Printer, control method, and control program

Abstract

To provide a printer, a control method and a control program which can suppress non-discharge of ink.SOLUTION: A flushing box of a printer is relatively movable in a main scanning direction with respect to a first nozzle surface and a second nozzle surface. A receiving part of the flushing box has a width smaller than an interval between a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array in the main scanning direction. A CPU of the printer executes first flushing processing in the state where the one of the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array is opposite to the receiving part in a discharge direction (S13 and S25). In the first flushing processing, the CPU allows a drive part to execute discharge driving of discharging ink from at least any one nozzle of the one of the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, and allows the drive part to execute non-discharge driving of not discharging ink from at least any nozzle of the other of the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer, a control method, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] The printer described in Patent Document 1 includes multiple ink heads and a capping device. The multiple ink heads are aligned in the main scanning direction. Each of the multiple ink heads is provided with a nozzle surface. Multiple nozzles are aligned in the sub-scanning direction on the nozzle surface. The capping device can move in the main scanning direction relative to the multiple ink heads. When flushing is performed by the ink heads with the capping device facing the multiple ink heads in the vertical direction, the capping device receives ink ejected from the multiple ink heads. In other words, the capping device functions as a member for receiving ink ejected from the ink heads by flushing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-30595 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above printer, it is conceivable that flushing is performed by the ink heads of the other part facing the capping device while some of the ink heads are separated from the capping device. In this case, while flushing is being performed by the other part of the ink heads, some of the nozzles of the ink heads are exposed to the atmosphere. As a result, ink in some of the nozzles of the ink heads may dry out, which may cause some of the nozzles to fail to eject ink in the subsequent process.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a control method, and a control program that can suppress non-ejection of ink. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction, a second nozzle surface provided with a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a sub-scanning direction and which is positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row, a flushing receiving member which is a member provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction and which moves relatively in the main scanning direction with respect to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, and a flushing receiving member which receives ink from the nozzles. the control unit executes a first flushing process, which is a process that is performed with a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, facing the receiving section in the ejection direction, and causes the driving unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causes the driving unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row.

[0007] According to the first aspect, during the first flushing process, an ejection drive is executed by driving, in which ink is ejected from at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row. This allows the printer to suppress non-ejection of ink from at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row. Furthermore, during the first flushing process, a non-ejection drive is executed by the drive unit, in which ink is not ejected from at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row. This allows the printer to suppress ink from drying out in at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row. Therefore, the printer can suppress non-ejection of ink from at least any nozzle in the second nozzle row.

[0008] The control unit may execute a second flushing process, which is a process performed with the second target nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least some of the nozzles in the second target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least some of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row.

[0009] During the second flushing process, the drive unit executes an ejection drive in which ink is ejected from at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row. This allows the printer to suppress non-ejection of ink from at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row. Furthermore, during the second flushing process, the drive unit executes a non-ejection drive in which ink is not ejected from at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row. This allows the printer to suppress the ink in at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row from becoming dry. Therefore, the printer can suppress non-ejection of ink from at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row. Therefore, the printer can suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles in each of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row.

[0010] The printer may include a cap that moves relative to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction and is capable of coming into close contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, and the control unit may perform a printing process in which ink is ejected from a plurality of nozzles constituting at least one of the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface onto the printing medium while at least one of the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface is opposed in the ejection direction to a platen on which a printing medium is placed, and after the printing process, perform the first flushing process while the first nozzle surface is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction as the first target nozzle surface, and after the first flushing process, perform the second flushing process while the second nozzle surface is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction as the second target nozzle surface, and after the second flushing process, perform a capping process in which the cap is brought into close contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface while the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are positioned at a cap position opposite the cap in the ejection direction.

[0011] During the printing process, the ink in the nozzles may become dry due to exposure to the atmosphere. After the printing process and before the capping process, the first flushing process and the second flushing process are executed. Thus, the printer can suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles in each of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the process after the capping process.

[0012] The printer includes a wiper that is provided between the flushing receiving member and the cap in the main scanning direction, moves relative to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction, and is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, the second nozzle row is located in a first direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap with respect to the first nozzle row in the main scanning direction, the control unit executes the printing process, and after the printing process, executes a first movement process that moves the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface relative to the wiper in the main scanning direction and positions the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface at a predetermined position in the first direction relative to the wiper, and after the first movement process, moves the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface to a position relative to the wiper in the main scanning direction with the wiper capable of contacting the first nozzle surface. a first wiping process is performed by moving the wiper relative to the wiper in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and causing the first nozzle row to face the receiving portion in the ejection direction; after the first wiping process, the first flushing process is performed; after the first flushing process, the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face are moved relative to the wiper in the second direction while the wiper is capable of contacting the second nozzle face, and a second wiping process is performed by causing the second nozzle row to face the receiving portion in the ejection direction; after the second wiping process, the second flushing process is performed; after the second flushing process, the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face are moved relative to the cap in the first direction, and a second movement process is performed to position the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row at the cap position; and after the second movement process, the capping process is performed.

[0013] When the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process are performed in the order of the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface move relatively in the second direction with respect to the flushing receiving member and the wiper. Thus, the printer can shorten the relative movement distance of the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction with respect to the flushing receiving member and the wiper by the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process, compared to a case in which the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface move back and forth relatively in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the flushing receiving member and the wiper in the main scanning direction.

[0014] The printer includes a cap that is provided on an opposite side of the flushing receiving member in the main scanning direction from a platen on which a print medium is placed, the cap moves relatively in the main scanning direction with respect to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face, and is capable of coming into close contact with the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face, the second nozzle row is positioned in a first direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap with respect to the first nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and the control unit is configured to control a capping unit that releases the close contact of the cap that has come into close contact with the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face while the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at a cap position facing the cap in the ejection direction. A release process may be performed, and after the capping uncapping process, the first flushing process may be performed with the first nozzle row as the first target nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and after the first flushing process, the second flushing process may be performed with the second nozzle row as the second target nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and after the second flushing process, a printing process may be performed in which ink is ejected onto the printing medium from a plurality of nozzles constituting at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row with at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row facing the platen in the ejection direction.

[0015] The cap is provided on the opposite side of the flushing receiving member to the platen in the main scanning direction. The second nozzle row is located in a first direction relative to the first nozzle row. The first direction is a direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap in the main scanning direction. Therefore, when the uncapping process, the first flushing process, the second flushing process, and the printing process are performed in the order of the uncapping process, the first flushing process, the second flushing process, and the printing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface move relatively to the flushing receiving member in the main scanning direction opposite to the first direction. Therefore, the printer can shorten the relative movement distance of the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface to the flushing receiving member in the main scanning direction by the uncapping process, the first flushing process, the second flushing process, and the printing process, compared to a case in which the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface move back and forth relative to the flushing receiving member and the wiper in the first direction and the second direction in the main scanning direction.

[0016] The control unit may, in the first flushing process, cause the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row for a predetermined time, and may also cause the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second target nozzle row for the predetermined time from the start of the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row.

[0017] The printer can suppress occurrence of a time during which the non-ejection drive of at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row is not executed by the drive unit before and after the start and end of the ejection drive of at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row. The printer can suppress occurrence of a time during which the ejection drive of at least any nozzle in the first target nozzle row is not executed by the drive unit before and after the start and end of the non-ejection drive of at least any nozzle in the second target nozzle row. As a result, the printer can suppress the ink in the multiple nozzles constituting the first target nozzle row from becoming dry, and the ink in the multiple nozzles constituting the second target nozzle row from becoming dry. Thus, the printer can suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles in each of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row.

[0018] The first nozzle surface ejects ink from the multiple nozzles that constitute the first nozzle row, the ink having a fluidity that is less likely to decrease than ink ejected from the multiple nozzles that constitute the second nozzle row by the second nozzle surface, and the control unit executes the first flushing process in a state in which the first nozzle row is faced to the receiving portion in the ejection direction as the first target nozzle row, and executes a third flushing process in a state in which the second nozzle row is faced to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the control unit causing the drive unit to perform the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and the control unit does not cause the drive unit to perform either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all of the multiple nozzles in the first nozzle row.

[0019] The first nozzle surface ejects ink from the multiple nozzles that make up the first nozzle row, the ink having a fluidity that is less likely to decrease than ink ejected from the multiple nozzles that make up the second nozzle row by the second nozzle surface. Therefore, in the third flushing process, even if the drive unit does not perform either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all nozzles in the first nozzle row, non-ejection by the multiple nozzles that make up the first nozzle row is unlikely to occur. When non-ejection by the multiple nozzles that make up the first nozzle row is unlikely to occur, the printer can suppress the load on the multiple nozzles that make up the first nozzle row due to the ejection drive and non-ejection drive by not having the drive unit perform either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for the multiple nozzles that make up the first nozzle row.

[0020] The printer may include a third nozzle surface provided with a third nozzle row configured with a plurality of nozzles lined up in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzles ejecting ink whose fluidity is less likely to decrease than ink ejected by the plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, and a fourth nozzle surface provided with a fourth nozzle row configured with a plurality of nozzles lined up in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzles ejecting the ink whose fluidity is less likely to decrease, the fourth nozzle row being positioned in the main scanning direction relative to the third nozzle row, and the control unit may execute a fourth flushing process, which is a process that is executed with a third target nozzle row, which is one of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row, facing the receiving unit in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the third target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to perform neither the ejection drive nor the non-ejection drive for all of the nozzles in the fourth target nozzle row, which is the other of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row.

[0021] The third nozzle surface and the fourth nozzle surface eject ink that is difficult to dry from the nozzles. Therefore, in the fourth flushing process, even if the drive unit does not perform either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all nozzles in the fourth target nozzle row, non-ejection by the multiple nozzles that make up the fourth target nozzle row is unlikely to occur. When non-ejection by the multiple nozzles that make up the fourth target nozzle row is unlikely to occur, the printer can suppress the load on the multiple nozzles that make up the fourth target nozzle row due to the ejection drive and non-ejection drive by not having the drive unit perform either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for the multiple nozzles that make up the fourth target nozzle row.

[0022] A control method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction, a second nozzle surface provided with a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a sub-scanning direction and which is positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row, a flushing receiving member which is a member provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction and which moves relatively in the main scanning direction with respect to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, and a flushing receiving member which receives ink from the nozzles. a control method for a printer having a drive unit that executes an ejection drive to eject ink from the nozzles, and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles, the control method being characterized in that the control method includes a first flushing process that is executed in a state in which a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, is opposed to the receiving section in the ejection direction, the control unit causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row.

[0023] The second aspect can provide the same effects as the first aspect.

[0024] A control program according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction, a second nozzle surface provided with a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a sub-scanning direction and which is positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row, a flushing receiving member which is a member provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction and which moves relatively in the main scanning direction with respect to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface, and a flushing receiving member which receives ink from the nozzles. The present invention is characterized in that the process is performed by a computer of a printer having a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and a drive unit that executes a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles, with a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, facing the receiving section in the ejection direction, and that the computer executes a first flushing process that causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row.

[0025] The third aspect can provide the same effects as the first aspect. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printer 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of a carriage 6 as viewed from below. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of wiper mechanisms 71 and 72 and a flushing box 51. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer 1. FIG. [Figure 6]13 is a flowchart of a main process. [Figure 7] 3 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the cap position, showing the capping state with the wipers 711 and 721 in the retracted position. [Figure 8] 3 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the cap position, and shows the uncapping state with the wipers 711 and 721 in the retracted position. [Figure 9] 3 is a view seen from the direction of the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, and shows the wipers 711 and 721 in the retracted position. [Figure 10] 3 is a view seen from the direction of the arrow AA in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position, and shows the wipers 711 and 721 in the retracted position. [Figure 11] 3 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the turn-back position, and shows the case where the wiper 711 is in the contact posture and the wiper 721 is in the retracted posture. [Figure 12] 3 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, and shows the case where the wiper 711 is in the contact position and the wiper 721 is in the retracted position. [Figure 13] 3 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, and shows a case where the wiper 711 is in the retracted position and the wiper 721 is in the contact position. [Figure 14] 3 is a view seen in the direction of the arrow AA shown in FIG. 2 when the carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position, and shows the case where the wiper 711 is in the retracted position and the wiper 721 is in the contact position. [Figure 15] 13 is a waveform diagram of a pulse signal output from a CPU 81 when ejection flushing is performed. FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a waveform diagram of a pulse signal output from a CPU 81 when non-ejection flushing is performed. FIG. [Figure 17] 1 is a schematic diagram of a carriage 6A as viewed from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] A printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The upper, lower, lower left, upper right, lower right, and upper left in Fig. 1 respectively correspond to the upper, lower, front, rear, right, and left of the printer 1. In this embodiment, the mechanical elements in the drawings are shown to actual scale.

[0028] The printer 1 shown in Fig. 1 is an inkjet printer that prints by ejecting ink onto a print medium. The print medium is fabric, paper, etc., such as a T-shirt. The printer 1 can print color images on the print medium using five colors of ink: white, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta.

[0029] In the following, the white ink of the five color inks will be referred to as "white ink". When referring to the four of the five color inks, black, cyan, yellow, and magenta, collectively or when none of them is specified, they will be referred to as "color ink". When referring to white ink and color inks collectively or when none of them is specified, they will simply be referred to as "ink". White ink is used in printing to represent the white part of an image or as a base for color inks. Color inks are ejected directly onto the printing medium or on top of a base of white ink and are used to print color images.

[0030] The mechanical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a frame 2 and a platen 12. The frame 2 is configured in a lattice shape by a plurality of shafts extending in the front-rear, left-right, or up-down direction. An opening 13 is formed in the frame 2. The opening 13 is located in the center of the frame 2 in a front view, and extends rearward from the front end of the frame 2. The platen 12 is disposed within the opening 13 in a front view. The platen 12 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions. The platen 12 is supported from below by a support portion 14. The support portion 14 is fixed to the frame 2 within the opening 13. The support portion 14 is an axis and extends in the front-rear direction. The platen 12 moves in the front-rear direction along the support portion 14 by driving a sub-scanning motor 97 shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, in this embodiment, the front-rear direction is the sub-scanning direction.

[0031] A pair of guide shafts 21, 22 are fixed to the upper end of the frame body 2. The guide shaft 21 is located at the front end of the frame body 2, and extends in the left-right direction from the left end to the right end of the frame body 2. The guide shaft 22 is located approximately in the center of the frame body 2 in the front-to-rear direction, and is located rearward of the guide shaft 21. The guide shaft 22 extends in the left-right direction from the left end to the right end of the frame body 2. The guide shafts 21, 22 support the carriage 6. The carriage 6 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-to-rear and left-right directions. The carriage 6 extends from the guide shaft 21 to the guide shaft 22.

[0032] A drive belt 98 is connected to the rear end of the carriage 6. The drive belt 98 is provided on the guide shaft 22 and extends in the left-right direction. The left end of the drive belt 98 is connected to a main scanning motor 99. The main scanning motor 99 is provided at the left end of the guide shaft 22. When the main scanning motor 99 is driven, the drive belt 98 moves the carriage 6 in the left-right direction along the guide shafts 21 and 22. Therefore, in this embodiment, the left-right direction is the main scanning direction. Figures 1 and 2 show the carriage 6 at the right end of its movement range.

[0033] The carriage 6 is provided with white heads 31, 32 and color heads 33, 34. The white heads 31, 32 and color heads 33, 34 each have the same structure, and in this embodiment, are rectangular parallelepiped shaped. In the following, when the white heads 31, 32 and color heads 33, 34 are collectively referred to or when one is not specified, they are referred to as "heads 3". The white heads 31, 32 are located at the rear of the carriage 6. The white head 31 is located at the right rear of the carriage 6. The white head 32 is located to the left of the white head 31, and is shifted forward relative to the white head 31. The rear of the white head 32 overlaps with the front of the white head 31 in the left-right direction.

[0034] Color heads 33 and 34 are positioned forward of white heads 31 and 32. Color heads 33 and 34 are positioned at the same positions in the left-right direction as white heads 31 and 32. Color head 34 is positioned to the left of color head 33 and is shifted forward relative to color head 33. The rear portion of color head 34 overlaps with the front portion of color head 33 in the left-right direction.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, a nozzle surface 311 is provided on the bottom surface of the white head 31. The nozzle surface 311 extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. A plurality of nozzle rows 312 are formed on the nozzle surface 311. The plurality of nozzle rows 312 are aligned in the left-right direction, and include a nozzle row 312R and a nozzle row 312L. The nozzle row 312R is located on the rightmost side of the plurality of nozzle rows 312. The nozzle row 312L is located on the leftmost side of the plurality of nozzle rows 312. The plurality of nozzle rows 312 are configured with a plurality of nozzles 313 aligned in a line in the front-rear direction. White ink corresponds to each of the plurality of nozzle rows 312. The plurality of nozzles 313 are openings that eject white ink downward.

[0036] Similar to the configuration of the white head 31, nozzle surfaces 321, 331, 341 are provided on the undersides of the white head 32 and the color heads 33, 34, respectively. The nozzle surfaces 321, 331, 341 extend in the front-rear and left-right directions. A plurality of nozzle rows 322, 332, 342 are formed in the nozzle surfaces 321, 331, 341, respectively. The multiple nozzle rows 322, 332, 342 are each aligned in the left-right direction, and include nozzle rows 322R, 332R, 342R and nozzle rows 322L, 332L, 342L.

[0037] Nozzle row 322R is located at the rightmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 322. Nozzle row 332R is located at the rightmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 332. Nozzle row 342R is located at the rightmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 342. Nozzle row 322L is located at the leftmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 322. Nozzle row 332L is located at the leftmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 332. Nozzle row 342L is located at the leftmost position of the multiple nozzle rows 342. The multiple nozzle rows 322, 332, 342 are each composed of a multiple number of nozzles 323, 333, 343 lined up in a row in the front-to-rear direction.

[0038] White ink corresponds to each of the multiple nozzle rows 322. That is, the multiple nozzles 323 eject white ink downward. Different color inks correspond to each of the multiple nozzle rows 332. That is, the multiple nozzles 333 eject color ink of the color corresponding to each of the multiple nozzle rows 332 downward. Different color inks correspond to each of the multiple nozzle rows 342. The multiple nozzles 343 eject color ink of the color corresponding to each of the multiple nozzle rows 342 downward.

[0039] In the left-right direction, the distance between the center of the nozzle row 312R and the center of the nozzle row 322L is referred to as the "maximum nozzle row distance D1." In the left-right direction, the distance between the center of the nozzle row 332R and the center of the nozzle row 342L is the same as the maximum nozzle row distance D1. The nozzle row 312R is located at the rightmost position among the multiple nozzle rows 312 and 322 aligned in the left-right direction. The nozzle row 332R is located at the rightmost position among the multiple nozzle rows 332 and 342 aligned in the left-right direction. The nozzle row 322L is located at the leftmost position among the multiple nozzle rows 312 and 322 aligned in the left-right direction. The nozzle row 342L is located at the leftmost position among the multiple nozzle rows 332 and 342 aligned in the left-right direction. In other words, the maximum nozzle row distance D1 is the largest among the distances between the multiple nozzle rows 312 and 322 aligned in the left-right direction. The maximum nozzle row distance D1 is the largest among the distances between the multiple nozzle rows 332 and 342 aligned in the left-right direction.

[0040] In the left-right direction, the distance between the center of nozzle row 312L and the center of nozzle row 322R is referred to as the "nozzle row minimum distance D3." In the left-right direction, the distance between the center of nozzle row 332L and the center of nozzle row 342R is the same as the nozzle row minimum distance D3. The nozzle row minimum distance D3 is smaller than the nozzle row maximum distance D1. The nozzle row minimum distance D3 is the smallest among the distances between the multiple nozzle rows 312 and the multiple nozzle rows 322 aligned in the left-right direction. The nozzle row minimum distance D3 is the smallest among the distances between the multiple nozzle rows 332 and the multiple nozzle rows 342 aligned in the left-right direction.

[0041] In the left-right direction, the distance L1 between the white head 31 and the white head 32 indicates the distance between the left end of the nozzle surface 311 and the right end of the nozzle surface 321. In this embodiment, the distance L1 between the white head 31 and the white head 32 in the left-right direction is the same as the distance between the color head 33 and the color head 34. In other words, the distance L1 between the white head 31 and the white head 32 in the left-right direction is the same as the distance between the left end of the nozzle surface 331 and the right end of the nozzle surface 341.

[0042] According to the above configuration, the head 3 moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The area where the movement path of the platen 12 in the left-right direction and the movement path of the head 3 in the front-rear direction overlap each other in the vertical direction is called the "printing area 18." The area of ​​the movement path of the head 3 to the left of the movement path of the platen 12 is called the "non-printing area 19." When the head 3 and the platen 12 are located in the printing area 18, the platen 12 and the head 3 face each other in the vertical direction.

[0043] In the printing area 18, the printer 1 moves the platen 12 in the front-to-back direction (sub-scanning direction) by driving the sub-scanning motor 97 shown in Figure 5, and moves the carriage 6 in the left-to-right direction (main scanning direction) by driving the main scanning motor 99, thereby transporting the printing medium in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions relative to the head 3.

