Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes: a cartridge mounting part configured to have a cartridge retaining a liquid mounted thereon; a head connected to the cartridge mounting part and configured to eject the liquid from a nozzle which is an opening provided on the nozzle surface of the head; and a discharge unit including a cap configured to cover the nozzle surface, the discharge unit being configured to discharge the liquid from the nozzle by creating a negative pressure in an internal space of the cap. The liquid is at least an ink, a storage liquid or a mixture thereof. The cartridge includes a first cartridge for retaining the ink and a second cartridge for retaining the storage liquid The ink includes a pigment, a resin microparticle, an organic solvent, a surfactant, and water. The storage liquid includes a water-soluble polymer, an organic solvent, a surfactant, and water.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes one or more printhead maintenance stations. Each station is positioned within the print zone of the inkjet printer and includes at least one printhead cleaning module. The at least one printhead cleaning module is configured to move from a first position that is not between the media transport and the at least one printhead to a second position where the at least one printhead cleaning module is between the at least one printhead and the media transport.

Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiping member and a moving part. The wiping member wipes a liquid off a nozzle surface of a recording head. The moving part moves the wiping member along the nozzle surface in a predetermined moving direction. The wiping member performs a first wiping operation in which the wiping member is moved while not coming into contact with the nozzle surface but coming into contact with the liquid adhering to the nozzle surface, and a second wiping operation in which the wiping member is moved while coming into contact with the nozzle surface after the first wiping operation.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head having an ejection port surface and a step portion, a blade to wipe the ejection port surface, and a moving unit. A plurality of ink ejection ports is arranged on the ejection port surface. The moving unit performs relative movement of the blade and the recording head by moving the blade or the recording head in a first direction to cause the blade to wipe a wiped surface including the ejection port surface, from the step portion to an area in which the plurality of ink ejection ports is arranged. The moving unit performs the relative movement so that a first relative velocity of the relative movement when the blade passes the step portion is higher than a second relative velocity of the relative movement when the blade, that has been in contact with the wiped surface, is separated from the wiped surface.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid from a nozzle that is disposed on a nozzle surface, a first wiping portion which is able to wipe away the liquid that is adhered to the nozzle surface, and a second wiping portion which is able to hold the liquid that is adhered to the nozzle surface by contacting the nozzle surface, wherein it is possible to perform a first maintenance operation in which the nozzle surface is wiped using the first wiping portion and a second maintenance operation in which the second wiping portion is caused to contact the nozzle surface due to the second wiping portion being biased by the first wiping portion.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage including a first head and a second head at least partially overlapping in a sub-scanning direction, a first wiper for wiping the first head, and a second wiper for wiping the second head. The printer moves the first wiper to a first contact position where the first wiper is configured to contact the first head, and moves the second wiper to a second non-contact position where the second wiper is not configured to contact the second head. After moving the first wiper and the second wiper, the printer relatively moves the carriage to cause the first head to pass the first wiper at the first contact position.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus is disclosed. The inspection apparatus includes a laser, an optical sensor, and a controller. In operation, the laser outputs at least one laser beam, the optical sensor measures an intensity of the at least one laser beam passing through a lower region adjacent to the inkjet head, and the controller controls an ink ejection from the inkjet head based on the intensity of the at least one laser beam.

Abstract: A method of printing includes, applying to an intermediate transfer member (ITM) (44), one or more fluids that include at least a printing fluid for forming an image on the ITM (44). At least part of the image is transferred from the ITM (44) to a target substrate (50). Residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate (50) and remained on the ITM (44), are transferred from the ITM (44) to one or more rotatable elements (112), and the residues are removed from the one or more rotatable elements (112).

Abstract: A printer includes an ink head including a nozzle surface on which a nozzle is provided, a wiper extending upward to wipe the nozzle surface, a wiper mover to move the wiper in a sub-scanning direction, a wiper cleaner disposed downstream of a carriage and extending downward to remove ink adhering to the wiper, and a controller configured or programmed to control the wiper mover. The controller is configured or programmed to control the wiper mover such that the nozzle surface is wiped by the wiper after bringing the wiper into contact with the wiper cleaner or to bring the wiper into contact with the wiper cleaner after wiping the nozzle surface by the wiper.

Abstract: The inkjet printing device includes a dark ink container containing a dark ink of a color, a light ink container containing a light ink of the color, a dark ink discharging nozzle group for discharging the dark ink, and a light ink discharging nozzle group for discharging the light ink, wherein the light ink discharging group is disposed upstream of the dark ink discharging group in a sub-scanning direction, wherein the following Relationship 1 is satisfied: 10/100?a ratio of a pigment content in the light ink to a pigment content in the dark ink?40/100 Relationship 1.

Abstract: A wiping module includes a wiping portion and a cleaning portion. The wiping portion includes a wiping member wiping a liquid discharge head that discharges a liquid from a nozzle provided on a nozzle surface, a storage support portion supporting the wiping member and configured to store the liquid by the wiping, and a movement support portion mounting the storage support portion and configured to reciprocate along a wiping direction, which is a direction in which the wiping is performed. The cleaning portion cleans the wiping member. The cleaning portion includes a cleaning member and a guide portion guiding the cleaning member. The cleaning member is configured to follow a movement of the wiping portion in the wiping direction and to scrape off the liquid adhering to the wiping member while being guided by the guide portion.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a device comprise a cleaning-fluid-supply reservoir; a cleaning-fluid-supply conduit; one or more electrical connectors that are configured to be attached to a printhead and supply electrical signals to the printhead; one or more memories; and one or more processors that are in communication with the one or more memories. Also, the one or more processors cooperate with the one or more memories to cause the device to perform operations that include supplying cleaning fluid from the cleaning-fluid-supply reservoir, through the cleaning-fluid-supply conduit, to the printhead, and while supplying the cleaning fluid to the printhead, sending a signal to the printhead, through the one or more electrical connectors, to activate one or more piezo-electric actuators of the printhead.

Abstract: A waste liquid collection apparatus includes a waste liquid tray, a collection tank, a collection pump, and a circulation pump. The waste liquid tray includes a waste liquid receiving surface inclined downward to receive a waste liquid discharged from a head unit and allow the waste liquid to flow from an upper end to a lower end of the waste liquid receiving surface, and a waste liquid discharge part that is disposed adjacent to the lower end of the waste liquid receiving surface to discharge the waste liquid. The collection pump feeds a part of the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge part to the collection tank. The circulation pump returns another part of the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge part to the upper end of the waste liquid receiving surface to circulate the other part of the waste liquid.

Abstract: A wiping device includes a wiper unit, a carriage, and a fixing member. The wiper unit includes a wiper that wipes a liquid discharge surface of a liquid discharge head from which liquid is to be discharged. The carriage moves along the liquid discharge surface in a first direction and a second direction, both of which are opposite to each other. The fixing member fixes the wiper unit to the carriage. When the carriage is disposed on a side in the first direction with respect to a middle point in a moving range of the carriage, the fixing member is removable in the first direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaning members that come into contact with an ejection surface of a droplet ejector that ejects droplets to clean the ejection surface, in which the plurality of cleaning members are in a wet state.

Abstract: A printing device includes: an inkjet printhead; a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the printhead through a lift path; and a pivotally movable spit flap positioned in the lift path. The spit flap is configured to swing away from the lift path when the printhead contacts the spit flap during lowering of the printhead.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an orifice cleaning system that removes metal drops that have adhered to a plate, an orifice in the plate, and a nozzle ejecting melted metal drops through the orifice during object forming operations. The orifice cleaning system includes an orifice cleaning tool that consists essentially of a soft carbon material, such as graphite. The orifice cleaning tool is configured with a handle that is gripped by an articulated arm to move the orifice cleaning tool against the plate, the orifice, and a portion of the nozzle at the orifice.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion that has a supply port, a second discharge port, a plurality of nozzles, and a nozzle surface on which a plurality of the nozzles are open, and that discharges the liquid from the nozzles, a liquid supply flow path coupled to the supply port so that the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting portion, and a liquid return flow path coupled to the second discharge port so that the liquid supplied to the liquid ejecting portion is returned to the liquid supply flow path, in which a pressure lowering operation of lowering a pressure in the liquid ejecting portion is performed in a state where a flow of the liquid in the liquid return flow path is blocked after performing a pressurization discharge operation of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid ejecting portion and discharging the liquid from the nozzle.

Abstract: A printer includes a line head and a wiper unit. The line head is provided to be movable between a recording position and a retreat position and performs recording on a medium by ejecting ink from an ejection surface at the recording position. The wiper unit is provided to be movable, in the Y direction, between a maintenance position at which a maintenance operation is able to be performed and a non-maintenance position away from the maintenance position. A permitting section is formed in the wiper unit. The permitting section permits a portion of the line head to move in a direction intersecting the Y direction in a state in which the wiper unit is at the non-maintenance position.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a transport belt that configured to support and transport a medium, a liquid jetting unit configured to perform a printing operation by jetting a liquid to the medium, a storage tank that is an example of a cleaning liquid storage unit configured to store a cleaning liquid, a cleaning unit configured to perform a cleaning operation of the transporting belt using the cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank, a coagulation tank configured to store the cleaning liquid used for cleaning operation and to which a coagulating agent is added, and a separation unit configured to separate, from the cleaning liquid, a coagulated material produced by coagulation caused by adding the coagulating agent to the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid from which the coagulated material is separated by the separation unit is supplied to the storage tank.

Abstract: A pressure adjustment unit includes a flow passage including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a through hole. The apparatus further includes a partition wall that the through hole is formed, a first sealing portion having flexibility, a second sealing portion facing with the first sealing portion, a valve configured to close the flow passage by moving in a first direction, and to open the flow passage by moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a biasing member biasing the valve in the first direction, and a restricting portion restricting movement of the valve in the first direction by contact with a to-be-restricted portion of the valve, at a second portion different from a first portion where contact of the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion occurs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to control apparatus and methods of a printing system, for example, comprising an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and to user-related features of a printing system. Some embodiments relate to regulation of a velocity and/or tension and/or length of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to regulation of deposition of ink on the moving ITM. Some embodiments regulate to apparatus configured to alert a user of one or more events related to operation of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to a time-line GUI for visualizing and/or manipulating queued print jobs which may be employed. Some embodiments relate to a reversed augmented reality GUI for visualization and/or control of the printing system. In some embodiments, a display screen is mounted to a printer housing and/or able to control access to moving parts of a printing system.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects a liquid; a curing portion that cures the liquid by emitting energy to the liquid; and a waste-liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid as waste liquid, in which the waste-liquid collecting portion includes an absorber that absorbs the liquid from the head, a first rotational shaft that holds an unused portion of the absorber, and a second rotational shaft that holds a used portion of the absorber, and the curing portion emits the energy to the liquid absorbed by the absorber.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically cleaning a nozzle of a gas supply system is provided. The apparatus includes a carrier with a gas inlet that is adapted to sealingly mate with the nozzle of the gas supply system and an automated nozzle cleaning system in the carrier. The automated nozzle cleaning system includes a first nozzle cleaning device, a second nozzle cleaning device, and a function switching plate. The function switching plate comprises a plurality of through holes, a first through hole of the plurality of through holes is configured to engage the first nozzle cleaning device with the gas inlet when the function switching plate is positioned at a first position, and a second through hole of the plurality of through holes is configured to engage the second nozzle cleaning device with the gas inlet when the function switching plate is positioned at a second position.

