An image forming apparatus includes a recording head that ejects inks of different colors on a recording medium to form an image based on image data, a storage device that stores a plurality of different dot patterns for flushing, and a control device that functions as: a controller that allows the recording head to make flushing; an image area detector that detects an image area in the image data; an overlapping dot counter that counts a number of overlapping dots for each of the plurality of dot patterns according to which flushing is to be made on the image area, the number of overlapping dots being a number of dots in the dot pattern of the ink ejected on the image area; and a dot pattern assignor that assigns, according to the number of overlapping dots, the respective dot patterns for use in flushing with the inks of different colors.

A system for cleaning printheads used for printing on a roll of web product is provided herein. The system includes at least one printhead configured to print ink on the roll of web product to form a roll of printed web product, and a cleaning device comprising a wipe. The system further includes a controller configured to perform a cleaning operation by causing application of a cleaning additive to a portion of the wipe and causing the cleaning device to translate across the printhead to cause the portion of the wipe to be wiped across the printhead to clean the printhead. The wipe is applied with a fluid, such as water, or a non-wetted cleaning product. Multiple passes of the cleaning device can be utilized, such as where the portion of the wipe has different or no cleaning additives. Cleaning assistance, such as vibration or heat, can be utilized.

Examples Include apparatuses and methods for generating three-dimensional objects. An example apparatus comprises an agent distributor and a wiping element disposed at a service location. The apparatus further comprises at least one airflow component disposed proximate the service location to generate airflow across the wiping element to reduce build material collection on the wiping element.

A maintenance device has a maintenance unit. The maintenance unit has a blade unit to which a plurality of wiping blades are fixed, a wiper carriage to which the blade unit is attached, and a support frame that supports the wiper carriage. The wiper carriage has a stationary portion with a sliding roller, a movable portion with a positioning roller, and an elastic member. The elastic member elastically supports the movable portion relative to the stationary portion, and elastically contracts, when the maintenance unit is pressed against a plurality of recording heads by a unit ascent-descent mechanism with an excessive pressing force stronger than a predetermined pressing force, by receiving the reaction force of the excessive pressing force.

A maintenance device includes a wiper, a wiper carriage, a supporting frame, a wiper moving mechanism, and a unit ascending/descending mechanism. The wiper moving mechanism includes a rack supported to the wiper carriage so as to be movable in an up-down direction, a wiper driving motor provided in the supporting frame, a rack driving gear that transmits a driving force of the wiper driving motor to the rack, a sliding member that is rotatably supported to the wiper carriage and comes into contact with the supporting frame, and a gear pitch retention member that maintains constant a positional relationship in the up-down direction between the rack and the rack driving gear during reciprocation of the wiper carriage.

A printing press includes at least one printing unit having at least one nozzle bar with at least two print heads and at least one cleaning device. Each nozzle bar is assigned at least one cleaning device. The at least one cleaning device includes at least one cleaning element. The at least one cleaning element is arranged to be movable in, and counter to a cleaning direction. The at least one cleaning element has at least one fluid infeed opening and at least one fluid discharge and at least one fluid extraction device.

A service media and method for cleaning printheads. In one embodiment, a method of cleaning includes inserting a service media beneath one or more printheads, inflating the service media so that an absorbent material of the service media contacts a nozzle surface of the printheads, and deflating the service media.

A single pass inkjet printer that utilizes a modular printing system with one or more self-contained printing modules, where each printing module is easy to remove and replace from a large printing machine, thus resulting in an overall system that is easy to service and maintain Each module is a self-contained printer including an ink supply, printhead drive electronics, and printhead assembly in order to provide one color or fluid of inkjet printing capability. Each module includes a precise three-point compliant self-aligning mount system to obtain accurate printhead positioning, and a unique integrated printhead tending system that includes a compact movable vacuum knife for cleaning the printheads, and a printhead capping station for sealing and protecting the printheads from the ambient environment when not in use.

A recording device has: a recording head configured to perform recording on a medium; a medium storage below the recording head configured to store the medium to be recoded; a supply path comprising a first curved supply path curved so as to be convex upward and transporting the medium fed out of the medium storage in a reversed direction via the first curved supply path; and a reversing path comprising a second curved path curved so as to be convex downward and transporting the recorded medium into a direction including a vertically upward component via second curved path from a direction including a vertically downward component; wherein the supply path joins the reversing path, and the first curved path and the second curved path overlap when viewed horizontally.

In some examples, a printing press includes a printing unit having at least four nozzle bars, each including a print head. The printing unit includes at least two cleaning devices. At least two of the nozzle bars are configured to make contact with at least one of the cleaning devices. At least one of the cleaning devices has at least one storage position and at least one usage position. In the storage position, the at least one cleaning device is arranged along a transport direction of a printing substrate. The at least two cleaning devices may include at least one guide system configured as a shared guide system, and the at least two cleaning devices may further include at least one guide element configured as a shared guide element. For example, the shared guide element may be configured as at least one of a linear guide or a rail.