[0044] The action of the carriage 6 moving left and right while ejecting ink from the head 3 is called an "ejection scan." The printer 1 prints on the print medium by repeating the ejection scan and the movement of the platen 12 back and forth. For example, during the ejection scan, the printer 1 ejects white ink from the white heads 31 and 32 to form a base on the print medium. During the ejection scan, the printer 1 ejects color inks from the color heads 33 and 34 onto the base formed on the print medium, printing a color image.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the printer 1 has a capping mechanism 4. The capping mechanism 4 is provided in the non-printing area 19, and has a cap support part 47 and caps 41, 42, 43, and 44. The cap support part 47 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The cap support part 47 is located below the guide shafts 21 and 22 in the non-printing area 19, and extends from near the rear side of the guide shaft 21 to near the front side of the guide shaft 22. The cap support part 47 moves in the up-down direction by being driven by a cap motor 48 shown in Figure 5 (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0046] The caps 41 to 44 are fixed to the upper surface of the cap support portion 47. The caps 41 to 44 are located at the same positions in the front-rear direction as the white heads 31, 32 and the color heads 33, 34. The positional relationships between the caps 41 to 44 are the same as the positional relationships between the white heads 31, 32 and the color heads 33, 34. The caps 41 to 44 are made of an elastic body such as rubber, and open upward.

[0047] According to the above configuration, when the carriage 6 is located at the left end of the movement range, the white heads 31, 32 and the color heads 33, 34 are disposed above the caps 41, 42, 43, 44, respectively, and face the caps 41, 42, 43, 44 in the vertical direction. The position of the carriage 6 when the white heads 31, 32 and the color heads 33, 34 face the caps 41, 42, 43, 44 in the vertical direction, respectively, is called the "cap position" (see Figs. 7 and 8). The cap position is determined by the center position of the carriage 6 in the left-right direction. The first flushing position (see Fig. 9), the second flushing position (see Fig. 10), and the turn-back position (see Fig. 11), which will be described later, are also determined by the center position of the carriage 6 in the left-right direction.

[0048] When the cap support section 47 moves upward with the carriage 6 located at the cap position, the caps 41, 42, 43, 44 come into close contact from below with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 of the white heads 31, 32 and the color heads 33, 34, respectively (see FIG. 7). "Close contact" means that the caps 41, 42, 43, 44 come into contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 to such an extent that the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the caps 41, 42, 43, 44 can be maintained. This results in capping with the caps 41 to 44. The printer 1 performs capping with the caps 41 to 44 to prevent the ink from drying out while printing is not being performed.

[0049] 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes wiper mechanisms 71, 72, 73, and 74. The wiper mechanisms 71 to 74 are provided in the non-printing area 19 and each have the same configuration. As shown in Fig. 4, the wiper mechanisms 71 and 72 include wipers 711 and 721 and multiple gears 712 and 722, respectively. The wipers 711 and 721 are flexible and made of rubber, a porous material, or the like.

[0050] 2, the wiper 711 is located to the right of the cap 41. The wiper 711 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the cap 41 and the white head 31. The length of the wiper 711 in the front-rear direction is the same as or greater than the length of the nozzle surface 311 in the front-rear direction shown in FIG.

[0051] The wiper 721 is located to the right of the cap 42 and to the left of the wiper 711. In this embodiment, the wiper 721 is located to the right of the cap 41. The wiper 721 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the cap 42 and the white head 32. The length of the wiper 721 in the front-rear direction is the same as or greater than the length of the nozzle surface 321 in the front-rear direction.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 4, the wiper 711 is connected to the uppermost gear 712A of the multiple gears 712. The wiper motor 76 shown in Fig. 5 is connected to the lowermost gear 712B of the multiple gears 712. In this way, the multiple gears 712 connect the wiper motor 76 shown in Fig. 5 to the wiper 711, and transmit the driving force of the wiper motor 76 to the wiper 711.

[0053] The wiper 721 is connected to the uppermost gear 722A of the multiple gears 722. The wiper motor 77 shown in Fig. 5 is connected to the lowermost gear 722B of the multiple gears 722. In this way, the multiple gears 722 connect the wiper motor 77 shown in Fig. 5 to the wiper 721, and transmit the driving force of the wiper motor 77 to the wiper 721.

[0054] 1 and 2, wiper mechanisms 73 and 74 include wipers 731 and 741 and a plurality of gears (not shown), similar to wiper mechanisms 71 and 72. Wiper 731 is located to the right of cap 43. In this embodiment, wiper 731 is located at the same position as wiper 711 in the left-right direction. Wiper 731 is located at the same position as cap 43 and color head 33 in the front-rear direction.

[0055] The wiper 741 is located to the right of the cap 44 and to the left of the wiper 731. In this embodiment, the wiper 741 is located to the right of the cap 43, and is located at the same position in the left-right direction as the wiper 721. The wiper 741 is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the cap 44 and the color head 34.

[0056] 5 and a wiper 731, and transmits the driving force of the wiper motor 76 to the wiper 731. The multiple gears of the wiper mechanism 74 connect a wiper motor 77 and a wiper 741, and transmits the driving force of the wiper motor 77 to the wiper 741.

[0057] According to the above configuration, the wipers 711, 731 rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in a front view by the drive of the wiper motor 76. The rotation shafts of the wipers 711, 731 are located below the nozzle faces 311, 331 shown in Fig. 3 and extend in the front-to-rear direction. The wipers 711, 731 rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in a front-to-rear direction by the drive of the wiper motor 76. The rotation shafts of the wipers 721, 741 are located below the nozzle faces 311, 331 shown in Fig. 3 and extend in the front-to-rear direction.

[0058] Hereinafter, the position of each of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 when the tip of each of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 is located below the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 shown in Fig. 3 will be referred to as the "retracted position" (see Fig. 7, for example). In this embodiment, when each of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 is in the retracted position, the tip of each of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 faces downward. In this case, even if the white heads 31, 32 and color heads 33, 34 shown in Fig. 2 move left and right relative to the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741, the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 pass above the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741, respectively. For this reason, the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 do not come into contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, respectively.

[0059] In the following, the posture of each of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 when the tip of each of the wipers is positioned at the same position as the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 shown in Fig. 3 or higher than the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 will be referred to as the "contact posture" (see Fig. 4). As shown in Fig. 4, in this embodiment, when each of the wipers 711, 721 is in the contact posture, the tip of each of the wipers 711, 721 faces upward. Similarly, when each of the wipers 731, 741 shown in Fig. 2 is in the contact posture, the tip of each of the wipers 731, 741 faces upward. 2 move left and right relative to the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741, the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 come into contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341, respectively. As a result, the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 wipe the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 4, the wipers 711 and 721 each assume a contact posture by rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front from the retracted posture. The wipers 711 and 721 each assume a contact posture by rotating in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front from the contact posture. Similarly, the wipers 731 and 741 shown in Fig. 2 each assume a contact posture by rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front from the retracted posture. The wipers 731 and 741 each assume a contact posture by rotating in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front from the contact posture.

[0061] 1 and 2, the printer 1 is equipped with flushing boxes 51 and 52. The flushing boxes 51 and 52 are provided in the non-printing area 19 below the movement path of the head 3 in the left-right direction, and each has the same configuration. The flushing box 51 is located to the right of the wipers 711 and 721 and to the left of the platen 12. The flushing box 52 is located to the right of the wipers 731 and 741 and to the left of the platen 12. The flushing box 52 is located forward of the flushing box 52.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 4, the flushing box 51 has a rectangular box shape. A recess 511 is formed in the flushing box 51. The recess 511 is recessed downward from the upper surface of the flushing box 51. In other words, the flushing box 51 opens upward. Hereinafter, the area surrounded by the upper end of the recess 511 will be referred to as a "receiving portion 512." The receiving portion 512 has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0063] 1 and 2, an absorbing member 513 is provided in the recess 511 shown in Fig. 4. The absorbing member 513 is not shown in Fig. 4. The absorbing member 513 is a porous member such as a sponge. The absorbing member 513 absorbs the white ink ejected from the white heads 31 and 32 by ejection flushing, which will be described later.

[0064] The flushing box 52 has the same configuration as the flushing box 51. That is, a recess (not shown) is also formed in the flushing box 52. The receiving portion 522 is an area surrounded by the upper end of the recess. An absorbing member 523 is provided in the recess of the flushing box 52. The absorbing member 523 absorbs the color inks ejected from the color heads 33 and 34 by ejection flushing, which will be described later.

[0065] In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 indicates the distance between the left end and the right end of the receiving portion 512. In this embodiment, in the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is the same as the width of the receiving portion 522, and is approximately the same as the width of the absorbing members 513, 523. In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row spacing D1 shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, in the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the minimum nozzle row spacing D3 shown in Fig. 3.

[0066] In the left-right direction, distance L2 between the wiper 721 and the flushing box 51 indicates the distance between the rotation shaft of the wiper 721 and the left end of the receiving portion 512. In the left-right direction, distance L2 between the wiper 721 and the flushing box 51 is the same as the distance between the wiper 741 and the flushing box 52. That is, in the left-right direction, distance L2 between the wiper 721 and the flushing box 51 is the same as the distance between the rotation shaft of the wiper 741 and the left end of the receiving portion 522. In the left-right direction, distance L2 between the wiper 721 and the flushing box 51 is smaller than distance L1 (see FIG. 3) between the white head 31 and the white head 32.

[0067] The electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The printer 1 includes a control board 80. The control board 80 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, and a flash memory 84. The CPU 81 controls the printer 1 and is electrically connected to the ROM 82, the RAM 83, and the flash memory 84. The ROM 82 stores a control program for the CPU 81 to control the operation of the printer 1, and information required by the CPU 81 when executing various programs. The ROM 82 stores, for example, each position of the carriage 6 based on the rotation angle of the main scanning motor 99, and stores each position of the platen 12 based on the rotation angle of the sub-scanning motor 97. The RAM 83 temporarily stores various data used in the control program. The flash memory 84 is non-volatile and stores print data for printing.

[0068] The CPU 81 is electrically connected to the main scanning motor 99, the sub-scanning motor 97, the cap motor 48, the wiper motors 76 and 77, the head driving units 301, 302, 303 and 304, and the operation unit 17. The main scanning motor 99, the sub-scanning motor 97, the cap motor 48, the wiper motors 76 and 77, and the head driving units 301 to 304 are driven under the control of the CPU 81.

[0069] The main scanning motor 99 and the sub-scanning motor 97 are provided with encoders 991 and 971, respectively. The encoder 991 detects the rotation angle of the main scanning motor 99 and outputs the detection result to the CPU 81. The encoder 971 detects the rotation angle of the sub-scanning motor 97 and outputs the detection result to the CPU 81. The head driving units 301 to 304 are composed of, for example, piezoelectric elements or heating elements. The head driving units 301 to 304 are driven to eject ink from the white heads 31 and 32 and the color heads 33 and 34, respectively.

[0070] The operation unit 17 is a touch panel or the like, and outputs information according to a user's operation to the CPU 81. By operating the operation unit 17, the user can input to the printer 1 a print instruction for starting printing by the printer 1, or the like.

[0071] The following describes ink non-ejection. The state in which the solvent components in the ink volatilize and the concentration of solid components such as pigment particles in the ink becomes locally high is called a "dry state." The state in which solid components such as pigment particles in the ink settle locally is called a "settled state." For example, when the ink in the nozzle of the head 3 is exposed to the atmosphere, the solvent components volatilize from the ink in the nozzle through the meniscus, and the ink in the nozzle becomes dry. For example, when the ink remains in the nozzle of the head 3, the pigment particles in the ink settle near the meniscus, and the ink in the nozzle becomes a settled state. In these cases, the fluidity of the ink near the meniscus in the nozzle of the head 3 decreases locally. For this reason, non-ejection, in which the ink is not ejected from the nozzle, is likely to occur in the head 3.

[0072] In this embodiment, the white ink contains, as solid components such as pigment particles, components that are more likely to settle than components contained in the color inks. An example of a component that is more likely to settle is titanium oxide. Titanium oxide is an inorganic pigment with a relatively high specific gravity. Since the white ink contains components that are more likely to settle, the solid components in the white ink, such as pigment particles, are more likely to settle. In other words, the white ink is more likely to settle than the color inks. As a result, the fluidity of the white ink is more likely to decrease than the fluidity of the color inks. For this reason, in this embodiment, ink non-ejection is more likely to occur in the white heads 31 and 32 than in the color heads 33 and 34.

[0073] Flushing will now be described. There are two types of flushing: ejection flushing and non-ejection flushing. Ejection flushing is an operation in which the head 3 is caused to eject ink from the nozzles by driving the head driving units 301 to 304. When ejection flushing is performed, ink in a dried or settled state is discharged from the nozzles. This eliminates the dried or settled state of the ink in the nozzles.

[0074] Non-ejection flushing is an operation that does not cause the head 3 to eject ink from the nozzles, and is an operation that causes the head 3 to vibrate the ink in the nozzles by driving the head driving units 301 to 304. When non-ejection flushing is performed, the ink in a dry or settled state near the meniscus is mixed with the ink that is not in a dry or settled state upstream of the meniscus. This eliminates the dry and settled state of the ink in the nozzles.

[0075] In the following, for example, having the head driving unit 301 perform ejection flushing is also referred to as "performing ejection flushing for the white head 31." For example, having the head driving unit 301 perform non-ejection flushing is also referred to as "performing non-ejection flushing for the white head 32." For example, having the head driving unit 301 not perform either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing is also referred to as "not performing either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing for the white head 32." The ejection flushing and non-ejection flushing for the head driving units 302 to 304, the white head 32, and the color heads 33 and 34 are expressed in a similar manner.

[0076] The main processing will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 16. When a user operates the operation unit 17 and inputs a print instruction to the printer 1, the CPU 81 reads out a control program from the ROM 82 and runs it, thereby executing the main processing.

[0077] When the carriage 6 is located at each position in the left-right direction, the positional relationship of the color heads 33, 34 to the wiper mechanisms 73, 74, caps 43, 44, and flushing box 52 is the same as the positional relationship of the white heads 31, 32 to the wiper mechanisms 71, 72, caps 41, 42, and flushing box 51. For this reason, the positional relationship (not shown) of the color heads 33, 34 to the wiper mechanisms 73, 74, caps 43, 44, and flushing box 52 corresponds to the positional relationship of the white heads 31, 32 to the wiper mechanisms 71, 72, caps 41, 42, and flushing box 51 shown in Figures 7 to 14.

[0078] In the following, the state in which capping is performed with the caps 41 to 44, that is, the state in which the caps 41, 42, 43, and 44 are in close contact from below with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341 of the white heads 31 and 32 and the color heads 33 and 34, respectively, as shown in Fig. 7, is referred to as the "capping state." As shown in Fig. 8, the state in which capping is not performed with the caps 41 to 44, that is, the state in which the caps 41 to 44 are separated downward from the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, is referred to as the "uncapping state." As shown in Fig. 7, the main processing is started, for example, in the capping state with the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 in the retracted position.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 6, when the main process starts, the CPU 81 controls the cap motor 48 to move the cap support part 47 shown in Fig. 7 downward (S11). As a result, as shown in Fig. 8, the caps 41 to 44 move downward away from the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, respectively. In other words, the capping state shown in Fig. 7 is released, and the state becomes the uncapping state shown in Fig. 8.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 6, the CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 rightward from the cap position shown in Fig. 8 and stop it at the first flushing position shown in Fig. 9 (S12). As shown in Fig. 9, when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 312 (in this embodiment, all of them) in the white head 31 faces the receiving portion 512 in the vertical direction. When the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 332 (in this embodiment, all of them) in the color head 33 faces the receiving portion 522 in the vertical direction (not shown).

[0081] In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row spacing D1. Therefore, when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 322 (in this embodiment, all of them) is located to the left of the receiving portion 512. Similarly, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 342 (in this embodiment, all of them) is located to the left of the receiving portion 522 (not shown).

[0082] As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 81 performs a first flushing process in a state where the carriage 6 is stopped at the first flushing position shown in FIG. 9 (S13). In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 controls the head driving units 301 and 303 to perform ejection flushing for the white head 31 and the color heads 33, and controls the head driving unit 302 to perform non-ejection flushing for the white head 32. For example, the CPU 81 outputs a pulse signal with a pulse width T1 shown in FIG. 15 to the head driving units 301 and 303 for a first predetermined time, and outputs a pulse signal with a pulse width T2 shown in FIG. 16 to the head driving unit 302 for a second predetermined time. The pulse width T1 has a length sufficient to eject ink from the head 3. The pulse width T2 has a length sufficient to prevent ink from being ejected from the head 3, and is shorter than the pulse width T1.

[0083] In this embodiment, the length of the second predetermined time is the same as the length of the first predetermined time. The timing at which the CPU 81 starts outputting a pulse signal with a pulse width T1 shown in Fig. 15 to the head driving units 301 and 303 is the same as the timing at which the CPU 81 starts outputting a pulse signal with a pulse width T2 shown in Fig. 16 to the head driving unit 302. For this reason, in this embodiment, the ejection flushing by the white head 31 and the color heads 33 and the non-ejection flushing by the white head 32 start at the same time and end at the same time after the first predetermined time (second predetermined time) has elapsed.

[0084] By ejection flushing, the white head 31 ejects ink from all of the multiple nozzles 313, and the color head 33 ejects ink from all of the multiple nozzles 333. The carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position. Therefore, the white ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 313 by ejection flushing in the white head 31 passes through the receiving portion 512 and lands on the absorbing member 513. The absorbing member 513 absorbs the landed white ink. The color ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 333 by ejection flushing in the color head 33 passes through the receiving portion 522 and lands on the absorbing member 523. The absorbing member 523 absorbs the landed color ink.

[0085] Non-ejection flushing causes the white head 32 to vibrate without ejecting white ink from the multiple nozzles 323. As a result, the printer 1 can prevent the white ink from drying out in the white head 32 without ejecting white ink outside the receiving portion 512 through ejection flushing. In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 does not output a pulse signal to the head driving unit 304. In other words, the CPU 81 does not cause the color heads 34 to execute either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing. As a result, the printer 1 can reduce the driving load on the head driving unit 304 due to flushing.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 6, the CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 rightward from the first flushing position shown in Fig. 9 and stop it at the second flushing position shown in Fig. 10 (S14). As shown in Fig. 10, when the carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 322 (in this embodiment, all of them) in the white head 32 faces the receiving portion 512 in the vertical direction. When the carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 342 (in this embodiment, all of them) in the color head 34 faces the receiving portion 522 in the vertical direction (not shown).

[0087] In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row spacing D1. Therefore, when the carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 312 (in this embodiment, all of them) is located to the right of the receiving portion 512. Similarly, at least one of the multiple nozzle rows 332 (in this embodiment, all of them) is located to the right of the receiving portion 522 (not shown).

[0088] 6, the CPU 81 performs a second flushing process with the carriage 6 stopped at the second flushing position shown in Fig. 10 (S15). In the second flushing process, the CPU 81 controls the head drive units 302 and 304 to perform ejection flushing for the white head 32 and the color heads 34, and also controls the head drive unit 301 to perform non-ejection flushing for the white head 31.

[0089] For example, the CPU 81 outputs a pulse signal with a pulse width T1 shown in Fig. 15 to the head driving units 302 and 304 for a first predetermined time, and outputs a pulse signal with a pulse width T2 shown in Fig. 16 to the head driving unit 301 for a second predetermined time. As with the first flushing process, in this embodiment, the ejection flushing by the white head 32 and the color heads 34 and the non-ejection flushing by the white head 31 start simultaneously and end simultaneously after the first predetermined time (second predetermined time) has elapsed.

[0090] By ejection flushing, the white head 32 ejects ink from all of the multiple nozzles 323, and the color head 34 ejects ink from all of the multiple nozzles 343. The carriage 6 is located at the second flushing position. Therefore, the white ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 323 by ejection flushing in the white head 32 passes through the receiving portion 512 and lands on the absorbing member 513. The absorbing member 513 absorbs the landed white ink. The color ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 343 by ejection flushing in the color head 34 passes through the receiving portion 522 and lands on the absorbing member 523. The absorbing member 523 absorbs the landed color ink.

[0091] Non-ejection flushing causes the white head 31 to vibrate without ejecting ink from the multiple nozzles 313. Therefore, in the white head 31, the printer 1 can prevent the white ink from drying out in the multiple nozzles 313 without ejecting white ink outside the receiving portion 512 through ejection flushing.

[0092] In the second flushing process, the CPU 81 does not output a pulse signal to the head driving unit 303. In other words, the CPU 81 does not cause the color head 33 to perform either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing. This allows the printer 1 to reduce the driving load on the head driving unit 303 due to flushing.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 81 performs print control based on the print data (S16). In the print control, the CPU 81 controls the sub-scanning motor 97 based on the detection result from the encoder 971, and moves the platen 12 shown in FIG. 2 backward to the print area 18 shown in FIG. 2. The CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991, and moves the carriage 6 rightward from the second flushing position shown in FIG. 10 to the print area 18 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10. With the platen 12 and the carriage 6 positioned in the print area 18, the CPU 81 controls the head driving units 301 to 304, the main scanning motor 99, and the sub-scanning motor 97. In this way, the CPU 81 repeats the ejection scan and the movement of the platen 12 in the forward and backward directions to control printing on the print medium. When the printing based on the print data is completed, the CPU 81 ends the print control.

[0094] 6, the CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 leftward from the printing area 18 shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, and stops it at the turning-back position shown in FIG. 11 (S21). As shown in FIG. 11, the turning-back position is a position in the left-right direction between the cap position shown in FIG. 8 and the first flushing position shown in FIG. 9. When the carriage 6 is at the turning-back position, the right end of the white head 31 is located to the left of the wiper 711. When the carriage 6 is at the turning-back position, the right end of the color head 33 is located to the left of the wiper 731 (not shown).

[0095] As shown in Fig. 6, the CPU 81 controls the wiper motor 76 to switch the wipers 711, 731 from the retracted position shown in Fig. 10 to the contact position shown in Fig. 11 (S22). The CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 to the right from the turning back position shown in Fig. 11 and stop it at the first flushing position shown in Fig. 12 (S23). Since the wipers 711, 731 are in the contact position, the wipers 711, 731 come into contact with the nozzle faces 311, 331, respectively, while the carriage 6 is moving. As a result, the wipers 711, 731 wipe off the ink that has adhered to the nozzle faces 311, 331 in the print control (S16).

[0096] 13, in the left-right direction, the distance L2 between the wiper 721 and the flushing box 51 is smaller than the distance L1 between the white head 31 and the white head 32. For this reason, when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, the right end of the white head 32 is located to the left of the wiper 721. Similarly, when the carriage 6 is located at the first flushing position, the right end of the color head 34 is located to the left of the wiper 741 (not shown).

[0097] As shown in Fig. 6, the CPU 81 controls the wiper motor 76 to switch the wipers 711, 731 from the contact position shown in Fig. 12 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 13 (S24). The CPU 81 performs a first flushing process in a state where the carriage 6 is stopped at the first flushing position shown in Fig. 13 (S25). The first flushing process in S25 is the same as the first flushing process in S13.

[0098] The CPU 81 controls the wiper motor 77 to switch the wipers 721, 741 from the retracted position shown in Fig. 12 to the contact position shown in Fig. 13 (S26). The CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 to the right from the first flushing position shown in Fig. 13 and stop it at the second flushing position shown in Fig. 14 (S27). Because the wipers 721, 741 are in the contact position, the wipers 721, 741 come into contact with the nozzle faces 321, 341, respectively, while the carriage 6 is moving. As a result, the wipers 721, 741 wipe off the ink that has adhered to the nozzle faces 321, 341 during the print control (S16).

[0099] The CPU 81 controls the wiper motor 77 to switch the wipers 721, 741 from the contact position shown in Fig. 13 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 8 (S28). The CPU 81 performs a second flushing process (S29). The second flushing process in S29 is the same as the second flushing process in S15.

[0100] The CPU 81 controls the main scanning motor 99 based on the detection result from the encoder 991 to move the carriage 6 leftward from the second flushing position shown in FIG. 14 and stop it at the capping position shown in FIG. 8 (S31). The CPU 81 controls the cap motor 48 to move the cap support portion 47 upward (S32). This causes the caps 41-44 to come into close contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 from below. That is, the caps 41-44 are capped from the uncapping state shown in FIG. 8 to the capping state shown in FIG. 7. The CPU 81 ends the main process.

[0101] An example of the effect of the embodiment described above will be described. In the following, the ink discharged from the head 3 by the discharge flushing is referred to as "discharge flushing ink". For example, discharge flushing may be performed simultaneously by all of the multiple heads 3 with the platen 12 located at the cap position. In this case, the discharge flushing ink lands in the caps 41 to 44. In general, the volume of the caps 41 to 44 is smaller than the volume of the recesses 511 and 521 in the flushing boxes 51 and 52, for example, for reasons such as increasing the efficiency of negative pressure rise during purging and increasing the moisture retention in the caps 41 to 44. For this reason, when ink is discharged from all of the multiple heads 3 toward the caps 41 to 44 by the discharge flushing, the amount of discharge flushing ink may be limited.

[0102] In order to prevent the amount of ink ejected by flushing from being limited, the printer 1 is provided with flushing boxes 51 and 52. That is, in the printer 1, ink is ejected from the head 3 toward the flushing boxes 51 and 52 by ejection flushing. For example, the flushing boxes 51 and 52 may be configured such that the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is greater than the maximum spacing D1 between the nozzle rows in the left-right direction.

[0103] In this case, all of the nozzle rows 312 and 322 can face the receiving portion 512 at the same time in the vertical direction, and all of the nozzle rows 332 and 342 can face the receiving portion 522 at the same time. Therefore, the white heads 31 and 32 can perform ejection flushing at the same time, and the color heads 33 and 34 can perform ejection flushing at the same time. On the other hand, in this case, the flushing boxes 51 and 52 may become larger in the left-right direction, and the printer 1 as a whole may become larger in the left-right direction. In the above embodiment, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row interval D1 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the flushing boxes 51 and 52 from becoming larger in the left-right direction. Therefore, the printer 1 can prevent the printer 1 as a whole from becoming larger in the left-right direction while preventing the amount of ejection flushing ink from being limited.

[0104] The printer 1 includes nozzle surfaces 311, 321, 331, and 341, a flushing box 51, head drive units 301, 302, 303, and 304, and a CPU 81. A nozzle row 312 is provided on the nozzle surface 311. The nozzle row 312 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 313 lined up in the front-rear direction. A nozzle row 322 is provided on the nozzle surface 321. The nozzle row 322 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 323 lined up in the front-rear direction. A nozzle row 332 is provided on the nozzle surface 331. The nozzle row 332 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 333 lined up in the front-rear direction. A nozzle row 342 is provided on the nozzle surface 341. The nozzle row 342 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 343 lined up in the front-rear direction. The nozzle rows 322 and 342 are located to the left of the nozzle rows 312 and 332. The nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343 eject ink downward. The flushing boxes 51, 52 move relatively in the left-right direction with respect to the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341. Receiving portions 512, 522 are provided in the flushing boxes 51, 52. The receiving portions 512, 522 have a width D2 in the left-right direction. In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row spacing D1. In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 522 is smaller than the maximum nozzle row spacing D1. The head driving portions 301, 302, 303, 304 perform ejection flushing and non-ejection flushing. The CPU 81 performs a first flushing process (S13, S25) with the nozzle rows 312, 332 facing the receiving portions 512, 522 in the up-down direction. In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head drive unit 301 to perform ejection flushing for all of the multiple nozzles 313, causes the head drive unit 303 to perform ejection flushing for all of the multiple nozzles 333, and causes the head drive unit 302 to perform non-ejection flushing for all of the multiple nozzles 323.

[0105] According to this, during the first flushing process, ejection flushing is performed by the head driving units 301, 303 on the multiple nozzles 313, 333. This allows the printer 1 to suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 333. Furthermore, during the first flushing process, non-ejection flushing is performed by the head driving unit 302 on the multiple nozzles 323. This allows the printer 1 to suppress the ink in the multiple nozzles 323 from becoming dry. This allows the printer 1 to suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 323. This allows the printer 1 to suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333.

[0106] The CPU 81 executes the second flushing process (S15, S29) with the nozzle rows 322, 342 facing the receiving portions 512, 522 in the up-down direction. In the second flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head driving unit 302 to execute ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 323, causes the head driving unit 304 to execute ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 343, and causes the head driving unit 303 to execute non-ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 313.

[0107] According to this, during the second flushing process, ejection flushing is performed by the head driving units 302, 304 on the multiple nozzles 323, 343. This allows the printer 1 to suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 323, 343. Furthermore, during the second flushing process, non-ejection flushing is performed by the head driving unit 303 on the multiple nozzles 313. This allows the printer 1 to suppress the ink in the multiple nozzles 313 from becoming dry. This allows the printer 1 to suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333, 343.

[0108] The printer 1 includes caps 41 to 44. The caps 41 to 44 can move relatively in the left-right direction with respect to the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, and can come into close contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341. A print medium is placed on the platen 12. The CPU 81 executes a print process (S16) with the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, and 342 facing the platen 12 in the up-down direction. In the print process, the CPU 81 ejects ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343 onto the print medium. After the print process, the CPU 81 executes a first flushing process (S25) with the nozzle rows 312 and 332 facing the receiving portions 512 and 522 in the up-down direction. After the first flushing process, the CPU 81 executes a second flushing process (S29) in a state in which the nozzle rows 322, 342 are opposed to the receiving portions 512, 522 in the vertical direction. After the second flushing process, in a capping process (S32), the CPU 81 brings the caps 41-44 into close contact with the nozzle surfaces 311, 321, 331, 341 in a state in which the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, 342 are opposed to the caps 41-44 in the vertical direction.

[0109] According to this, in the printing process, the ink in the nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343 may become dry due to exposure to the atmosphere. After the printing process and before the capping process, the first flushing process and the second flushing process are executed. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343 in the process after the capping process. For example, after the capping process, purging may be executed in the capped state to remove impurities such as air from the nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343. The CPU 81 executes purging by, for example, driving a pump (not shown) to create negative pressure in the caps 41 to 44 and sucking the ink from the nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343. In this case, purging is executed in a state in which non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333, and 343 is suppressed. Therefore, the printer 1 can execute purging better than when the first flushing process and the second flushing process are not executed before purging.

[0110] The printer 1 includes wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741. The wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 are provided between the flushing boxes 51 and 52 and the caps 41 to 44 in the left-right direction. The wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 move relatively in the left-right direction with respect to the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, respectively, and can come into contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341. The nozzle rows 322 and 342 are located to the left of the nozzle rows 312 and 332 in the left-right direction. The left direction is the direction from the flushing boxes 51 and 52 toward the caps 41 to 44. The CPU 81 executes a printing process (S16). After the printing process, in a first movement process (S21), the CPU 81 moves the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 relatively to the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 in the left-right direction, and positions the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, 342 to the left of the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741. After the first movement process, the CPU 81 executes a first wiping process (S23) in a state in which the wipers 711, 731 can contact the nozzle faces 311, 331. In the first wiping process, the CPU 81 moves the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 relatively to the right, and positions the nozzle rows 312, 332 opposite the receiving portions 512, 522 in the up-down direction. After the first wiping process, the CPU 81 executes a first flushing process (S25). After the first flushing process, the CPU 81 executes a second wiping process (S27) in a state in which the wipers 721, 741 can contact the nozzle faces 321, 341. In the second wiping process, the CPU 81 moves the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 relatively to the right with respect to the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741, so that the nozzle rows 322, 342 face the receiving portions 512, 522 in the up-down direction. After the second wiping process, the CPU 81 executes a second flushing process (S29). After the second flushing process, in a second movement process (S31), the CPU 81 moves the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 leftward relative to the caps 41-44 so that the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, 342 face the caps 41-44 in the vertical direction.After the second movement process, the CPU 81 executes a capping process (S32).

[0111] According to this, when the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process are performed in the order of the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process, the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341 move relatively to the right with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52 and the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741. Therefore, the printer 1 can shorten the relative movement distance in the left-right direction of the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341 with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52 and the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741, compared to the case where the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341 move back and forth relatively to the left-right direction with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52 and the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 by the first wiping process, the first flushing process, the second wiping process, and the second flushing process.

[0112] The printer 1 is equipped with caps 41 to 44. The caps 41 to 44 are provided on the opposite side of the platen 12 with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52 in the left-right direction. The caps 41 to 44 can move relatively in the left-right direction with respect to the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, and can come into close contact with the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341. The nozzle rows 322 and 342 are located to the left of the nozzle rows 312 and 332. The leftward direction is the direction from the flushing boxes 51 and 52 toward the caps 41 to 44. The CPU 81 releases the capping state by the caps 41 to 44 in a capping uncapping process (S11). After the uncapping process, the CPU 81 executes a first flushing process (S13) with the nozzle rows 312, 332 facing the receiving portions 512, 522 in the vertical direction, and after the first flushing process, executes a second flushing process (S15) with the nozzle rows 322, 342 facing the receiving portions 512, 522 in the vertical direction. After the second flushing process, the CPU 81 executes a printing process (S16) with the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, 342 facing the platen 12 in the vertical direction. In the printing process, the CPU 81 ejects ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, 333, 343 onto the printing medium.

[0113] According to this, the caps 41-44 are provided on the opposite side of the platen 12 with respect to the flushing boxes 51, 52 in the left-right direction. The nozzle rows 322, 342 are located to the left of the nozzle rows 312, 332. The leftward direction is the direction from the flushing boxes 51, 52 toward the caps 41-44. For this reason, when the uncapping process, first flushing process, second flushing process, and printing process are performed in this order, the nozzle surfaces 311, 321, 331, and 341 move relatively to the right with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52. Therefore, the printer 1 can shorten the relative movement distance of the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 in the left-right direction relative to the flushing boxes 51, 52 through the uncapping process, first flushing process, second flushing process, and printing process, compared to when the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, 341 move back and forth in the left-right direction relative to the flushing boxes 51, 52 and the wipers 711, 721, 731, 741.

[0114] In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head driving units 301, 303 to execute ejection flushing for a first predetermined time period at the multiple nozzles 313, 333. In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head driving unit 302 to execute non-ejection flushing for the multiple nozzles 323 for a second predetermined time period from the start of ejection flushing for the multiple nozzles 313, 333. The length of the second predetermined time period is the same as the length of the first predetermined time period.

[0115] This allows the printer 1 to prevent the occurrence of a time period during which the head drive unit 302 is not performing non-ejection flushing at the nozzle 323 before and after the start and end of ejection flushing at the multiple nozzles 313 and 333. The printer 1 can prevent the occurrence of a time period during which the head drive unit 302 is not performing ejection flushing at the nozzle 313 and 333 before and after the start and end of non-ejection flushing at the nozzle 323. This allows the printer 1 to prevent the ink in the multiple nozzles 313 and 333 from drying out, and the ink in the multiple nozzles 323 from drying out. This allows the printer 1 to prevent non-ejection of ink from the multiple nozzles 313, 323, and 333.

[0116] The nozzle faces 331 and 341 eject color inks from a plurality of nozzles 333 and 343. The nozzle faces 311 and 321 eject white ink from a plurality of nozzles 313 and 323. The fluidity of color inks is less likely to decrease than that of white ink. The CPU 81 executes a first flushing process in a state in which the nozzle rows 312 and 332 face the receiving portions 512 and 522 in the vertical direction. The CPU 81 executes a second flushing process in a state in which the nozzle rows 322 and 342 face the receiving portions 512 and 522 in the vertical direction. In the second flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head driving units 302 and 304 to execute ejection flushing for the plurality of nozzles 323 and 343, and does not cause the head driving unit 303 to execute either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 333.

[0117] According to this, the nozzle surface 321 ejects from the multiple nozzles 323 ink whose fluidity is less likely to decrease than ink ejected from the multiple nozzles 313 by the nozzle surface 311. Therefore, even if the head driving unit 303 does not execute either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing for all of the multiple nozzles 333 in the second flushing process, non-ejection by the multiple nozzles 333 is less likely to occur. When non-ejection by the multiple nozzles 333 is less likely to occur, the printer 1 can suppress the load on the multiple nozzles 333 due to ejection flushing and non-ejection flushing by not causing the head driving unit 303 to execute either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing for the multiple nozzles 333. The printer 1 can suppress the load on the head driving unit 303. Similarly, the CPU 81 does not cause the head driving unit 304 to execute either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing for all of the multiple nozzles 343 in the first flushing process. Therefore, the printer 1 can reduce the load on the multiple nozzles 343 due to ejection flushing and non-ejection flushing, and can reduce the load on the head drive unit 304.

[0118] The printer 1 includes nozzle surfaces 331 and 341. The nozzle surface 331 is provided with a nozzle row 332. The nozzle row 332 ejects ink whose fluidity is less likely to decrease than ink ejected by the multiple nozzles 313 and 323. The nozzle row 332 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 333 lined up in the front-rear direction. The nozzle row 342 ejects ink whose fluidity is less likely to decrease than ink ejected by the multiple nozzles 313 and 323. The nozzle row 342 is configured with a plurality of nozzles 343 lined up in the front-rear direction. The nozzle row 342 is located to the left of the nozzle row 332. The CPU 81 executes the first flushing process in a state in which the nozzle row 332 faces the receiving portions 512 and 522 in the up-down direction. In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 causes the head driving unit 303 to execute the ejection flushing for the multiple nozzles 333, and causes the head driving unit 304 not to execute either the ejection flushing or the non-ejection flushing for the multiple nozzles 343.

[0119] According to this, the nozzle surfaces 331 and 341 eject ink from the nozzles 333 and 343, which is less likely to decrease in fluidity. Therefore, even if the head driving unit 304 does not execute either the ejection flushing or the non-ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 343 in the first flushing process, non-ejection due to the plurality of nozzles 343 is less likely to occur. When non-ejection due to the plurality of nozzles 343 is less likely to occur, the printer 1 can suppress the load on the plurality of nozzles 343 due to the ejection flushing and the non-ejection flushing by not causing the head driving unit 304 to execute either the ejection flushing or the non-ejection flushing for the plurality of nozzles 343. The printer 1 can suppress the load on the head driving unit 304. Similarly, the CPU 81 does not cause the head driving unit 303 to execute either the ejection flushing or the non-ejection flushing for all of the plurality of nozzles 333 in the second flushing process. Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress the load on the plurality of nozzles 333 due to the ejection flushing and the non-ejection flushing, and can suppress the load on the head driving unit 303.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the downward direction of the printer 1 corresponds to the "ejection direction" of the present invention. The front-to-rear direction of the printer 1 corresponds to the "sub-scanning direction" of the present invention. The left-to-right direction of the printer 1 corresponds to the "main scanning direction" of the present invention. The left side of the printer 1 corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention. The right side of the printer 1 corresponds to the "second direction" of the present invention.

[0121] Nozzles 313, 323, 333, 343 correspond to the "nozzles" of the present invention. Receiving portions 512, 522 correspond to the "receiving portions" of the present invention. Flushing boxes 51, 52 correspond to the "flushing receiving members" of the present invention. Caps 41-44 correspond to the "caps" of the present invention. Platen 12 corresponds to the "platen" of the present invention. Wipers 711, 721, 731, 741 correspond to the "wipers" of the present invention. Head driving portions 301, 302, 303, 304 correspond to the "driving portions" of the present invention. CPU 81 corresponds to the "control portion" and "computer" of the present invention.

[0122] The positions of the nozzle rows 312, 322, 332, 342 when the carriage 6 is in the cap position correspond to the "cap position" of the present invention. The position of the head 3 when the carriage 6 is in the turn back position corresponds to the "predetermined position" of the present invention. Ejection flushing corresponds to the "ejection drive" of the present invention. Non-ejection flushing corresponds to the "non-ejection drive" of the present invention. The first predetermined time and the second predetermined time correspond to the "predetermined time" of the present invention. The processing of S16 in Figure 6 corresponds to the "printing process" of the present invention.

[0123] The process of S32 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "capping process" of the present invention. The process of S21 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "first moving process" of the present invention. The process of S23 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "first wiping process" of the present invention. The process of S27 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "second wiping process" of the present invention. The process of S31 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "second moving process" of the present invention. The process of S11 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "uncapping process" of the present invention.

[0124] One of the nozzle rows 312, 332 or one of the nozzle rows 322, 342 corresponds to the "first nozzle row" of the present invention. One of the nozzle faces 311, 331 or one of the nozzle faces 321, 341 corresponds to the "first nozzle face" of the present invention. The other of the nozzle rows 312, 332 or the other of the nozzle rows 322, 342 corresponds to the "second nozzle row" of the present invention. The other of the nozzle faces 321, 331 or the other of the nozzle faces 321, 341 corresponds to the "second nozzle face" of the present invention. One of the nozzle rows 332, 342 corresponds to the "third nozzle row" of the present invention. One of the nozzle faces 331, 341 corresponds to the "third nozzle face" of the present invention. The other of the nozzle rows 332, 342 corresponds to the "fourth nozzle row" of the present invention. The other of the nozzle faces 331, 341 corresponds to the "fourth nozzle face" of the present invention.

[0125] One of the processes S13 and S15 or one of the processes S25 and S29 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "first flushing process" of the present invention. The other of the processes S13 and S15 or the other of the processes S25 and S29 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "second flushing process" and "third flushing process" of the present invention. The process S13, S15, S25, or S29 in Fig. 6 corresponds to the "fourth flushing process" of the present invention.

[0126] The present invention can be modified from the above embodiment. The various modified examples described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs. For example, the layout positions of the multiple heads 3 in the printer 1 can be changed as appropriate. Modified examples of the layout positions of the multiple heads 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 17. In the following, components having the same functions as those in the above embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described.

[0127] The printer 1 is equipped with a carriage 6A instead of the carriage 6 shown in Fig. 3. The carriage 6A is provided with white heads 31A, 32A and color heads 33A, 34A as multiple heads 3. The white head 31A is located at the rear right of the carriage 6A, and ejects white ink from multiple nozzles 313. The white head 32A is located diagonally forward and to the left of the white head 31A, and ejects white ink from multiple nozzles 323.

[0128] The color head 33A is located to the left of the white head 32A and is located at the same position as the white head 31A in the front-rear direction. The color head 33A ejects color ink from multiple nozzles 333. The color head 34A is located to the left of the color head 33A and is located at the same position as the white head 32A in the front-rear direction. The color head 34A ejects color ink from multiple nozzles 343. In this case, the printer 1 may be provided with only the flushing box 51 out of the flushing boxes 51 and 52. In this case, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 only needs to be smaller than the left-right distance D4 between the left-right center of the nozzle row 312R and the left-right center of the nozzle row 342L.

