Control method for an inkjet printer, and an inkjet printer

摘要

An inkjet printer can desirably clean two inkjet heads mounted on a head carriage before printing starts. The inkjet printer 1 has first and second inkjet heads 13A and 13B mounted on a head carriage 14. Before printing starts, the inkjet printer moves the head carriage 14 from a home position HP to a shift position SP so that the second inkjet head 13B, which is closest to the home position HP, is opposite a maintenance head cap 22 with an ink absorption capability and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 is then returned to the home position HP so that the first inkjet head 13A is opposite the maintenance head cap 22 and cleans the inkjet head. The head carriage 14 then moves to the printing area C side and printing starts.

主权项

1. A cleaning control method for an inkjet printer that prints in a printing area, the inkjet printer comprising a head unit comprising a first inkjet head and an adjacently disposed second inkjet head, the inkjet printer printing by moving the head unit reciprocally in a direction in which the inkjet heads are arrayed, the inkjet printer further comprising a maintenance head cap with an ink absorbance capability, the cleaning control method comprising:
from a home position of the head unit of the inkjet printer, at which the first inkjet head is the inkjet head that is closest to the printing area, and at which the maintenance head cap is disposed opposite the first inkjet head, moving the head unit from the home position, directly and without intermediate steps, toward the printing area to a position at which the second inkjet head is positioned opposite the maintenance head cap and cleaning the second inkjet head by discharging ink droplets from the second inkjet head; subsequently and without intermediate steps, returning the head unit to the home position at which the first inkjet head is opposite the maintenance head cap, and cleaning the first inkjet head by discharging ink droplets from the first inkjet head.