Patent Publication Number: US-7914139-B2

Title: Cloth holding frame

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a cloth holding frame and a printer, especially to the cloth holding frame for holding a cloth to be printed, and a printer for printing on the cloth held by the cloth holding frame with an inkjet head. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, an inkjet printer comprises a color inkjet head having a plurality of inkjet nozzles, reciprocating the inkjet head in a parallel direction to a printing direction to provide inkjet color printing on various sizes of papers. 
     For instance, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2002-234188 (Patent Document 1) discloses an inkjet printer having a carriage installed with an inkjet head and capable of moving the carriage from side to side to form various images on recording papers fed by a feeding roller with ink discharged in a downward jet from the inkjet head. 
     The inkjet printer disclosed in the Patent Document 1 comprises an ink tray for receiving the ink discharged from the head for a flushing, in a right end of a platen facing to the head. Therefore, at the flushing in starting printing and during printing, the head is moved to a maintenance position for performing the flushing when needed. 
     Furthermore, variety of techniques for printing patterns and designs on various clothes has been suggested. An inkjet printer capable of printing the patterns and the designs on surfaces of the clothes with the color ink directed in a jet from the ink nozzle to the clothes based on print data has been suggested. 
     For instance, Japanese patent application laid-open No. H05(1993)-84887 (Patent Document 2) discloses a printer in which a Y movable bar in such a manner that it can move in Y direction along a groove formed on both side faces of a machine frame of U-shape in top view. An X movable arm is supported to be movable along the Y movable bar, and an ink head is fixed on an end of the X movable bar. A holding frame holding a cloth for printing is fixedly mounted on a table provided in a center of the machine frame. In this case, the ink head performs printing on a fixed cloth while moving in X and Y directions. 
     In the inkjet printer disclosed in the Patent Document 1, however, the ink tray for the flushing is positioned outside the printable area, and in a flushing position specifically for the flushing positioned opposite to a right end of the platen. Therefore, there are problems that a length of the printer in a printing direction becomes longer, resulting in a large printer. 
     As well as in the printer disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the ink tray for the flushing is provided on the outside of the holding frame so that the cloth held by the holding frame become dirty. Therefore, there are problems that the moving distance of the ink head is longer, and the printer is larger. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide a cloth holding frame and a printer in which the cloth holding frame is set, which can reduce maintenance time for a flushing, enhance speed of printing process, simplify controlling operation of a driving mechanism for the flushing, and achieve downsizing of the printer. 
     To achieve the purpose of the disclosure, there is provided a cloth holding frame to be detachably set in a frame driving mechanism of an inkjet printer having an inkjet head and the frame driving mechanism adapted to move the cloth holding frame, the cloth holding frame being configured to hold a cloth to be printed and comprising: one of an integrally-formed ink tray and a detachable ink tray, for receiving an ink discharged from the inkjet head in flushing the inkjet head. 
     In the cloth holding frame having the above structure, the ink tray is detachably or integrally provided in the cloth holding frame to receive the jet discharged in the jet from the inkjet head by the flushing. Accordingly, the cloth holding frame is moved to the position in which the ink tray provided in the cloth holding frame faces the inkjet head, and then the flushing is performed. Therefore, the ink discharged in the jet from the inkjet head by the flushing is never spilled out, and is surely received by the ink tray without being missed. 
     Furthermore, the ink tray is provided in the cloth holding frame, so that the flushing can be performed while the cloth holding frame is moved horizontally, without the vertical movement of the inkjet head. Accordingly, the maintenance time for the flushing becomes shorter, and the speed of the printing process is enhanced. Further, the controlling operation of the frame driving mechanism to perform the flushing becomes simplified, and the printer can be downsized. 
     Especially in the case where the ink tray is detachably provided in the cloth holding frame, the ink tray can be removed from the cloth holding frame while the cloth is set in or removed. This can avoid the ink tray from being the obstacle while the setting/removing operation. Also, this can avoid the cloth and fingers of the operator form getting dirty while the setting/removing operation. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a printer comprising: a cloth holding frame; a frame driving mechanism for moving the cloth holding frame in each of two directions intersecting at right angles with respect to the inkjet head, and for performing printing on a cloth while moving the cloth holding frame with respect to the inkjet head, and one of an integrally-formed ink tray and a detachable ink tray, for receiving an ink discharged from the inkjet head in flushing for the inkjet head. 
     In the printer having the above structure, the ink tray is detachably or integrally provided in the cloth holding frame to receive the ink directed in the jet from the inkjet head by the flushing. Accordingly, the cloth holding frame is moved to the position in which the ink tray provided in the cloth holding frame faces the inkjet head, and then the flushing is performed. Therefore, the ink discharged in the jet from the inkjet head by the flushing is never spilled out, and is surely received by the ink tray without being missed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a printer in an aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the printer in the aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of a printer main body; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the printer main body; 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of the printer main body; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a cloth holding frame; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 6  in a line G-G; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a substantial part of an outer frame; 
         FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an ink tray; 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the printer main body in a purging process, corresponding to  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of the printer main body in the purging process, corresponding to  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a control system of the printer; 
         FIG. 13  is a cloth holding frame type table; 
         FIG. 14  is a frame information table; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a printing control; 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of the printer in a flushing, corresponding to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view of the printer in a first modified aspect, corresponding to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart of printing control; 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart of flushing position detecting control; 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the cloth holding frame in a second modified aspect, corresponding to  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of  FIG. 20  in a line C-C; 
         FIG. 22  is a plan view of the cloth holding frame in a third modified aspect, corresponding to  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 23  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of  FIG. 21  in a line W-W. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of at least one of some example aspects of a cloth holding frame and a printer embodying the disclosure will now be given referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     A cloth holding frame and a printer of the disclosure comprise an ink tray which is removably provided outside a rim of an outer frame of the cloth holding frame. Also, the cloth holding frame and the printer are configured to perform printing on a cloth with an inkjet head incorporated into a print unit while the cloth holding frame is moving in each of two directions intersecting at right angles, and to arrange for an ink tray to receive a jet of ink from the inkjet head by a flushing. 
     Firstly, a structure of an inkjet printer  1  capable of printing desired pattern and design on cloth W held by a cloth holding frame  10  including an inner frame  15  and an outer frame  16 , with an inkjet head  36  provided in a print unit  30  using color ink will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the printer  1  comprises the cloth holding frame  10  which holds the cloth W detachably, a printer main body  11  which includes a print mechanism  20  having the inkjet head  36  (hereinafter, referred to as a “print head”) for printing on the cloth W held by the cloth holding frame  10 , and a maintenance mechanism  21  capable of performing maintenance of the print head  36  of the print mechanism  20 , and a frame driving mechanism  12  which moves the cloth holding frame  10  in each of the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal thereto so that a printing position of the print head  36  on the cloth W in each of the two directions (the X and Y directions) intersecting at right angles. 
     The cloth holding frame  10  comprises the inner frame  15  and the outer frame  16  made of synthetic resin, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6 . In printing, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the cloth W to be printed is held tightly between the inner frame  15  and the outer frame  16 . It is noted that the cloth W is set in the cloth holding frame  10  with an adhesive supporting sheet (not shown) previously stuck to the back (the underside) thereof so that the cloth W is set without creases. 
     A connecting part  16   a  is integrally formed with the outer frame  16 , and removably fit into a Y carriage  13  of the frame driving mechanism  12 . Noted that the cloth holding frame  10  is shaped like a rectangle, but the various shapes of frames such as an ellipse and a circle may be applicable. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the printer main body  11  comprises a bed  2  of which long side is positioned in a lateral direction, a column  3  standing uprightly at the right end of the bed  2 , and an arm  4  extending to the left from the column  3 . The frame driving mechanism  12  is installed inside the bed  2 . An end of the arm  4  is perpendicularly bent toward the front substantially like an L shape in top view. A mechanism attachment  5  is provided in the end of the arm  4 . The print mechanism  20  and the maintenance mechanism  21  are attached to the mechanism attachment  5 . 
     The print mechanism  20  is positioned in the rearward part of the mechanism attachment  5 , being able to move up and down. The maintenance mechanism  21  is arranged to be movable back and forth between a standby position on a front side and a maintenance position on the rear side under the print mechanism. In  FIG. 1 , an arrow PD pointing in the rearward direction indicates a moving direction (a printing direction) of the cloth holding frame  10  holding the cloth W in printing. An arrow pd pointing in the forward direction indicates a printing direction for the print mechanism  20 . 
     More specifically, the cloth holding frame  10  can move back and forth (the Y direction), and from side to side (the X direction) being driven by the frame driving mechanism. Printing is performed with the print head  36  only when the cloth holding frame  10  moves backward in the printing direction PD. This printing is so-called one-way printing. Therefore, the printing direction with respect to the cloth W is the direction of the arrow pd. 
     After printing has completed in one row, the cloth holding frame  10  is moved toward the front side (the opposite direction in the printing direction PD), and then toward the left and the right (the X direction). After that, printing is performed in a next row while the cloth holding frame  10  is moved along the printing direction PD. In this manner, printing can be performed over the whole printable area within the cloth holding frame  10  on the cloth W while the cloth holding frame  10  is moved repeatedly along the printing direction PD. 
     On a front face of the column  3 , there are provided a display for selecting the pattern and the design to be printed and a showing of various kinds of setting screens, variety of switches, and display lamps for showing the set conditions. Also on the front face of the column  3 , a jack connectable to electronic equipment such as a personal computer through a USB cable, and a connector attachable to a memory card such as a ROM card and a RAM card. All the above items are not shown in the figures. 
     The frame driving mechanism  12  (not shown) comprises a Y direction driver which moves the cloth holding frame  10  set in the Y carriage  13  provided on the bed  2  in the Y direction (the back-and-forth direction) with a Y direction driving motor  97  (see  FIG. 12 ). The frame driving mechanism  12  (not shown) also comprises an X direction driver which is installed inside the bed  2  and moves the Y carriage  13  in the X direction (the side-to-side direction) with an X direction driving motor  95  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     Next, the print mechanism  20  provided in the mechanism attachment  5  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . A chassis  6  formed like a substantially rectangular frame is provided in the mechanism attachment  5 . The print mechanism  20  is installed inside the chassis  6  on the rear side. The print mechanism  20  has a print unit  30  including the print head  36 , an up-and-down driving mechanism  31  which moves the print unit  30  up and down so that it comes close to or away from the cloth W. 
     Firstly, the print unit  30  of a box shape will be explained. A pair of head guide shafts  35  is uprightly placed in a rear left side of the chassis  6  aligned in the back-and-forth direction, and both top and low ends of the head guide shafts  35  are supported by the chassis  6 . A unit frame  30 F which is one components of the print unit  30  is supported on the left side by the pair of the head guide shafts  35 , being movable up and down. It is noted that the print unit  30  is arranged as an inkjet system. 
     Therefore, the print head  36  is provided in a bottom of the print unit  30 , facing downward. Four types of ink cartridges (not shown) containing four different color inks (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) respectively, and ink feeding pipes (not shown) connecting the ink cartridges to the print head  36 , both of which are not shown, are installed in upper part of the print head  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the print head  36  includes four nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d  unitized into two rows by two nozzle lines ( 36   a  and  36   b , and  36   c  and  36   d ) closely placed to each other. Each of the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d  has a plurality of jet nozzles in one line. The print head  36  can print each line in one-inch width. When receiving a print command from a control unit  80  described later, the print head  36  directs a jet of the inks supplied from the ink cartridges downward at the cloth W from the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d  by a deformation of a piezoelectric ceramic actuator. 
     Next, the up-and-down driving mechanism  31  which moves the print unit  30  up and down will be explained. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a rack member  40  is vertically fixed to an outer left side of the unit frame  30 F with a plurality of screws. A head up-and-down driving motor  41  is attached to a part of the chassis  6  facing the left side of the unit frame  30 F. Further, a gear complex  43  including a large diameter gear  43   a  which engages with a driving gear  42  supported by a driving axis of the head up-and-down driving motor  41  is also rotatably supported by the part of the chassis  6  facing the left side of the unit frame  30 F. A small diameter gear  43   b  of the gear complex  43  is engaged with teeth  40   a  of the rack member  40  of the print unit  30 . 
     Accordingly, while the head up-and-down driving motor  41  drives and rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the print unit  30  moves up and down between an upper printing position shown in  FIG. 3  and a lower printing position shown in  FIG. 10  by an engagement of the gear complex  43  and the rack member  40 , being guided by the pair of the head guide shafts  35 . 
     Next, the maintenance mechanism  21  performing a purge except in printing will be explained. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the maintenance mechanism  21  is movable between back and forth in the chassis  6 , and comprises a maintenance unit  50  including a capping mechanism  55  and a purging mechanism  56 , and a back-and-forth driving mechanism  51  to move the maintenance unit  50  back and forth. 
     Firstly, the maintenance unit  50  shaped like the box will be explained. A maintenance guide shaft  52  is provided along the back-and-forth direction, and both back and front ends of the maintenance guide shaft  52  are supported by the chassis  6 . A unit frame  50 F which is one components of the print unit  30  is supported on the right side by the maintenance guide shaft  50 , being movable back and forth. Also, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the unit frame  50 F is supported being movable back and forth with the back-and-forth driving mechanism  51  described later, by an engagement member  53  fixed to the maintenance unit  50  being engaged with a bottom of the chassis  6 . 
     The maintenance unit  50  has the capping mechanism  55  and the purging mechanism  56  which enable capping process and purging process respectively. An ink tray  68  to receive the jet of ink from the print head  36  by the flushing is removably provided outside the rim of the outer frame of the cloth holding frame  10 , as described later. 
     Firstly, capping mechanism  55  will be briefly explained. The capping mechanism  55  comprises a pair of head caps  57  in the vicinity of the top part of the unit frame  50 F. The capping mechanism  55  consists of rubber cap capable of being in a close contact with a surface of the print head  36  from below. A purge motor  90  (see  FIG. 12 ) of the purge mechanism  56 , described later, drives to move the head caps  57  upward, and bring it into contact with the surface of the print head  36  to cap the surface from below. This can prevent a plurality of the ink nozzles from being dried. 
     The purge mechanism  56  will be briefly explained. The purge mechanism  56  comprises a pair of the head caps  57  and a suction pump  92  (see  FIG. 12 ). As aforementioned, when the head caps  57  are moved up to a position for capping, the purge mechanism  56  drives the suction pump  92  to cause a negative pressure inside the head cap  57  in capping state, and to suck bubbles which cause a blockage of the nozzles and the ink which becomes dried and highly viscous, maintaining a good printing state. 
     Next, the back-and-forth driving mechanism  51  will be explained. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a back-and-forth driving motor  60  is secured to an outer wall of the chassis  6  in a right rear end thereof. A driving gear  61  is supported by the driving axis of the back-and-forth driving motor  60 . A large-diameter driven gear  62  which engages with the driving gear  61  is rotatably supported by the chassis  6 . Further, the driven gear  62  is integrally formed with a driving pulley  63 . A driven pulley  64  is rotatably supported by the chassis  6  in the right front side, and a driving belt  65  of a timing belt is looped over the driving pulley  63  and the driven pulley  64 . 
     The unit frame  50 F which constitutes the print unit  30  is partially secured to the driving belt  65  with a fixing fitting  66 . Therefore, the maintenance unit  50  can be moved from the standby position on the front side shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to the maintenance position on the rear side shown in  FIG. 10  with the driving gear  61 , the driving pulley  63  and the driving belt  65 , as the back-and-forth driving motor  60  is driven. 
     Next, the ink tray  68  provided outside the rim of the outer frame  16  of the cloth holding frame  10  will be explained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the ink tray  68  is provided in a short side  16   b  at the rear of the outer frame  16 , or the outside (the rim side) of the short side  16   b  on the rear side opposite to an operator side (front side), when the cloth holding frame  10  is set in the Y carriage  13  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The ink tray  68  is of a rectangular shape having a long side parallel with the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d , and is longer than the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d . An ink absorber  69  such as a sponge absorbable of the flushed ink by the print head  36  is provided at a center of the ink tray  68 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a pair of hooks  68   a  is integrally provided on either side of the ink tray  68 . In an upper end of the outer frame  16  as shown in  FIG. 8 , hollows  16   c  are provided facing to the hooks  68   a , and slits  16   d  are vertically formed connecting to the hollows  16   c . The ink tray  68  can be detachably set outside the rim of the outer frame  16  with the hooks  68   a  to be engaged with the hollows  16   c  and the slots  16   d  on the opposite side in the outer frame. 
     Next, a frame-type detection mechanism  72  to detect the type of the cloth holding frame  10  will be explained. The connecting part  16   a  of the cloth holding frame  10  has at least one of a first recess  16   e , a second recess  16   f  and a third recess  16   g  of approximately triangular shapes. For instance, in the cloth holding frame  10  shown in  FIG. 6 , there are formed the first recess  16   e  and the third recess  16   g  of the three of the first to third recesses  16   e  to  16   g.    
     When the cloth holding frame  10  is set in the Y carriage  13 , the Y carriage  13  into which the connecting part  16   a  is fit has three of a first through a third detection switches  73  to  75  (see  FIG. 12 ), which are brought into contact with the first through the third recesses  16   e  to  16   g  respectively. The first detection switch  73  outputs a detection signal of level “H” when it is in contact with the first recess  16   e , or a detection signal of level “L” when it is not in contact with the first recess  16   e.    
     As in the case of the first detection switch  73 , the second and the third detection switches  74 ,  75  output the detection signals of level “H” when they are in contact with the second and third recesses  16   f ,  16   g  respectively, whereas they output the detection signals of level “L” when they are not in contact with the second and third recesses  16   f ,  16   g . When the cloth holding frame  10  shown in  FIG. 6  is set in the Y carriage  13 , the first and the third detection switches  73 ,  75  output the detection signals of level “H”, but the second detection switch  74  outputs the detection signal of level “L”, since the cloth holding frame  10  has two recesses of the first and the third recesses  16   e ,  16   g.    
     Next, a block diaphragm of a control system of the printer  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     The printer main body  11  comprises the control unit  80  including a CPU  81 , a ROM  82 , a RAM  83  and an input/output interface (I/O)  84 , various operation switches  85  such as a print starting switch and a frame moving switch, a head-reference-height position detecting device  86  for setting a height of the print head  36  at a reference height (2 mm) with respect to a face to be printed of the cloth W, a drive circuit  87  for driving the print head  36 , a drive circuit  88  for driving the head up-and-down driving motor  41 , a drive circuit  89  for driving the back-and-forth driving motor  60 , the drive circuit  91  for driving the purge motor  90 , and a drive circuit  93  for driving the suction pump  92 . 
     Further, the control unit  80  is electrically connected with the first through the third detection switches  73  to  75 . The ROM  82  stores a control program for controlling and driving the driving mechanisms  12 ,  20 ,  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56 . In addition to the control program, the Rom  82  further stores a cloth holding frame type table data shown in  FIG. 13  and a frame information table data shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The cloth holding frame type table stores the data of the detection signals from the first through the third detection switches  73  to  75 , in association with the types of the cloth holding frame  10 . For instance, when the cloth holding frame  10  shown in  FIG. 6  is set in the Y carriage  13 , the first and the third detection switches  73 ,  75  output the detection signals of level “H”, so that the type of the cloth holding frame  10  is detected as the “cloth holding frame F”. 
     The cloth holding frame type table includes the data of printable areas, origin points O in the printable areas, and distances in the Y direction from the front-side two nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d  to the ink tray  68 , each of which are in association with the types of the cloth holding frame  10 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the distance in the Y direction is the distance from the origin point O (corresponding to a specific position) to the ink tray  68  in the Y direction with added the distance from the origin point O to the front-side two nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d  in the Y direction. 
     For instance, when the cloth holding frame (F)  10  shown in  FIG. 6  is set in the Y carriage  13 , the printable area is “f 1  to F  4 ”, the origin point is “Of”, and the distance to a flushing position FP of the ink tray  68  in the Y direction is “Yf”. The distance “Yf” is the distance Yx in the Y direction from the origin point Of to the ink tray  68 , added with the distance Ym in the Y direction from the origin point O to the front-side two nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d.    
     The frame driving mechanism  12  comprises a carriage position detection sensor  94  for detecting the position of the cloth holding frame  10  in the X and Y directions, a drive circuit  96  for driving the X direction driving motor  95  and the drive circuit  98  for driving the Y direction driving motor  97 . 
     Next, a printing control performed in the control unit  80  in the printer main body  11  will be explained with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 15 . 
     When the power is turned on, initializing operation is firstly performed in the printer  1  (S 11 ). In this initializing operation, the initialization of the control system is performed. At the same time, the cloth holding frame  10  is moved with the frame driving mechanism  12 , and the print head  36  is set at the position above the origin point (the center point) in the printable area. 
     When the cloth holding frame  10  holding the cloth W receives the print command when the cloth holding frame  10  is set in the Y carriage  13  (S 12 :Yes), the frame type information of the cloth holding frame  10  is imported from the cloth holding frame type table shown in  FIG. 13 , based on the detection signals from the first through the third detection switches (S 13 ). Next, according to the frame type information, the frame information is read from the frame information table shown in  FIG. 14  (S 14 ). 
     Next, based on the frame information, the moving distance in the Y direction from the current position (the origin point) of the cloth holding frame  10  to the flushing position FP of the ink tray  68  is calculated for the flushing (S 15 ). The cloth holding frame  10  is moved in the direction (frontward) opposite to the printing direction (PD), by the calculated moving distance (see  FIG. 16 ) (S 16 ). 
     The cloth holding frame  10  thereby positioned at the flushing point FP moves increasingly faster in the printing direction PD, and performs the flushing twice for the front side nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d  and the rear side nozzle lines  36   a ,  36   d  continuously (S 17 ). After that, the printing operation is performed in one line in the printable area, as mentioned above (S 18 ). 
     In printing, the cloth holding frame  10  moves back and forth in the Y direction along the predetermined distance including the flushing position FP and the printable area. At the time of the flushing during the printing operation line by line (S 19 :Yes), the flushing is performed when the cloth holding frame  10  reaches the flushing position FP (S 17 ). When the printing operation ends (S 20 :Yes), this control has been completed. 
     As mentioned above, the cloth holding frame  10  holding the cloth W to be printed is removably set in the frame driving mechanism  12  in the printer  1  in which the print head  36  is provided. The ink tray  68  is detachably provided in the cloth holding frame  10  to receive the jet of ink from the print head  36  by the flushing. Accordingly, the cloth holding frame  10  is moved to the position in which the print head  36  faces the ink tray  68  provided in the cloth holding frame  10 , and then the flushing is performed. Therefore, the jet of ink from the print head  36  by the flushing is surely received by the ink tray  68  without being missed. 
     Furthermore, the ink tray  68  is provided in the cloth holding frame  10 , so that the flushing can be performed as a part of the printing process while the cloth holding frame  10  is continuously moved, without the vertical movement of the print head  36 . Accordingly, the maintenance time for the flushing becomes shorter, and the speed of the printing process is enhanced. Further, the controlling operation of the frame driving mechanism  12  to perform the flushing becomes simplified, and the printer  1  can be downsized. 
     Especially in the case where the ink tray  68  is detachably provided in the cloth holding frame  10 , the ink tray  68  can be removed from the cloth holding frame  10  while the cloth W is set in or removed. This can avoid the ink tray  68  from being the obstacle while the setting/removing operation. Also, this can avoid the cloth W and fingers of the operator form getting dirty while the setting/removing operation. 
     The cloth holding frame  10  has the outer frame  16  and the inner frame  15 . The ink tray  68  is provided outside the rim of the outer frame  16 , so that the printable area inside the inner frame  15  can be kept as large as it is. Further, the cloth W is set on the top face of the cloth holding frame  10 . Accordingly, the ink tray  68  can be positioned at the predetermined flushing position facing to the print head  36  only by the horizontal movement of the cloth holding frame  10 , without the vertical movement of the print head  36 . 
     The ink tray  68  provided outside the rim of the outer frame  16  can surely receive the ink directed in the jet from the print head  36 . 
     When the cloth holding frame  10  is set in the printer  1 , the ink tray  68  is of the rectangular shape having the long side parallel with the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d , and is longer than the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d . Therefore, the width of the ink tray  68  can be as wide as the two rows of the nozzle lines formed in the print head  36 , and the ink tray  68  can be downsized. 
     Furthermore, the ink tray  68  is longer than the nozzle lines  36   a  to  36   d , so that all of the nozzles can be flushed at the same time. The time for the flushing can become shorter. 
     When the cloth holding frame  10  is set in the printer  1 , the ink tray  68  is provided in a short side  16   b  of the outer frame  16 , or the rear outside (the rim side) of the outer frame  16  opposite to an operator side (front side). Therefore, the ink tray  68  can be avoided from being the obstacle while the operator is setting the cloth holding frame  10  in the frame driving mechanism  12 , and uses the printer  1 . 
     The replaceable ink absorber  69  is installed inside the ink tray  68 , so that the ink received by the ink tray  68  is never spilled out while the cloth holding frame  10  is moving, and only the ink absorber can be easily replaced as needed. 
     Furthermore, the printer  1  comprises the print head  36 , the cloth holding frame  10  holding the cloth W, and the frame driving mechanism  12  for moving the cloth holding frame  10  in each of the X and Y directions intersecting at right angles with respect to the print head  36 , and performs printing on the cloth W, moving the cloth holding frame  10  by the frame driving mechanism  12  with respect to the cloth W. In this printer  1 , the position of the ink tray  68  with respect to the cloth W can be detected in an association with a target position of the cloth holding frame  10 . Based on the movement of the frame driving mechanism  12  and the detected position of the ink tray  68 , the ink tray  68  can be positioned at the predetermined flushing position FP facing to the print head  36  in the flushing. Therefore, the ink tray  68  provided in a part of the cloth holding frame  10  can be positioned securely and easily at the predetermined flushing position FP facing to the print head  36 , since the position of the ink tray is detected in the association with the target position of the cloth holding frame  10  set in the frame driving mechanism  12 . 
     The frame information includes the types of the cloth holding frame  10   m  and, in association therewith, the flushing position FP of the ink tray  68  with respect to the origin point of the cloth holding frame  10 , for the detection of the type of the cloth holding frame  10  set in the frame driving mechanism  12 . Based on the type of the cloth holding frame  10  and the frame information, the frame driving mechanism is moved to position the ink tray  68  at the predetermined flushing position FP. With just the movement of the frame driving mechanism based on the type of the cloth holding frame  10  set in the frame driving mechanism  12 , the flushing can be performed. Therefore, the detecting control of the ink tray  68  position can be simplified. 
     Furthermore, the first through the third recesses  16   e  to  16   g  provided in the connecting part  16   a  of the cloth holding frame  10  are detected by the first through the third detection switches  73  to  75  provided in the Y carriage  13  of the frame driving mechanism  12  respectively. With only the detection of the first through the third recesses  16   e  to  16   g  which are unique to each type of the cloth holding frame  10  set in the connecting part  16   a  of the cloth holding frame  19 , the type of the cloth holding frame  10  can be reliably identified based on the first through the third recesses  16   e  to  16   g . Accordingly, the frame information of each cloth holding frame  19  can be correctly read. 
     Next, some modified aspects of partial modifications of the above aspect will be explained. 
     Firstly, a first of some modified aspects will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 17 to 19 . A detector provided in a printer  1  determines the flushing position FP with respect to an ink tray  68 A, by detecting a seal  101  provided in the ink tray  68 A just after the power-on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , a photo interrupter  100  (corresponding to the detector) is fixed to the underside of the corner of the arm  4  and the mechanism attachment  5 , facing downward. The detection seal  101  which is small, round and reflectable is adhered to the top face of the left end of the ink tray  68 A. The photo interrupter  100  integrally comprises a light emitter and a photoreceptor. The light emitted from the light emitter directly downward can be received by the photoreceptor when the light is reflected by the detection seal  101 . 