[0129] A part of the main process will be described in the modified example of the arrangement position of the plurality of heads 3. After the process of S11 and before the process of S16, or after the process of S16 and before the process of S32, the CPU 81 moves the carriage 6A to a position where the plurality of nozzle rows 312 of the white head 31A face the receiving portion 512 in the vertical direction. With the plurality of nozzle rows 312 of the white head 31A facing the receiving portion 512 in the vertical direction, the CPU 81 causes the white head 31A to perform ejection flushing, causes the white head 32A to perform non-ejection flushing, and causes the color heads 33A and 34A to perform neither ejection flushing nor non-ejection flushing. Note that the CPU 81 may cause the color heads 33A and 34A to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0130] After the process of S11 and before the process of S16, or after the process of S16 and before the process of S32, the CPU 81 moves the carriage 6A to a position where the multiple nozzle rows 322 in the white head 32A face the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction. With the multiple nozzle rows 322 in the white head 32A facing the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction, the CPU 81 causes the white head 32A to perform ejection flushing, causes the white head 31A to perform non-ejection flushing, and causes the color heads 33A, 34A to perform neither ejection flushing nor non-ejection flushing. Note that the CPU 81 may also cause the color heads 33A, 34A to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0131] After the process of S11 and before the process of S16, or after the process of S16 and before the process of S32, the CPU 81 moves the carriage 6A to a position where the multiple nozzle rows 332 of the color head 33A face the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction. With the multiple nozzle rows 332 of the color head 33A facing the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction, the CPU 81 causes the color head 33A to perform ejection flushing, causes the white heads 31A and 32A to perform non-ejection flushing, and causes the color head 34A to perform neither ejection flushing nor non-ejection flushing. Note that the CPU 81 may cause the color head 34A to perform non-ejection flushing. The CPU 81 may not cause one or both of the white heads 31A and 32A to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0132] After the process of S11 and before the process of S16, or after the process of S16 and before the process of S32, the CPU 81 moves the carriage 6A to a position where the multiple nozzle rows 342 in the color head 34A face the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction. With the multiple nozzle rows 342 in the color head 34A facing the receiving portion 512 in the up-down direction, the CPU 81 causes the color head 34A to perform ejection flushing, causes the white heads 31A and 32A to perform non-ejection flushing, and causes the color head 33A to perform neither ejection flushing nor non-ejection flushing. Note that the CPU 81 may cause the color head 33A to perform non-ejection flushing. The CPU 81 does not have to cause one or both of the white heads 31A and 32A to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0133] Other modified examples will be described below. The printer 1 may include five or more heads 3. Three or more heads 3 may be arranged in the left-right direction. In this case, the CPU 81 may cause each head 3 to perform ejection flushing while facing the receiving portion 512, and may cause the other heads 3 to perform non-ejection flushing. The printer 1 may include two or three heads 3, and for example, one of the white head 31 and the color head 33 may be omitted, or one of the white head 32 and the color head 34 may be omitted. For example, the printer 1 may omit the color heads 33 and 34 and include the white heads 31 and 32. In this case, the white head 32 is located to the left of the white head 31 and overlaps with a part of the white head 31 in the left-right direction. It is to be noted that the white head 32 does not have to overlap with the white head 31 in the left-right direction. For example, the printer 1 may omit the white head 31 and the color head 34 and include the white head 32 and the color head 33. In this case, the white head 32 is located to the left of the color head 33 and rearward of the color head 33. In other words, the white head 32 does not overlap with the color head 33 in the left-right direction. Note that the white head 32 may overlap with the color head 33 in the left-right direction. In this case, in the first flushing process, the CPU 81 may cause the color head 33 to perform ejection flushing, and cause the white head 32 to perform non-ejection flushing. Furthermore, in the second flushing process, the CPU 81 may cause the white head 32 to perform ejection flushing, and cause the color head 33 to perform neither ejection flushing nor non-ejection flushing.

[0134] The multiple heads 3 may be provided on different carriages. For example, the white heads 31 and 32 may be provided on one carriage, and the color heads 33 and 34 may be provided on another carriage. Some or all of the nozzle surfaces 311, 321, 331, and 341 may be provided on one head 3. In other words, the number of heads 3 may be one. For example, the nozzle surfaces 311 and 321 may be provided on one head 3, or the nozzle surfaces 311 and 331 may be provided on one head 3. The nozzle surfaces 311, 321, 331, and 341 may each be provided with a single nozzle row 312, 322, 332, and 342.

[0135] In the first flushing process, the CPU 81 may cause some of the multiple nozzles 313 of the white head 31 to perform ejection flushing, may cause some of the multiple nozzles 323 of the white head 32 to perform non-ejection flushing, may cause some of the multiple nozzles 333 of the color head 33 to perform ejection flushing, or may cause at least one of the multiple nozzles 343 of the color head 34 to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0136] In the second flushing process, the CPU 81 may cause some of the multiple nozzles 323 in the white head 32 to perform ejection flushing, may cause some of the multiple nozzles 313 in the white head 31 to perform non-ejection flushing, may cause some of the multiple nozzles 343 in the color head 34 to perform ejection flushing, or may cause at least any of the multiple nozzles 333 in the color head 33 to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0137] The fluidity of the color inks may be less likely to decrease than the fluidity of the white ink, or may be as likely to decrease as the fluidity of the white ink. For example, if the fluidity of the color inks is less likely to decrease than the fluidity of the white ink, in the first flushing process, the CPU 81 may not cause the white head 32 to perform either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing, and may cause the color head 34 to perform non-ejection flushing. Furthermore, in the second flushing process, the CPU 81 may not cause the white head 31 to perform either ejection flushing or non-ejection flushing, and may cause the color head 33 to perform non-ejection flushing.

[0138] The second predetermined time may be longer or shorter than the first predetermined time. In the first flushing process or the second flushing process, the timing at which ejection flushing starts and the timing at which non-ejection flushing starts do not have to be simultaneous. In the first flushing process or the second flushing process, the timing at which ejection flushing ends and the timing at which non-ejection flushing ends do not have to be simultaneous.

[0139] In some or all of S12, S14, S21, and S27, the CPU 81 does not have to stop the carriage 6. For example, when the carriage 6 is not stopped in S12 or S14, the CPU 81 may perform the first flushing process (S13) and the second flushing process (S15) while moving the carriage 6 to the first flushing position or the second flushing position.

[0140] In S21, the CPU 81 may move the carriage 6 to the cap position. Before print control, the CPU 81 may execute the second flushing process (S15) and then execute the first flushing process (S13). After print control, the CPU 81 may execute the second flushing process (S29) and then execute the first flushing process (S25). The CPU 81 may omit one of the first flushing process (S13) and the second flushing process (S15). The CPU 81 may omit one of the first flushing process (S25) and the second flushing process (S29). The first flushing process (S13) and the second flushing process (S15) are referred to as pre-printing flushing processes. The first flushing process (S25) and the second flushing process (S29) are referred to as post-printing flushing processes, and the CPU 81 may omit one of the pre-printing flushing process and the post-printing flushing process. For example, it is preferable that the CPU 81 executes at least the pre-printing flushing process out of the pre-printing flushing process and the post-printing flushing process. The CPU 81 may also execute the first flushing process and the second flushing process during printing. In this case, the printer 1 can at least suppress non-ejection of ink during print control and suppress deterioration of the image quality of the printed image.

[0141] The printer 1 may include a paper feed cassette and a transport member, and the medium support unit may be fixed below the carriage 6 in the printing area 18. A plurality of sheets of paper are set in the paper feed cassette as the printing medium. The transport member is, for example, a roller. In this case, the printer 1 transports the paper from the paper feed cassette onto the medium support unit by rotating the transport member. The printer 1 uses the head 3 to print on the paper transported onto the medium support unit. In this case, the medium support unit corresponds to the "platen" of the present invention.

[0142] The printer 1 may include a medium holding unit and a transport member, and the medium support unit may be fixed below the carriage 6 in the printing area 18. The medium holding unit holds a medium roll or fanfold paper. The medium roll is composed of paper connected in a roll as the printing medium. The transport member is, for example, a roller. In this case, the printer 1 pulls out paper as the printing medium from the medium roll or fanfold paper and transports it onto the medium support unit. The printer 1 prints on the paper transported onto the medium support unit using the head 3. In this case, the medium support unit corresponds to the "platen" of the present invention.

[0143] The moving mechanisms of the head 3 and the platen 12 are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the head 3 and the platen 12 may be moved by a moving mechanism such as a roller or a ball screw. The head 3 may be a line head. It is sufficient that the head 3 is relatively movable in the left-right direction with respect to the flushing boxes 51 and 52, the caps 41 to 44, the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741, and the platen 12. In other words, the carriage 6 may be fixed to the frame 2, and the flushing boxes 51 and 52, the caps 41 to 44, the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741, and the platen 12 may be configured to be movable in the left-right direction. When the platen 12 is movable in the left-right direction, the flushing boxes 51 and 52, the caps 41 to 44, the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741, and a part of the platen 12, for example, the flushing boxes 51 and 52, may be configured to be movable in the left-right direction.

[0144] The wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 may each move, for example, in the vertical direction, to a position where they can contact the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341, and a position that is spaced downward from the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341. The wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 may each be fixed to a position where they can contact the nozzle faces 311, 321, 331, and 341. Some or all of the wipers 711, 721, 731, and 741 may be shared. For example, the wipers 711 and 721 may be formed by a single wiper, and the wipers 711 and 731 may be formed by a single wiper.

[0145] The flushing boxes 51 and 52 may be configured as one flushing box. That is, the receiving portions 512 and 522 may be connected to each other. In the left-right direction, the width D2 of the receiving portion 512 may be larger than the minimum interval D3 of the nozzle rows as long as it is smaller than the maximum interval D1 of the nozzle rows.

[0146] The shape of the flushing boxes 51, 52 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the printer 1 may be provided with a plate instead of the flushing boxes 51, 52. The plate extends in the front-rear and left-right directions on the right side of the wiper mechanisms 71, 72 in the non-printing area 19. In this case, the upper surface of the plate forms the receiving portions 512, 522.

[0147] The printer 1 can appropriately change the positions of the flushing box 51, the caps 41 and 42, the wipers 711 and 721, and the platen 12 in the left-right direction. For example, the flushing box 51 may be located to the left of the caps 41 and 42, or may be located between the wipers 711 and 721 and the caps 41 and 42 in the left-right direction, or may be located to the right of the platen 12. One or both of the caps 41 and 42 and the wipers 711 and 721 may be located to the right of the platen 12. The wipers 711 and 721 may be located to the left of the caps 41 and 42. The printer 1 can also appropriately change the positions of the flushing box 52, the caps 43 and 44, the wipers 731 and 741, and the platen 12 in the left-right direction.

[0148] In the above embodiment, the type of ink color ejected from the head 3 is not limited to the above embodiment. The printer 1 may eject transparent ink from the head 3, or may eject a pretreatment agent, a posttreatment agent, etc. The pretreatment agent is a type of ink, for example a base coat agent. The pretreatment agent is ejected onto the print medium before the base is formed with white ink. The pretreatment agent improves the fixation of the white ink to the print medium and the color development of the color ink. The posttreatment agent is a coating agent, and is ejected onto the color image formed by the color ink. The posttreatment agent protects the color image and improves the gloss of the color image. The pretreatment agent and the posttreatment agent are, for example, aqueous solutions containing a cationic polymer and a polyvalent metal salt. In this case, the pretreatment agent and the posttreatment agent correspond to the "ink" of the present invention.

