Patent Publication Number: US-11660869-B2

Title: Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2020-077194, filed Apr. 24, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to liquid ejecting apparatuses and liquid ejecting methods. 
     2. Related Art 
     As disclosed in JP-A-2005-238780, for example, some liquid ejecting apparatuses discharge viscous ink accumulated inside the nozzles during a print operation. This additional operation is called the flushing operation. 
     To perform a quality print operation, it is preferable to constantly discharge a large amount of liquid in the flushing operation, independently of the distance between the ejection surface of a liquid ejecting head and the surface of a medium; this distance depends on the type of the medium. However, performing the flushing operation in this manner may decelerate the print process. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus. This liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting unit that includes a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged and an ejection surface on which the nozzle opens; an acquisition unit that obtains distance information indicating a distance between the ejection surface and a surface of a medium on which the liquid discharged through the nozzle is to land; and a controller that varies a flushing amount in accordance with the distance information obtained, the flushing amount being an amount of the liquid discharged during a flushing operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid through the nozzle as a maintenance operation. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid ejecting method performed by a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a liquid ejecting unit. This liquid ejecting unit includes a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged and an ejection surface on which the nozzle opens. The above method includes: obtaining distance information indicating a distance between the ejection surface and a surface of a medium on which the liquid discharged through the nozzle is to land; and varying a flushing amount in accordance with the distance information obtained, the flushing amount being an amount of a liquid discharged during a flushing operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid through the nozzle as a maintenance operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a primary configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus in a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a medium distance, which is the distance between the medium and the ejection surface of the liquid ejecting unit. 
         FIG.  3    is a table that lists measurements of a landing deviation amount. 
         FIG.  4    is a graph on which the measurements in  FIG.  3    are plotted. 
         FIG.  5    is a graph showing the relationship between the medium distance and a flushing interval. 
         FIG.  6    is a flowchart of a print process performed by the controller in the liquid ejecting apparatus. 
         FIG.  7    is a table that lists set values of the medium distance stored in the memory in a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A. First Embodiment 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a primary configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus  100  in a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The liquid ejecting apparatus  100 , which may be implemented by an ink jet printer in this embodiment, includes a feed roller  24 , a feed motor  25 , a platen  26 , a carriage  28 , a carriage motor  30 , an endless belt  32 , guide rails  34 , a liquid ejecting unit  40 , and a controller  90 . 
       FIG.  1    illustrates the +X, +Y, and +Z arrows, which are orthogonal to one another. The Z directions include the +Z direction indicated by the +Z arrow which corresponds to the lower direction in the vertical, and the −Z direction opposite to the +Z direction which corresponds to the upper direction in the vertical. Sometimes, the +Z direction is referred to simply as “downward”, whereas the −Z direction is referred to simply as “upward”. The X directions include the +X direction indicated the +X arrow and the −X direction opposite to the +X direction. The carriage  28  moves in the X directions. The +X direction corresponds to the left direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  as viewed from the direction opposite to that in which a medium P is to be ejected, whereas the −x direction corresponds to the right direction opposite to the +x direction. The ±X directions are sometimes referred to as the main-scanning directions. The Y directions include the +Y direction indicated by the +Y arrow and the −Y direction opposite to +Y direction. The medium P is transported in the Y directions. The +Y direction corresponds to a direction in which the medium P is to be ejected. The ±Y directions are sometimes referred to as the sub-scanning directions. 
     The carriage  28  has an upper surface to which a plurality of ink containers  41  are detachably attached; each of the ink containers  41  contains an ink as an example of a liquid. Although the carriage  28  may have four ink containers  41  that contain black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in this embodiment, the number of ink containers  41  is not limited. Each ink container  41  may also be referred to as the ink cartridge or tank. 
     The carriage  28  has a lower surface on which a liquid ejecting unit  40  is mounted. The liquid ejecting unit  40  includes: nozzles  42  through which the liquid is to be discharged; and an ejection surface  43  on which the nozzles  42  open in the +Z direction. The liquid ejecting unit  40  may also be referred to as the liquid ejecting head or print head. The liquid ejecting unit  40  discharges the inks onto the medium P placed on the platen  26  in droplet form. The liquid ejecting unit  40  further includes: passages therein through which the inks are to flow from the ink containers  41  into the nozzles  42 ; and actuators disposed at predetermined positions inside the passages to discharge the inks from the ink containers  41  to the outside through the nozzles  42 . Each of the actuators may include a piezo element and a heater. 
     The carriage  28  is disposed on the endless belt  32  to be driven by the carriage motor  30 . The carriage  28  is moved in the ±X directions along the guide rails  34  extending in the +X direction by the endless belt  32  driven by the carriage motor  30 . When the carriage  28  moves, the ink containers  41  and the liquid ejecting unit  40  also move together. While the carriage  28  is moving in the +X or −X direction across the width of the medium P, the liquid ejecting unit  40  performs a print operation on the medium P. This operation is referred to as a one-pass or one-main-scan. 
     The feed roller  24  transports the medium P in the ±Y directions over the platen  26  by being driven by the feed motor  25 . In this embodiment, the medium P may be any given type of medium, examples of which include paper sheets, fabric sheets, and resin films. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  100  has a maintenance position MP adjacent to the side of the platen  26  in the −X direction. Disposed at the maintenance position MP are a wiper  60  and a waste ink container  70  in order to maintain the liquid ejecting unit  40 . 
     The wiper  60 , which is disposed between the platen  26  and the waste ink container  70  in the +X direction, has a rubber blade extending upward. The wiper  60  removes contaminants from the ejection surface  43  of the liquid ejecting unit  40  when the carriage  28  moves over the wiper  60  along the endless belt  32 . It should be noted that the wiper  60  is an optional component in the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 . 
     The waste ink container  70  receives inks discharged from the liquid ejecting unit  40  during the flushing operation. The waste ink container  70  may have an ink absorber, such as a sponge, therein. Herein, the flushing operation refers to an operation of maintaining the liquid ejecting unit  40 , which is performed separately from the print operation on the medium P. During the flushing operation, the liquid ejecting unit  40  continuously discharges the inks to a region outside the print area for the medium P, thereby suppressing an occurrence of a failure to discharge the inks due to viscous ink accumulated inside the nozzles  42  and the liquid ejecting unit  40 . The liquid ejecting unit  40  preferably performs the flushing operation only at the maintenance position MP apart from the platen  26  in terms of the print quality, although it can perform the flushing operation near the medium P or the platen  26 . 
     The controller  90 , which may be implemented by a computer, includes a central processing unit (CPU)  91  and a memory  92  such as random-access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM). The CPU  91  executes programs stored in the memory  92 , causing the controller  90  to perform a print process on the medium P by controlling the feed motor  25 , the carriage motor  30 , and the liquid ejecting unit  40 . In this embodiment, the controller  90  repeatedly performs print operations on the medium P and flushing operations on the waste ink container  70  throughout the print process. 
     The CPU  91  can also cause the controller  90  to act as an acquisition unit  95  by executing a certain program stored in the memory  92 . The acquisition unit  95  obtains distance information, which is information that indicates the distance between the ejection surface  43  and the surface of the medium P on which the inks discharged through the nozzles  42  are to land. Hereinafter, the distance between the ejection surface  43  and the surface of the medium P is referred to as a medium distance MG. In this embodiment, the acquisition unit  95  obtains the distance information by measuring the medium distance MG with detector  50 . 
