Liquid dispensing device

Abstract

To set a position of a carriage at the time when a nozzle discharges liquid lastly in flushing to a position as close as possible to a position at the time when the nozzle discharges liquid to a medium to be discharged.SOLUTION: In making a carriage perform flushing and then perform a second recording pass while moving the carriage to a right side in a scanning direction, when making nozzles discharge ink a first number of times K1 of discharge in the flushing, the nozzles constituting a nozzle row at a rightmost side of an inkjet head are made to start to discharge ink when the carriage reaches a position Ia1 in the scanning direction. When making the nozzles discharge ink a number of times K2 of discharge which is smaller than the first number of times K1 of discharge in the flushing, the nozzles constituting the nozzle row at the rightmost side of the inkjet head are made to start to discharge ink when the carriage reaches a position Ib1 closer to a right side than the position Ia1 in the scanning direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from a nozzle. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from nozzles, Patent Document 1 describes a printer that performs recording by ejecting ink from nozzles. The printer described in Patent Document 1 is provided with an ink receiving section that includes a waste liquid tank and a guide member that guides ink to the waste liquid tank. The printer in Patent Document 1 performs flushing, which ejects ink from the nozzles toward the guide member.

[0003] Furthermore, in the printer of Patent Document 1, flushing is performed before the inkjet head starts ejecting ink after a print command is input, after every predetermined number of passes, after printing on a predetermined number of sheets of recording paper has been completed and before printing on the next sheet of recording paper begins, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-68488 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The reason why flushing is performed at the above-mentioned timing is to discharge the thickened ink in the nozzles immediately before printing. Therefore, during flushing, the number of times ink is discharged from the nozzles may be varied depending on conditions related to the degree of ink thickening, such as the amount of ink discharged from the nozzles up to that point and the length of standby time during which printing is not performed, so that an appropriate amount of ink is discharged.

[0006] In this case, if ink ejection from the nozzles during flushing is started at the same timing regardless of the number of times ink is ejected during flushing, when the number of ejections is small, the position of the inkjet head when ejecting the last ink during flushing is far away from the position when ink is ejected toward the paper. As a result, for example, when printing an image only on the downstream side of the paper in the moving direction of the inkjet head, the time from the last ink ejection during flushing to the first ejection for recording on the paper becomes long, and there is a risk that the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles will increase during this time. Therefore, it is preferable that the position of the inkjet head when ejecting the last ink during flushing is as close as possible to the position when ink is ejected toward the paper.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection device that can bring the position of the carriage when liquid is finally ejected from the nozzles during flushing as close as possible to the position when liquid is ejected onto the ejection medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A liquid ejection device according to the present invention includes a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a carriage carrying the liquid ejection head and moving in a scanning direction, an opposing member that faces the nozzle when the carriage is positioned in a predetermined flushing region in the scanning direction, and a control device, wherein an opposing surface of the opposing member that faces the nozzle is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle the further it moves toward one side of the scanning direction, and the control device moves the carriage to the one side of the scanning direction in the flushing region, while causing the liquid ejection head to perform flushing by ejecting liquid from the nozzle toward the opposing member, and then moves the carriage to the one side of the scanning direction in an ejection region that is located on the one side of the scanning direction relative to the flushing region, while causing the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle toward the opposing member. a head is caused to perform an ejection operation in which liquid is ejected from the plurality of nozzles toward an ejection receiving medium, and in the flushing, if liquid is ejected from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction, and in the flushing, if liquid is ejected from the nozzle a second ejection number of times less than the first ejection number of times, ejection of liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a second ejection start position on the one side of the first ejection start position in the scanning direction, and regardless of whether liquid is ejected from the nozzle the first ejection number of times or liquid is ejected from the nozzle the second ejection number of times during the flushing, movement of the carriage is started from the same movement start position in the scanning direction to perform the flushing and the ejection operation. 。 Further, a liquid ejection device of the present invention includes a liquid ejection head having nozzles, a carriage carrying the liquid ejection head and moving in a scanning direction, and a control device, wherein the liquid ejection head has a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a third nozzle as the nozzles, and in the scanning direction, a distance between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is smaller than a distance between the first nozzle and the third nozzle and a distance between the second nozzle and the third nozzle, and the control device moves the carriage to one side of the scanning direction in a predetermined flushing area in the scanning direction, while causing the liquid ejection head to perform flushing by ejecting liquid from the nozzles, and then moves the carriage to the other side of the scanning direction in a discharge area located on the one side of the flushing area in the scanning direction. While moving to one side in the scanning direction, the liquid ejection head performs an ejection operation in which liquid is ejected from the multiple nozzles toward the ejection receiving medium, and during the flushing, when liquid is to be ejected from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of liquid from the nozzle starts when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction, and when liquid is to be ejected from the nozzle a second ejection number of times less than the first ejection number of times, ejection of liquid from the nozzle starts when the carriage reaches a second ejection start position on the one side of the first ejection start position in the scanning direction, and the ejection timing of the first nozzle and the second nozzle is made the same, and the ejection timing of the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the third nozzle are made different. In addition, the liquid ejection device of the present invention includes a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a carriage carrying the liquid ejection head and moving in a scanning direction, and a control device, and while the carriage starts moving in one direction in the scanning direction and stops, the control device performs a pre-recording flushing operation in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid from the nozzle in a predetermined flushing area, and a recording operation in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid in a recording area where a recording medium is located, and in the pre-recording flushing operation, when liquid is ejected from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, the control device starts ejecting liquid from the nozzle when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction, and when liquid is ejected from the nozzle a second ejection number of times less than the first ejection number, the control device starts ejecting liquid from the nozzle when the carriage reaches a second ejection start position in the one direction further than the first ejection start position in the scanning direction. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, regardless of the number of times liquid is ejected during flushing, the position of the carriage when liquid is ejected for the last time during flushing can be made as close as possible to the position when liquid is ejected toward the ejection receiving medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles in the inkjet head of FIG. [Diagram 3] 13 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the carriage, the inkjet head, the platen, and the flushing receiving portion when viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart showing a process flow during recording. [Figure 6] 6A is a flowchart showing the flow of the preparation process in FIG. 5, FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining the first ejection start position, and FIG. 6C is a diagram for explaining the second ejection start position. [Figure 7] 1A is a diagram for explaining the ink ejection position during flushing when the ejection number K is set to the first ejection number K1, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the ink ejection position during flushing when the ejection number K is set to the second ejection number K2. [Figure 8] 1A is a diagram for explaining the case where, when the discharge number K is set to the second discharge number K2, the discharge start position during flushing and the carriage 2 movement start position are the same as when the discharge number K is set to the first discharge number K1, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the case where, when the discharge number K is set to the second discharge number K2, only the carriage movement start position is the same as when the discharge number K is set to the first discharge number K1. [Figure 9] 7(a) is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7(a) of Modification 1, and FIG. 7(b) is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7(b) of Modification 1. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of another embodiment related to the present invention. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing a process flow during recording in the another embodiment. [Figure 12] 11, (b) is a diagram for explaining the first ejection start position in the above-mentioned another embodiment, and (c) is a diagram for explaining the second ejection start position in the above-mentioned another embodiment. [Figure 13] 1A is a diagram for explaining the ink ejection position during flushing when the number of ejections K is set to the first number of ejections K1 in the other embodiment described above, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining the ink ejection position during flushing when the number of ejections K is set to the second number of ejections K2 in the other embodiment described above. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a case where the ejection start position is set to the first ejection start position when the ejection number K is set to the second ejection number K2 in the another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

[0012] <Overall printer configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a carriage 2, a linear encoder 9, an inkjet head 3, a pair of transport rollers 4 and 5, a platen 6, a purge unit 7, and a flushing receiving portion 8.

[0013] The carriage 2 is supported by two guide rails 11, 12 extending in a horizontal scanning direction. The carriage 2 is connected to a carriage motor 56 shown in Fig. 4 via a belt or the like (not shown). When the carriage motor 56 is driven, the carriage 2 moves in the scanning direction along the guide rails 11, 12. In the following description, the right and left sides of the scanning direction are defined as shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] The linear encoder 9 includes an encoder strip 13 and an encoder sensor 14. The encoder strip 13 is provided on the guide rail 12 and extends in the scanning direction. The encoder strip 13 has a plurality of slits (not shown) formed therein and arranged at equal intervals in the scanning direction.

[0015] The encoder sensor 14 is mounted on the carriage 2. The encoder sensor 14 has a light-emitting section 14a and a light-receiving section 14b. The light-emitting section 14a and the light-receiving section 14b face each other with a gap in the transport direction. The encoder strip 13 described above extends in the scanning direction, passing between the light-emitting section 14a and the light-receiving section 14b in the transport direction. The light-emitting section 14a emits light toward the light-receiving section 14b, and the light-receiving section 14b receives the light from the light-emitting section 14a.

[0016] In the linear encoder 9, when the carriage 2 moves in the scanning direction, the state alternates between one in which the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 14a passes through the slits in the encoder strip 13 and is received by the light-receiving unit 14b, and another in which the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 14a is blocked by a portion of the encoder strip 13 where no slits are formed, and the light-receiving unit 14b does not receive the light. This makes it possible to obtain information on the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction based on the number of times the above two states are switched. Also, it is possible to obtain information on the moving speed of the carriage 2 based on the time interval at which the above two states are switched.

[0017] <Inkjet head> The inkjet head 3 is mounted on a carriage 2 and ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles 10 formed on the underside thereof. To explain in more detail, as shown in Fig. 2, in the inkjet head 3, a plurality of nozzles 10 are arranged at regular intervals E in a horizontal transport direction perpendicular to the scanning direction to form a nozzle row 20. Furthermore, in the inkjet head 3, four nozzle rows 20 are arranged in the scanning direction to form a nozzle group 21. Furthermore, the inkjet head 3 has four nozzle groups 21 aligned in the scanning direction.

[0018] In each nozzle group 21, the nozzles 10 constituting the second nozzle row 20C from the left in the scanning direction among the four nozzle rows 20 are arranged at an offset of (E / 4) downstream in the transport direction from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A on the rightmost side in the scanning direction. In addition, the nozzles 10 constituting the second nozzle row 20B from the right in the scanning direction are arranged at an offset of (E / 4) downstream in the transport direction from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20C. In addition, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D on the leftmost side in the scanning direction are arranged at an offset of (E / 4) downstream in the transport direction from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B. As a result, in each nozzle group 21, the multiple nozzles 10 forming the four nozzle rows 20 are arranged at intervals of (E / 4) in the transport direction.

[0019] In each nozzle group 21, the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B, and the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20C and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D are the interval J1. The interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20C is the interval J2, which is larger than the interval J1. In addition, of the two adjacent nozzle groups 21, the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the left nozzle group 21 and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the right nozzle group 21 is the interval J3, which is larger than the interval J2.

[0020] Black ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the rightmost nozzle group 21A of the four nozzle groups 21. Yellow ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the second nozzle group 21B from the right of the four nozzle groups 21. Cyan ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the second nozzle group 21C from the left of the four nozzle groups 21. Magenta ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the leftmost nozzle group 21D of the four nozzle groups 21.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 1, the conveying roller pair 4 is disposed upstream of the inkjet head 3 in the conveying direction. The conveying roller pair 5 is disposed downstream of the inkjet head 3 in the conveying direction. Each of the conveying roller pairs 4, 5 is formed by a pair of rollers extending in the conveying direction and aligned vertically. One of the pair of rollers constituting the conveying roller pairs 4, 5 is a driving roller, and is connected to a conveying motor 57 shown in FIG. 4 via a gear or the like (not shown). The other of the pair of rollers constituting the conveying roller pairs 4, 5 is a driven roller. When the conveying motor 57 is driven, the driving roller in the conveying roller pairs 4, 5 rotates, and the driven roller rotates accordingly. As a result, the recording paper P is conveyed in the conveying direction while being sandwiched vertically between the pair of rollers constituting the conveying roller pairs 4, 5.

[0022] The platen 6 is disposed between the transport roller pairs 4 and 5 in the transport direction, and is located below the inkjet head 3. The platen 6 is capable of facing a plurality of nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 which moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2. The platen 6 extends in the scanning direction over the entire length of the recording paper P transported by the transport roller pairs 4 and 5, and supports the recording paper P from below.

[0023] In the printer 1, recording can be performed on the recording paper P by repeatedly performing a recording pass in which ink is ejected from multiple nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 and a transport operation in which the recording paper P is transported by a pair of transport rollers 4, 5 while moving the carriage 2 in the scanning direction.

[0024] <Purge unit> The purge unit 7 includes a cap 31, a switching unit 32, a suction pump 33, and a waste liquid tank 34. The cap 31 is disposed to the right of the platen 6 in the scanning direction. The cap 31 has two cap parts 31a and 31b aligned in the scanning direction, with the cap part 31b positioned to the left of the cap part 31a. When the carriage 2 is positioned at a maintenance position to the right of the position where the multiple nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 face the platen 6 in the scanning direction, the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A face the cap part 31a, and the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D face the cap part 31b.

[0025] Furthermore, the cap 31 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by a cap lifting mechanism 58 shown in Fig. 4. When the carriage 2 is located at the maintenance position, and the cap 31 is raised by the cap lifting mechanism 58, a capping state is achieved in which the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A are covered by the cap portion 31a, and the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D are covered by the cap portion 31b.

[0026] The switching unit 32 is connected to the cap portions 31a, 31b and the suction pump 33. The switching unit 32 selectively connects either the cap portion 31a or 31b to the suction pump 33. The suction pump 33 is a tube pump or the like, and is connected to a waste liquid tank 34.

[0027] Then, in the printer 1, by putting the printer into the above-mentioned capping state, connecting the cap portion 31a to the suction pump 33 using the switching unit 32, and then driving the suction pump 33, a black purge can be performed to expel the black ink in the inkjet head 3 from the multiple nozzles 10 that make up the nozzle group 21A.

[0028] In addition, in the printer 1, by putting the printer into the above-mentioned capping state, connecting the cap portion 31b to the suction pump 33 using the switching unit 32, and then driving the suction pump 33, a color purge can be performed to discharge the yellow, cyan, and magenta inks, i.e., color inks, from the inkjet head 3 through the multiple nozzles 10 that make up the nozzle groups 21B to 21D.

[0029] The ink discharged from the inkjet head 3 by the black purge and color purge is stored in the waste liquid tank .

[0030] <Flushing receiving part> The flushing receiving portion 8 is disposed to the left of the platen 6 in the scanning direction. As shown in FIG.

[0031] The form 41 is made of a material capable of absorbing ink, such as a sponge, and is disposed on the left side in the scanning direction of the platen 6. The form 41 is a rectangular parallelepiped member, and its upper surface, which is an opposing surface 41a, is capable of facing the multiple nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 which moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2. The opposing surface 41a is horizontal, i.e., parallel to the scanning direction and the transport direction, and the vertical distance between the nozzles 10 and the opposing surface 41a is constant regardless of the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction.

[0032] The flushing guide 42 is disposed between the platen 6 and the form 41 in the scanning direction. The flushing guide 42 is a plate-shaped member, and its upper surface serves as an opposing surface 42a that can face the multiple nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 that moves in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2. The opposing surface 42a is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so that it moves upward, i.e., closer to the nozzles 10, as it moves toward the right side in the scanning direction.

[0033] The waste liquid tank 43 is disposed below the flushing guide 42. In addition, the waste liquid tank 43 overlaps in the vertical direction with the left end of the flushing guide 42 in the scanning direction.

[0034] In the printer 1, flushing can be performed by moving the carriage 2 to one side in the scanning direction within the range in which the multiple nozzles 10 face the form 41 and the flushing guide 42, while ejecting black ink from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A toward the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42, and ejecting color inks from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D toward the facing surface 41a of the form 41.

[0035] Here, due to differences in the ink components, black ink is more likely to solidify than color inks, so when black ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 toward the foam 41 during flushing, the black ink adhering to the foam 41 may solidify on the opposing surface 41a and in the vicinity thereof, which may result in the foam 41 being unable to absorb the ink.

[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, during flushing, the color inks are ejected toward the opposing surface 41a of the form 41, and the black ink is ejected toward the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42. The black ink that has landed on the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 flows along the opposing surface 42a into the waste liquid tank 43, and is stored in the waste liquid tank 43.

[0037] <Printer electrical configuration> Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, the printer 1 includes a control device 50. The control device 50 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 51, a read only memory (ROM) 52, a random access memory (RAM) 53, a flash memory 54, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 55, and controls the operations of a carriage motor 56, an inkjet head 3, a conveying motor 57, a cap lifting mechanism 58, a switching unit 32, a suction pump 33, and the like. The control device 50 also acquires information on the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction and the moving speed of the carriage 2 based on a signal from the encoder sensor 14.

[0038] The control device 50 may be one in which only the CPU 51 performs various processes, one in which only the ASIC 55 performs various processes, or one in which the CPU 51 and the ASIC 55 work together to perform various processes. The control device 50 may be one in which one CPU 51 performs processes independently, or one in which multiple CPUs 51 share the processes. The control device 50 may be one in which one ASIC 55 performs processes independently, or one in which multiple ASICs 55 share the processes.

[0039] <Recording control> Next, there will be described control by the control device 50 when the printer 1 records on the recording paper P. When the printer 1 records on the recording paper P, the control device 50 performs processing according to the flow of FIG.

[0040] 5 in more detail, the control device 50 first executes a paper feed process (S101). In the paper feed process, the control device 50 controls a paper feed mechanism (not shown) and a conveying motor 57 to cause the paper feed mechanism to supply recording paper P, and causes the conveying roller pair 4, 5 to convey the supplied recording paper P to a position where a portion on which an image is recorded in the first recording pass is aligned with the multiple nozzles 10 in the conveying direction.

[0041] Next, the control device 50 executes an uncapping process (S102). Here, the printer 1 is in the above-mentioned capping state in order to prevent the ink in the nozzles 10 from drying out during standby when no recording is being performed on the recording paper P. In the uncapping process, the control device 50 controls the cap lifting mechanism 58 to lower the cap 31, thereby bringing the nozzles 10 into an uncapping state in which they are not covered by the cap 31.

[0042] Next, the control device 50 resets a variable N to 0 (S103). The variable N corresponds to the number of times the first recording pass process, which will be described later, has been performed since the value was last reset to 0 in S103 or S113, which will be described later.

[0043] Next, the control device 50 executes a preparation process (S104). As shown in Fig. 6(a), in the preparation process, the control device 50 first determines whether or not a variable N plus 1 (N+1) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value Na (S201).

[0044] When (N+1) is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Na (S201: YES), the control device 50 sets the number of times K of ink ejection from the nozzle 10 during flushing to either the first number of times K1 or a second number of times K2 less than the first number of times K1, depending on the degree of viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 10 (S202). For example, the control device 50 sets the number of times K of ejection to the first number of times K1 when it is estimated that the degree of viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 10 is relatively large, such as when the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle 10 in the previous printing pass process is less than a predetermined amount, or when the waiting time during which ink is not ejected from the nozzle 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined time. In addition, the control device 50 sets the number of times K of ejection to the second number of times K2 when it is estimated that the degree of viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 10 is not so large, such as when the amount of ink ejected is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, or when the waiting time is less than a predetermined time.

[0045] When the discharge count K is set to the first discharge count K1 (S203: YES), the control device 50 sets the stop position at which the carriage 2 is stopped after discharging ink toward the recording paper P in the first recording pass performed in the first recording pass process described below that is executed immediately after the preparation process of S104 to a first stop position U1 shown in Fig. 7(a) (S204). Next, the control device 50 sets the discharge start position, which is the position in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when discharging ink from each nozzle 10 starts in flushing performed in the flushing process of S112 described below, to a first discharge start position (S205).

[0046] Here, the first ejection start position will be described. As shown in Fig. 6(b), the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A is position Ia1 on the left side in the scanning direction of the platen 6. In addition, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B of the nozzle group 21A is also position Ia1.

[0047] Furthermore, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21A is a position (Ia1+ΔI1) that is shifted by ΔI1 to the right from the position Ia1. ΔI1 is determined by the interval J2, the moving speed of the carriage 2, and the like. Note that ΔI1 is a positive value, and the position (Ia1+ΔI1) is always a position to the right of the position Ia1.

[0048] Further, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle groups 21B to 21D is a position (Ia1+ΔI2) shifted by ΔI2 to the right from the position Ia1. ΔI2 is determined based on the positional relationship between the form 41 and the flushing guide 42, the interval J3, the moving speed of the carriage 2, and the like. Here, ΔI2 may be a positive value, 0, or a negative value. When ΔI2 is a positive value, the position (Ia1+ΔI2) is a position shifted by |ΔI2| to the right from the position Ia1. When ΔI2 is 0, the position (Ia1+ΔI2) is the same position as the position Ia1. When ΔI2 is a negative value, the position (Ia1+ΔI2) is a position shifted by |ΔI2| to the left from the position Ia1.

[0049] Furthermore, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle groups 21B to 21D is a position (Ia1+ΔI2+ΔI1) shifted to the right by ΔI2 from the position (Ia1+ΔI2).

[0050] When the discharge number K is set to the second discharge number K2 (S203: NO), the control device 50 sets the stop position of the carriage 2 to the second stop position U2, which is to the left of the platen 6 in the scanning direction and to the right of the first stop position U1 in the scanning direction, as shown in Fig. 7(b) (S206). Next, the control device 50 sets the discharge start position in flushing to the second discharge start position (S207).

[0051] Here, the second ejection start position will be described. As shown in Fig. 6(c), the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A is position Ib1 on the left side of the platen 6 and on the right side of position Ia1. In addition, the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B of the nozzle group 21A is also position Ib1.

[0052] Moreover, the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21A is position (Ib1+ΔI1). Moreover, the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle groups 21B to 21D is position (Ia1+ΔI2). Moreover, the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle groups 21B to 21D is position (Ib1+ΔI2+ΔI1).

[0053] If (N+1) is less than the predetermined value Na (S201: NO), the control device 50 sets the stop position of the carriage 2 to a third stop position to the left of the platen 6 in the scanning direction (S208). The third stop position may be the same as either the first stop position or the second stop position, or may be different from either the first stop position or the second stop position.

[0054] Here, the above-mentioned first stop position U1 and second stop position U2 are the start positions of the movement of the carriage 2 when the flushing process of S112 and the second recording pass process of S114 are executed after the first recording pass process of S105, as described later. Also, the third stop position is the start position of the movement of the carriage 2 when the second recording pass process of S114 is executed without executing the flushing process of S112 after the first recording pass process of S105, as described later.

[0055] 5, after the preparation process in S104, the control device 50 executes a first recording pass process (S105). In the first recording pass process, the control device 50 controls the carriage motor 56 to move the carriage 2 to the left in the scanning direction as a recording pass, while controlling the inkjet head 3 to eject ink from the multiple nozzles 10 toward the recording paper P on the platen 6, thereby performing a first recording pass.

[0056] Furthermore, in the first recording pass process, after the control device 50 has completed ejecting ink onto the recording paper P on the platen 6, it moves the carriage 2 to the stop position set in any one of S204, S206, and S208 of the preparation process of S104, and stops the carriage 2 at the stop position. Then, after the first recording pass process is completed, the control device 50 increments the variable N by 1 (S106).

[0057] Next, the control device 50 determines whether recording on the recording paper P is complete (S107). If recording on the recording paper P is complete (S107: YES), the control device 50 executes a paper discharge process (S108). In the paper discharge process, the control device 50 controls the conveying motor 57 to convey the recording paper P in the conveying direction by the conveying roller pair 4, 5, thereby discharging the recording paper P.

[0058] Next, the control device 50 executes a capping process (S109). In the capping process, the control device 50 controls the carriage motor 56 to move the carriage 2 to the maintenance position, and then controls the cap lifting device 58 to lift the cap 31, thereby achieving the above-mentioned capping state.

[0059] If recording on the recording paper P is not complete (S107: NO), the control device 50 then executes a conveying process (S110). In the conveying process, the control device 50 controls the conveying motor 57 to make the conveying roller pair 4, 5 convey the recording paper P a predetermined distance.

[0060] If the variable N is less than the predetermined value Na (S111: NO), the control device 50 executes a second printing pass process (S114). If the variable N is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Na (S111: YES), the control device 50 executes a flushing process (S112), resets the variable N to 0 (S113), and then executes a second printing pass process (S114).

[0061] In the flushing process of S112, the control device 50 controls the carriage motor 56 to move the carriage 2, which is stopped at the stop position, to the right, while controlling the inkjet head 3 to eject ink from the nozzles 10, thereby performing flushing.

[0062] At this time, ink ejection from each nozzle 10 is started at the timing when the carriage 2 reaches the ejection start position for each nozzle 10. Then, in the flushing process, after starting ink ejection from each nozzle 10 as described above, ink is ejected from each nozzle 10 at regular time intervals, thereby ejecting ink from each nozzle 10 the number of times K that was set in the preparation process of S104.

[0063] In addition, in the flushing process, the carriage 2 is accelerated to a predetermined speed V, and after the carriage 2 reaches the predetermined speed V, the carriage 2 is moved at the predetermined speed V. In flushing, the above-mentioned stop positions and ejection start positions are set for all the nozzles 10 so that ink ejection starts in the middle of the acceleration of the carriage 2.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned stop positions and ejection start positions are set so that the carriage 2 reaches the predetermined speed V by the time the final ink ejection is completed for all the nozzles 10 during flushing.

[0065] Also, in this embodiment, for all nozzles 10 constituting nozzle group 21A, the above-mentioned stop positions and ejection start positions are set so that, in the period from the first ink ejection to the last ink ejection in flushing, the nozzles 10 are located within the range in which the flushing guide 42 is arranged in the scanning direction. Also, in this embodiment, for all nozzles 10 constituting nozzle groups 21B to 21D, the above-mentioned stop positions and ejection start positions are set so that, in the period from the first ink ejection to the last ink ejection in flushing, the nozzles 10 are located within the range in which the form 41 is arranged in the scanning direction.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned stop position and ejection start position are set so that the position of the carriage 2 when ink is ejected from the last nozzle 10 during flushing is the same in either case where the ejection count K is set to the first ejection count K1, the stop position is set to the first stop position U1, and the ejection start position is set to the first ejection start position, or where the ejection count K is set to the second ejection count K2, the stop position is set to the second stop position U2, and the ejection start position is set to the second ejection start position.

[0067] In the second recording pass processing, the control device 50 performs a second recording pass in which the carriage motor 56 is controlled to move the carriage 2 to the right in the scanning direction at a predetermined speed V, while controlling the inkjet head 3 to eject ink from the multiple nozzles 10 toward the recording paper P on the platen 6.

[0068] Here, when the second recording pass process is executed without executing the flushing process, the carriage 2 stopped at the above-mentioned third stop position is accelerated to a predetermined speed V to the left of the platen 6, and the second recording pass is executed while the carriage 2 is moving at the predetermined speed V. When the second recording pass process is executed after executing the flushing process, the carriage 2 accelerated to the predetermined speed V in the flushing process is continued to move at the predetermined speed V while the second recording pass is executed.

[0069] Next, the control device 50 determines whether or not recording on the recording paper P is complete (S115). If recording on the recording paper P is complete (S115: YES), the control device 50 executes a paper discharge process (S108) and then executes a capping process (S109). If recording on the recording paper P is not complete (S115: NO), the control device 50 executes a conveying process similar to S110 (S116) and returns to S104.

[0070] <Flushing operation> Next, a detailed description will be given of the operation during flushing when processing is performed according to the flow of Fig. 5. In the following, a description will be given of an example in which the first ejection count K1 is 12 times and the second ejection count K2 is 6 times.

[0071] When the discharge count K is set to the first discharge count K1 in S202, the stop position is set to the first stop position U1 in S204, and the discharge start position is set to the first discharge start position in S205, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the carriage 2 starts moving rightward from the first stop position U1, accelerates to a predetermined speed V, and then moves at the predetermined speed V. Then, when the carriage 2 reaches positions Ia1 to Ia12, ink is discharged from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A. The carriage 2 is accelerating when located at positions Ia1 to Ia3, and moves at the predetermined speed V when located at positions Ia4 to Ia12.

[0072] As a result, ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A lands in a range of length R1 in the scanning direction between a portion Qa1 on the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ia1 lands, and a portion Qb12 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ia12 lands. In this case, the distance in the scanning direction between the position Ia12 of the carriage 2 when ink is last ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A during flushing and the platen 6 supporting the recording paper P is distance L1.

[0073] When the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2 in S202, the stop position is set to the second stop position U2 in S206, and the discharge start position is set to the second discharge start position in S207, as shown in FIG. 7B, the carriage 2 starts moving rightward from the second stop position U2, accelerates to a predetermined speed V, and then moves at the predetermined speed V. Then, when the carriage 2 reaches positions Ib1 to Ib6, ink is discharged from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A. The carriage 2 is accelerating when it is located at positions Ib1 to Ib3, and moves at the predetermined speed V when it is located at positions Ib4 to Ib6.

[0074] As a result, ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A lands in a range of length R2 in the scanning direction between a portion Qb1 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ib1 lands and a portion Qb6 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ib6 lands on the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42. In addition, position Ib6 and position Ia12 are the same position.

[0075] Next, unlike the present embodiment, when the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2 in S202, the stop position is set to the first stop position U1 and the discharge start position is set to the first discharge start position. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the carriage 2 reaches positions Ia1 to Ia6, ink is discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A. In this case, since position Ia6 is located to the left of position Ib6 in the scanning direction, the distance L3 in the scanning direction between position Ia6 and the platen 6 is greater than the distance L2 in the scanning direction between position Ib6 and the platen 6.

[0076] Furthermore, in this case, the ink lands in a range of length R3 in the scanning direction between a portion Qa1 of the flushing guide 42 where the ink lands when the carriage 2 is located at position Ia1 and a portion Qa6 where the ink lands when the carriage 2 is located at position Ia6. Length R3 is approximately the same as length R2, but the portion of the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 located within the range of length R3 is located to the left in the scanning direction of the portion located within the range of length R2 in FIG. 7B, and is farther away from the nozzle 10 in the vertical direction.

[0077] Therefore, in the case of Figure 7(b) of this embodiment, compared to the case of Figure 8(a), during flushing, ink can be ejected toward the portion of the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 that is further to the right in the scanning direction, i.e., the portion that is closer to the nozzle 10.

[0078] Next, unlike this embodiment, when the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2 in S202, the stop position is set to the first stop position U1, and the discharge start position is set so that the position Ic6 in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when ink is finally discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A during flushing is the same as the above-mentioned position Ia12. Positions Ic1 to Ic6 are the positions in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when ink is discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A in this case.

[0079] In this case, as shown in Fig. 8(b), after the carriage 2 accelerates to a predetermined speed V, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A start ejecting ink during flushing. Therefore, in the case of Fig. 8(b), the average moving speed of the carriage 2 when performing flushing is faster than in the case of Fig. 7(b). Therefore, the moving distance of the carriage 2 required for flushing is long, and it is necessary to set the ejection start position Ic1 to a position to the left of position Ib1.

[0080] In the case of FIG. 8(b), ink ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A lands in a range of a length R4 in the scanning direction between a portion Qc1 of the flushing guide 42 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ic1 lands and a portion Qc6 of the flushing guide 42 where ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position Ic6 lands. The length R4 is longer than the length R2. For this reason, when comparing the case of FIG. 7(b) of this embodiment with the case of FIG. 8(b), the case of this embodiment allows ink to be ejected toward a portion on the right side of the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42, that is, toward a portion closer to the nozzle 10, during flushing.

[0081] In addition, when the movement of the carriage 2 is started from a position to the left of the second stop position U2 in this embodiment, unlike FIG. 8B, it is also possible to start ejecting ink from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A during flushing while the carriage 2 is accelerating. Even in this case, compared to the case of FIG. 7B in this embodiment, ejection of ink from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A starts at a timing when the speed of the carriage 2 is faster during acceleration. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 7B in this embodiment, even compared to this case, ink can be ejected toward the right part of the flushing guide 42, i.e., toward the part with a smaller distance from the nozzle 10, during flushing.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, during flushing, the position in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when ink ejection from nozzles 10 other than the nozzles 10 that constitute the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A is started is determined by the positions Ia1, Ib1 in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when ink ejection from the nozzles 10 that constitute the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A is started, as described above.

[0083] Therefore, as described above, for any nozzle 10, when the number of ejections K is set to the first number of ejections K1 and when it is set to the second number of ejections K2, the carriage 2 can be in the same position when it ejects ink for the last time during flushing.

[0084] Furthermore, as described above, when the number of ejections K is set to the second number of ejections K2, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20B to 20D of the nozzle group 21A can eject ink toward a portion on the right side of the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42, i.e., a portion closer to the nozzle 10, during flushing than when the number of ejections K is set to the first number of ejections K1.

[0085] <Effects> In this embodiment, when ink is discharged from the nozzle 10 a first discharge count K1 during flushing, ink discharge from the nozzle 10 is started when the carriage 2 reaches a first discharge start position. When ink is discharged a second discharge count K2, which is less than the first discharge count K1, during flushing, ink discharge from the nozzle 10 is started when the carriage 2 reaches a second discharge start position to the right of the first discharge start position in the scanning direction. This allows the position of the carriage 2 when ink is finally discharged from the nozzle 10 during flushing to be as close as possible to the platen 6, that is, as close as possible to the position when ink is discharged toward the recording paper P, regardless of the number of ink discharges K during flushing. As a result, regardless of the number of ink discharges K during flushing, it is possible to minimize the increase in viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 10 from the completion of flushing until the start of ink discharge from the nozzle 10 in the second recording pass.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 by flushing, minute ink droplets called satellites may be ejected following the ink from the nozzle 10. If the distance between the nozzle 10 and the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 is large, the satellites may not land on the opposing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 and may float in the air, becoming what is called mist.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the carriage 2 is moved to the right in the scanning direction during flushing, and the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzles 10 as it moves toward the right in the scanning direction.

[0088] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 a first ejection number K1 times during flushing, ink ejection from the nozzle 10 starts when the carriage 2 reaches a first ejection start position. When ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 a second ejection number K2 times during flushing, ink ejection from the nozzle 10 starts when the carriage 2 reaches a second ejection start position.

[0089] As a result, in this embodiment, as described above, during flushing, ink can be ejected toward a portion of the opposing surface 42a that is as close as possible to the nozzle 10. As a result, satellites are more likely to land on the opposing surface 42a, making it difficult to generate mist.

[0090] Furthermore, in this embodiment, flushing is performed during a period that includes the period during which the carriage 2 is accelerating. In such a case, regardless of the number of times K that ink is ejected during flushing, the position of the carriage 2 when ink is finally ejected from the nozzle 10 during flushing can be set to a position that is as close as possible to the platen 6, i.e., a position that is as close as possible to the position when ink is ejected toward the recording paper P.

[0091] Furthermore, when flushing is performed during a period including the period during which the carriage 2 is accelerating, as in this embodiment, if ink is to be ejected from the nozzles 10 a first ejection count K1 during flushing, the carriage 2 starts moving from the first stop position U1 to perform flushing and a second recording pass. If ink is to be ejected from the nozzles 10 a second ejection count K2, the carriage 2 starts moving from the second stop position U2 to the right of the first stop position U1 in the scanning direction to perform flushing and a second recording pass.

[0092] As a result, when ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 the second ejection number K2 during flushing, the time from when the carriage 2 starts moving to when ink ejection from the nozzles 10 during flushing starts is shorter than when the carriage 2 starts moving from the first stop position U1. As a result, ink can be ejected from the nozzles 10 while the moving speed of the carriage 2 is as slow as possible during flushing. In this case, the length in the scanning direction required for flushing during flushing is shortened. As a result, the start of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 during flushing can be delayed further, and ink can be ejected toward a portion of the facing surface 42a of the flushing guide 42 that is close to the nozzles 10.

[0093] In this embodiment, the acceleration of the carriage 2 is completed by the time the nozzle 10 ejects the last ink during flushing, and the carriage 2 reaches a predetermined speed V. In addition, regardless of whether the nozzle 10 ejects ink the first ejection number K1 or the second ejection number K2 during flushing, the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction when the nozzle 10 ejects the last ink is the same. This allows the position of the carriage 2 when the nozzle 10 ejects ink the last time during flushing to be as close as possible to the platen 6, that is, as close as possible to the position when the ink is ejected toward the recording paper P, regardless of the number K of ink ejections during flushing. As a result, regardless of the number K of ink ejections during flushing, it is possible to reliably suppress the increase in viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 10 from the completion of flushing until the nozzle 10 starts ejecting ink in the second recording pass.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in each nozzle group 21, the interval J2, which is the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20B and the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20C, is larger than the interval J1, which is the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20A and the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20B, and the interval J1, which is the interval in the scanning direction between the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20C and the nozzles 10 constituting nozzle row 20D.

[0095] Therefore, in this embodiment, in each nozzle group 21, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 during flushing is the same between nozzle rows 20A and 20B, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 during flushing is the same between nozzle rows 20C and 20D, and the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 during flushing is different between nozzle rows 20A, 20B and nozzle rows 20C, 20D.

[0096] As a result, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20B, which are close to each other in the scanning direction, and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20C and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D have the same ink ejection timing during flushing, simplifying the control for flushing while preventing the ejection timing from deviating significantly from the appropriate timing. Also, by making the ink ejection timing during flushing different between the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B, which are far apart in the scanning direction, and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D, the ejection timing during flushing can be made appropriate for each nozzle 10.

[0097] In this embodiment, the printer 1 corresponds to the "liquid ejection device" of the present invention. The inkjet head 3 corresponds to the "liquid ejection head" of the present invention. The form 41 and the flushing guide 42 correspond to the "opposing member" of the present invention. The recording paper P corresponds to the "ejection receiving medium" of the present invention.

[0098] In each nozzle group 21, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B correspond to the "first nozzle" and the "second nozzle" of the present invention, respectively. In this case, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D correspond to the "third nozzle" of the present invention.

[0099] Alternatively, in each nozzle group 21, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D correspond to the "first nozzle" and the "second nozzle" of the present invention, respectively. In this case, the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B correspond to the "third nozzle" of the present invention.

[0100] In this embodiment, the right side of the scanning direction corresponds to the "one side of the scanning direction" of the present invention, and the left side of the scanning direction corresponds to the "other side of the scanning direction" of the present invention. The second recording pass corresponds to the "ejection operation" of the present invention. The first stop position U1 corresponds to the "first movement start position" of the present invention, and the second stop position U2 corresponds to the "second movement start position" of the present invention.

[0101] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the position of the carriage 2 when ink is last ejected from each nozzle 10 during flushing, such as positions Ia12, Ib6 for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A, 20B of the nozzle group 21A, corresponds to the "ejection completion position" of the present invention.

[0102] In this embodiment, the movement area of ​​the carriage 2 when the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A overlap the flushing guide 42 in the vertical direction and the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D overlap the form 41 in the vertical direction corresponds to the "flushing area" of the present invention. In this embodiment, the movement area of ​​the carriage 2 when the nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3 to the right of the flushing area overlap the platen 6 in the vertical direction corresponds to the "ejection area" of the present invention.

[0103] <Modification> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the acceleration of the carriage 2 is completed and the speed of the carriage 2 reaches the predetermined speed V by the time the final ink ejection from the nozzle 10 in flushing is completed, but this is not limited to the above. For example, after the final ink ejection from the nozzle 10 in flushing is completed, the acceleration of the carriage 2 may be completed and the speed of the carriage 2 may reach the predetermined speed V by the time the first nozzle 10 in the second recording pass starts ejecting ink.

[0105] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the ink is ejected from the multiple nozzles 10 during flushing during a period that includes the acceleration of the carriage 2, but this is not limiting.

[0106] In Modification 1, as shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), whether the number of discharges K is set to the first number of discharges K1 or the second number of discharges K2, the carriage 2 completes acceleration and the carriage 2 starts discharging ink from the nozzles 10 during flushing after the speed of the carriage 2 reaches a predetermined speed V. Positions Id1 to Id12 in Figure 9(a) are positions of the carriage 2 when ink is discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A during flushing when the number of discharges K is set to the first number of discharges K1 in Modification 1. Positions Ie1 to Ie6 in Figure 9(b) are positions of the carriage 2 when ink is discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20A of the nozzle group 21A during flushing when the number of discharges K is set to the second number of discharges K2 in Modification 1.

[0107] In addition, in variant example 1, the first and second ejection start positions are set so that the position in the scanning direction of the carriage 2 when ink is last ejected from the nozzle 10 during flushing is the same for each nozzle 10 when the ejection count K is set to the first ejection count K1 and when the ejection count K is set to the second ejection count K2, for example, so that position Id12 and position Ie6 are the same position.

[0108] Furthermore, even when flushing is performed when the acceleration of the carriage 2 has been completed and the carriage 2 is moving at a predetermined speed V, as in variant example 1, the position of the carriage 2 when ink is finally ejected from the nozzles 10 during flushing can be made as close as possible to the platen 6, i.e., as close as possible to the position when ink is ejected toward the recording paper P, regardless of the number of times K that ink is ejected during flushing, as described in the above embodiment.

[0109] In addition, in variant example 1, the acceleration of the carriage 2 may be completed, the speed of the carriage 2 may reach a predetermined speed V, and the ejection of ink from the nozzles 10 during flushing may begin only when the ejection count K is set to either the first ejection count K1 or the second ejection count K2.

[0110] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when the number of ejections K is set to the second number of ejections K2, the start position of the movement of the carriage 2 when performing flushing and the second printing pass, i.e., the stopping position of the carriage 2 in the first printing pass immediately before that, is set to a position to the right of the scanning direction compared to when the number of ejections K is set to the first number of ejections K1, but this is not limited to this.

[0111] In variant example 2, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(b), the start position of carriage 2 movement is set to the same position U1 when the discharge count K is set to the first discharge count K1 and when the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2.

[0112] In the case of the second modification, the movement start position of the carriage 2 when flushing and the second recording pass are performed is the same regardless of the number of ejection times K, so that the control for performing flushing can be simplified.

[0113] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction when ink is finally ejected from the nozzle 10 during flushing is the same when the ejection count K is set to the first ejection count K1 and when it is set to the second ejection count K2, for example, when position Ia12 and position Ib6 are the same position, but this is not limited to this.

[0114] For example, the position of the carriage 2 in the scanning direction when ink is finally ejected from the nozzle 10 during flushing may be slightly shifted between positions Ia12 and Ib6 when the number of ejections K is set to the first number of ejections K1 and when it is set to the second number of ejections K2.

[0115] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, during flushing, ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A that ejects black ink toward the flushing guide 42, and ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D that eject color inks toward the form 41, but this is not limited to this.

[0116] For example, the form 41 may not be provided, and ink may be ejected from all the nozzles 10 toward the flushing guide 42 during flushing. In this case, the position of the carriage 2 when ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 in the nozzle rows 20A to 20D of the nozzle groups 21B, 21C, and 21D during flushing may be shifted to the right by a predetermined distance according to the distance J3 or the like from the position when ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A to 20D of the nozzle group 21A.

[0117] Alternatively, the flushing guide 42, the waste liquid tank 43, and the flushing guide 42 may be omitted, and ink may be ejected from all the nozzles 10 toward the form 41 during flushing. In this case, for example, during flushing, the position of the carriage 2 may be the same when ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 for the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle groups 21A to 21D, and the position of the carriage 2 may be the same when ink is ejected from the nozzles 10 for the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle groups 21A to 21D.

[0118] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, during flushing, in each nozzle group 21A to 21D, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 is the same in nozzle rows 20A and 20B, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 is the same in nozzle rows 20C and 20D, and the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 is different between nozzle rows 20A, 20B and nozzle rows 20C, 20D, but this is not limited to the above.

[0119] For example, during flushing, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 may be made different between the nozzle rows 20A to 20D for each of the nozzle groups 21A to 21D. Alternatively, for example, during flushing, the timing of ink ejection from all the nozzles 10 may be the same for each of the nozzle groups 21A to 21D. In this case, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzles 10 may be the same or different between the nozzle groups 21A to 21D.

[0120] In the above example, the number of ejections K is set uniformly for all the nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 3, but this is not limiting. For example, the number of ejections K may be set individually for each nozzle group 21, and the ejection start position may be set for each nozzle group 21 in accordance with the individually set number of ejections K.

[0121] Alternatively, the number of discharges K may be set individually for each nozzle row 20, and the discharge start position may be set for each nozzle row 20 in accordance with the individually set number of discharges K. Alternatively, the number of discharges may be set individually for each nozzle 10, and the discharge start position may be set for each nozzle 10 in accordance with the individually set number of discharges K.

[0122] In the above example, the number of ejections K during flushing is set to only one of two types of ejection numbers, the first number of ejections K1 and the second number of ejections K2, but this is not limited to this. The number of ejections K during flushing may be set to one of three or more different types of ejection numbers. In this case, for example, the position of the carriage 2 when ejecting ink from the nozzles 10 of each nozzle row 20 during flushing may be set to a position to the right in the scanning direction as the number of ejections K decreases.

[0123] In this case, for any two of the three or more different ejection counts, the greater number of ejection counts corresponds to the "first ejection count" of the present invention, and the lesser number of ejection counts corresponds to the "second ejection count" of the present invention.

[0124] In the above, the present invention has been applied to a printer that ejects ink from nozzles to perform recording on recording paper, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to liquid ejection devices other than printers that eject liquids other than ink onto ejection receiving media other than recording paper.

[0125] <Another embodiment> Next, another embodiment related to the present invention will be described.

[0126] In the printer according to this alternative embodiment, the flushing receiving portion 8 in the printer 1 according to the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with a flushing receiving portion 101 shown in FIG. 10. Also, the printer according to this alternative embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment in the control during recording. Note that, in the following description, the same reference numerals as in the above-described embodiment may be used to describe the configuration other than the flushing receiving portion 101.

[0127] <Flushing receiving part> The flushing receiving portion 101 has a flushing guide 102 and a waste liquid tank 103. The flushing guide 102 is a plate-shaped member and is disposed to the left of the platen 6, and its upper surface, a facing surface 102a, is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so that it approaches upward, i.e., closer to the nozzle 10, as it approaches the left side in the scanning direction. The waste liquid tank 103 is located below the flushing guide 102 and overlaps vertically with the right end of the flushing guide 102 in the scanning direction.

[0128] <Recording control> In this alternative embodiment, when recording on recording paper in the printer, the control device 50 performs processing in accordance with the flow of FIG.

[0129] More specifically, the control device 50 executes a paper feed process (S301), executes an uncapping process (S302), and resets the variable N to 0 (S303), similar to S101 to S103 in the above-described embodiment. Then, the control device 50 executes a first printing pass process (S304), similar to S105 in the above-described embodiment, and increments the variable N by 1 (S305).

[0130] If the variable N is less than the predetermined value Na (S306: NO), the process proceeds to S310. If the variable N is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Na (S306: YES), the control device 50 executes a preparation process (S307), executes a flushing process (S308), resets the variable N to 0 (S309), and then proceeds to S310.

[0131] In the preparation process of S307, as shown in FIG. 12(a), the control device 50 sets the number of ejections K in flushing to either the first number of ejections K1 or the second number of ejections K2 (S401), similar to S202 in the above-described embodiment.

[0132] When the discharge number K is set to the first discharge number K1 (S402: YES), the control device 50 sets the discharge start position in flushing to the first discharge start position (S403).

[0133] Here, the first ejection start position will be described. As shown in FIG. 12(b), the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D is a position If1 on the left side of the platen 6. The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20C of the nozzle group 21D is also the position If1. The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21D is a position (If1+ΔI3) shifted to the left by ΔI3 from the position If1. Note that ΔI3 is a positive value, and the position (If1+ΔI3) is always a position to the left of the position If1.

[0134] Furthermore, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21C is a position (If1+ΔI4) shifted to the left by ΔI4 from the position If1. Note that ΔI4 is a positive value, and the position (If1+ΔI4) is always a position to the left of the position If1. Furthermore, the first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21C is a position (If1+ΔI3+ΔI4) shifted to the left by ΔI4 from the position (If1+ΔI3).

[0135] The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21B is a position (If1+2×ΔI4) shifted ΔI4 to the left from the position (If1+ΔI4). The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21B is a position (If1+ΔI3+2×ΔI4) shifted ΔI4 to the left from the position (If1+ΔI3+ΔI4).

[0136] The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21A is a position (If1+3×ΔI4) shifted ΔI4 to the left from the position (If1+2×ΔI4). The first ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21A is a position (If1+ΔI3+3×ΔI4) shifted ΔI4 to the left from the position (If1+ΔI3+2×ΔI4).

[0137] When the discharge number K is set to the second discharge number K2 (S402: NO), the control device 50 sets the discharge start position in flushing to the second discharge start position (S404).

[0138] Here, the second ejection start position will be described. As shown in Fig. 12(c), the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21D is position Ig1 to the left of position If1. In addition, the second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21D is also position (Ig1 + ΔI3).

[0139] The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21C is the position (Ig1+ΔI4). The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21C is the position (Ig1+ΔI3+ΔI4).

[0140] The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21B is the position (Ig1+2×ΔI4). The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21B is the position (Ig1+ΔI3+2×ΔI4).

[0141] The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20C and 20D of the nozzle group 21A is the position (Ig1+3×ΔI4). The second ejection start position for the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle rows 20A and 20B of the nozzle group 21A is the position (Ig1+ΔI3+3×ΔI4).

[0142] Returning to FIG. 11, in the flushing process of S308, the control device 50 controls the carriage motor 56 to continue moving the carriage 2 in the first recording pass process of S304, while controlling the inkjet head 3 to perform flushing by ejecting ink from the multiple nozzles 10 toward the flushing guide 102.

[0143] At this time, when the carriage 2 reaches the ejection start position for each nozzle 10, ink ejection from the corresponding nozzle 10 is started, and ink is ejected from each nozzle 10 at regular time intervals, causing each nozzle 10 to eject ink the number of times K that was set in the preparation process of S307.

[0144] In S310, it is determined whether or not recording on the recording paper P is complete. If recording on the recording paper P is complete (S310: YES), the control device 50 executes a paper discharge process similar to S108 in the above embodiment (S311), and executes a capping process similar to S109 in the above embodiment (S312).

[0145] If printing is not completed (S310: NO), the control device 50 executes a conveying process similar to S110 in the above-described embodiment (S313), and then executes a second printing pass process similar to S114 in the above-described embodiment (S314).

[0146] If recording on the recording paper P is complete (S315: YES), the paper discharge process and the capping process are executed (S311, S312). If recording on the recording paper P is not complete (S315: NO), the same conveying process as in S313 is executed (S316), and the process returns to S304.

[0147] <Flushing operation> Next, a detailed description will be given of the operation during flushing when processing is performed according to the flow of Fig. 11. In the following, a description will be given of an example in which the first ejection count K1 is 12 times and the second ejection count K2 is 6 times.

[0148] 13A, when the ejection count K is set to the first ejection count K1 in S402 and the ejection start position is set to the first ejection start position, the carriage 2 ejects ink from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D when the carriage 2 reaches positions If1 to If12 while moving to the left in the scanning direction at a predetermined speed V after the first recording pass. As a result, the ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D lands in a range of length R5 in the scanning direction on the facing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102 between a portion Qf1 where the ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position If1 lands and a portion Qf12 where the ink ejected when the carriage 2 is located at position If12 lands.

[0149] In the case where the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2 in S402 and the discharge start position is set to the second discharge start position in S404, as shown in FIG. 13B, the carriage 2 discharges ink from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D when the carriage 2 reaches positions Ig1 to Ig6 while moving at a predetermined speed V after the first recording pass. As a result, the ink discharged from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D lands in a range of length R6 in the scanning direction between a portion Qg1 where the ink discharged when the carriage 2 is located at position Ig1 lands and a portion Qg6 where the ink discharged when the carriage 2 is located at position Ib6 lands on the facing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102. The length R6 is shorter than the length R5.

[0150] Next, unlike the above-described other embodiment, when the discharge count K is set to the second discharge count K2 in S402, the discharge start position is set to the first discharge start position, similarly to when the discharge count K is set to the first discharge count K1. In this case, as shown in Fig. 14, when the carriage 2 reaches positions If1 to If6, ink is discharged from each of the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 20D of the nozzle group 21D.

[0151] In this case, the ink lands in a range of length R7 in the scanning direction between a portion Qf1 of the flushing guide 42 where the ink lands when the carriage 2 is located at position If1, and a portion Qf6 where the ink lands when the carriage 2 is located at position If6. Length R7 is approximately the same as length R6, but the portion of the facing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102 that is located within the range of length R7 is located to the right of the portion of the flushing guide 102 that is located within the range of length R6 in FIG. 13(b) and is farther away from the nozzle 10.

[0152] Therefore, in the case of this other embodiment shown in Figure 13(b), compared to the case of Figure 14, during flushing, ink can be ejected toward the portion of the opposing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102 that is further to the left in the scanning direction, i.e., the portion that is closer to the nozzle 10.

[0153] Also, in this other embodiment, as described above, the ejection start position during flushing for nozzles 10 other than the nozzles 10 that constitute nozzle row 20D of nozzle group 21D is determined by positions If1, Ig1, which are the ejection start positions during flushing for the nozzles 10 that constitute nozzle row 20D of nozzle group 21D.

[0154] Therefore, as described above, for any nozzle 10, when the second ejection count K2 is set, ink can be ejected toward a more left portion of the opposing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102, i.e., a portion closer to the nozzle 10, during flushing than when the first ejection count K1 is set.

[0155] <Effects> In this alternative embodiment, the carriage 2 is moved to the left in the scanning direction during flushing, and the facing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102 is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle 10 as it moves toward the left in the scanning direction.

[0156] Furthermore, as described above, in flushing, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 the first ejection number K1, the ink ejection from the nozzle 10 starts when the carriage 2 reaches the first ejection start position. Furthermore, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 the second ejection number K2, the ink ejection from the nozzle 10 starts when the carriage 2 reaches the second ejection start position to the left of the first ejection start position in the scanning direction.

[0157] This allows ink to be ejected during flushing toward a portion of the facing surface 102a that is as close as possible to the nozzle 10. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult for mist to be generated.

