Patent Publication Number: US-2015062239-A1

Title: Liquid Ejecting Apparatus and Control Method for Liquid Ejecting Apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-177144, filed Aug. 28, 2013 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to liquid ejecting apparatuses such as printers and to control methods for liquid ejecting apparatuses. 
     2. Related Art 
     Ink jet printers that print by ejecting ink from a nozzle onto a medium such as paper have been known for some time as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus. Some such printers include a rotating member that receives ink and a wiping portion disposed so as to make contact with an outer surface of the rotating member, and carry out flushing that ejects ink toward the outer surface of the rotating member in order to suppress the nozzle from clogging. 
     When a set amount of ink has adhered to the outer surface of the rotating member as a result of the flushing, the ink is wiped off from the rotating member by rotating the rotating member so that the wiping portion slides along the outer surface to which the ink has adhered (see JP-A-2001-162836, for example). 
     Incidentally, in the stated printer, although the adhering ink is wiped off by the wiping portion by rotating the rotating member each time the set amount of ink has adhered, it is difficult to completely remove the adhering ink. Accordingly, there is a problem in that remaining ink that could not be removed will harden and accumulate on the surface of the rotating member, and the wiping portion will become unable to wipe off that hardened ink. 
     Note that such a problem is not limited to printers having rotating members that receive ink, but is generally a common problem among liquid ejecting apparatuses that employ rotating members to receive solutions whose solute components may harden. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an advantage of some aspects of the invention to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing the accumulation of a solution that adheres to a rotating member, and to provide a control method for such a liquid ejecting apparatus. 
     A summary of aspects of the invention for achieving the aforementioned advantage, and of effects of the invention, will be described below. 
     A liquid ejecting apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes an ejection head capable of ejecting a solution, a rotating member having an outer surface capable of receiving the solution ejected from the ejection head, and a scraper that wipes off the solution adhering to the outer surface by sliding along the outer surface when the rotating member rotates, the rotating member carrying out a first rotational operation of rotating after flushing, in which the ejection head ejects the solution toward the outer surface, has been performed, and a second rotational operation of rotating from when the first rotational operation ends to when the next flushing is executed. 
     According to this aspect, the solution adhering to the outer surface as a result of the flushing can be removed by the first rotational operation of the rotating member. Note that the solution that has just adhered to the outer surface due to the flushing sometimes flows between the scraper and the outer surface of the rotating member rotating due to the first rotational operation, with a thin layer thereof remaining on the outer surface; this remaining solution will begin to harden as time passes. Accordingly, the solution not completely removed by the first rotational operation that remains on the outer surface and begins to harden can be removed by the second rotational operation of the rotating member, which is executed after the first rotational operation has ended but before the next flushing is executed. Accordingly, the solution adhering to the rotating member can be suppressed from accumulating. 
     In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the rotating member carry out the second rotational operation when the liquid ejecting apparatus is turned on. 
     According to this aspect, solution that is not completely removed by the first rotational operation and remains on the outer surface after flushing and that begins to harden while the power is turned off can be removed by the rotating member carrying out the second rotational operation when the power is turned on. Meanwhile, although the solution not completely removed by the first rotational operation often adheres and begins to harden at the point of contact between the outer surface and the scraper, causing the rotating member to carry out the second rotational operation when the power is turned on separates the scraper and the outer surface from each other. This makes it possible to rotate the rotating member in a smooth manner when the first rotational operation is carried out after the next flushing. 
     It is preferable that the above liquid ejecting apparatus further include a receptacle having an opening in a position that opposes the outer surface; the solution wiped off from the outer surface by the scraper be held in the receptacle via the opening; and as the first rotational operation, the rotating member rotate until at least a region that opposed the ejection head during the flushing passes the scraper, and as the second rotational operation, the rotating member rotate until a region that opposed the opening at the end of the first rotational operation reaches a position opposing the ejection head. 
     According to this aspect, in the first rotational operation performed after the flushing, the rotating member rotates until the region that opposed the ejection head during the flushing passes the scraper, and thus the solution ejected from the ejection head and adhering to the outer surface can be removed by the scraper and held in the receptacle. Furthermore, in the second rotational operation, the rotating member is rotated until the region that opposed the opening when the first rotational operation ended reaches a position opposing the ejection head, and thus during the next flushing, the solution is ejected onto a region kept in a moist state by the solvent of the solution held in the receptacle. As a result, the solution adhering to the outer surface due to the next flushing can be removed with ease. 
     In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the receptacle include a liquid reservoir portion capable of holding a liquid and an introduction portion for introducing a liquid in which a solute component of the solution can be dissolved into the liquid reservoir portion. 