     In this embodiment, the detector  50 , which may be implemented by a transmissive type of displacement sensor, include: a light-emitting section  51  that generates a laser light beam widened in the +Z direction and emits this laser light beam to the medium P in the +X direction; and a light detecting section  52  that receives the laser light beam from the light-emitting section  51 . The light-emitting section  51  and the light detecting section  52  are arranged such that the medium P is movable therebetween. The detector  50  detects a thickness T of the medium P based on the amount of the light beam detected by the light detecting section. The light beam detected by the light detecting section is light that has been not blocked by the medium P in the light beam emitted from the light-emitting section  51 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates the medium distance MG, which is calculated by subtracting the thickness T of the medium P measured with the detector  50  from a distance PG between the ejection surface  43  and the platen  26 . The distance PG may be a preset value stored in the memory  92 . The acquisition unit  95  obtains information regarding the thickness T of the medium P from the detector  50  and calculates the medium distance MG based on an equation (1) described below:
 
 MG=PG−T   (1),
 
     wherein PG denotes the distance between the ejection surface  43  and the platen  26 , and T denotes the thickness of the medium P. In this embodiment, the distance information indicating the medium distance MG may correspond to merely the medium distance MG. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , a description will be given below of a test of measuring a landing deviation amount in the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 .  FIG.  3    is a table that lists measurements of the landing deviation amount;  FIG.  4    is a graph on which the measurements in  FIG.  3    are plotted. Herein, the landing deviation amount may be equivalent to the difference between theoretical and actual positions at which ink lands on the medium P. 
     In the above test, landing deviation amounts were measured with a varying interval between the flushing operations when the medium distance MG was set to different values, during the print operation performed by the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 . More specifically, the interval was set to 2.8, 5.4, and 9.7 sec when the medium distance MG was individually set to 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 mm. Hereinafter, the interval between the flushing operations refers to the flushing interval. In this case, the flushing interval was set to 2.8 sec by the liquid ejecting unit  40  performing one flushing operation for two main-scanning operations. Likewise, the flushing interval was set to 5.4 sec by the liquid ejecting unit  40  performing one flushing operation for four main-scanning operations. The flushing interval was set to 9.7 sec by the liquid ejecting unit  40  performing one flushing operation for eight main-scanning operations. During each flushing operation, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  discharged a constant total amount of inks. Each landing deviation amount was obtained by measuring the difference between theoretical and actual positions with a micrometer. Each medium distance MG was adjusted by varying the vertical position of the medium P. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the test result reveals that the landing deviation amount increases as the medium distance MG increases and also as the flushing interval increases. In short, the landing deviation amount increases as the total amount of inks discharged during the flushing operation decreases in the print process. In other words, the landing deviation amount decreases as the total amount of inks discharged during the flushing operation increases in the print process. Hereinafter, the total amount of inks discharged during one flushing operation is referred to as the flushing amount. 
       FIG.  5    is a graph showing the relationship between the medium distance and the flushing interval. This graph shows the relationship between the medium distance MG and the flushing interval in the case where a target value of the landing deviation amount is 120 μm. In  FIG.  4   , the target value of the landing deviation amount is indicated by the broken line. The graphs in  FIGS.  4  and  5    demonstrate that it is possible to keep the landing deviation amount constant by shortening the flushing interval, namely, by increasing the flushing amount in proportion to an increase in the medium distance MG. 
       FIG.  6    is a flowchart of the print process performed by the controller  90 . In response to a user&#39;s predetermined operation, the controller  90  starts the print process. In this case, the flushing interval may be set to the shortest value. 
     After having started the print process, at Step S 10 , the acquisition unit  95  obtains the medium distance MG. More specifically, the controller  90  drives the feed motor  25  to feed the medium P to the position at which the detector  50  can measure the thickness T of the medium P. Then, the acquisition unit  95  measures the thickness T of the medium P with the detector  50 . After that, the acquisition unit  95  calculates and obtains the medium distance MG based on the measurement of the thickness T and the equation (1). After the detector  50  has obtained the thickness T of the medium P, the controller  90  re-drives the feed motor  25  to feed the medium P to the position at which the liquid ejecting unit  40  can perform the print operation on the medium P. 
