Abstract: A recording device forming a printed image by discharging droplets of an image forming solution from a nozzle and attaching the droplets on recording media, which includes a recording head provided with a specific nozzle which is selectively filled with the image forming solution and a solution preventing the nozzle from being clogged, and a controller that controls the performance of switching from a first filled state in which the specific nozzle is filled with the image forming solution to a second filled state in which the specific nozzle is filled with the solution preventing the nozzle from clogging in accordance with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head which includes a nozzle surface having a non-nozzle forming region and a nozzle forming region of a prescribed width in a prescribed direction, a nozzle row being formed in the nozzle forming region; and a nozzle surface cleaning apparatus which cleans the nozzle surface of the droplet ejection head and includes: a wiping device which presses a wiping member having absorbency against the nozzle surface and wipes the nozzle surface with the wiping member by moving the wiping member relatively in the prescribed direction with respect to the nozzle surface; and a sweeping device which sweeps excess liquid from the non-nozzle forming region before the wiping member wipes the nozzle surface, by pressing a sweeping member having elasticity against the non-nozzle forming region and moving the sweeping member relatively in the prescribed direction with respect to the nozzle surface.

Abstract: A double-side recording apparatus includes a recording section that performs recording by ejecting liquid to a sheet-shaped medium; a reversing section that reverses the medium after recording on one side of the medium; a capping section of the recording section; a moving section that moves the recording section to a second position where the recording section is capped and a first position other than the second position; and a controller that controls the moving section and the capping section. The controller determines whether a waiting time set to cause recording to wait for drying exceeds a threshold value before a reversing operation by the reversing section is initiated after recording on the one side of the medium is completed.

Abstract: A color ink printing system, includes a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges, the print head chassis actuable between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis actuable between a storage position and an operational position; and a platen on which the print media is supported and propagated. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated to effect printing on the print media. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining plurality of print head cartridges.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a record head having an ejection surface and a conveyance mechanism having a conveyance surface which passes through a position facing the ejection surface.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including: a head having a face that has ejection openings through which liquid is ejected to record an image on a recording medium, an ejection space being defined so as to face the face; a humidification-liquid tank storing humidification liquid having a nonvolatile component; a sealing mechanism configured to selectively establish a sealing state in which the sealing mechanism seals the ejection space from an outside and an unsealing state in which the sealing mechanism does not seal the ejection space from the outside; and a humid-air supply mechanism configured to supply humid air into the ejection space when the sealing mechanism is in the sealing state, the humid air being an air humidified by the humidification liquid in the humidification-liquid tank, wherein the humidification-liquid tank is configured to be mountable on and removable from the humid-air supply mechanism.

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: A configuration of an image display apparatus which can reduce a pump exclusive for solvent is provided. The image display apparatus of the present invention is provided with an ink chamber in an ink supply path from an ink container to a printhead and a solvent chamber in a solvent supply path from a solvent container to the printhead. The ink chamber and the solvent chamber are formed by dividing a liquid chamber by an elastic member (diaphragm), and volumes (capacities) of the ink chamber and the solvent chamber are changed by a pressure of the ink.

Abstract: A printing system with a print zone where droplets of ink print onto media, a drive roller configured to translate the media into the print zone and a movable media engagement assembly for vacuum engagement of one side of the media to draw the media away from the print zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a printhead is provided having a rotatable wiper roller having a shaft and a porous material about the shaft, a rotatable transfer roller in rotatable contact with the wiper roller, and a mechanism for rotating the wiper roller so that the porous material rotates against the printhead such that the porous material absorbs fluid from the printhead during the rotation, and for rotating the transfer roller against the wiper roller so that the fluid absorbed by the porous material is transferred to the transfer roller.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording portion; a conveying member having a surface opposed to the recording portion and which conveys the recording medium in a conveying direction; a wiper having an end portion which is contactable with the surface of the conveying member and which removes a foreign matter on the surface of the conveying member; and a wiping operation executing portion which executes a wiping operation in which at least one of the wiper and the conveying member is driven such that, after the end portion of the wiper distant from the surface of the conveying member comes into contact with a clean area of the surface of the conveying member, the end portion of the wiper reaches outside of the clean area.

Abstract: Liquid ejecting apparatus having ink-jet head and pre-coating head from which ink for forming an image on recording medium and pre-coating liquid reacting with the ink are respectively ejected onto respective predetermined first and second areas of conveyor belt provided for feeding the recording medium, during maintenance operation, wherein the ejected ink and pre-coating liquid are removed from the first and second areas of the conveyor belt by respective blades of respective ink and liquid cleaning mechanisms, when the first and second areas of the conveyor belt are spaced apart from the blades of the respective liquid and ink cleaning mechanisms, whereby the ejected ink and pre-coating liquid do not mix and react with each other during the maintenance operation.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a print head unit including a plurality of head chips disposed in a widthwise direction of a supplied printing medium to eject ink to form an image, a wiping unit including a plurality of wiper members disposed in the widthwise direction of the printing medium, and a support member supporting the plurality of wiper members and located below the print head unit to move upwardly and downwardly. The image-forming apparatus also includes an ink discharging unit which accommodates and discharges ink spitted from the print head unit, an elevating driving unit which moves the wiping unit upwardly and downwardly between at least two positions of a first forward position which is a wiping standby position, a second forward position which is a scrapping position, and a retracted position, and a widthwise direction driving unit which reciprocates the wiping unit positioned in the first or second forward positions by the elevating driving unit.

Abstract: A liquid jet head has a nozzle plate with nozzle holes for ejecting a liquid. A wall portion surrounding the nozzle plate has an opening opposed to the nozzle holes. An opening and closing mechanism is configured in an open state to open the opening of the wall portion to expose the nozzle holes to an exterior of the head, and in a closed state to close the opening of the wall portion to form a closed space between the wall portion and the nozzle plate. A suction flow path has on one end side a suction port opening below the nozzle holes, and another end side is connected to a suction portion that evacuates the closed space to convert the closed space to a negative pressure chamber, thereby supplying the liquid to the nozzle holes. An atmosphere release portion switches between the open and closed states of the mechanism.

Abstract: A sealing tape for an ink jet recording head, detachably adhered to the surface of a chip which is provided on an ink jet recording head and on which a discharge port for discharging ink is formed, includes: a base layer; and an adhesive layer on the base layer, the adhesive layer consisting of: (1) 70 to 100 wt % of (A)-(B)-(A) block copolymers which have no unsaturated carbon bond and consist of (a) vinyl aromatic compound units and (b) olefinic hydrocarbon units where (A) is a polymer block consisting of the (a) units and (B) is a polymer block consisting of the (b) units; and (2) 0 to 30 wt % of polyolefin, wherein the content of the (a) vinyl aromatic compound units in the (1) (A)-(B)-(A) block copolymers is 10 to 30 wt %.

Abstract: A structure body has a liquid-repellent surface exhibiting repellency to a liquid. The structure body includes: a substrate which has a base surface; and a plurality of projections which are arranged on the base surface of the substrate. The projections have a characteristic angle defined as an angle between a lateral surface of each of the projections and a plane that intersects with the lateral surface and is parallel to the base surface, the angle being taken inside the projection on the lateral surface and in a side of the base surface on the plane. The characteristic angle of the projections is smaller than 90° and is smaller than a reference angle that is separately determined as a static contact angle of the liquid with respect to a reference surface that is smooth and has a chemical state identical to a chemical state of the lateral surface of the projection.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a web for wiping and receiving fluid ejected from a printhead. In one implementation, first and second supports support a portion of the web that receives fluid ejected from a printhead after the portion of the web has been supported in wiping engagement with the print head by the first support. In another implementation, a frame removably receives a cartridge which includes supports for the web, wherein one or more actuators linearly move the frame carrying the cartridge between a position opposite the web and a withdrawn position. In another implementation, a capper is pivotally supported by a frame which receives a cartridge, the capper pivoting to a capping position cantilevered from the frame.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head; a liquid receiving section; a suction pump that is connected the liquid receiving section; a first liquid containing section that contains first liquid; a second liquid containing section that contains second liquid. When the second liquid in the liquid ejecting head is exchanged for the first liquid, the liquid ejecting head eject the liquid toward the liquid receiving section in a state in which the liquid receiving section is away from the liquid ejecting head, and when the first liquid in the liquid ejecting head is exchanged for the second liquid, the suction pump to operate in a state in which the liquid receiving section has been brought into contact with the liquid ejecting head to cover the ejection nozzles.

Abstract: A portable printer includes an outer housing, a circuit board, a battery, an inner housing, at least one inkjet head, and a motor, all of which are housed in the outer housing. The outer housing defines a longitudinal receiving space and an opening communicating with the receiving space. The battery is electrically connected to the circuit board to provide power to the portable printer. The inner housing can rotate around an axis of the outer housing. The inkjet head can rotate with the inner housing, and emits ink when it rotates. The motor is electrically connected to the circuit board, and is controlled by the circuit board to drive the inner housing to rotate. The rotation of the inner housing drives the inkjet head to rotate. Ink from the inkjet head goes out of the outer housing through the opening.

