Method for cleaning droplet ejector, cleaner for cleaning droplet ejector, and particulate material production apparatus using the cleaner

A method for cleaning a droplet ejector, which includes a nozzle plate bearing nozzles to eject a particulate material composition liquid as droplets in an ejection direction into a flow passage of a chamber in which a gas flows through the flow passage in a flow direction intersecting the ejection direction, comprising:

• moving an isolating device from an open position not in the flow passage to a closed position in the flow passage, to form a substantially closed cleaning space outside the nozzles and the nozzle plate,
• wherein the substantially closed cleaning space is bounded by a plurality of surfaces including a surface of the nozzle plate and a surface of the isolating device in the closed position;
• supplying a first cleaning liquid to the cleaning space so that the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the first cleaning liquid in the cleaning space formed by the nozzle plate and the isolating device;
• and
• vibrating the first cleaning liquid when the nozzles and the nozzle plate are contacted with the first cleaning liquid to clean the nozzles and the nozzle plate.