A printer includes a head having a nozzle face which ejects ink toward an object, a driving mechanism which moves the head in a first direction and a second direction approximately orthogonal to the first direction, a nozzle cap movable between a first position where the nozzle face is capped and a second position where the nozzle face is uncapped, and a lock mechanism which regulates movement of the head in the first direction and the second direction in the state where the nozzle cap is in the first position.

Systems, methods, software for adaptive flushing. In one embodiment, an adaptive flushing system obtains bit plane data from a plurality of bit planes, and arranges the bit plane data into one or more pixel blocks. For a pixel block, the adaptive flushing system identifies a flush record for the pixel block that indicates a flush eligibility status for each of the pixels in the pixel block, and updates the flush record to indicate the flush eligibility status as flush-ineligible for each of the pixels in the pixel block having a jetting symbol specified in the bit planes. The adaptive flushing system selects a candidate pixel(s) from the pixel block as a candidate for flushing, and modifies the bit plane data in one or more of the bit planes to include a flush symbol at the candidate pixel when the candidate pixel has a flush eligibility status that is flush eligible.

An example of a printing apparatus comprising a scanning printhead and a controller is disclosed. The scanning printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles to print using a mask comprising a ramp area and non-ramp area. A first subset of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles is assigned to the ramp area and the second subset of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles is assigned to the non-ramp area. The controller is to calculate a number of spits of a nozzle from the second subset of nozzles for a pass. The controller is also to calculate a number of spits of a nozzle from the first subset of nozzles for the pass based on the number of spits of the nozzle from the second subset of nozzles. The controller is further to instruct the nozzle from the first subset of nozzles to eject online an amount of a composition on a service zone based on the number of spits of the first subset of nozzles.

Add-on module suitable to receive and hold a disposable printer cartridge that is provided with inkjet nozzles, which disposable printer cartridge is equipped for placement in a printer, and wherein the add-on module is a disposable and independent item without forming a constructional part of the printer, and wherein the add-on module comprises at least one of capping means and wiping means that are arranged for capping and wiping respectively of said inkjet nozzles of the printer cartridge.

Ink stabilizing material is applied to rotatable panels within a cap of an inkjet cartridge resting structure. The rotatable panels then rotate to contact an inkjet printhead when the printhead contacts the cap. Continuous periodic flushing of the printhead is performed while the rotatable panels are contacting the printhead by periodically and repeatedly alternating between ejecting a mixture of the ink stabilizing material and ink from the nozzles, and drawing the mixture of the ink stabilizing material and the ink back into the nozzles.

Ink stabilizing material is applied to rotatable panels within a cap of an inkjet cartridge resting structure. The rotatable panels then rotate to contact an inkjet printhead when the printhead contacts the cap. Continuous periodic flushing of the printhead is performed while the rotatable panels are contacting the printhead by periodically and repeatedly alternating between ejecting a mixture of the ink stabilizing material and ink from the nozzles, and drawing the mixture of the ink stabilizing material and the ink back into the nozzles.

A printing apparatus includes an ink head, a carriage, and a cap. The ink head includes a nozzle surface provided with a nozzle to discharge ink onto a recording medium. The carriage is equipped with the ink head, and disposed above a platen. The carriage is movable in a main scanning direction. The cap defines an enclosed space between the cap and the nozzle surface when the cap is attached to the ink head. The carriage includes a facing surface facing the platen and a guard provided on the facing surface to protrude downward. The guard is provided with a reference surface that positions the ink head and the cap relative to each other.

A printing apparatus includes: a platen having a supporting surface configured to support a recording medium; a liquid droplet jetting head having a nozzle surface on which nozzles are open; a head moving unit configured to move the liquid droplet jetting head in a head movement area including a first area and a second area which is adjacent to the first area; a maintenance mechanism including a cap member configured to be movable in a cap movement area which includes a retracted position and a capping position and to cover the nozzles; a cap moving mechanism configured to move the cap member by utilizing movement of the liquid droplet jetting head form the first area to the second area; and a cap guiding mechanism configured to guide movement of the cap member in the cap movement area in an inclined direction.

An ink cartridge clean device including a housing, a work platform, at least one ink stack and at least one ink absorption pad clean element. The housing has a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to each other, and an accommodation groove is defined by the housing. The work platform is disposed in the accommodation groove and has two lateral surfaces opposite to each other, and each lateral surface has at least one stopper. The ink stack is disposed on the work platform, and has an ink absorption pad. The ink absorption pad clean element is rotatably connected with the first sidewall and the second sidewall. When the work platform is adjusted from a first position to a second position, the ink absorption pad clean element is rotated, so that the corresponding ink absorption pad is cleaned, thereby preventing the residual ink from contaminating or blocking the ink cartridge.

Add-on module suitable to receive and hold a disposable printer cartridge that is provided with inkjet nozzles, which disposable printer cartridge is equipped for placement in a printer, and wherein the add-on module is a disposable and independent item without forming a constructional part of the printer, and wherein the add-on module comprises at least one of capping means and wiping means that are arranged for capping and wiping respectively of said inkjet nozzles of the printer cartridge.