| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely solve the increase in viscosity of color ink within a discharge head in accordance with continuation of printing using black ink when the color ink is used up, while suppressing wasteful discharge of the color ink. SOLUTION: Upon detection of a lack of ink in a color ink cartridge (S101: YES), printing with black ink is continued, and printing with color ink, flushing and purge are prohibited (S102). When the time up to replacement of the ink cartridge from that time is long (S107: YES or S109: YES), purging operation is performed, and when the time is short (S109: NO), flushing operation is performed, whereby the increase in viscosity of ink in an ink jet head 4 is solved. Further, the intensities of the purging operation and flushing operation are changed according to the length of the time (S107-S113). COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT |
