Patent ID: 6419334
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink-jet printer comprising:a medium holding member for holding a printing medium; a nozzle unit having a plurality of nozzle heads, each of the plurality of nozzle heads having a large number of ink-jet nozzles aligned in a main scanning direction; an elevating mechanism for vertically moving the nozzle unit between a printing position where the plurality of nozzle heads oppose a printing surface of the printing medium held by the medium holding member to print on the printing surface with the plurality of nozzle heads, and a non-printing position above the printing position which is separate from the printing position; a head support mechanism for supporting the nozzle unit which has moved to the printing position, and an engaging mechanism for causing the elevating mechanism and the nozzle unit to engage each other to allow the nozzle unit to be vertically moved by the elevating mechanism when the nozzle unit is between the printing position and the non-printing position, and to disengage from each other by the head support mechanism so as to set the nozzle unit to be free from the elevating mechanism when the nozzle is located at the printing position.