A method for recovery of a recording head includes cleaning liquid supplying operation, wiping operation, and backflow operation. The recording head is connected to a cleaning liquid tank for storing cleaning liquid via a cleaning liquid supplying path. In the backflow operation, a liquid supply mechanism makes the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid supplying path to flow backward in a direction pointing from the cleaning liquid supplying openings to the cleaning liquid tank. The recording head includes an ink ejection region in which ink ejection openings are open, and a cleaning liquid supplying region which is arranged upstream of the ink ejection region in a wiping direction and in which cleaning liquid supplying openings are open. The backflow operation is performed after a wiper passes the cleaning liquid supplying region and before the wiper reaches the ink ejection region.

According to one embodiment, a maintenance apparatus includes a first suction nozzle having a first suction port facing a first nozzle row through which a first liquid can be ejected, the first nozzle row including nozzles aligned in a first direction on a nozzle plate, and a second suction nozzle having a second suction port facing a second nozzle row through which a second liquid can be ejected, the second nozzle row including nozzles aligned in the first direction on the nozzle plate and parallel to the first nozzle row.

A printer includes a head including a plurality of ink ejecting units for ejecting different types of inks from nozzles, a waste liquid flow path that is a flow path of ink sucked from the nozzles, a suction unit that performs an ink suction operation of sucking the ink from the nozzles of the ink ejecting units via the waste liquid flow path, and a cleaning operation of sucking the cleaning liquid from nozzles via the waste liquid flow path, and a control unit that controls the suction unit so as to vary a suction amount of the cleaning liquid depending on the type of the ink sucked by the ink suction operation when the cleaning operation is performed.

An example apparatus includes a cap to seal a printhead in a printhead assembly, where the cap includes a priming port and a venting port. A vent connected to the venting port is sealed by a cam controlled vent-arm while a vacuum pump connected to the priming port applies a vacuum to prime the printhead. The vent is unsealed by the cam controlled vent-arm and the vacuum pump clears ink from the priming cap.

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.

The inkjet printer includes a head, a circulation flow path, a cap, a first pump, and a control unit. The head has a nozzle surface having nozzles to eject ink. The circulation flow path circulates ink. The cap can contact the nozzle surface. The first pump is connected to an exhaust hole formed in the cap. In a soaking processing, the processor drives the first pump and causes the nozzle surface to be soaked in liquid, in a capping state in which the cap is in contact with the nozzle surface. In a circulation processing, the processor causes the ink to circulate in the circulation flow path in a state in which the nozzle surface is soaked in the liquid, after the soaking processing.

A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. An evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to control evaporation a water-incompatible or solvent-incompatible liquid into the sealed space to condense an ink-blocking film on the surface of the liquid ink in the nozzles to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

There is provided with a printing apparatus. An ink tank stores ink to be supplied to a printhead configured to eject ink. An ink supply path supplies ink from the ink tank to the printhead. A conveying unit conveys a print medium to the printhead. A cover member is arranged so as to be able to open and close with respect to the printing apparatus. A manual valve is arranged in a region through which the print medium conveyed by the conveying unit passes and can be switched between an opening state in which the ink tank and the printhead communicate and a closing state. An operating portion is arranged at a position which is exposed when the cover member is opened and can be operated to switch the manual valve.

An inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a recording head 21, an ink supply mechanism 3, and a motor. The recording head 21 includes an ink discharge surface 22 and discharges an ink from the ink discharge surface 22 onto a recording medium. The ink supply mechanism 3 supplies the ink to the recording head 21. The motor is rotatable back and forth. The ink supply mechanism 3 includes a pump. The pump exerts a positive pressure or a negative pressure on the ink according to a rotation direction of the motor. The controller performs a cleaning operation for cleaning the ink discharge surface. The cleaning operation includes a purge operation and a follow operation.

A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. An evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to control evaporation a water-incompatible or solvent-incompatible liquid into the sealed space to condense an ink-blocking film on the surface of the liquid ink in the nozzles to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.