Patent ID: 6158839
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet printer comprising:a print head including a nozzle plate, a plurality of pressure generating chambers respectively communicating with an array of nozzle openings, and a plurality of pressure generating elements each for varying a pressure within a corresponding one of said pressure generating chambers to jet a stream of ink droplets from a respective one of said nozzle openings, wherein said nozzle openings are arrayed in a predetermined direction;cleaning means for cleaning said nozzle plate by engaging said nozzle plate during a cleaning operation;drive means for moving said cleaning means in said predetermined direction;control means for controlling a print head drive circuit, wherein said print head drive circuit selectively outputs a printing signal which causes said pressure generating elements to selectively eject a stream of ink droplets from said nozzle openings during a printing operation and selectively outputs a cleaning signal which causes ink to ooze through selected nozzle openings during said cleaning operation, wherein said selected nozzle openings are less than all of said nozzle openings.