FLUID INJECTION DEVICE, AND CLEANING METHOD FOR FLUID INJECTION DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid injection device restraining unnecessary cleaning, and reducing a cost, and a cleaning method for the fluid injection device. SOLUTION: This fluid injection device is provided with an injection head 3, a detecting means 7 for detecting clogging and for storing the number of clogged nozzles, and a control means 58 for eliminating the clogging by performing a cleaning operation based on a detection result therein. The fluid injection device is provided further with a nozzle number determining means 67 for comparing the number of clogged nozzles detected by a first clogging detecting step, with the number of clogged nozzles detected by a second clogging detecting step performed next, and for determining a variation in the number of clogged nozzles. The control means 58 performs the cleaning operation when determining that the number of clogged nozzles is increased by the nozzle number determining means 67, and cancels the cleaning operation when determining that the number of clogged nozzles is equivalent or less by the nozzle number determining means 67. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT