Patent ID: 6196653
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet printer comprising:a feeder which feeds a recording media along a feeding path;a print head having ink nozzles, which is movable in a direction across said feeding path;a supply station in which said print head is supplied with ink by means of a supply mechanism;a maintenance station in which a predetermined operation is performed on said print head by means of a maintenance mechanism;an actuator for driving the supply mechanism and the maintenance mechanism; anda controlling mechanism that causes the actuator to selectively drive the supply mechanism and the maintenance mechanism the controlling mechanism including:a first clutch which transmits the power of said actuator to said supply mechanism only when said print head is located in said supply station; anda second clutch which transmits the power of said actuator to said maintenance mechanism only when said print head is located in said maintenance station.