Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus including an ink jet head including an ink ejecting portion and an ejection-energy generating portion operable to eject ink droplets from the ink ejecting portion, a purging device operable to discharge the ink from the ink ejecting portion, without an operation of the ejection-energy generating portion, for thereby performing a purging operation to improve an ink ejecting state of the ink jet head, and a controller operable to control the purging device for performing the purging operation, and to control the ejection-energy generating portion for performing a flushing operation to discharge the ink from the ink ejecting portion to improve the ink ejecting state. The controller includes a flushing control portion operable to control the ejection-energy generating portion such that ink ejecting actions in the flushing operation are performed in a plurality of intermittent cycles, with a non-ejection pause being inserted between two successive ones of the intermittent cycles.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a reservoir unit including an ink supply port to which ink is supplied from the outside and an ink reservoir for storing the ink supplied from the ink supply port. Further, the inkjet printer has an air purging passage branched off from an area of an ink supply flow passage extending from the ink supply port to a manifold via the ink reservoir. The area is located downstream with respect to a filter; and an air purging valve capable of opening or closing the air purging passage. The air in the ink supply passage can be readily purged from the air purging passage.

Abstract: An inkjet imaging device is provide with a recording head that ejects ink toward a recording medium, a maintenance system that performs a recovery procedure consisting of a plurality of operations which include (1) a purging operation to remove ink from the recording head and (2) a wiping operation to wipe out the ink adhered oh a nozzle surface of the recording head after the purging operation is executed, a determining system that determines whether a currently executed operation of the recovery procedure can be interrupted when interruption of the currently executed recovery procedure is instructed, and an interrupting system that interrupts the recovery procedure when the determining system determines that the currently executed operation of the recovery procedure can be interrupted.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a recording head including nozzles which discharge ink droplets onto a recording medium for printing; a computing device which computes a non-operational time period for one of the nozzles; a calculating device which calculates a predicted non-operational time period until a next operation of the one of the nozzles; and a preliminary discharge control device which performs control whereby preliminary discharge of the one of the nozzles is carried out if a total of the non-operational time period and the predicted non-operational time period exceeds a reference time period.

Abstract: The cleaning process best suited to the condition of an inkjet printer is selected and run, thereby removing nozzle clogging without wastefully consuming ink. The first time a cleaning switch 7 is operated a CL1 cleaning process is run. If the cleaning switch 7 is pressed a second time and the print pass count is less than e.g., 400, a CL2 cleaning process that uses more ink than the CL1 process is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used. If the print pass count is less than 400 the third time the switch is operated, the CL2 cleaning process is used, but the CL1 cleaning process is used if the print pass count is 400 or more. If the cleaning switch 7 is operated four or more times and the print pass count is less than 400, a YCL cleaning process that consumes substantially no ink is used to clean the recording head, but if the print pass count is 400 or more, the CL1 cleaning process is used.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a print head, a purge unit for removing waste ink from the print head, an ink tray for receiving the waste ink, and a mechanism for heating the ink tray to promote evaporation of the waste ink.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus periodically performs the purge process and the wiping process. When the instruction is made to start the recording operation, a control unit judges whether or not the purge process and the wiping process have been performed after the previous recording operation. If it is judged that the purge process and the wiping process have been performed, the recording operation is started after executing the flashing process. Bubbles generated by the purge process are decreased by being dissolved in the ink during the period until the recording operation is started. Therefore, it is possible to avoid any occurrence of the discharge failure which would be otherwise caused by the bubbles contained in the ink. The purge process and the wiping process are separated from the flashing. Therefore, the period of time required for the processes is scarcely inhibits the demand of the user to start the printing.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is operable to move in a first direction. A platen is opposed to the liquid ejecting head to support an object to which a liquid droplet is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and to define a gap between the liquid ejecting head and the object. The platen is formed with a groove hole to which a liquid droplet deviated from an edge of the object is disposed, and through holes formed in a bottom portion of the groove hole and arranged in the first direction. A tray member is arranged below the platen to receive liquid dropped through the through holes. A first liquid absorber is provided in the groove hole. A second liquid absorber is provided in the tray member. At least one liquid leading member extends through at least one of the through holes to lead liquid absorbed by the first liquid absorber to the second liquid absorber.

Abstract: An ink jet print station with improved start-up reliability includes an ink reservoir and a printhead. The printhead has at least two drop generators, a return line connected to the generator's fluid ports, an orifice plate connected to the drop generator for forming jets, at least two filters, a controller for operating the valves to control flow, and an ink pump. The ink pump is adapted to move ink from the reservoir to the printhead. Upon startup, fluid is applied independently to the first filter and then the second filter. A method for at least partially filling filters in an ink jet uses the ink jet print station with improved start up reliability.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which includes a printhead that discharges ink and an ink tank detachably attached to the printhead, and executes printing by using the printhead that discharges the ink supplied from the ink tank, an ink tank detection section detects the presence/absence of the ink tank. On the basis of the detection result, a control circuit inhibits the cleaning operation of the printhead.

Abstract: A first inkjet printer spit cup assembly includes a spit cup having a mounting hole and inner teeth, includes a cylindrical post attached to a base portion and positioned in the mounting hole, and includes a wing. The wing and inner teeth are adapted to permit rotation, and to prevent counter-rotation, of the spit cup about the cylindrical post. A second inkjet printer spit cup assembly includes a spit cup having a mounting hole and bottom teeth, includes a cylindrical post attached to a base portion and positioned in the mounting hole, and includes a top tooth extending from the base portion. The top tooth and bottom teeth are adapted to permit rotation, and to prevent counter-rotation, of the spit cup about the cylindrical post.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid drop discharge apparatus capable of flushing in which the adverse effect on film deposition and patterning and the contamination of the apparatus are prevented without impairing productivity and a driving method of the same, an apparatus and a method for film deposition are provided. The liquid drop discharge apparatus can include a liquid drop discharge head configured to reciprocate in the X-axis direction with a plurality of nozzles arranged lengthwise and crosswise, a flushing area disposed on at least one side of a substrate on a stage, and a control device for controlling an operation by the liquid drop discharge head, in which the liquid drop discharge head is disposed obliquely toward the X-axis direction.

Abstract: A system, including an ink supply system configured to supply ink to a printhead; and an autopurge unit configured to automatically clean the printhead. The autopurge unit includes a solvent supply in fluid communication with a solvent line, a solenoid housing, and a waste container. The solenoid housing includes a first solenoid assembly disposed within an ink line, wherein the ink line is in fluid communication with the ink supply and a first outlet that is configured to be in fluid communication with the printhead; and a second solenoid assembly disposed within a solvent line. The waste container is in fluid communication with a waste delivery line having a waste inlet. The waste inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with a waste line that is in communication with the printhead so that fluid waste from the printhead is deposited into the waste container.

Abstract: In cleaning an orifice surface in which the orifices of a printhead are formed, a portion of the orifice surface that readily becomes dirty along with ink discharge from the printhead is preferentially cleaned.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a print head, a purge unit for removing waste ink from the print head, and an ink tray assembly for receiving the waste ink. The ink tray assembly includes a tray and a vapor-permeable, liquid-impermeable cover membrane across the opening of the tray.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which includes a printer body having a setting surface on which a printing surface of a printing medium is set horizontally, a carriage beam 23 which is attached to the printer body and extends in the direction along the setting surface, and a carriage 5 provided so as to be movable in the beam lengthwise direction with respect to the carriage beam 23, and further includes an ink head 6 equipped with a nozzle for discharging ink provided in the carriage, comprises: a carriage supporting means 7 which supports the carriage 5 onto the carriage beam 23 in a manner enabling it to move up and down, an ink receiving part 8 which receives ink that is discharged from the ink head 6, and a receiving part supporting means 9 which supports the ink receiving part 8 on the carriage 5 in a manner enabling it to move to an ink receiving part below the ink head and a withdrawing position separated from the ink head 6.

Abstract: System and methods for servicing staggered printheads in an inkjet-imaging device are described. In one aspect, the color inkjet-imaging device collectively moves one or more of the staggered printheads along a single actuation axis from a respective spittoon in a particular service station to a print zone without colliding with any portion of an adjacent cleaning unit.

Abstract: The ink receiving cup is provided with a cylindrical top portion, a bearing portion into which the center shaft of rotation is fitted when the ink receiving cup is rotated at the central portion, a black ink accumulating portion where blank ink is sprayed and accumulated, and a plurality of through-holes at the outer-circumferential side and inner-circumferential side of the black ink accumulating portion for causing color inks to flow.

Abstract: A printer that includes at least one printhead mounted to a carriage of a printing system, and a secondary ink container mounted to the carriage and which holds an ink and is in fluid communication with the at least one printhead. A pressure source in fluid communication with the secondary ink container provides a pressure to the secondary ink container during a purging operation to cause the ink to flow from the at least one printhead. The secondary ink container has a large enough volume to hold a sufficient amount of ink for a purge operation of at least about seven seconds. The secondary ink container has a minimum ink level, and an inlet that is located below the minium ink level so as to minimize aeration of the ink as it flows through the inlet.

Abstract: A fluid-ejection assembly of one embodiment is disclosed comprising first and second arrays of fluid-ejection mechanisms, first and second service stations, and first and second drive mechanisms. The first array ejects fluid onto media; the first service station is to service the first array. The second array ejects fluid onto the media; the second service station is to service the second array. The first drive mechanism moves the first array between a first position to eject fluid onto the media and a second position at the first service station, while the second array ejects fluid onto the media in place of the first array. The second drive mechanism moves the second array between a third position to eject fluid onto the media and a fourth position at the second service station while the first array ejects fluid onto the media in place of the second array.

Abstract: A printhead chip includes a substrate that defines ink supply conduits. Drive circuitry is positioned on the substrate. Nozzle chamber assemblies are positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle chamber assembly defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a respective ink supply conduit and has an upper portion that defines an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber and a lower portion that extends from the substrate. The upper portion is reciprocally displaceable with respect to the lower portion so that ink is ejected from the ink ejection port. Actuators are connected to the drive circuitry and to respective said upper portions to displace said upper portions to eject ink. Nozzle-clearing structures are mounted on the substrate in respective nozzle chambers. The nozzle-clearing structures are dimensioned to project through respective ink ejection ports at some stage during displacement of respective upper portions to clear any blockages in the ink ejection ports.

Abstract: A preliminary ejection operation, which ejects ink not contributing to an image forming from ejection openings of the print head, is performed following the wiping of a face of the print head to remove residual ink from the print head face while minimizing the amount of ink ejected by the preliminary ejection. This avoids a degradation of an ink ejection performance of the print head and thereby ensures a high quality of printed image. For this purpose, in performing the preliminary ejection operation following the print head wiping operation, one preferred example changes the number of ink droplets to be ejected by the preliminary ejection operation according to a cumulative count of wiping operations.

Abstract: A system for receiving and recycling ink comprises a print cartridge having a printhead, and an ink supply reservoir fluidly connected to the print cartridge and a seal member coupled to the ink supply reservoir. The seal member defines a fluid path into the reservoir and the print cartridge engages the seal member so that ink spit from the printhead flows through the fluid path into the reservoir.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printing apparatus which includes a plurality of printing heads, each having an array of ink discharging elements, preliminary discharge of driving the elements of at least one printing head is performed a predetermined number of times. The printing head for which the preliminary discharge is to be performed is switched in a predetermined cycle. In performing the preliminary discharge, switching of the printing head is so controlled as to perform preliminary discharge a desired number of times for all the elements of the printing heads by repeating the cycle.

