A printer includes a head, an electrode, a moving unit, a voltage application circuit, and a controller. The head has an ejection surface having a nozzle. The head is configured to eject liquid from the nozzle. The moving unit is configured to move at least one of the electrode or the head. The voltage application circuit is configured to apply a certain voltage between the head and the electrode. The controller is configured to: drive the moving unit such that the ejection surface faces the electrode; drive the voltage application circuit to apply the certain voltage between the head and the electrode; compare a level of an output signal input to the controller from the electrode with a particular threshold; and based on the comparison result, determine that liquid is present between the ejection surface and the electrode.

A recording apparatus includes a carriage, a medium support member, a gap switching unit, and a maintenance unit. The carriage includes a recording head configured to record on a medium. The medium support member is provided at a position facing the recording head and is configured to support the medium. The gap switching unit is configured to switch a gap between the medium support member and the recording head. The maintenance unit is configured to perform maintenance on the recording head. The gap switching unit and the maintenance unit are driven by a common motor.

A method of capping printheads positioned along a curved media path having an apex. The method includes the steps of: providing a first printhead upstream of the apex and a corresponding first capper downstream of the first printhead; providing a second printhead downstream of the apex and a corresponding second capper upstream of the second printhead; moving the first capper towards the first printhead and capping the first printhead; and moving the second capper towards the second printhead and capping the second printhead. The first and second cappers are moved in opposite directions away from the apex for capping the first and second printheads.

Examples relate to capping stations having caps with positioning mechanism. The capping station for a printing system may comprise a cap to seal a printhead and a positioning mechanism to move the cap between a first cap position and a second cap position.

A maintenance section configured to perform maintenance on a recording section includes a first guided section, which is guided by the guide unit, and a second guided section, which is positioned in a first movement direction, is a direction from the retreat position toward the maintenance position with respect to the first guided section, and is guided by the guide unit, when the maintenance section moves from the maintenance position in the first movement direction, the guide unit is configured to allow pivot accompanied by separation of the second guided section from the guide unit, which is pivot of the maintenance section with the first guided section as a pivot axis, and the first guided section is configured to separate from the guide unit, by moving in the first movement direction after the pivot of the maintenance section is allowed.

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 printer includes an ink head including a nozzle, a damper connected with the ink head, a pressure sensor to detect a damper pressure in the damper, a cap attachable to the ink head so as to cover the nozzle, an upward/downward moving mechanism to move the cap upward and downward with respect to the ink head, a suction pump connected with the cap, and a controller. The controller is configured or programmed to include a suction controller to execute a suction process to drive the suction pump in a state where the cap is attached to the ink head, a pressure acquisition controller to acquire the damper pressure from the pressure sensor during the suction process, and an upward/downward movement controller to control the cap to move upward toward the ink head when a change amount of the damper pressure is no larger than a reference change amount.

A cap includes a holder and a body fitted into the holder. The body covers a nozzle surface such that an enclosed space is defined between the body and the nozzle surface. The holder includes a first side wall extending upward from a first bottom wall and having a frame shape in a plan view, and a protrusion on an inner surface of the first side wall and extending in an up-down direction. The body includes a second side wall extending upward from a second bottom wall and having a frame shape in the plan view, a lip on an upper end of the second side wall and contactable with the nozzle surface, and a recessed groove in an outer surface of the second side wall, extending in the up-down direction, and in engagement with the protrusion.

An ink jet head maintenance apparatus includes a suction member which includes a suction hole to suction ink and in which air in the suction hole is suctioned from one opening of the suction hole by a suction operation unit. The suction member includes a height adjustment surface which is adjacent to an opening surface in which the other opening of the suction hole is provided and in which an inner angle formed with the opening surface is an obtuse angle. Each position of the opening surface is able to move in a first direction including a normal direction of the opening surface in a predetermined initial state in response to external force applied to the height adjustment surface.

Embodiments described herein relate to an inkjet service station and methods of servicing an inkjet printer with the inkjet service station. The inkjet service station is disposed in an inkjet printer of an inkjet chamber. The inkjet service station is operable to perform servicing operations on a processing apparatus of the inkjet printer. The servicing operations include at least one of printhead spitting, printhead purging, printhead flushing, printhead cleaning, printhead drying, or vacuum suction.