[0149] Instead of the CPU 81, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like may be used as a processor. The main processing may be distributed among a plurality of processors. The non-transitory storage medium, such as the ROM 82 and the flash memory 84, may be a storage medium capable of retaining information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-transitory storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (e.g., a transmitted signal). For example, the control program may be downloaded (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) from a server connected to a network not shown, and stored in the ROM 82 or the flash memory 84. In this case, the control program may be stored in a non-transitory storage medium, such as an HDD, provided in the server. [Explanation of symbols]

[0150] 1. Printer 12 Platen 41~44 Cap 51, 52 Flushing box 81 CPU 311, 321, 331, 341 Nozzle surface 312, 322, 332, 342 nozzle rows 313, 323, 333, 343 nozzles 512, 522 Receiving department 711, 721, 731, 741 Wipers

Claims

1. a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a cap that moves relatively to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction and is capable of coming into close contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a wiper that is provided between the flushing receiving member and the cap in the main scanning direction, that moves relative to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction, and that is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; Control unit and Equipped with the second nozzle row is positioned in a first direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap with respect to the first nozzle row in the main scanning direction, The control unit is a printing process is executed in which ink is ejected onto the printing medium from a plurality of nozzles constituting at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, while at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row is opposed to a platen on which a printing medium is placed in the ejection direction; executing a first movement process in which, after the printing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the wiper in the main scanning direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at predetermined positions in the first direction relative to the wiper; a first wiping process is performed in which, after the first movement process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the wiper in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the main scanning direction while the wiper is in contact with the first nozzle surface, so that the first nozzle row faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a first flushing process is performed after the first wiping process, the first nozzle row being opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the first flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row; a second wiping process is performed after the first flushing process, in which the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the wiper in the second direction while the wiper is capable of contacting the second nozzle surface, and the second nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a second flushing process is performed after the second wiping process, the second flushing process being a process performed in a state in which the second nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the second flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that causes at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row to eject ink, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not cause at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row to eject ink; performing a second movement process in which, after the second flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the cap in the first direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at a cap position facing the cap in the ejection direction; After the second movement process, a capping process is performed in which the cap is brought into close contact with the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face while the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at the cap position. A printer characterized by:

2. A first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; Control unit and Equipped with The control unit is a first flushing process is performed in a state in which a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the first flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; The control unit is In the first flushing process, the drive unit is caused to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row for a predetermined time, and the drive unit is caused to execute the non-ejection drive for not ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second target nozzle row for the predetermined time from the start of the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row. A printer characterized by:

3. A first nozzle surface having a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; Control unit and Equipped with The first nozzle surface is ejecting, from the plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row, ink that is less likely to lose fluidity than ink ejected from the plurality of nozzles constituting the second nozzle row by the second nozzle surface; The control unit is a first flushing process is executed in a state in which the first nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the first flushing process being executed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that causes at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row to eject ink, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not cause at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row to eject ink; a third flushing process is performed in a state in which the second nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the third flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to not execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all of the plurality of nozzles in the first nozzle row; A printer characterized by:

4. A first nozzle surface having a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a third nozzle surface provided with a third nozzle row configured with a plurality of nozzles aligned in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzles ejecting ink that is less likely to lose fluidity than ink ejected by a plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth nozzle surface including a fourth nozzle row arranged in the sub-scanning direction and positioned in the main scanning direction relative to the third nozzle row, the fourth nozzle row being configured to eject the ink whose fluidity is not easily reduced; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; Control unit and Equipped with The control unit is a first flushing process is performed in a state in which a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the first flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth flushing process is performed in a state in which a third target nozzle row, which is one of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row, is opposed to the receiving section in the ejection direction, the fourth flushing process being performed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the third target nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to not execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all the nozzles in a fourth target nozzle row, which is the other of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row; A printer characterized by:

5. a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a cap that moves relatively to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction and is capable of coming into close contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a wiper that is provided between the flushing receiving member and the cap in the main scanning direction, that moves relative to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction, and that is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; a control method for a printer including: a first nozzle row positioned in a first direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap with respect to the first nozzle row in the main scanning direction, a printing process in which ink is ejected onto the printing medium from a plurality of nozzles constituting at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, with at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row facing a platen on which a printing medium is placed in the ejection direction; a first movement process in which, after the printing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relatively to the wiper in the main scanning direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at predetermined positions in the first direction relative to the wiper; a first wiping process in which, after the first movement process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the wiper in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the main scanning direction while the wiper is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface, thereby causing the first nozzle row to face the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a first flushing process, which is performed after the first wiping process, with the first nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row; a second wiping process in which, after the first flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved in the second direction relative to the wiper while the wiper is capable of contacting the second nozzle surface, so that the second nozzle row faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a second flushing process, which is performed after the second wiping process, with the second nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row; a second movement process in which, after the second flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relatively to the cap in the first direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at a cap position facing the cap in the ejection direction; a capping process in which the cap is brought into close contact with the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face while the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at the cap position after the second movement process; A control method comprising:

6. A first nozzle surface having a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; A method for controlling a printer comprising: a first flushing process which is performed in a state in which a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; The first flushing process causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row for a predetermined time, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive for not ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second target nozzle row for the predetermined time from the start of the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row. A control method comprising:

7. A first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; a control method for a printer comprising: a first nozzle surface that ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row, the ink having a flowability that is less likely to decrease than ink ejected from a plurality of nozzles constituting the second nozzle row by the second nozzle surface; a first flushing process, which is a process performed in a state in which the first nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, in which the drive unit executes the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row, and the drive unit executes the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row; a third flushing process, which is performed with the second nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and does not cause the drive unit to execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all of the plurality of nozzles in the first nozzle row; A control method comprising:

8. A first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a third nozzle surface provided with a third nozzle row configured with a plurality of nozzles aligned in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzles ejecting ink that is less likely to lose fluidity than ink ejected by a plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth nozzle surface including a fourth nozzle row arranged in the sub-scanning direction and positioned in the main scanning direction relative to the third nozzle row, the fourth nozzle row being configured to eject the ink whose fluidity is not easily reduced; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; A method for controlling a printer comprising: a first flushing process which is performed with a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth flushing process, which is performed in a state in which a third target nozzle row, which is one of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row, is opposed to the receiving section in the ejection direction, in which the drive unit executes the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the third target nozzle row, and the drive unit does not execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all the nozzles in a fourth target nozzle row, which is the other of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row; A control method comprising:

9. a first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a cap that moves relatively to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction and is capable of coming into close contact with the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a wiper that is provided between the flushing receiving member and the cap in the main scanning direction, that moves relative to the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface in the main scanning direction, and that is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; the second nozzle row is disposed in a first direction from the flushing receiving member toward the cap with respect to the first nozzle row in the main scanning direction, a printing process in which ink is ejected onto the printing medium from a plurality of nozzles constituting at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, with at least one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row facing a platen on which a printing medium is placed in the ejection direction; a first movement process in which, after the printing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relatively to the wiper in the main scanning direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at predetermined positions in the first direction relative to the wiper; a first wiping process in which, after the first movement process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relative to the wiper in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the main scanning direction while the wiper is capable of contacting the first nozzle surface, thereby causing the first nozzle row to face the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a first flushing process, which is performed after the first wiping process, with the first nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row; a second wiping process in which, after the first flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved in the second direction relative to the wiper while the wiper is capable of contacting the second nozzle surface, so that the second nozzle row faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction; a second flushing process, which is performed after the second wiping process, with the second nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row; a second movement process in which, after the second flushing process, the first nozzle surface and the second nozzle surface are moved relatively to the cap in the first direction, and the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at a cap position facing the cap in the ejection direction; a capping process in which the cap is brought into close contact with the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face while the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are positioned at the cap position after the second movement process; A control program for causing the user to execute the above steps.

10. A first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; A computer of a printer equipped with a first flushing process is executed in a state in which a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, faces the receiving portion in the ejection direction, the first flushing process being executed by causing the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causing the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; In the first flushing process, the drive unit is caused to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row for a predetermined time, and the drive unit is caused to execute the non-ejection drive for not ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second target nozzle row for the predetermined time from the start of the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row. A control program comprising:

11. A first nozzle surface having a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; the first nozzle surface ejects from the plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row an ink that is less likely to lose fluidity than ink ejected from the plurality of nozzles constituting the second nozzle row by the second nozzle surface, a first flushing process, which is a process performed in a state in which the first nozzle row is opposed to the receiving portion in the ejection direction, in which the drive unit executes the ejection drive that ejects ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first nozzle row, and the drive unit executes the non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row; a third flushing process, which is performed with the second nozzle row facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive for ejecting ink from at least any of the nozzles in the second nozzle row, and does not cause the drive unit to execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all of the plurality of nozzles in the first nozzle row; A control program for causing the computer to execute the above steps.

12. A first nozzle surface provided with a first nozzle row in which nozzles that eject ink in an ejection direction are arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the ejection direction; a second nozzle surface including a second nozzle row in which the nozzles are arranged in a plurality of rows in the sub-scanning direction, the second nozzle row being positioned in a main scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction and the ejection direction relative to the first nozzle row; a third nozzle surface provided with a third nozzle row configured with a plurality of nozzles aligned in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzles ejecting ink that is less likely to lose fluidity than ink ejected by a plurality of nozzles constituting the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth nozzle surface including a fourth nozzle row arranged in the sub-scanning direction and positioned in the main scanning direction relative to the third nozzle row, the fourth nozzle row being configured to eject the ink whose fluidity is not easily reduced; a flushing receiving member that is provided with a receiving portion having a width smaller than a distance between the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in the main scanning direction, and that moves in the main scanning direction relatively to the first nozzle face and the second nozzle face; a drive unit that executes an ejection drive that ejects ink from the nozzles and a non-ejection drive that does not eject ink from the nozzles; A computer of a printer equipped with a first flushing process which is performed with a first target nozzle row, which is one of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row, facing the receiving portion in the ejection direction, and which causes the drive unit to execute the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the first target nozzle row, and causes the drive unit to execute the non-ejection drive to not eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in a second target nozzle row, which is the other of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row; a fourth flushing process, which is performed in a state in which a third target nozzle row, which is one of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row, is opposed to the receiving section in the ejection direction, in which the drive unit executes the ejection drive to eject ink from at least any of the nozzles in the third target nozzle row, and the drive unit does not execute either the ejection drive or the non-ejection drive for all the nozzles in a fourth target nozzle row, which is the other of the third nozzle row and the fourth nozzle row; A control program for causing the user to execute the above steps.

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