     At Step S 20 , the controller  90  sets the flushing interval in accordance with the medium distance MG that the acquisition unit  95  has obtained at Step S 10 . More specifically, the controller  90  accesses and refers to the map stored in the memory  92  which indicates the relationship between the medium distance MG and the flushing interval and sets the flushing interval in accordance with the medium distance MG. In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the map specifies the relationship between the medium distance MG and the flushing interval in such a way that the flushing interval is shortened as the medium distance MG increases. The controller  90  varies the flushing interval in accordance with this map, allowing the flushing amount set when the medium distance MG is shorter than a preset first distance (see  FIG.  5   ) to become smaller than that set when the medium distance MG is longer than the first distance. Alternatively, the controller  90  may sets the flushing interval in accordance with a predetermined function instead of the map. 
     At Step S 30 , the controller  90  obtains print data. In this case, the controller  90  may obtain the print data, for example, through a computer or memory card coupled to the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 . 
     At Step S 40 , the controller  90  causes the liquid ejecting unit  40  to perform the print operation on the medium P while driving both the carriage motor  30  and the feed motor  25 . 
     At Step S 50 , the controller  90  determines whether a current time coincides with a timing at which the flushing operation should be performed, based on the flushing interval that has been set at Step S 20 . When determining that the current time coincides with the above timing (Yes at Step S 50 ), at Step S 60 , the controller  90  moves the liquid ejecting unit  40  to the maintenance position MP and then causes the liquid ejecting unit  40  to perform the flushing operation, namely, to discharge predetermined amounts of inks into the waste ink container  70 . When determining that the current time does not coincide with the timing (No at Step S 50 ), the controller  90  skips Step S 60 . 
     At Step S 70 , the controller  90  determines whether the print operation according to the print data obtained at Step S 30  has been completed. When determining that the print operation has already been completed (Yes at Step S 70 ), the controller  90  terminates this print process. When determining that the print operation has not yet been completed (No at Step S 70 ), the controller  90  returns the print process to Step S 40  and performs both the print operation and the flushing operation again. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  varies the interval between flushing operations in accordance with the medium distance MG between the ejection surface  43  of the liquid ejecting unit  40  and the surface of the medium P. This can cause the liquid ejecting unit  40  to discharge appropriate amounts of inks in accordance with the medium distance MG during each flushing operation. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the liquid ejecting unit  40  from failing to discharge the inks due to viscous ink accumulated inside the nozzles  42  and the liquid ejecting unit  40 . Moreover, it is possible to suppress the print process from decelerating due to flushing operations and the consumptions of inks during each flushing operation from increasing, as opposed to a case where the flushing amount is fixed to a large value in order to reliably ensure the landing deviation amount. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  repeatedly performs print operations in which the liquid ejecting unit  40  discharges the inks onto the medium P through the nozzles  42  and flushing operations in which the liquid ejecting unit  40  discharges the inks into the waste ink container  70 , throughout the print process. Consequently, it is possible to perform the flushing operations frequently, thereby effectively suppressing an occurrence of a failure to discharge the inks. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  varies the flushing amount in such a way that the flushing amount set when the medium distance MG is shorter than the first distance becomes smaller than that set when the medium distance MG is longer than the first distance. Consequently, it is possible to appropriately vary the flushing amount in accordance with the medium distance MG. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  varies the flushing amount by changing the interval between flushing operations. Consequently, it is possible to vary the flushing amount per unit time without changing the amounts of inks discharged during each flushing operation. For example, the per unit time refers to the time taken for each print process. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  calculates the medium distance MG based on the thickness T of the medium P which has been measured with the detector  50 . Consequently, it is possible to set the flushing amount precisely in accordance with the medium distance MG that has been calculated accurately. 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the process in which the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  varies the interval between flushing operations in accordance with the medium distance MG does not depend on a print mode. In short, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  varies the flushing amount independently of the print mode. The print mode, examples of which include a standard mode, a clear mode, a photographing mode, and a draft mode, refers to the print method related to the print quality and speed. 
     B. Second Embodiment 
     In the foregoing first embodiment, the acquisition unit  95  measures the thickness T of the medium P with the detector  50  and then calculates the medium distance MG based on the thickness T as the distance information indicating the medium distance MG. In a second embodiment, however, an acquisition unit  95  obtains a set value of a medium distance MG from a memory  92  as distance information. The other configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus  100  in the second embodiment is substantially the same configuration as that in the foregoing first embodiment. In this case, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  does not have to include detector  50 . 
       FIG.  7    is a table that lists set values of the medium distance MG stored in the memory  92 . In the second embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the memory  92  stores the set values of the medium distance MG in advance in relation to respective medium types. 
     When the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  in this embodiment performs the print process in accordance with the flowchart of  FIG.  6   , at Step S 10 , a controller  90  receives the type of a medium P selected by a user. In this case, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  may receive the type of the medium P from the user through an operation button disposed in or a computer coupled to the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 . Then, the acquisition unit  95  obtains, from the memory  92 , the set value of the medium distance MG which is related to the type of the medium P selected by the user. Based on the set value obtained, at Step S 20 , the controller  90  varies the flushing interval as in the foregoing first embodiment. The remaining process steps are substantially the same as those in the foregoing first embodiment and thus will not be described below. 
     As described above, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  in the second embodiment can easily obtain the medium distance MG without using detector  50  and vary the flushing amount in accordance with the medium distance MG. With this configuration, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  can be implemented in simple hardware. 
     Alternatively, instead of setting the medium distance MG based on the type of the medium P selected by the user as in the second embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  may ask the user to directly enter the medium distance MG in addition to a print mode, for example, through an operation button provided in or a computer coupled to the liquid ejecting apparatus  100 . When receiving the medium distance MG, the controller  90  may store the medium distance MG in the memory  92  and then cause the acquisition unit  95  to obtain the medium distance MG from the memory  92 . 
     C. Modifications 
     (C-1) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  discharges constant amounts of inks during each flushing operation and varies the flushing amount by changing the interval between flushing operations. Alternatively, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  may perform flushing operations at a constant flushing interval and vary the flushing amount by changing the total amount of inks discharged during each flushing operation. To adjust the total amount of inks discharged during each flushing operation, for example, the controller  90  may vary some parameters: (1) an ejecting time; (2) the number of droplets of inks discharged; and (3) the size of droplets of inks discharged. Consequently, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  can easily vary the flushing amount by changing the total amount of inks discharged instead of the flushing interval. 
     (C-2) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  includes the waste ink container  70  disposed adjacent to the side of the platen  26  in the −X direction. Alternatively, the waste ink container  70  may be disposed adjacent to the side of the platen  26  in the +X direction, or two waste ink containers  70  may be disposed adjacent to respective sides of the platen  26  in the ±X directions. If two waste ink containers  70  are disposed adjacent to both the sides of the platen  26 , the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  can move the liquid ejecting unit  40  to the waste ink container  70  at the timings when the liquid ejecting unit  40  performs the scanning operation not only in the +X directions but also in the −X direction. This configuration can effectively shorten the time taken for the print process. 
     (C-3) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  may further include a mechanism for causing the detector  50  to detect the fluff height, floating amount, and height of the medium P and varying the medium distance MG in accordance with these detection results. Examples of the mechanism in the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  include: a mechanism for moving the platen  26  in the ±Z directions; and a mechanism for moving the guide rails  34  in the ±Z directions along which the carriage  28  is supported. 
     (C-4) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  includes a transmissive type of displacement sensor as the detector  50  that measure the medium distance MG. Alternatively, the detector  50  may be any other type of sensor, such as a contact type of displacement sensor or a sensor having a light-emitting section and a light detecting section integrated with each other. Moreover, although the detector  50  indirectly measure the medium distance MG by measuring the thickness T of the medium P, the detector  50  may directly measure the distance between the ejection surface  43  and the surface of the medium P. 
     (C-5) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the controller  90  repeatedly performs print operations and flushing operations throughout a print process. Alternatively, for example, the controller  90  may perform a flushing operation only when starting or terminating the print process. 
     (C-6) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the ink containers  41  are mounted on the carriage  28 . Alternatively, the ink containers  41  may be mounted inside or outside the liquid ejecting apparatus  100  and supply the inks to the liquid ejecting unit  40  mounted on the carriage  28  through flexible tubes. 
     (C-7) In the foregoing first and second embodiments, the liquid ejecting unit  40  discharges the inks; however, the liquid ejecting unit  40  may discharge any other type of liquid. Alternatively, the liquid may have only to be a substance of liquid phase, examples of which include less or highly viscous liquid substances, sols, sol waters, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals, and other liquid materials. Instead of a liquid substance, the liquid may be a solvent in which particles of a solid functional material such as a pigment or metal are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed. Major examples of the liquid include inks and liquid crystals. Inks, such as water-based inks, oil-based inks, gel inks, and hot-melt inks, may contain a liquid composition. 
     D. Other Modifications 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and may be implemented in various aspects within its spirit. For example, the present disclosure may be implemented in the aspects that will be described below. The technical features in the foregoing embodiments which are equivalent to those in the aspects can be replaced with others or combined together as appropriate in order to address some or all of the disadvantages of the present disclosure or accomplish some or all the effects of the present disclosure. The technical features in the foregoing embodiments may be deleted as appropriate if they are not described as being essential herein. 
     (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit, an acquisition unit, and a controller. The liquid ejecting unit includes a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged and an ejection surface on which the nozzle opens. The acquisition unit obtains distance information that indicates a distance between the ejection surface and a surface of a medium on which the liquid discharged through the nozzle is to land. The controller varies a flushing amount in accordance with the distance information obtained, the flushing amount being an amount of the liquid discharged during a flushing operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid through the nozzle as a maintenance operation. 
     A liquid ejecting apparatus of the above first aspect varies an amount of a liquid discharged during a flushing operation in accordance with a distance between an ejection surface of a liquid ejecting unit and a surface of a medium. This configuration can suppress a print process from decelerating due to the flushing operation with a minimal risk of an occurrence of a failure to discharge the liquid and also can decrease the consumption of the liquid during the flushing operation. 
     (2) In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the controller may repeatedly perform a print operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid onto the medium through the nozzle and the flushing operation during a print process on the medium. This configuration performs the flushing operation frequently, thereby effectively suppressing an occurrence of a failure to discharge the liquid. 
     (3) In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the controller may vary the flushing amount in such a way that the flushing amount set when the distance indicated by the distance information obtained is shorter than a first distance becomes smaller than the flushing amount set when the distance indicated by the distance information obtained is larger than the first distance, the first distance being a preset value. This configuration can vary the flushing amount appropriately in accordance with the distance between the ejection surface and the surface of the medium. 
     (4) In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the controller may vary the flushing amount by changing the total amount of liquid discharged during the flushing operation. This configuration can easily vary the flushing amount. 
     (5) In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the controller may vary the flushing amount by changing intervals between a plurality of flushing operations. This configuration can vary the flushing amount per unit time without changing the amount of the liquid discharged during each of the flushing operations. 
     (6) In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, the acquisition unit may obtain a set value of the distance information from a memory. This configuration can easily obtain the distance information. 
     (7) In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the acquisition unit may obtain the distance information from a detector, the detector being configured to detect the distance between the ejection surface and the surface of the medium. This configuration can accurately detect the distance between the ejection surface and the surface of the medium, thereby varying the flushing amount precisely. 
     (8) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid ejecting method, which is performed by a liquid ejecting apparatus that includes a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged and an ejection surface on which the nozzle opens, includes: obtaining distance information indicating a distance between the ejection surface and a surface of a medium on which the liquid discharged through the nozzle is to land; and varying a flushing amount in accordance with the distance information obtained, the flushing amount being an amount of a liquid discharged during a flushing operation in which the liquid ejecting unit discharges the liquid through the nozzle as a maintenance operation.