Abstract: A modular service station assembly for use with an inkjet printer having a housing with front and rear ends having a print zone and one or more carriage assemblies adapted to accommodate at least one print cartridge having a print head. The service station assembly has at least one ink spittoon. The service station also includes a wiping station having at least one wiper for cleaning the print head. The at least one ink spittoon and the wiping station are separately disposed to one side of the print zone. The service station further includes a capping station having at least one cap for sealing the print head disposed within the print zone. These discrete modules are arranged to minimize the width of the printer housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet printing apparatus and a preliminary ejecting method. In both a full-line and a serial printer, the amount of ink passing through nozzles of print heads is sometimes decreased below a normal value before and during actual printing, In the printer of present invention, a preliminary ejecting operation is performed taking the opportunity in which the amount of ink passing through nozzles is decreased below a normal value. Then, the amount of ink passing through nozzles recovers to the normal value at an ink ejection after the preliminary ejecting operation. Since only a small amount of ink is ejected through the nozzles during the preliminary ejection operation, dots formed on a print sheet are not noticeable. Further, it is unnecessary to move the print heads to a home position where an ejection recovering process is executed to remove ink having an increase viscosity.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a plurality of rollers, an endless transportation belt, a belt rotating mechanism, a recording unit, a printing medium supply mechanism, and a control unit. The transportation belt is laid on the rollers and defines a first recess portion, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a printing medium transporting direction, in an outer circumferential surface thereof. The belt rotating mechanism applies a rotating force to the transportation belt. The recording unit is disposed to face the transportation belt and forms an image. The printing medium supply mechanism supplies a printing medium onto the transportation belt. The control unit controls at least one of the belt rotating mechanism and the printing medium supply mechanism so that when the printing medium is on the transportation belt, one of front and rear end portions of the printing medium is located in the first recess portion.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a preliminary discharge control method are capable of efficient preliminary discharge control even in a case where a time interval to assure normal printing is equal or nearly equal to the period of one print scanning of an inkjet printhead. In the method, in an inkjet printhead which performs printing by discharging ink from plural print elements while being reciprocate-scanned by a carriage, the number of ink dischargings from each of the plural print elements is counted during print scanning by reciprocate scanning. It is determined whether or not the counted number of ink dischargings from each of the plural print elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined number at predetermined intervals. In accordance with the result of determination, a printable period is updated, and the updated printable period is compared with time necessary for the next print scanning upon completion of one print scanning by reciprocate scanning.

Abstract: The recording medium guide member is placed along the main scanning direction scanned by the carriage mounted with a recording head, and ink-receiver holes for receiving ink discharged from the recording head are formed on the guide member in positions beyond the edges of the recording medium being conveyed. Ink absorbing materials are placed in said ink-receiver holes, and a discharged ink accumulating means that cumulatively counts the amount of ink discharged into the ink absorbing materials is provided. The amount of ink discharged into the ink-receiver holes can be controlled by the discharged ink accumulation means so that contamination of the left and right edges or the top and bottom as well as left and right edges of the recording medium, caused by excessive ink collecting in the ink-receiver holes, can be avoided.

Abstract: An ink jet printer uses a print head that has at least one ink nozzle and performs printing on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the ink nozzle. An air chamber is connected to the print head to trap air generated in an ink passage. A purge device discharges the air trapped in the air chamber from the ink nozzle. A filter member divides the lower portion of the air chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. The air chamber traps and stores air in the top portion of the air chamber and the filter member passes ink there through when the print head performs printing. The air trapped in the air chamber is discharged when the purge device generates an ink flow that goes over the filter member.

Abstract: A method of an embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which a spitting recovery level of a fluid-ejection mechanism is determined. A humidity of the fluid-ejection mechanism is then determined, based on at least the spitting recovery level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a print head having ink-discharge surfaces having the ink-discharge openings therein; a cylindrical cleaning roller composed of an elastic material; moving means for moving the cleaning roller and the print head relative to each other while keeping the circumferential surface of the cleaning roller in contact with the ink-discharge surfaces; drive control means for controlling the moving means; a head cap for protecting the ink-discharge surfaces; cap opening/closing means for opening and closing the head cap. When the head cap is opened by the cap opening/closing means, by driving the moving means with control of the drive control means so as to move the cleaning roller relative to the print head while keeping the circumferential surface of the cleaning roller in contact with the ink-discharge surfaces, ink in the ink-discharge openings is sucked.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus comprises a cleaning member cylindrically formed of a material having elasticity, a moving mechanism for moving both the peripheral face of the cleaning member and the ink discharge face of the print head relative one to another, with both in contact one with another, and a driving control unit for controlling the driving of the moving mechanism. Each time a predetermined number of sheets of the recording medium have images formed thereupon, or each time a predetermined amount of time elapses, following starting of the operations for forming images, the image formation operations are temporarily interrupted, and the moving mechanism is driven under the control of the driving control unit, and the peripheral face of the cleaning member is moved over the surface of the ink discharge face while in contact therewith, thereby suctioning the ink within the ink discharge orifices.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has an ink jet head having nozzles for discharging ink into a recording medium to perform printing, and a cap connectable to the ink jet head to cover the ends of the nozzles. To prevent ink from drying on surfaces of the nozzles, the nozzle ends are covered with the cap after completion of printing, and the interior of the cap is filled with ink a predetermined period of time after covering the nozzle ends with the cap. After the elapse of another predetermined period of time from filling the interior of the cap with ink, the interior of the cap is again filled with ink to replenish ink lost from the cap through evaporation. The interior of the cap is filled with ink when power to the ink jet printer is turned off or when no printing is performed for a fixed period time.