Abstract: A printer includes: a platen having an ink-collection slot extending across its width; a wick bar received in the ink-collection slot, wherein an upstream gap and a downstream gap are defined at either side of the wick bar relative to a media feed direction; a printhead positioned over the wick bar; and a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ink-collection slot. The wick bar is mounted on a rotatable shaft and the vacuum chamber comprises a scraper positioned for scraping the wick bar as it rotates past the scraper.

Abstract: A recording head recovery system includes a recording head, a cleaning liquid tank for storing cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid supplying path which connects together the cleaning liquid tank and the recording head, a liquid supply mechanism which is provided in the cleaning liquid supplying path, and a controller. The controller performs recording head recovery operation including cleaning liquid supplying operation for supplying the cleaning liquid from liquid supplying openings of the recording head, wiping operation for wiping an ink ejection face of the recording head while a wiper retains the cleaning liquid, and backflow operation for controlling the liquid supply mechanism to make the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid supplying path to flow from the cleaning liquid supplying openings to the cleaning liquid tank.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device including: an ink storage unit configured to store an ink; an ejection head having a nozzle configured to eject the ink to a printing material; a heating unit configured to heat the printing material; and a washing unit configured to wash a nozzle-formed surface of the head with a washing liquid, wherein the ink is a clear ink including a resin, the device has a low gloss printing mode that is a printing mode for applying low gloss and a high gloss printing mode that is a printing mode for applying high gloss, and the inkjet printing device satisfies: Tmatte>Tgloss where Tmatte (degrees Celsius) is a temperature of the heating unit when printing is performed with the low gloss printing mode, and Tgloss (degrees Celsius) is a temperature of the heating unit when printing is performed with the high gloss printing mode.

Abstract: A printer includes a line head, a transport unit, a head moving unit, a cap unit, and a wiper unit. The head moving unit moves the line head to a recording position and a retracted position along a B direction. The cap unit is configured to move back and forth in an A direction between the line head and the transport unit. The wiper unit is configured to move back and forth in a Y direction intersecting both the B direction and the A direction between the line head and the transport unit. At least a portion of a first movement area in which the cap unit moves and at least a portion of a second movement area in which the wiper unit moves are disposed at an identical position in the B direction.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid from a nozzle disposed in a nozzle surface; a wiping mechanism configured to execute a wiping operation of wiping the nozzle surface with a strip-shaped member, which is configured to absorb the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting portion, in contact with the nozzle surface; a wiping solution supply mechanism configured to supply a wiping solution to the strip-shaped member before the wiping operation is performed; and a control portion, and the control portion reduces the amount of the wiping solution held in the strip-shaped member in the wiping operation when the nozzle surface with a large amount of the liquid adhering thereto is wiped as compared with the amount of the wiping solution when the nozzle surface with a small amount of the liquid adhering thereto is wiped.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle plate, a case head disposed in a second-direction opposite to a first-direction with respect to the nozzle plate, and a lid member; and a carriage having an outer wall surrounding a periphery of the nozzle plate, in which the lid member has a first-surface, a second-surface, and a third-surface, the first-surface is disposed in the first direction with respect to the nozzle plate, the second-surface is coupled to the first-surface and is disposed to cover a part of a side surface of the case head in a third-direction orthogonal to the first-direction, the third-surface is coupled to the second-surface to extend in the third-direction, and is disposed so as not to abut on the outer wall, and an end portion of the third-surface in the third-direction overlaps the outer wall when viewed in the second-direction.

