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.

Examples for of a floating printhead shield for a printing device are described herein. In some examples, a printhead shield may be located between a printhead and a print zone. When in a printing position the printhead shield may engage the printhead. When in a retracted position the printhead shield may separate from the printhead.

The invention relates to a capping unit (1) for capping at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3) of a printer (300), in particular an inkjet printer. The capping unit (1) includes a belt element (2.1, 2.2) having an elongated extent, wherein the belt element (2.1, 2.2) includes at least one flexible cap (3.1, 3.2) for capping the at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3), wherein the belt element (2.1, 2.2) features a resting setting and a capping setting and is displaceable from the resting setting to the capping setting and back. The belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability section (5.1, 5.2) extending over at least a portion of the belt element (2.1, 2.2)'s elongated extent, wherein in the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in a movement plane (13.1, 13.2). In the capping setting, at all positions within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), a course of the elongated extent follows a straight line (14.1, 14.2) in the movement plane (13.1 13.2). Furthermore, in the capping setting, at each position within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of the belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to the straight line (14.1, 14.2) and being aligned in the movement plane (13.1, 13.2). At at least one position within the self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), the belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in the movement plane (13.1, 13.2) away from the straight line (14.1, 14.2) in a bending direction being oriented opposite to the self-stability direction.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head including a discharge port. The head discharges a liquid from the discharge port toward an object. The liquid discharge apparatus further includes a liquid receiving surface that receives the liquid discharged from the discharge port, a contact part that contacts the discharge port, a moving unit that holds at least one of the liquid receiving surface and the contact part, and a holder. The moving unit is movable between a facing position where at least one of the liquid receiving surface and the contact part faces the discharge port and a position where the liquid receiving surface and the contact part do not face the discharge port. The holder movably holds the discharge port of the head in a discharge direction to discharge the liquid.

A digital printing device, comprising a nozzle plates' cleaning bar (9) equipped with a plurality of cleaning heads (22) supported in a floating manner by a bar body (23), so as to adapt their own height to the one of an overlying printing module comprising a specific nozzle plate corresponding to the cleaning head (22).

An ejection apparatus includes an ejection head having an ejection port surface and configured to eject a liquid to a recording medium for recording, a wiper configured to wipe the surface, and a moving unit configured to relatively move the wiper and the head to move the wiper in a first direction along the surface with respect to the head. The apparatus performs a first mode for performing the wiping while relatively moving the wiper and the head at a first speed, and a second mode for performing the wiping while relatively moving the wiper and the head at a second speed higher than the first speed. When the apparatus performs the wiping after the recording and then performs subsequent recording, the apparatus performs the second mode. When the apparatus performs the wiping after the recording and then performs no subsequent recording, the apparatus performs the first mode.

An integrated inkjet module includes: a print module positioned between end brackets, the print module having an elongate printhead; a wiper carriage configured for longitudinally wiping the printhead; and a print module carrier supporting the print module. The print module carrier is slidably mounted between the end brackets for lifting relative to a media feed path. The wiper carriage, in a parked position, is positioned between one end of the print module and an end bracket, and the print module carrier includes a mounting arm bridging over the wiper carriage in the parked position.

A cleaning device includes: a cleaning member that comes into contact with a cleaning subject member and cleans the cleaning subject member using a liquid; and a liquid supply member that holds the liquid on a surface that is in contact with the cleaning member and supplies the held liquid to the cleaning member via the surface. The liquid supply member includes a plurality of holders that hold a different amount of liquid from each other in the surface.

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.