Patent Publication Number: US-8523344-B2

Title: Image recording apparatus and controlling method for the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-267844, filed on Nov. 25, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Some embodiments according to the present invention relate to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a record medium using ink, and particularly relate to a method for controlling a restoration mechanism at power shutdown of an image recording apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An inkjet technique is one of the recording forms of image recording apparatuses, such as printers, copy machines and FAX machines. Image recording apparatuses using an inkjet technique record an image by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles provided at recording heads to a record medium, such as paper or film. 
     For such an image recording apparatus using an inkjet technique, when image recording is not being performed, it is necessary to cap the nozzle surface of a recording head in order to prevent paper dust and dirt from adhering to the nozzle and the nozzle surface from becoming dried out. In addition, when image recording is not being performed, it is also necessary to move an ink receiving member to a position at which it faces the nozzle in order to prevent the transportation path from becoming stained due to dripping of ink from the nozzle. Therefore, these processes are performed by image recording apparatuses using an inkjet technique when they are in a power shutdown state or in a power-saving mode under which image recording is stopped. 
     Meanwhile, an image recording apparatus repeatedly feeds, transports, and discharges recording media. When these operations are performed, a so-called jam may occur in which a record medium is stuck in the transportation path. When a jam occurs, the user needs to remove the record medium causing the jam and restart the image recording; however, sometimes, the apparatus switches over to a power-saving mode or shuts down the power while in a jam state. 
     As an example, in regard to a technology for performing an initializing process for a printer caught in a paper jam at the turning on of the main power supply, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-141814 (hereinafter referred to as “patent document 1” and incorporated herein by reference) discloses an initializing method of a printer. 
     The printer in patent document 1 performs a paper ejection process before the initializing process, using information from a paper sensor for sensing paper on the paper path and a home sensor for sensing whether the carriage is at the home position or not. In this way, when an initializing process is performed while paper is jammed on the paper path, a carriage error which would occur via the jammed paper touching the carriage is prevented from occurring. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An image recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, which records an image by ejecting ink while a record medium fed from a feed mechanism is being transported by a transportation belt, includes: a recording head comprising a nozzle that ejects ink onto the record medium; a restoration mechanism movable to a remote position and a restoration process position facing the recording head; a jam position detection unit for detecting the position of a stuck record medium when a record medium jam occurs; and a restoration mechanism control unit for determining whether or not to move the restoration mechanism from the retracted position to the restoration process position on the basis of the position of the stuck record medium when a request to operate the restoration mechanism is received while the record medium is jammed. 
     A control method for an image recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, which records an image by ejecting ink while a record medium fed from a feed mechanism is being transported by a transportation belt, comprises: detecting the position of a stuck record medium when a record medium jam occurs; and, when a request to operate a restoration mechanism movable to a retracted position and a restoration process position facing a recording head comprising a nozzle that ejects ink to a record medium is received while the record medium is jammed, determining whether or not to move the restoration mechanism from the retracted position to the restoration process position on the basis of the position of the stuck record medium. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when the accompanying drawings are referenced. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a position example of a feed unit, transportation mechanism, restoration mechanism, image recording unit, and collection unit of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are each a diagram (pattern  1 ) showing a position example of a transportation mechanism, restoration mechanism, and image recording unit of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are each a diagram (pattern  2 ) showing a position example of a transportation mechanism, restoration mechanism, and image recording unit of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart indicating a control process performed by a control unit  20  when the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment switches over to a standby mode, switches over to a low power consumption mode, or receives a power shutdown request. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     In the following, an exemplary situation will be described in which an image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is configured as an full-line type color image recording apparatus. In the full-line type color image recording apparatus, recording heads have a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection which are arranged in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the transportation direction (sub-scanning direction) in which record media are transported, the recording heads are arranged in the sub-scanning direction in such a way that they are spaced from each other, and each of the recording heads corresponds to a different color. Such an image recording apparatus records characters and images by positioning record media on which images are recorded so that they face a plurality of head nozzles at the recording heads and by ejecting ink of certain colors from the head nozzles to the record media. 
     It should be noted that the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is not limited to being a full-line type color image recording apparatus, but can use another recording system as long as it comprises a nozzle that ejects ink to record images. In addition, it is not limited to being an image recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink of a plurality of colors, but may also be an image recording apparatus that records images by ejecting ink of a single color. 
     In the following description, the transportation direction of record media is defined as a sub-scanning direction and the direction orthogonal to the transportation direction is defined as a main scanning direction. 
     First, a configuration of the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 2  shows a position example of a feed unit, transportation mechanism, restoration mechanism, image recording unit, and collection unit of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
     An image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment performs a recording process by ejecting ink from recording heads  17  having a plurality of nozzles to a record medium  30  while the record medium  30  is being transported on a transportation path. 
     The image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment comprises a control unit  20 , a feed unit  2 , a transportation mechanism  3 , a hoisting and lowering mechanism  6 , a restoration mechanism  11 , an image recording unit  15 , and a collection unit  19 . 
     The control unit  20  controls the entirety of the image recording apparatus  1 . The feed unit  2  feeds and transports the record medium  30  to the transportation mechanism  3 . The transportation mechanism  3  transports the record medium passed from the feed unit  2 . The image recording unit  15  records an image on the record medium transported by the transportation mechanism  3 . The collection unit  19  discharges and stores a record medium on which an image was recorded. The hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  moves the transportation mechanism  3  to an upper-limit position (i.e., recording position) when image recording is performed and moves the restoration mechanism  11  placed on the transportation mechanism  3  to a restoration process position when a restoration process is performed. 
     Next, each element of the image recording apparatus  1  will be further described. 
     The control unit  20  has a storage unit  22  and a processing circuit (not shown) composed of an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) with a control function and calculation function. The storage unit  22  comprises: a nonvolatile memory region for saving a control program, a set value relating to control of the image recording apparatus, and the like; and a memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)) for temporarily storing image record information. The control unit  20  controls each element of the image recording apparatus  1  via the MPU reading a control program from the nonvolatile memory region and executing it. When such a control is performed, the control unit  20  also functions as a restoration mechanism control unit  21  and jam position detection unit  23 . 
     Instead of causing the control unit  20  to function as the restoration mechanism control unit  21  and jam position detection unit  23  by causing the MPU to execute a control program, the control unit  20  can also be provided with a restoration mechanism control unit  20  and jam position detection unit  23  configured as signal processing circuits (hardware) controlled by the MPU. 
     The feed unit  2  comprises: a feed tray  2   a  for accommodating sheet-like record media  30 ; a feed drive unit  2   b  for touching the uppermost one of the record media  30  accommodated in the feed tray  2   a  so as to remove the record media  30  one by one, and for passing them to the transportation mechanism  3  side; and a fed medium detection unit  2   c  for sensing the fed recording media  30 . 
     The feed tray  2   a  is composed of, for example, a so-called feed cassette and the like. The feed drive unit  2   b  is composed of, for example, a feed roller. The fed medium detection unit  2   c  comprises one of, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection-type sensor, an electrostatic capacitance type sensor, and the like, and detects, for example, the front end edge or rear end edge of the record medium  30  transported in the sub-scanning direction of the record medium  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transportation mechanism  3  is provided so that the transportation surface faces ink ejection ports of the plurality of recording heads  17 . In the frame of the transportation mechanism  3 , a drive roller  31 , a follower roller  32 , and a transportation drive unit  4  for rotating the drive roller  31  are arranged in the sub-scanning direction and spaced away from each other, and a looped transportation belt  33  covers these rollers so that it can rotate. In the frame of the transportation mechanism  3 , a transportation information generation unit  5  and at least one suction fan (not shown) are provided. 
     At a position upstream from the recording heads  17  in the transportation direction, the transportation information generation unit  5  is provided so that it is coaxial with the follower roller  32 . The transportation information generation unit  5  comprises, for example, an encoder and the like, detects a movement state of the transportation belt  33 , and generates an encoder pulse signal as transportation information such as transportation timing. The suction fan (not shown) generates a negative pressure so as to adsorb the record medium  30  on the transportation belt  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  moves up and down the transportation mechanism  3 . The hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  comprises a reel roller  34 , a hoisting and lowering drive unit  9 , hoisting and lowering follower rollers  35 , wire (cable)  36 , a lower-limit position detection unit  7 , and an upper-limit position detection unit  8 . The reel roller  34  reels the wire  36  when the transportation mechanism  3  is moved up. The hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  drives the reel roller  34 . The hoisting and lowering follower rollers  35 , placed at the four corners of the transportation mechanism  3 , suspend the transportation mechanism  3  using the wire  36 . One end of the wire  36  is connected to the reel roller  34  and the other end (i.e., wire end  36   a ) is connected to the frame of the image recording apparatus (not shown), and the wire  36  is composed of, for example, a wire. The lower-limit position detection unit  7  senses the arrival of the transportation mechanism  3  at the lower-limit position. The upper-limit position detection unit  8  senses the arrival of the transportation mechanism  3  at the upper-limit position (i.e., recording position). The lower-limit position detection unit  7  and upper-limit position detection unit  8  are composed of, for example, an optical transmission sensor, optical reflection-type sensor, or the like, and they report detection information to the control unit  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A,  3 B,  4 A and  4 B, the restoration mechanism  11  can be placed at a retracted position ( FIGS. 2 and 3A ), can move toward the transportation mechanism  3  ( FIG. 3B ), can be placed on the transportation mechanism  3  ( FIG. 4A ), and can be placed at the restoration process position ( FIG. 4B ). 
     The restoration mechanism  11  comprises a restoration mechanism drive unit  12 , a restoration mechanism drive axis  41 , a restoration mechanism guide  42 , a restoration mechanism arm  43 , an ink receiver axis  44 , an ink receiver  45 , and a waste liquid tube  46 . 
     As will be described below, the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  moves the ink receiver  45  from the retracted position to the restoration process position. The restoration mechanism drive axis  41  joins the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  and the restoration mechanism guide  42  together. The restoration mechanism guide  42  covers the restoration mechanism arm  43  and is connected to be rotated by the restoration mechanism drive axis  41 . The restoration mechanism arm  43  and the restoration mechanism guide  42  form a dual structure, and have a telescopic configuration. The ink receiver  45  receives ink ejected from the recording heads  17  when a restoration process is performed. The ink receiver axis  44  joins the restoration mechanism arm  43  and the ink receiver  45  together. The ink receiver  45  comprises, for example, a resin, and can keep ink inside itself. The ink receiver  45  has a wipe member (not shown) inside itself, and the wipe member wipes away ink adhering to the recording heads  17  by moving in the main scanning direction. The waste liquid tube  46  sends ink kept in the ink receiver  45  to a waste liquid tank (not shown). 
     The image recording unit  15  comprises recording heads  17  and a recording head drive unit  16 . 
     The recording heads  17  provide a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink that are arranged linearly. The recording heads  17  are arranged so that they cover a width that is greater than the maximum record medium width based on the design, and can be controlled using a drive signal so that each of the nozzles individually ejects ink. Using a control signal output from the control unit  20  on the basis of recording data, the recording head drive unit  16  outputs to the recording heads  17  drive signals that drive each of the nozzles of the recording heads  17 . 
     Users use an input and display unit  18  in order to give instructions regarding various settings and regarding an activate request of a restoration operation. The input and display unit  18  also notifies the user of the fact that recording is currently being performed and notifies the user of an error and the like. The input and display unit  18  is configured with a so-called operation panel and the like. 
     A collection unit  19  is configured with a storage tray  19   a , discharge drive units  19   b , and a di charged medium detection unit  19   c.    
     The storage tray  19   a  accommodates a discharged record medium  30  and is configured with a so-called accommodation tray and the like. The discharge drive units  19   b  discharge the record medium  30  transported by the transportation mechanism  3  and are configured with, for example, discharge rollers. The discharged medium detection unit  19   c  is configured with, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection-type sensor, an electrostatic capacitance type sensor, or the like, and detects the rear end of the discharged record medium  30  directed in the sub-scanning direction of the record medium  30 . If necessary, the discharged medium detection unit  19   c  may be configured so as to also detect the front end of the record medium  30 . 
     The control unit  20  controls the feed unit  2 , transportation mechanism  3 , hoisting and lowering mechanism  6 , restoration mechanism  11 , image recording unit  15 , and collection unit  19  so that they perform an image recording process on the record medium  30 . The control unit  20  comprises at least the restoration mechanism control unit  21 , storage unit  22 , and jam position detection unit  23 . 
     The restoration mechanism control unit  21  controls the movements of the restoration mechanism  11  onto the transportation mechanism  3  and to the retracted position. In the present embodiment, by causing the MPU of the control unit  20  to read a predetermined control program from a nonvolatile memory of the control unit  20  and to execute it, the control unit  20  functions as the restoration mechanism control unit  21 . 
     The storage unit  22  functions as a nonvolatile memory region for saving a control program, a set value relating to control of the image recording apparatus, and the like, and functions as, for example, a RAM for temporarily storing image record information. 
     When the record medium  30  is jammed while being transported in order to record an image, the jam position detection unit  23  detects the occurrence of the jam and reports to the control unit  20  the position of the record medium  30  stuck in the image recording apparatus  1 . 
     As external equipment of the image recording apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment, an upper apparatus  24  is connected via, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like. The upper apparatus  24  corresponds to a computer that causes the image recording apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment to perform a recording process and that is operated by the user. As information relating to a recording process, the upper apparatus  24  reports job information to the image recording apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment. 
     The job information includes recording data for performing a recording process on the record medium  30 , information indicating the size of the record medium  30 , designation information of margin values of the margins that appear when a recording process is performed on the record medium  30  and that extend in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, and designation information of the number of the record media  30  on which recording processes are performed. When the control unit  20  of the image recording apparatus  1  receives job information reported from the upper apparatus  24 , it causes the storage unit  22  to store the job information as image record information. 
     Next, an image recording process performed on the record medium  30  by the image recording apparatus  1  will be described in detail. 
     When job information is reported from the upper apparatus  24  and when the transportation mechanism  3  is not at the upper-limit position (i.e., recording position), the control unit  20  instructs the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  of the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  to hoist the transportation mechanism  3 . 
     When the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  performs driving, the wire  36  is wound by the reel roller  34 . The transportation mechanism  3  is hoisted via the wire  36  being wound, and when it is hoisted to the upper-limit position, the upper-limit position detection unit  8  reports to the control unit  20  that the transportation mechanism  3  was detected. Then, the control unit  20  causes the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  to stop. 
     Next, when the control unit  20  controls the transportation drive unit  4  of the transportation mechanism  3  so as to rotate the drive roller  31 , the transportation belt  33  starts to be driven. 
     Next, the control unit  20  controls the feed unit  2  so as to cause the feed drive unit  2   b  to pick up the record media  30  one at a time from the feed tray  2   a , and sends them to the transportation mechanism  3  side. 
     Subsequently, the front end of the record medium  30  is detected by the fed medium detection unit  2   c  placed downstream from the feed unit  2 , and the fed medium detection unit  2  outputs an edge signal. When the control unit  20  receives the edge signal, it advances the control process using this edge signal as a trigger signal for generating recording process timing. 
     The record medium  30  is adsorbed on and transported by the transportation belt  33  of the transportation mechanism  3 . In accordance with this transportation, an encoder pulse signal is output from the transportation information generation unit  5  to the control unit  20 . 
     The encoder pulse signal is used as transportation information of the record medium  30  and is also used as a synchronous signal used when the recording heads  17  record an image. In advance, as a pulse number of the encoder pulse signal, the control unit  20  stores in the storage unit  22  the timing of starting ink ejection from the nozzles. The control unit  20  controls the image recording unit  15  at the timing at which the pulse number above is identical with the pulse number of the encoder pulse signal generated by the transportation information generation unit  5 . In accordance with the control performed by the control unit  20 , the image recording unit  15  causes the nozzle of the recording heads  17  to eject ink onto the record medium  30  adsorbed on the transportation belt  33 . 
     On the basis of image record information stored by the storage unit  22 , the control unit  20  outputs to the recording head drive unit  16  recording data of each line, which is used for performing an image recording process. On the basis of the recording data, the recording head drive unit  16  controls the recording heads  17  so as to perform a recording process on the record medium  30 . 
     After an image recording process is performed in this way, the record medium  30  is passed to the collection unit  19  provided downstream from the transportation mechanism  3 . Then, the record medium  30  is held between the discharge drive units  19   b  and is transported downstream. Subsequently, the rear end of the record medium  30  is detected (edge detection) by the discharged medium detection unit  19   c , and the record medium  30  is then stored in the storage tray  19   a.    
     Next, operations performed when the record medium  30  is jammed while the image recording apparatus  1  is performing an image recording process will be described. 
     In the image recording process described above, in accordance with the detection of the front end of the record medium  30  by the fed medium detection unit  2   c , the control unit  20  performs counting until the transportation information generation unit  5  generates a predetermined number of pulses. If the front end of the record medium  30  is not detected by the discharged medium detection unit  19   c  during this counting operation, the control unit  20  determines that the record medium  30  in the process of being transported is jammed somewhere on the transportation belt  33 . 
     The control unit  20 , determining that the record medium  30  is jammed, gives an instruction to stop the transportation drive unit  4  of the transportation mechanism  3  and the discharge drive units  19   b  of the collection unit  19 , and gives an instruction to stop the feed drive unit  2   b  of the feed unit  2  if another record medium  30  follows. 
     At this moment, the record medium  30  is jammed; for example, a record medium  30  stuck on the transportation belt  33  is caught between the transportation belt  33  and the recording heads  17 , and cannot be moved in this situation. 
     Therefore, the control unit  20  instructs the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  of the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  to lower the transportation mechanism  3 . When the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  performs driving in accordance with this instruction, the reel roller  34  rotates and unreels the wire  36 . Via the wire  36  being unreeled, the transportation mechanism  3  is lowered. When the transportation mechanism  3  is lowered to the lower-limit position, the lower-position detection unit  7  reports to the control unit  20  that the transportation mechanism  3  was detected. Upon receiving this report, the control unit  20  stops the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9 . 
     Then, the control unit  20  causes the display unit  18  to indicate that a jam has occurred so as to urge the user to remove the record medium  30  stuck in the image recording apparatus. 
     Here, a situation has been described in which the jammed record medium  30  is stuck on the transportation belt  33 ; however, by performing similar operations, it is also possible to address jams which occur at the feed unit  2  and collection unit  19  which will be illustrated in the following. 
     As an example, assume that the record medium  30  is fed by driving the feed drive unit  2   b  of the feed unit  2  but the fed medium detection unit  2   c  does not detect the rear end of the record medium  30 . This is a situation in which a predetermined time period has passed since the fed medium detection unit  2   c  detected the front end of the record medium  30 , or a situation in which the rear end of the record medium  30  has not been detected yet even after a predetermined number of pulses of the transportation information generation unit  5  were counted. In this situation, since it is possible that the rear end of the record medium  30  is at the feed tray  2   a  side and the front end of the record medium  30  is on the transportation belt  33 , it will be easier to remove the record medium  30  if the transportation mechanism  3  is lowered to the lower-limit position. 
     As another example, assume that after the record medium  3530  is recorded on the transportation belt  33  by the recording heads  17 , it is transported to the collection unit  19 , but the discharged medium detection unit  19   c  of the collection unit  19  does not detect the rear end of the record medium  30 . This is a situation in which a predetermined time period has passed since the discharged medium detection unit  19   c  detected the front end of the record medium  30 , or a situation in which the rear end of the record medium  30  has not been detected yet even after a predetermined number of pulses of the transportation information generation unit  5  were counted. In this situation, the front end of the record medium  30  is on the storage tray  19   a  side or is seen from the storage tray  19   a  side; however, since it is possible that the rear end of the record medium  30  is on the transportation belt  33 , it will be easier to remove the record medium  30  if the transportation mechanism  3  is lowered to the lower-limit position. 
     It is not necessary to lower the transportation mechanism  3  to the lower-limit position in order to address a jam at the feed unit  2 , which will be illustrated in the following. 
     As an example, when the record medium  30  is fed by driving the feed drive unit  2   b  of the feed unit  2  and when the front end of the record medium  30  is not detected by the fed medium detection unit  2   c , the record medium  30  is located upstream from the fed medium detection unit  2   c . In this situation, therefore, the record medium  30  can be removed even when the transportation mechanism  3  is not at the lower-limit position. 
     In the descriptions of jams above, situations were described as examples in which a jam occurs while an image is being recorded on one record medium; in fact, however, image recording may also be performed on a plurality of record media. In such a situation, it is possible that record media  30  positioned before and after the position at which a jam has occurred will also be stuck in the image recording apparatus. Therefore, when a jam occurs, the control unit  20  also detects the positions of all record media  30  stuck in the image recording apparatus. 