Abstract: A head maintenance device includes a cap configured to cap a nozzle surface of a head configured to discharge a liquid, a wiper configured to wipe the nozzle surface of the head, a holder configured to vertically movably hold the cap and the wiper to a height at which the cap and the wiper bite into the absorbing member, and a cleaner configured to move relative to the cap and the wiper, the cleaner comprising an absorbing member configured to contact the cap and the wiper.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes a controller operatively connected to an actuator so the controller can operate the actuator to tilt a carrier plate in which a plurality of printheads are mounted after a purge of the printheads has been performed. The tilt assists gravity in directing the purged ink to a wiper that is moved by another actuator operated by the controller to wipe the faceplates of one or more printhead faceplates in the carrier plate. After the wiper is returned to its home position, the carrier plate is returned to its level position and the printhead assembly is returned to its operational position for printing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an inkjet printing device and predicting failures or maintenance needs. The system includes one or more memory devices; a print analysis engine stored in the one or more memory devices to monitor the print output from the inkjet printing device, operation of the inkjet printing device, or any combination thereof; and one or more processor devices to perform actions, including: monitoring print output from the inkjet printing device, operation of the inkjet printing device, or any combination thereof; based on the monitoring, predicting a failure or maintenance need of the inkjet printing device; based on the prediction, suggesting or performing maintenance on the inkjet printing device to address the predicted failure or maintenance need; and, after maintenance has been performed, monitoring the print output, operation of the printing device, or any combination thereof to determine whether the predicted failure or maintenance need has been resolved.

Abstract: An inkjet head manufacturing method for an inkjet head that includes a head chip including: a nozzle ejecting ink; and a flow path substrate including an ink flow path which communicates with the nozzle and through which the ink flows, the method including: composite substrate manufacturing that is manufacturing a composite substrate including a plurality of regions which forms flow path substrates by being split; first protective film forming that is forming a first protective film on a surface of the composite substrate and an inner wall surface of the ink flow path; splitting that is splitting the composite substrate into the flow path substrates; and second protective film forming that is forming a second protective film on at least an exposed face in a split face of the flow path substrate generated in the splitting, the exposed face being exposed in a surface of the head chip.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid ejection apparatus which, in a case of performing wiping operations at a plurality of different wiping pressures, can perform each wiping operation at a suitable wiping pressure and a suitable angle. To achieve this object, a liquid ejection apparatus is configured such that the angle of the wiping surface of a wiper to an ejection port surface can be changed while the wiper is out of contact with the ejection port surface and is not performing wiping, and the ejection port surface can be wiped with the wiper after the wiping surface angle is changed.

Abstract: A method comprising: soaking a portion of a web in a printing device with printing liquid from a first print head (110) of the printing device; and wiping at least one nozzle of a second print head (120) in the printing device with the soaked portion of the web. The method provides a servicing method for print heads in the printing device.

Abstract: A head clean includes a wiping device configured to wipe a nozzle surface of a head mounted on a carriage, and a holder configured to movably hold the wiping device. The holder includes a connector configured to detachably attach the holder to a guide rod configured to guide a reciprocal movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a wiping mechanism that includes a wiping portion configured to move in a wiping direction, in which a first nozzle surface and a second nozzle surface each provided with nozzles of a liquid ejecting portion are aligned, and to wipe the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, and an isolation region in which the wiping portion is not brought into contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface when a gap between the first and second nozzle surfaces and the wiping portion in an ejecting direction of liquid from the nozzles is a contact interval at which the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are wiped is provided between the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the wiping direction.

Abstract: A wiping device includes a first web material, a second web material, and a pressing member. The second web material is different from the first web material. The pressing member presses the first web material and the second web material to a target to be wiped. The first web material and the second web material are overlaid on top of one another and pressed against the target to be wiped.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid jetting device, a liquid jetting head cleaning device, and a liquid jetting head cleaning method, in which a nozzle surface is cleaned without a liquid infiltrating into a gap of a liquid jetting head having a gap between head modules adjacent to each other. After performing pressurization purging for pressurizing an inside of a liquid jetting head (32) that is the liquid jetting head (32), which jets a liquid from a nozzle (202) disposed on a nozzle surface (33), is formed by a plurality of head modules (200), and has a gap (G) between the head modules adjacent to each other, to discharge the liquid from the nozzle (202), a long wiping web (104) in a dry state abuts against the nozzle surface (33) of the liquid jetting head (32) at a pressing force of 0 kPa or more and 15 kPa or less, and the wiping web (104) is transported with respect to the liquid jetting head (32) in a web transporting direction to wipe the nozzle surface (33).