[0158] The printer according to the another embodiment includes: "A liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a carriage that carries the liquid ejection head and moves in a scanning direction; an opposing member that faces the nozzles when the carriage is positioned in a predetermined flushing area in the scanning direction; A control device, an opposing surface of the opposing member that faces the nozzle is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle toward one side of the scanning direction; The control device includes: a discharge operation in which the liquid discharge head discharges liquid from the plurality of nozzles toward a discharge receiving medium while moving the carriage to the one side in the scanning direction in a discharge region located on the other side of the flushing region in the scanning direction, and then performing flushing by discharging liquid from the nozzles of the liquid ejection head toward the facing member while moving the carriage to the one side in the scanning direction in the flushing region; In the flushing, When ejecting the liquid from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of the liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction; This is an example of a liquid ejection device characterized in that, when ejecting liquid from the nozzle a second ejection number of times which is less than the first ejection number, ejection of liquid from the nozzle begins when the carriage reaches a second ejection start position on the one side of the first ejection start position in the scanning direction.

[0159] In this embodiment, the left side in the scanning direction corresponds to “one side in the scanning direction,” and the right side in the scanning direction corresponds to “the other side in the scanning direction.” Also, the first printing pass corresponds to the “ejection operation” of the present invention.

[0160] In addition, in this other embodiment, ink is ejected from all the nozzles 10 toward the flushing guide 102 during flushing, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the flushing receiving portion 101 may have a foam, and during flushing, ink may be ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle group 21A toward the facing surface 102a of the flushing guide 102, and ink may be ejected from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle groups 21B to 21D toward the foam. [Explanation of symbols]

[0161] 1. Printer 2 Carriage 3 Inkjet head 10 Nozzles 41 Forms 42 Flashing Guide 42a Opposite side 50 Control device 102 Flashing Guide 102a Opposite side

Claims

1. A liquid ejection head having a nozzle; a carriage that carries the liquid ejection head and moves in a scanning direction; an opposing member that faces the nozzles when the carriage is positioned in a predetermined flushing area in the scanning direction; A control device, an opposing surface of the opposing member that faces the nozzle is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle toward one side of the scanning direction; The control device includes: a flushing step in which the carriage is moved to the one side in the scanning direction in the flushing region and the liquid ejection head is caused to eject liquid from the nozzles toward the facing member; a discharge operation in which the liquid discharge head discharges liquid from the plurality of nozzles toward a discharge receiving medium while moving the carriage to the one side in the scanning direction in a discharge region located on the one side of the flushing region in the scanning direction; In the flushing, When ejecting the liquid from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of the liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction; when discharging liquid from the nozzle a second number of times which is less than the first number of times, discharging liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a second discharge start position on the one side of the first discharge start position in the scanning direction, A liquid ejection device characterized in that, regardless of whether the liquid is ejected from the nozzle the first ejection number of times during the flushing, or the liquid is ejected from the nozzle the second ejection number of times, the movement of the carriage is started from the same movement start position in the scanning direction, and the flushing and ejection operations are performed.

2. The control device includes: The carriage is accelerated to a predetermined speed before the flushing is started, 2. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flushing and the ejection are performed while the carriage is moving at the predetermined speed.

3. The control device includes: The carriage is accelerated to a predetermined speed before the ejection operation is started. performing the flushing during a period including a period during which the carriage is accelerating; 2. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection operation is performed while the carriage is moving at the predetermined speed.

4. The control device includes: The carriage is accelerated to a predetermined speed before liquid is finally ejected from the nozzle during the flushing process. performing the ejection operation while the carriage is moving at the predetermined speed; the first ejection start position is a position that is set such that, when liquid is ejected from the nozzle the first ejection number of times during the flushing, a position of the carriage in the scanning direction when liquid is finally ejected from the nozzle during the flushing becomes a predetermined ejection completion position; A liquid ejection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second ejection start position is a position set so that when liquid is ejected from the nozzle the second number of ejections during the flushing, the position of the carriage in the scanning direction when liquid is finally ejected from the nozzle during the flushing becomes the ejection completion position.

5. The liquid ejection head includes: The nozzles include a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a third nozzle, a distance between the first nozzle and the second nozzle in the scanning direction is smaller than a distance between the first nozzle and the third nozzle and a distance between the second nozzle and the third nozzle; The control device includes: In the flushing, The first nozzle and the second nozzle have the same ejection timing, 5. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection timing of the first nozzle and the second nozzle is made different from that of the third nozzle.

6. A liquid ejection head having a nozzle; a carriage that carries the liquid ejection head and moves in a scanning direction; A control device, The liquid ejection head includes: The nozzles include a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a third nozzle, a distance between the first nozzle and the second nozzle in the scanning direction is smaller than a distance between the first nozzle and the third nozzle and a distance between the second nozzle and the third nozzle; The control device includes: a flushing step in which the carriage is moved to one side in the scanning direction in a predetermined flushing region in the scanning direction, and the liquid ejection head is caused to eject liquid from the nozzles, a discharge operation in which the liquid discharge head discharges liquid from the plurality of nozzles toward a discharge receiving medium while moving the carriage to the one side in the scanning direction in a discharge region located on the one side of the flushing region in the scanning direction; In the flushing, When ejecting the liquid from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of the liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction; when discharging liquid from the nozzle a second number of times which is less than the first number of times, discharging liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a second discharge start position on the one side of the first discharge start position in the scanning direction, The first nozzle and the second nozzle have the same ejection timing, A liquid ejection device, comprising: a liquid ejection timing difference between the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the third nozzle.

7. A liquid ejection head having a nozzle; a carriage that carries the liquid ejection head and moves in a scanning direction; A control device, The control device includes: During the movement of the carriage from the start of movement in one direction of the scanning direction until the movement is stopped, a pre-recording flushing operation is performed in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid from the nozzles in a predetermined flushing area, and a recording operation is performed in which the liquid ejection head ejects liquid in a recording area where a recording medium is located, In the pre-recording flushing operation, When ejecting the liquid from the nozzle a first ejection number of times, ejection of the liquid from the nozzle is started when the carriage reaches a first ejection start position in the scanning direction; A liquid ejection device characterized in that, when ejecting liquid from the nozzle a second ejection number of times which is less than the first ejection number, ejection of liquid from the nozzle begins when the carriage reaches a second ejection start position in the one direction further than the first ejection start position in the scanning direction.

8. The control device comprises: In the pre-recording flushing operation, 8. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7, wherein the second ejection start position is positioned in the one direction from the first ejection start position so that the final ejection position when the second number of ejections is performed is the same as the final ejection position when the first number of ejections is performed.

9. an opposing member that faces the nozzle when the carriage is located in the flushing area; The control device includes: In the pre-recording flushing operation, the liquid ejection head is caused to eject liquid from the nozzles toward the facing member; 9. The liquid ejection device according to claim 7, wherein the opposing surface of the opposing member that faces the nozzle is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle in the direction toward the one side of the scanning direction.

10. The control device includes: A liquid ejection device as described in claim 9, characterized in that regardless of whether liquid is ejected from the nozzle the first number of times or liquid is ejected from the nozzle the second number of times during the pre-recording flushing operation, movement of the carriage is started from the same movement start position in the scanning direction to perform the flushing and recording operations.

11. an opposing member that faces the nozzle when the carriage is located in the flushing area; an opposing surface of the opposing member that faces the nozzle is inclined with respect to the scanning direction so as to approach the nozzle toward the one side of the scanning direction, The control device includes: In the pre-recording flushing operation, the liquid ejection head is caused to eject liquid from the nozzles toward the facing member; The carriage is accelerated to a predetermined speed before the recording operation is started, performing the flushing during a period including a period during which the carriage is accelerating; performing the recording operation while the carriage is moving at the predetermined speed; In the pre-recording flushing operation, When ejecting the liquid from the nozzles a first ejection number of times, the carriage starts moving from a first movement start position in the scanning direction, and the flushing and the recording operation are performed; A liquid ejection device as described in claim 7, characterized in that when ejecting liquid from the nozzle the second number of times, the carriage starts moving from a second movement start position in the one direction rather than a first movement start position in the scanning direction, and the flushing and recording operations are performed.

Images