Patent ID: 7690755
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image-forming apparatus comprising: a print head having an ink ejection port from which ink is ejected; a recovery mechanism that executes recovery operations for recovering an ejection condition of ink ejected from the ink ejection port of the print head; a time measuring unit that measures a preset period of time from a time when a recovery operation is executed by the recovery mechanism until a scheduled time when a subsequent recovery operation is to be executed; a testing unit that instructs the print head to print a predetermined test image on a print medium after expiration of the preset period of time and before execution of the subsequent recovery operation; an input unit that is configured to accept a user's evaluation with respect to the predetermined test image printed by the print head; and a control unit that instructs the recovery mechanism to postpone execution of the subsequent recovery operation when the user's evaluation indicates that the predetermined test image printed by the print head is satisfactory, wherein the control unit further instructs the recovery mechanism to postpone execution of the subsequent recovery operation when the input unit fails to receive the user's evaluation with respect to the predetermined test image printed by the print head.