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus carries ink ejected from an inkjet head and cleans a transfer body that transfers the ink onto a recording medium at a transfer nip, and the cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning rotor that contacts the transfer body and rotates in a counter direction opposite to a moving direction of the transfer body to remove a pre-coating agent and an impurity present on the transfer body after transfer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is a serial-type printing apparatus including a discharge head configured to discharge a liquid (ink) toward a medium, a carriage configured to reciprocate in a scanning direction in a state of supporting the discharge head, and a platen configured to guide transport of the medium, and a maintenance unit is installed sandwiching the platen from both sides in the scanning direction and configured to maintain performance of the discharge head.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid from a plurality of nozzles that are arranged on a nozzle surface to form a nozzle row; a plate-shaped member having an upper end portion of which a dimension in a direction in which the nozzle row extends is equal to or larger than that of the nozzle row; a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle surface; and a control portion performing a contact operation of bringing the liquid bulging from the nozzle into contact with the upper end portion, and performing a wiping operation of wiping the nozzle surface after the contact operation by relatively moving the wiping member and the liquid ejecting portion in a wiping direction along the nozzle surface.

Abstract: A head unit includes a first ejection head having a first nozzle surface including first nozzles configured to eject liquid, wherein a first region having water repellency is provided on a first side on a first axis with respect to a range in which the first nozzles are formed, the first axis extending along the first nozzle surface, and a second region having water repellency lower than the first region is provided on a second side on the first axis with respect to the range in which the first nozzles are formed.

Abstract: There is provided a maintenance apparatus to, while in a service zone, perform a cleaning operation of a set of printheads within a carriage. The maintenance apparatus comprises a cleaning structure and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is arranged to position the cleaning structure between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. The disengaged configuration is activated by a first triggering element associated to the carriage interacting with the actuation mechanism subsequent to a cleaning operation. The engaged configuration is activated by a second triggering element as the carriage moves away from the service zone.

Abstract: A method for determining a working gap includes a first recording step for ejecting ink from a recording head onto a first recording medium to record a test pattern, a first imaging step for capturing the test pattern recorded on the first recording medium in each of a state where a distance between the recording head and the first recording medium is a first distance, and a state where a distance between the recording head and the first recording medium is a second distance, a function calculating step, a second recording step for recording the test pattern on a second recording medium, a second imaging step for capturing the test pattern recorded on the second recording medium, and a working gap determining step for determining, based on the number of pixels of the captured test pattern and a function, a distance between the recording head and the second recording medium.

Abstract: In an example, a method of anticipating maintenance in a printing device includes determining an inertial reference signal of a printer carriage and measuring a current inertial signal of the printer carriage. The method includes cross-correlating the inertial reference signal with the current inertial signal and determining from the cross-correlating when the current inertial signal is not within a preset confidence interval of the inertial reference signal.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid ejection apparatus and a maintenance apparatus capable of suppressing unintended movement of a wiping unit. The maintenance apparatus includes: a wiping unit configured to wipe the ejection opening surface of a liquid ejection head in which ejection openings over a length corresponding to the width of a print medium are formed; and a lock member configured to restrict movement of the wiping unit from a position to which the wiping unit is evacuated from the ejection opening surface.

Abstract: A system for cleaning and treating a printhead includes (a) a movable carriage having affixed to a base of the movable carriage a cleaning blade and an absorptive pad, (b) a low vapor pressure organic solvent, the low vapor pressure organic solvent is deliverable to the absorptive pad via a pump, the low vapor pressure organic solvent has a vapor pressure lower than water and (c) a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage so that the cleaning blade and the absorptive pad pass over the printhead.

Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning the nozzle plate of a print head of an inkjet printing device having cleaners with respective different levels of cleaning quality and respective different strengths of loading of the nozzle plate. The different cleaners for cleaning the nozzle plate are selected depending on a cleaning indicator in order to achieve an improved compromise between print quality and service life of the print head.