Patent ID: 7497547
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B05B,B41J

Abstract:
1. A nozzle cleaning method, comprising: a first determination of determining whether or not there is ejection of a liquid from a liquid ejection nozzle targeted for testing; a second determination of determining whether or not there is an abnormality in an ejection direction of a liquid from the liquid ejection nozzle; and a cleaning of executing a cleaning process that is different between when a determination is made that there is no ejection of the liquid in the first determination and when a determination is made that there is an abnormality in the ejection direction of the liquid in the second determination on the liquid ejection nozzle that is subjected to determination, wherein a determination is made in the first determination based on a magnitude of an induced current produced in a detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle and that has been charged, and wherein a determination is made in the second determination based on the magnitude of the induced current produced in the detection member by the liquid that has been ejected from the liquid ejection nozzle and that has been charged.