetting surface, and through which a liquid in the inner space is discharged; and a fixing mechanism which fixes a portion, of the discharge tube, other than the one end to the cap unit.

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.