Printing device and method of controlling a printing device

摘要

A printing device has a print unit that ejects fluid from ejection nozzles and prints; an ejection test unit that checks if fluid is ejected from the ejection nozzles; a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning process in either a timed cleaning mode that performs a cleaning process at a predetermined interval, or an ejection test cleaning mode that performs a cleaning process based on a test result; a decision unit that determines whether to use the timed cleaning mode or the ejection test cleaning mode based on an operating condition of the print unit; and a mode changing unit that switches the mode between the timed cleaning mode and the ejection test cleaning mode according to the decision by the decision unit.

主权项

1. A printing device comprising:
a print unit that ejects fluid from ejection nozzles and prints; an ejection test unit that inspects ejection by the ejection nozzles; a cleaning unit that suctions fluid droplets from the ejection nozzles and performs a cleaning process; a decision unit that determines whether to use either a timed cleaning mode that repeatedly performs the cleaning process at a predetermined interval or an ejection test cleaning mode that repeatedly performs the cleaning process based on the result of a test performed by the ejection test unit each time printing of specific print data ends, based on an operating condition of the print unit that indicates a print volume or operating time of the print unit; and a mode changing unit that switches between the timed cleaning mode and the ejection test cleaning mode according to the decision by the decision unit, wherein the decision unit selects the ejection test cleaning mode when the operating condition of the print unit is a first print volume and selects the timed cleaning mode when the operating condition of the print unit is a second print volume that is greater than the first print volume, and wherein the mode changing unit changes a specific interval at which the cleaning process is performed according to the operating condition of the print unit when the mode is changed to the timed cleaning mode, such that the cleaning process is performed at a first interval when the operating condition of the print unit is a third print volume that is greater than the second print volume and the cleaning process is performed at a second interval that is shorter than the first interval when the operating condition of the print unit is a print volume that is greater than the second print volume and less than the third print volume.