Patent ID: 6672704
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:an ejection head including a nozzle opening capable of ejecting a liquid, a pressure generating chamber communicating to the nozzle opening, and a pressure generating element for changing a pressure in the liquid inside the pressure generating chamber; a drive signal generator for generating a drive signal including a drive pulse to be applied to the pressure generating element; an application controller for controlling an application of the drive signal to the pressure generating element; and a suction unit for sucking the liquid in the ejection head through the nozzle opening, wherein the drive signal generator is capable of generating a first drive signal which is used when the liquid is ejected toward an object of ejection and a second drive signal which is used at a time of the cleaning operation of the ejection head and whose frequency at which a drive pulse is generated is higher than that of the first drive signal, wherein the cleaning operation includes accumulating the liquid in the suction unit and bringing a nozzle surface side of the ejection head into contact with the liquid in the suction unit, and wherein the suction unit is actuated in association with an application of the second drive signal to the pressure generating element.