Patent ID: 6739696
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A maintenance apparatus comprising:a print head drive mechanism that bidirectionally moves a print head having a nozzle surface in which are formed a plurality of nozzles; a wiper that wipes contamination from the nozzle surface; a remover connected for movement with the print head that wipes contamination from the wiper; a wiper drive mechanism that moves the wiper in a direction toward a plane of the nozzle surface from a standby position; and a control unit that controls the print head drive mechanism and wiper drive mechanism so as to stop the wiper at a first position and to move the print head to a position where the print head is engaged by the wiper to remove contamination from the nozzle surface, and so as to stop the print head at a specific position and to move the wiper to a position where the wiper is engageable by the remover to remove contamination from the wiper.