     Next, a restoration process performed by the recording heads  17  in the image recording apparatus  1  will be described in connection with the operation of the restoration mechanism. 
     When an instruction, to perform a restoration process is given via the input and display unit  18  and when the transportation mechanism  3  is not located at the lower-limit position, the control unit  20  instructs the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  of the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  to lower the transportation mechanism  3 . When the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  performs driving, the reel roller  34  rotates and unreels the wire  36 . This causes the transportation mechanism  3  to be lowered, and when it is lowered to the lower-limit position, the lower-limit position detection unit  7  reports to the control unit  20  that the transportation mechanism  3  was detected. Upon receiving this report, the control unit  20  stops the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9 . 
     Next, the control unit  20  instructs the restoration mechanism control unit  21  to move the restoration mechanism  11  onto the transportation mechanism  3 . Upon receiving this instruction, the restoration mechanism control unit  21  drives the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  of the restoration mechanism  11 . 
       FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A and  4 B show position examples of the transportation mechanism, restoration mechanism, and image recording unit of the image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a condition in which the restoration mechanism  11  is at a retracted position. Under this condition, when the restoration mechanism control unit  21  drives the restoration mechanism drive unit  12 , the restoration mechanism guide  42  and restoration mechanism arm  43  rotate around the restoration mechanism drive axis  41 . Because of this, the ink receiver  45  leans against the transportation mechanism  3  at a slant. This condition is shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     Under the condition shown in  FIG. 3B , when the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  further performs driving, the ink receiver  45  will be loaded on the transportation mechanism  3 . This condition is shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     Under the condition shown in  FIG. 4A , the control unit  20  instructs the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  of the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  to hoist the transportation mechanism  3 . 
     When the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  performs driving, the wire  36  is wound by the reel roller  34 , and this hoists the transportation mechanism  3  and the restoration mechanism  11  on the transportation mechanism  3 . Then, when the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11  is in contact with the image recording unit  15 , the control unit  20  causes the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  to stop. At this moment, the restoration mechanism  11  is at a restoration operation position and covers the recording heads  17 . The restoration mechanism arm  43  extends from the restoration mechanism guide  42 . In addition, the recording heads  17  for all colors are covered with the ink receiver  45 . This condition is shown in  FIG. 45 . 
     Under the condition shown in  FIG. 45 , the control unit  20  instructs the recording head drive unit  16  to eject ink, and the recording head drive unit  16  causes the recording heads  17  to eject ink. The ejected ink is kept in the ink receiver  45  and a portion of the ejected ink adheres to the surfaces of the recording heads  17 . Accordingly, the control unit  20  wipes away the ink on the surfaces of the recording heads  17  by moving a wipe member (not shown) in the ink receiver  45  in the main scanning direction. Then, the wiped ink is kept in the ink receiver  45 . 
     When the process described above is completed, the control unit  20  instructs the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  of the hoisting and lowering mechanism  6  to lower the transportation mechanism  3 . When the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  performs driving in accordance with this instruction, the reel roller  34  rotates and the wire  36  is unreeled. Via the wire  36  being unreeled, the transportation mechanism  3  and the restoration mechanism  11  on the transportation mechanism  3  are lowered, and when the transportation mechanism  3  is lowered to the lower-limit position, the lower-limit position detection unit  7  reports to the control unit  20  that the transportation mechanism  3  was detected. Upon receiving this report, the control unit  20  causes the hoisting and lowering drive unit  9  to stop. At this moment, the restoration mechanism arm  43  of the restoration mechanism  11  is stored by the restoration mechanism guide  42 . This condition is shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     Then, the control unit  20  instructs the restoration mechanism control unit  21  to move the restoration mechanism  11  on the transportation mechanism  3  to the retracted position. When the restoration mechanism control unit  21  drives the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  of the restoration mechanism  11  upon receiving this instruction, the restoration mechanism guide  42  and restoration mechanism arm  43  rotate around the restoration mechanism drive axis  41 . Because of this, the ink receiver  45  moves toward the retracted position and leans against the transportation mechanism  3  at a slant. This condition is shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     When the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  further performs driving, the ink receiver  45  moves from the transportation mechanism  3  to the retracted position. This condition is shown in  FIG. 3A . At this moment, ink kept in the ink receiver  45  flows through the waste liquid tube  46  into a waste liquid tank (not shown). 
