Droplet discharging apparatus, method of controlling droplet discharging apparatus and image forming apparatus including droplet discharging apparatus

Abstract

A droplet discharging apparatus includes a recording head that includes pressure chambers, piezoelectric elements, and an in-head reservoir, provided near the pressure chambers; a liquid circulation unit that includes a liquid reservoir and circulates liquid between the in-head reservoir and the liquid reservoir; a drive waveform generation unit that generates a drive waveform that drives each of the piezoelectric elements; a remaining oscillation detection unit that detects remaining oscillation generated in at least one of the pressure chambers after driving the respective piezoelectric element; a status determining unit that determines a sedimentation status of a component in liquid in the in-head reservoir based on the detected remaining oscillation; and a control unit that controls a liquid circulation operation of the liquid circulation unit in order to dissolve the sedimentation status of the component in the liquid in the in-head reservoir based on the determined sedimentation status.