Abstract: Flushing regions for receiving ink droplets to be ejected when flushing signal is supplied to a recording head are provided in both of non-print regions situated at both sides of print region in order to prevent throughput during the flushing operation from deteriorating. A guide member having a slant surface is disposed between the recording head and an ink absorbing member to which the ink landed on the slant surface flows in order to reduce in size of the ink absorbing member. A porous sheet member closely faced to nozzle orifices of the recording head for receiving the ink droplets ejected therefrom is provided in order to prevent undesired mist of fine ink droplets from generating. A plurality of plate members closely faced to the nozzle orifices are provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the flight direction of the ink droplets in order to prevent the undesired mist from generating. The flushing operation is performed so as to prevent solidification of the ejected ink.

Abstract: This invention allows images to be printed up to the edges of printing paper while preventing ink droplets from depositing on the platen. Ink droplets Ip are ejected from a print head 28 and printing is started when printing paper P is fed in the sub-scanning direction by upstream paper feed rollers 25a and 25b, and the front edge Pf reaches a position above a downstream slot 26r. Since printing is started when the front edge Pf of printing paper P has reached a position behind nozzle No. 1, images can be printed without forming blank spaces up to the front edge Pf of the printing paper P by causing the nozzles to eject ink droplets Ip irrespective of whether the nozzles are above the printing paper. When images are formed in the vicinity of the front edge Pf of printing paper P, the paper is repeatedly fed in small increments in the sub-scanning direction, and printing is carried out.

Abstract: A head recovery device for an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a pigment ink discharge port for discharging pigment ink and a dye ink discharge port for discharging dye ink. The device comprises a pigment ink cap for capping the pigment ink discharging port and a dye ink cap for capping the dye ink discharge port, and, in a predetermined recovery operation, a preliminary discharge is executed from the dye ink discharge port to the pigment ink cap.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is operable to move in a first direction. A platen is opposed to the liquid ejecting head to support an object to which a liquid droplet is ejected from the liquid ejecting head and to define a gap between the liquid ejecting head and the object. The platen is formed with a groove hole to which a liquid droplet deviated from an edge of the object is disposed, and through holes formed in a bottom portion of the groove hole and arranged in the first direction. A tray member is arranged below the platen to receive liquid dropped through the through holes. A first liquid absorber is provided in the groove hole. A second liquid absorber is provided in the tray member. At least one liquid leading member extends through at least one of the through holes to lead liquid absorbed by the first liquid absorber to the second liquid absorber.

Abstract: A pressure generator is driven to eject ink droplets from a nozzle orifice such that a plurality of flushing operations are intermittently repeated with a first time interval, when a recording operation of a recording head is not performed. Each flushing operation includes a plurality of ink ejections repeated for a predetermined times with a second time interval which is shorter than the first time interval. The ink near the nozzle orifice is residually vibrated between the flushing operations, so that the viscous ink is diffused and the viscous ink is effectively expelled.

Abstract: During a printing operation, a recording device is switched from a normal mode to a refresh ejection mode so as to temporarily increase an ejection frequency. A refresh ink droplet ejected in the refresh ejection mode is deflected to impinge on an ink collector. Recording ink droplets ejected in the refresh ejection mode are deflected and impinge on a recording sheet at positions that are shifted by gradually smaller distances.

Abstract: A printing system that includes a printhead head containing ink, and a tray cooperatively associated with the printhead and containing a waste solution in which the printhead is immersed to seal the printhead to prevent the ink from clogging the printhead when the printing system is not in operation.

Abstract: A method for determining service criteria for a printhead in a printer includes receiving an indication that service is needed, determining a calculated age of the printhead, and selecting a service procedure based on the determined calculated age. The selected service procedure has an impact on the long term life of the printhead that is proportional to the calculated age. The calculated age may be classified as a beginning of life phase, a middle of life phase or a maturity phase, and the service procedures may be selected such that the service procedure for the beginning of life phase has a low impact on the printhead's long term life, the service procedure for the middle of life phase has a moderate impact on the printhead's long term life, and the service procedure for the maturity phase has a severe impact on the printhead's long term life.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for executing recording preparation processing in accordance with a time interval in which a recording operation has not been performed includes a first control unit which controls generation of image data to be recorded, a pseudo-time measuring unit which generates pseudo-time data, a calculation unit which calculates the time interval in which a recording unit is not executing the recording operation in accordance with the pseudo-time data, and a second control unit which determines the recording preparation processing executed before recording the generated image data and controlling the processing based on the determination.

Abstract: Ink absorption pads are associated with waste ink storage apparatus in ink jet printers. Waste ink is emitted from the tubes. The waste ink is absorbed by the pads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet image forming apparatus capable of recording non-margin images on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head to regions within as well as beyond edges of the recording medium. The apparatus includes an ink absorbing material for receiving ink discharged at a position beyond the recording medium and a platen having a holding portion to hold the ink absorbing material and supporting the recording medium at a recording position. The holding section formed at the platen has an opening for receiving the ink and is formed with a wall for holding a periphery of the ink absorbing material and a rib supporting a bottom of the ink absorbing material.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting device includes a liquid ejecting head which has a nozzle formation face on which nozzle orifices for ejecting liquid drops are formed and a controller which performs a recovery operation for removing a liquid having a changed liquid property. The recovery operation is performed by using at least a flushing mode in which liquid drops are ejected in a state that the nozzle formation face is sealed. The controller selectively performs a plurality of flushing modes which are set in accordance with degrees in change of a liquid property of the liquid drops being at and near the nozzle orifices. The degrees in change of the liquid property of the liquid drops are determined by a relation between an accumulative time that the nozzle orifices are left in a sealing state and an accumulative time that a liquid ejection is executed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus is provided with an inkjet head having nozzles. The ink is ejected from the nozzles to recording medium. A platen is arranged close to the inkjet head so as to face the inkjet head. The platen has a rotatable cylindrical body. A porous layer is provided at least a surface of the cylindrical body to absorb ink ejected from the nozzles to the cylindrical body. Alternatively, the surface of the cylindrical body is configured to repel the ink, and a cleaning structure is provided to remove the ink applied on the surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A waste ink collecting device has an ink tank accommodating an ink absorber that absorbs unnecessary ink discharged from a printhead of an ink-jet printer. The discharged ink is dropped onto the ink tank. An inlet of the dropped ink is formed on a top plate of the ink tank, and the dropped ink enters the ink tank through the inlet. The ink tank has a partition wall that defines, inside the partition wall, a passage of the ink entered through the inlet to an inner bottom surface of the ink tank. The partition wall prevents the dropped ink from directly striking the ink absorber. The ink dropped on the inner bottom surface of the ink tank is absorbed by the ink absorber through a bottom surface thereof.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus which performs printing by using a print head. The print head has at least a predetermined number of nozzles to eject ink. The apparatus includes a first prefiring mechanism for causing the print head to perform a prefiring operation to eject ink from nozzles of the print head for maintaining printing quality after a first time interval during a printing operation. The apparatus also includes a driving mechanism for driving nozzles of the print head based on data to be printed, and a second prefiring mechanism for causing the print head to perform the prefiring operation in a case where a number of the nozzles to be driven is changed. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a shifting mechanism for causing the driving mechanism to drive the nozzles of the print head based on the first time interval during the printing operation so as to enhance a power of ejecting ink and continue the printing operation after the first time interval without performing the prefiring operation.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a platen adapted to support a print media, a printhead adapted to eject ink into a print zone between the printhead and the platen toward the print media and beyond a first edge of the print media to generate waste ink, a first absorber formed in the platen within the print zone such that the first absorber is adapted to extend beyond the first edge of the print media and absorb the waste ink ejected beyond the first edge of the print media, and a second absorber adapted to contact and absorb the waste ink from the first absorber, wherein the first absorber has a first capillary head and the second absorber has a second capillary head greater than the first capillary head.