     As described above, the restoration process of the recording heads  17  is performed via the restoration mechanism  11  moving to the restoration operation position. 
     Next, operations performed when the image recording apparatus  1  switches over to the standby mode, switches over to the low power consumption mode, or shuts down the power will be described. Here, operations of the transportation mechanism  3  and restoration mechanism  11  are not described in detail since they are the same as the operations of these mechanisms performed in the restoration process described above. 
     The standby mode is an operation mode for protecting the recording heads when a recording process or the like is not performed for a predetermined time period. When the image recording apparatus  1  is in the standby mode, the ink temperature regulation and the like are the same as those in a waiting state in a normal image recording operation so that image recording can be started as soon as the upper apparatus  24  makes a request for the control unit  20  to record an image. 
     The low power consumption mode is an operation mode in which the control unit  20  can receive a request to record an image from the upper apparatus  24  but other functions are stopped so that, as much as possible, power is not consumed. 
     When the image recording apparatus switches over to the standby mode or low power consumption mode or when the user shuts down the power via the input and display unit  18 , the control unit  20  first moves the transportation mechanism  3  to the lower-limit position if the transportation mechanism  3  is not already located at the lower-limit position. 
     Then, the control unit  20  instructs the restoration mechanism control unit  21  to move the restoration mechanism  11  onto the transportation mechanism  3 . Upon receiving this instruction, the restoration mechanism control unit  21  drives the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  so as to load the ink receiver  45  on the transportation mechanism  3  as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     Subsequently, the control unit  20  hoists the transportation mechanism  3  so as to cover the recording heads  17  for all colors as shown in  FIG. 4B  with the ink receiver  45 . 
     In this way, it is possible to prevent the head nozzle surfaces of the recording heads  17  from becoming dried out. In addition, even when ink drips from the head nozzle of the recording head  17  for some reason, it is possible to prevent the transportation belt  33  from becoming stained. 
     Next, operations performed by the image recording apparatus  1  when the record medium  30  is jammed and when the image recording apparatus  1  switches over to the standby mode, switches over to the low power consumption mode, or shuts down the power will be described. 
     As described above, a jam can occur at the feed unit  2 , transportation mechanism  3 , and collection unit  19 , and the record medium  30  can be stuck at one or more of these parts. As an example, when a jam occurs on the transportation mechanism  3 , the jammed record medium  30  is stuck on the transportation mechanism  3 . Under this condition, if switching over to the standby mode or low power consumption mode is performed or if the power is shut down as described above, the ink receiver of the restoration mechanism  11  pushes the jammed record medium  30  back to the feed unit  2  side when the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11  is loaded on the transportation mechanism  3 . 
     Depending on the condition of the jammed record medium  30 , the jammed record medium  30  might be in contact with the recording head  17  due to the movement of the ink receiver  45 , and this might damage the nozzle surface of the recording head  17 . In addition, the jammed record medium  30  might be in contact with the fed medium detection unit  2  of the feed unit  2 , and this might damage the fed medium detection unit  2   c . Alternatively, a fault might occur in which the jammed record medium  30  is caught by the feed drive unit  2   b , and it will be difficult to remove it. If these things occur, the next recording process will be adversely affected. 
     Accordingly, when a request to switch over to the standby mode or low power consumption mode or a request to shut down the power is made while a jam is occurring, the control unit  20  determines whether or not to perform the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  in accordance with the position of the stuck record medium  30 . 
     As an example, when at least one of the stuck record media  30  is on the transportation belt  33  or at a position at which it is in contact with the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11 , the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  is not performed. 
     As another example, when the record media  30  are stuck only upstream from the fed medium detection unit  2   c , the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  is performed. 
     Needless to say, the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  is not performed when the restoration mechanism  11  cannot be operated due to an error (e.g., when an error occurs causing the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  to be inoperable) or when the transportation mechanism  3  cannot move to the lower-limit position. 
     As described above, by determining whether the restoration mechanism  11  is operable or not in accordance with the position of the jammed and stuck record medium  30 , it is possible to prevent the image recording apparatus  1  from failing due to the stuck record medium  30  being in contact with the ink receiver  45 . By moving, as much as possible, the ink receiver  45  to a position at which it faces the recording heads, it is also possible to prevent the nozzle surfaces of the recording heads  17  from becoming dried out. In addition, even when ink drips from the head nozzle of the recording head  17  for some reason, it is also possible to prevent the transportation belt  33  from becoming stained. 
     Next, details of an operation process performed when the image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment switches over to the standby mode or low power consumption mode or when it receives a power shutdown request will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart indicating a control process performed by a control unit  20  when the image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment switches over to the standby mode, switches over to the low power consumption mode, or receives a power shutdown request. 
     The process shown in  FIG. 5  is achieved via an MPU reading and executing a control program which is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory region of the storage unit  22 . Via the MPU executing the control program, the control unit  20  functions as the restoration mechanism control unit  21  and jam position detection unit  23 . 
     As an example, the control unit  20  receives a power shutdown request from the input and display unit  18 , and performs a lower-limit position movement, process of the transportation mechanism  3  when it is not at the lower-limit position. After this, when the control unit  20  moves the restoration mechanism  11  to the retracted position, it starts the control process in  FIG. 5 . 
     When the image recording apparatus switches over to the standby mode, switches over to the low power consumption mode, or receives a power shutdown request, the control unit  20  first performs in step S 1  a process for determining whether or not there is a record medium  30  stuck at a position at which it hinders the operation of the restoration mechanism  11 . 
     In this case, when the control unit  20  determines that there is a record medium  30  stuck at a position at which it hinders the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  (step S 1 , YES), the process proceeds to step S 5  without the operation of the restoration mechanism  11  being performed. After such a notification is made in step S 5  to the user by sound or display using the input and display unit  18 , the process is terminated. 
     By contrast, when the control unit  20  determines in step S 1  that there is not a record medium  30  stuck at a position at which it hinders the operation of the restoration mechanism (step S 1 , NO), the control unit  20  drives in step S 2  the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  of the restoration mechanism  11 . 
     Then, in step S 3 , the control unit  20  waits for the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11  to rotate and to be loaded on the transportation mechanism  3  as shown in  FIG. 4A  (step S 3 , NO). When the control unit  20  determines that the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11  has been loaded on the transportation mechanism  3  (step S 3 , YES), it stops in step S 4  the operation of the restoration mechanism drive unit  12  of the restoration mechanism  11  and terminates the process. 
     As described above, when the image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment switches over to the standby mode or low power consumption mode or receives a power shutdown request, it checks before operating the restoration mechanism  11  whether a record medium  30  is stuck at a position at which it hinders the operation of the restoration mechanism  11 . If the record medium  30  is stuck at a position at which it hinders the operation of the restoration mechanism  11 , such a notification is made to the user without the restoration mechanism  11  being moved, and then the process is terminated. Accordingly, even without removing a jammed record medium, it is possible to prevent a fault from occurring in which the stuck record medium  30  damages portions of the image recording apparatus  1  when the ink receiver  45  of the restoration mechanism  11  is moved. 
     When it is determined that the restoration mechanism  11  is operable, it is possible to move the ink receiver  45  to a position at which it faces the recording heads so as to prevent the transportation path from becoming stained when ink drips from the recording head to the transportation path. 
     As described above, when the image recording apparatus  1  of the present embodiment receives a request to operate the restoration mechanism while a jam is occurring, it determines whether or not to move the restoration mechanism in accordance with the stagnating state of the record medium. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a stuck record medium from damaging the image recording apparatus when the restoration mechanism is caused to run. Via the control unit  20  determining that the restoration mechanism is movable and via the restoration mechanism being moved to the restoration process position on the basis of the determination, it is also possible to prevent the transportation path from becoming stained due to ink dripping from the recording head to the transportation path. 
     The present invention can form various embodiments by appropriately combining a plurality of elements disclosed in each of the embodiments. As an example, some elements can be removed from an entire configuration indicated in an embodiment, and in addition, elements indifferent embodiments can be appropriately combined. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. In implementation phases of embodiments of the present invention, they can be realized while varying, adding, or removing some elements without departing from the scope of the invention.