Abstract: An image apparatus includes a carriage, a first recording head, a second recording head, and a maintenance assembly. The carriage is movable in a main scanning direction. The second recording head is displaced from the first recording head on the carriage in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The maintenance assembly includes a frame member, a first maintenance device, and a second maintenance device. The frame member has a guide portion, a first contact portion, and a second contact portion. The second maintenance device is reciprocally movable along the guide portion in the sub scanning direction between a first position to oppose the first recording head and a second position to oppose the second recording head. The second maintenance device stops at the first position in contact with the first contact portion and at the second position in contact with the second contact portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head that has a nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a medium, a carriage that holds the ejecting head and can be moved in a predetermined direction, a maintenance member that can be moved up and down with respect to a nozzle formation surface where the nozzle is formed in the ejecting head, and performs maintenance on the nozzle formation surface, a lock member that can be moved up and down with respect to the carriage and fixes a position of the carriage, and a movement member that moves the lock member and the maintenance member such that a lifting amount of the lock member is different from a lifting amount of the maintenance member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzles that eject a liquid, a liquid receiving unit that receives the liquid that is ejected from the nozzles on the liquid ejecting head while having a deformable sheet-like member fixed thereto, and a deforming unit that deforms the sheet-like member.

Abstract: An ejection surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a liquid ejection surface of a liquid ejection head ejecting an ejection liquid, includes: a cleaning liquid deposition device which deposits a cleaning liquid that dissolves or redisperses the ejection liquid, onto the liquid ejection surface; a wiping device which wipes the liquid ejection surface onto which the cleaning liquid has been deposited; and a control device which controls a leave time from deposition of the cleaning liquid onto the liquid ejection surface until wiping performed by the wiping device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method apply release fluid to a leveler in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a substrate path, at least one release fluid spray nozzle, and a marking material leveling system having a marking material leveler. The method can include transporting a substrate with marking material along the substrate path. The method can include pulse spraying release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle. The method can include leveling marking material on the substrate using the marking material leveler with release fluid. The method can include determining an adjusted amount of release fluid to spray to the marking material leveling system. The method can include pulse spraying the adjusted amount of release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for refurbishing a web cartridge includes separating a web extending between first and second spools from the first spool and winding the separated web onto the second spool. The first and second spools are removed from a housing. A replacement first spool having a replacement web is obtained, and an end of the replacement is fed web through a web guide. A portion of the replacement web is then affixed to a replacement second spool.

Abstract: A cleaning filling liquid for inkjet device comprising: Water; 10.0% by mass to 45% by mass per whole amount of the cleaning filling liquid of an amide compound having following structural formula (1).

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a head body that ejects liquid from nozzle openings and a flow path member that includes a liquid flow path through which the liquid is supplied to the head body, the liquid flow path being provided with a filter chamber disposed at a position in the liquid flow path with a filter disposed inside the filter chamber, and a portion of the filter chamber which opposes the filter being made of an elastic member; a pressing unit that presses the elastic member toward the filter; and a suction unit that suctions the liquid in the liquid flow path from the nozzle openings.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus efficiently recovers defective discharge while reducing the amount of waste ink, acquires position information of a defective discharge nozzle and, based on the position information, determines whether the defective discharge has been caused by a bubble or a dust particle, and selects an ink circulation mode or a wiping mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes plural recording heads that eject liquid droplets and plural maintenance units that correspond to the plural recording heads. The plural maintenance units are capable of separately moving between opposed positions opposed to the plural recording heads and retracted positions not opposed to the plural recording heads, and the plural maintenance units are retracted into the retracted positions in postures different from postures at the opposed positions.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices and methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard imaging device includes a media transport system configured to move media along a media path and a print device adjacent to the media path and configured to eject a plurality of droplets of a liquid marking agent in a direction towards the media moving along the media path to form hard images using the media. The ejection of the droplets of the liquid marking agent by the print device creates satellites of the liquid marking agent suspended in air in a region adjacent to the print device and the media. The device also includes a satellite removal system in one arrangement to remove the satellites from the air in the region adjacent to the print device and the media.