     When the print head  36  faces to the origin point of the cloth holding frame  10  (see  FIG. 17 ), “X 0 ”, or the distance in the X direction from the photo interrupter  100  to the detection seal  101 , is set as long as all other types of the cloth holding frame  10  of the various sizes and shapes. On the other hand, the distance “Y 0 ” in the Y direction from the photo interrupter  100  to the detection seal  101  depends on the type of the cloth holding frame  10 . However, the distance “Yn” in the Y direction from the nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d  on the front side is the predetermined distance. 
     The printing control starts, and the initializing process is performed in a same manner as S 11  of the printing control in the abovementioned aspect (S 25 ), as shown in  FIG. 18 . A flushing position detection process is performed (S 19 ). The control starts, and then the cloth holding frame  10  is moved in the X direction by the distance “X 0 ” (S 35 ), as shown in  FIG. 19 . Next, the light emitter of the photo interrupter  100  emits the light (S 36 ). When the detection seal  101  is not detected, or the photoreceptor does not receive the reflected light (S 37 :No), the Y direction driving motor  97  is driven only for  1  pulse (S 38 ). 
     When the Y carriage  13  is not at the limit position of moving in the Y direction (S 39 :No), the process repeats from S 37  to S 39 . The detection seal  101  is detected with the result that the light emitted from the light emitter is reflected by the detection seal  101 , and the photoreceptor receives the reflected light (S 37 :Yes), the moving distance “Y 0 ” in the Y direction is written (S 40 ). The light emitter is stopped emitting the light (S 42 ), and this control ends. The process returns to the printing control. 
     When the Y carriage  13  is at the limit position of moving in the Y direction (S 39 :Yes), the error process is performed, giving an warning sound for instance (S 41 ). In the printing control, the print-start command is executed when the cloth holding frame  10  holding the cloth W is set in the Y carriage  13  (S 27 :Yes), and the cloth holding frame  10  is moved from the current position (the origin point) to the flushing position (FP) for the flushing (S 28 ). 
     As mentioned above, the cloth holding frame  10  is at first moved in the X direction by the distance “X 0 ”. After that, the detection seal  101  is detected while the cloth holding frame  10  is moved in the Y direction. Finally, the cloth holding frame  10  reaches the flushing position FP. 
     The cloth holding frame  10  thereby positioned at the flushing position FP moves increasingly faster in the printing direction PD, and performs the flushing twice for the front side nozzle lines  36   c ,  36   d  and the rear side nozzle lines  36   a ,  36   d  continuously (S 29 ). After that, the printing operation is performed in one line in the printable area, as mentioned above (S 30 ). 
     In printing, the cloth holding frame  10  moves back and forth in the Y direction along the predetermined distance including the flushing position FP and the printable area. At the time of the flushing during the printing operation line by line (S 31 :Yes), the flushing is performed when the cloth holding frame  10  reaches the flushing position FP (S 29 ). When the printing operation ends (S 320 :Yes), this control has been completed. 
     As described above, the detection seal  101  as a to-be-detected portion is provided in a part of the ink tray  68 A. The ink tray  68 A is positioned at the predetermined flushing position FP with the detection of the detection seal  101  with the photo interrupter  100  provided in the print head  36  while the frame driving mechanism  12  is moving. Accordingly, the flushing can be performed only by the detection of the detection seal  101  by the photo interrupter  100  while the frame driving mechanism  12  is moving. This can simplify the position detecting control of the ink tray  68 A. 
     Next, a second of some modified aspects will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 20 and 21 . As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the ink tray  68 B may be integrally formed in the short side  16   b  of the outer frame  16 A of the cloth holding frame  10 A. In this case, the structure of the ink tray  68 A can be simplified. Further, the ink tray  68 B can be avoided being lost. 
     Next, a third of some modified aspects will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 22 and 23 . As shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , the ink tray  68 C may be integrally formed inside the inner frame  15 A of the cloth holding frame  10 B. Also in this case, the structure of the ink tray  68 C can be simplified. Further, the ink tray  68 C can be avoided being lost. 
     Furthermore, the ink tray  68 C formed inside the inner frame  15 A of the cloth holding frame  10 B can surely receive the ink directed in the jet from the print head  36  by the flushing. Furthermore, the ink tray  68 C may be detachably provided, not being integrally formed in the inner frame  15 A. 
     While the presently aspect has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.