A cleaning liquid for a liquid ejecting apparatus to be fed into liquid channels of a liquid ejecting apparatus contains at least a water-soluble organic solvent, a silicone surfactant, and an acetylenic diol surfactant. At least part of the inner surfaces of the liquid channels is made from a fluorine-based material.

A method to activate a printing element of an inkjet printer can include determining print data that indicates the usable print image to be printed with image point(s). The image point(s) are arranged at matrix point(s) of a print matrix. The method can also include determining virtual refresh data that indicates a virtual refresh image with refresh dots positioned at the matrix points based on a random algorithm, and activating the first printing element based on the virtual refresh data and the print data for the first column of the print matrix. The first printing element can be activated at a matrix point of the first column with: an ejection waveform to eject an ink droplet if the print data indicates an image point; and a vibration waveform to vibrate an ink meniscus of the first printing element without ink ejection if the virtual refresh data indicates a refresh dot.

In order to effectively wash wiping members, a washing station which is a head washing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a wiping unit, a storage tank, and a washing unit. The wiping unit includes wipers which are wiping members for wiping an ejection surface of an inkjet head. In the storage tank, washing solution for washing the wiping unit is stored. The washing unit washes the wipers in the washing solution of the storage tank.

A cleaning apparatus includes a contact unit that includes a container in which an opening is formed, the container accommodating cleaning liquid that cleans a forming surface of an ejection unit, the forming surface on which an ejection opening is formed, the ejection opening from which a liquid droplet is ejected; and an ultrasonic vibrator that is provided at the container and vibrates the cleaning liquid accommodated in the container, wherein the contact unit brings the cleaning liquid into contact with the forming surface in a state where the opening of the container faces the forming surface.

In order to effectively wash wiping members, a washing station which is a head washing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including a wiping unit, a storage tank, and a washing unit. The wiping unit includes wipers which are wiping members for wiping an ejection surface of an inkjet head. In the storage tank, washing solution for washing the wiping unit is stored. The washing unit washes the wipers in the washing solution of the storage tank.

A method for cleaning nozzle surfaces of an inkjet print head assembly includes using a cleaning slide to carry out a movement along the assembly and clean the nozzle surfaces with a cleaning liquid in ultrasonic vibration. The cleaning slide includes an ultrasonic cleaning device, a suction device, and a rinsing device and the movement of the cleaning slide includes a forward movement and a backward movement. During the forward movement, the ultrasonic cleaning device and the suction device following the ultrasonic cleaning device are activated while the rinsing device following the two is deactivated. During the backward movement, the rinsing device and the suction device following the rinsing device are activated while the ultrasonic cleaning device following the two is deactivated. Cleaning liquid and contamination are advantageously prevented from reaching the interior of print heads or into an ink supply system thereof, preferably in industrial inkjet printing.

A method of cleaning a fluid dispenser for dispensing a material during non-contact maintenance of the fluid dispenser. The fluid dispenser including a plurality of nozzles disposed on a faceplate. The method including applying a suction force onto a surface of the faceplate using a suction apparatus, the suction apparatus being translated from one end of the faceplate to an opposite end of the faceplate such that a portion of nozzles from the plurality of nozzles are exposed to the suction force. The method continues by vibrating a menisci of the portion of nozzles that are exposed to the suction force to remove at least a portion of the material accumulated on the faceplate.

An inkjet recording apparatus includes, an inkjet head that ejects ink from a nozzle provided on a nozzle surface; a head cleaner that performs a nozzle surface cleaning operation of rubbing and wiping the nozzle surface with a cleaning surface of a wipe member; and a hardware processor that causes ink to be supplied from the inkjet head to the cleaning surface of the wipe member. The head cleaner performs the nozzle surface cleaning operation in a state in which the cleaning surface of the wipe member is wetted with the ink, and sets a different region of the wipe member as the cleaning surface each time the nozzle surface cleaning operation is performed.

Ahead maintenance device includes a cap and circuitry. The cap is detachably attachable to a nozzle surface of a head to cover the nozzle surface having a nozzle. The circuitry causes the cap to contact the nozzle surface of the head to form a space between the nozzle surface and the cap filled with a cleaning liquid, and applies a drive waveform to a piezoelectric element of the head to apply vibration to the cleaning liquid in the space. The drive waveform causes the head to draw the cleaning liquid into an interior of the head through the nozzle.

A liquid ejection device 1 includes a head 10 including at least one nozzle 11 that ejects ejection liquid; a cap 20 that covers the nozzle 11 and that holds cleaning liquid 23 therein; and an ultrasonic device 25 that transmits ultrasonic waves 24 to the cleaning liquid 23, wherein the cleaning liquid 23 contacts the at least one nozzle 11 and the ultrasonic device 25 is arranged so as to be in contact with the cleaning liquid 23 in the cap 20.