Abstract: In an ink jet head using a thermal energy for ejecting ink, this invention aims to reliably and uniformly remove kogations deposited on a heat application portion in contact with the ink. To realize this objective, the upper protective layer is arranged in an area including the heat application portion so that it can be electrically connected to serve as an electrode which causes an electrochemical reaction with the ink. The upper protective layer is formed of a material containing a metal which is dissolved by the electrochemical reaction and which does not form, on heating, an oxide film which hinders the dissolution. With this arrangement, a reliable electrochemical reaction can be produced to dissolve a surface layer of the upper protective layer, thereby removing kogations on the heat application portion reliably and uniformly.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, wherein the liquid ejection head can eject a liquid from the nozzle and is movable in a predetermined direction; a first controller that controls, based on input data, liquid ejection of the liquid ejection head from the nozzle and movement of the liquid ejection head in the predetermined direction to apply the liquid onto an ejection area of a medium; a second controller that controls a flushing operation by moving the liquid ejection head to a flushing area outside the ejection area in the predetermined direction and ejecting the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid ejection head to the flushing area; a third controller that controls a minute vibration operation by vibrating the liquid in the nozzle to such an extent as not to eject the liquid from the nozzle; and a fourth controller that obtains information regarding the ejection area in the predetermined direction and that selectively controls the second controller and the third

Abstract: In a method to regenerate during operation ink in nozzles of at least one inkjet print head operating according to drop on demand in an inkjet print apparatus, nozzles of the print head that generate print dots on a printing substrate are activated such that the nozzles output first ink droplets of a predetermined volume in a direction towards the printing substrate. Nozzles that are not being currently used to generate print dots on the printing substrate are activated such that they output at least one second ink droplet of a smaller volume in comparison to the first ink droplets volume. During at least the outputting of the second ink droplet, a suction flow is generated between the inkjet print head and the printing substrate of such strength that the second ink droplet is deflected so it does not arrive at the printing substrate.

Abstract: A maintenance method for a liquid jetting apparatus provided with a jetting head which has a nozzle surface formed with nozzle holes and which discharges a liquid from the nozzle holes, and a cap which covers the nozzle surface includes discharging the liquid in the jetting head from the nozzle holes into the cap in a state that the nozzle surface of the jetting head is covered with the cap; and sucking the liquid discharged into the cap via a discharge hole provided at a bottom portion of the cap in a state that the cap is separated from the jetting head; and the liquid, which is discharged into the cap, is sucked in first and second suction modes in which suction amounts per a predetermined period of time are different from each other.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device printhead assembly includes a housing. The housing has a surface. A well is defined within the surface of the housing and is adapted to disposal of a printhead die therewithin. The surface of the housing has one or more grooves. The grooves have ends. Some of the ends are adjacent to the wall. The grooves externally expose the printhead die.

Abstract: Provided is a fluid ejecting apparatus including a fluid ejecting head that has a nozzle row made of a plurality of nozzles and ejects fluid from the nozzle row. The fluid ejecting apparatus includes a line-shaped absorbing member that is provided to extend along the nozzle row and absorbs the fluid ejected from the nozzles at a position opposite the nozzles, and a retraction unit that retracts the absorbing member from the position opposite the nozzles by abutting on the absorbing member. The absorbing member is positioned at the position opposite the nozzles when the retraction unit does not abut on the absorbing member.

Abstract: A particle removal device for an ink jet printer is discussed. The particle removal device includes a first separator comprising an arrangement of obstacles including at least two rows of obstacles that extend laterally with respect to a flow path of ink in the first separator. The rows of obstacles are offset from one another by a row offset fraction. The arrangement of obstacles is configured to preferentially route larger particles having diameters greater than a critical diameter through the arrangement and along a first trajectory vector that is angled with respect to the direction of the flow path of the ink. The angle of the first trajectory vector with respect to the ink flow path is a function of the row offset fraction. Smaller particles having diameters less than the critical diameter travel through the arrangement along a second trajectory vector that is not substantially angled with respect to the flow path of the ink.

Abstract: A supply unit is provided to supply humidified gas near a nozzle array of a line-type recording head. The flow-rate distribution of the supplied humidified gas in a direction of the nozzle array is changeable in accordance with a conveying region where a sheet is conveyed while opposing the nozzle array.

Abstract: A scrapping unit and an image forming apparatus having the same, and cleaning methods thereof to improve a maintenance performance. The scrapping unit cleans a polluted member disposed in an image forming apparatus and stained by a polluting material. The scrapping unit may include an endless belt to circulate between an exposed position where a surface of the endless belt is exposed toward the polluted member, and a non-exposed position where the surface of the endless belt is not exposed with respect to the polluted member, and a belt support frame which includes a belt support surface to support the endless belt so that the endless belt can be unfolded in the exposed position, and a storing space to store the endless belt so that the endless belt can be folded in the non-exposed position.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle orifice, a blowing mechanism disposed on the liquid ejecting head side, and a gap control unit which relatively controls a gap between the nozzle orifices and an ejection target medium, in which driving of the blowing mechanism is controlled depending on the gap between the nozzle orifices and the ejection target medium.

Abstract: Even when a pressurizing operation is performed, degradation of the quality of a printing head due to wiping of a nozzle surface is suppressed. In an ink jet printing apparatus including a printing head, an ink tank, a first pump arranged in an ink supplying path for supplying ink from the ink tank to the printing head, a second pump arranged in an ink collecting path for collecting ink from the printing head to the ink tank, a switch valve arranged between the printing head and the second pump, and a cleaning mechanism, by driving the first pump in a state where the switch valve is closed, the ink is discharged from the nozzle row, and after driving of the second pump in a state where the switch valve is opened, the cleaning mechanism is caused to clean the printing head.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head configured to discharge ink to execute recording on a sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet, a carriage configured to mount the recording head thereon and to move in a main-scanning direction crossing to a sheet conveyance direction, and a height change mechanism configured to move the carriage in a height direction includes moving the carriage in the main-scanning direction to the outside of a sheet conveyance area of the conveyance unit, conveying a cleaning sheet, to which a fold is previously given, to a recording position, moving the carriage to a first height position via the height change mechanism, moving the carriage to the inside of the sheet conveyance area, moving the carriage to a second height position via the height change mechanism, and conveying the cleaning sheet via the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A method of removing flooded ink from an ink ejection face of a printhead. The method comprises moving a surface past the ink ejection face and transferring the flooded ink onto the moving surface, where no part of the surface contacts the face. The surface can be a surface of a disposable sheet. The disposable sheet can be absorbent. The disposable sheet can be different from print media used for printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for priming a fluid jetting device. The system includes a fluid trench configured within a fluid jetting chip of the fluid jetting device and at least one first channel fluidly coupled to the fluid trench. The at least one first channel extends vertically between the fluid jetting chip and a mounting unit adapted to support the fluid jetting chip, and is adapted to supply a priming fluid to the fluid trench. The system further includes at least one second channel fluidly coupled to the fluid trench. The at least one second channel extends vertically between the fluid jetting chip and the mounting unit, and is adapted to drain-out the priming fluid from the fluid trench. Further disclosed are systems for priming a fluid jetting device, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one method, an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure is caused to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data and a shield is used to separate the support structure from the target area to form a first region between the support structure and the shield and a second region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the first region and the second region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area. The shield is heated to a temperature that is at least equal to a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid in the second region.

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 said apparatus in the automated manufacture of a contact lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Abstract: A flow rate control device includes a pressure generating unit that delivers a liquid to a liquid reservoir unit including an ejecting port; a flow rate control unit that controls a flow rate of the pressure generating unit by performing a first flow rate control and a second flow rate control, the first flow rate control being to raise a pressure inside the liquid reservoir unit up to a target pressure at a first pressure change rate which is sufficiently high to float air bubbles adhering to a wall surface inside the liquid reservoir unit, the second flow rate control being to maintain the target pressure or to lower the pressure inside the liquid reservoir unit from the target pressure at a second pressure change rate lower than the first pressure change rate in order to eject air bubbles floating inside the liquid reservoir unit from the ejecting port.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a carrier frame supporting an ink supply manifold; a pagewidth printhead with an ink ejection surface; an encapsulant defining a film guide and a maintenance station. The maintenance station includes: a chassis; a plurality of rollers mounted on the chassis; a film wound in a loop around the rollers; and a drive motor operatively connected to one of the rollers such that actuation of the drive motor rotates the film around said rollers. The chassis is moveable between a printing position in which the film is remote from the printhead and a cleaning position in which the film engages the film guide so that a cavity is defined by the film, the encapsulant and the ink ejection surface.

Abstract: A continuous web printer that has an inlet for receiving a web of media from a media web roll unwinder, an outlet for delivery to a media web roll winder, a media feed path extending from the inlet to the outlet and a plurality of pagewidth printhead assemblies for printing on both sides of the web. The media feed path has an upper print zone positioned above a lower print zone. The upper print zone is a section of the media feed path in which one side of the web is printed and the lower print zone being a section of the media feed path in which the other side of the web is printed.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead having an ink ejection face is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a foaming system for providing liquid foam on the face, (b) a foam transfer surface for receiving the foam from said face, (c) a transport mechanism for feeding said transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from said printhead, and (d) a valve configurable in first and second positions, the first position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and an ink supply system and the second position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and said foaming system. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from said ink ejection face.