     According to this aspect, when a liquid in which the solute component of the solution can dissolve enters into the liquid reservoir portion via the introduction portion, the amount of solvent component held in the receptacle increases. As a result, the interior of the receptacle is kept in a moist state by the solvent component, which in turn makes it possible to keep the outer surface of the rotating member that opposes the opening in a moist state. 
     In the above liquid ejecting apparatus, it is preferable that the introduction portion be disposed higher in a vertical direction than the liquid reservoir portion, and the rotating member carry out a third rotational operation of rotating when the liquid enters the receptacle. 
     If the introduction portion is disposed higher in the vertical direction than the liquid reservoir portion, the liquid that enters into the receptacle via the introduction portion will fall onto the liquid surface formed in the liquid reservoir portion, and the solution may form foam that then overflows from the opening. With respect to this point, according to this aspect, the rotating member rotates when the liquid enters the receptacle, and thus foam that has reached the opening adheres to the outer surface of the rotating member. Foam that adheres to the outer surface can be eliminated and the resulting liquid returns to the receptacle by being wiped off by the scraper as the rotating member rotates. As a result, foam produced when the liquid enters can be suppressed from overflowing from the receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overall configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a II-II line shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process carried out when a rotating member makes a first rotational operation. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process carried out when a rotating member makes a second rotational operation. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating steps of a process carried out when a rotating member makes a third rotational operation. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of ejecting a solution will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus is an ink jet printer that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a solution, onto paper, which is an example of a medium. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a liquid ejecting apparatus  11  according to this embodiment includes an ejecting unit  13  that ejects a solution onto a medium  12 , a drying unit  14  for drying the medium  12  that has received the solution, and a maintenance unit  15  that performs maintenance on the ejecting unit  13 . 
     The solution ejected by the ejecting unit  13  is, for example, a water-based resin ink that employs water as a solvent and a resin-based pigment as a solute. It is preferable for the solution to substantially not contain glycerin having a boiling point of 290° C. at 1 atmospheric pressure. 
     Note that if the solution substantially contains glycerin, the drying properties of the solution will drop significantly. As a result, the medium  12  that has received the solution will not dry sufficiently, which in turn causes unevenness in the darkness of images, poor fixing of the solute to the medium  12 , and so on. Such a tendency becomes particularly prominent in the case where a medium  12  having low solution absorbency, a medium  12  having almost no solution absorbency, or the like is used. Furthermore, it is preferable for the solution ejected by the ejecting unit  13  to substantially not contain alkylpolyol-based materials (aside from the stated glycerin) having boiling points of 280° C. or more at the equivalent of 1 atmospheric pressure. 
     In this specification, the phrase “substantially not containing” refers to not containing greater than or equal to an amount that sufficiently encompasses the meaning of addition. Quantitatively speaking, it is preferable for 1.0 or more mass % of glycerin relative to the total mass (100 mass %) of the solution not to be contained. It is further preferable for 0.5 or more mass % of glycerin relative to the total mass of the solution not to be contained, further preferable still for 0.1 or more mass % not to be contained, further preferable still for 0.05 or more mass % not to be contained, and particularly preferable for 0.01 or more mass % not to be contained. It is most preferable for 0.001 or more mass % of glycerin relative to the total mass of the solution not to be contained. 
     Next, the configuration of the ejecting unit  13  will be described. 
     The ejecting unit  13  includes a carriage  21  capable of moving back and forth along a guide shaft  22  that extends in a movement direction X (+X and −X) and an ejection head  23  capable of ejecting the solution. 
     With a first end side in the movement direction X (the right end side, in  FIG. 1 ) serving as a home position, the carriage  21  moves back and forth along the movement direction X by alternating between an outbound pass of moving from the home position in the movement direction +X (to the left, in  FIG. 1 ) and an inbound pass of moving in the movement direction −X (to the right, in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In a movement region extending in the movement direction X of the carriage  21 , a central area excluding both sides in the movement direction X serves as a printing region where the solution is ejected onto the medium  12 . Note that the medium  12  is transported along a transport direction Y, which is orthogonal to both the movement direction X of the carriage  21  and a gravitational direction G, by a transport mechanism (not shown). 
     The ejection head  23  is held by the carriage  21 . A plurality of nozzles  24  for ejecting the solution are provided in the ejection head  23 . The plurality of nozzles form nozzle rows  25  that are arranged in the transport direction Y. A plurality (for example, four) nozzle rows  25  are disposed in accordance with the types, such as the colors, of the solution. Printing is carried out by the ejection head  23  ejecting the solution from each of the nozzle rows  25  onto the medium  12  in a superimposed manner while the carriage  21  moves back and forth in the movement direction X. 
     Next, the configuration of the drying unit  14  will be described. 
     The drying unit  14  is disposed in a position along the movement direction X that corresponds to the printing region. The drying unit  14  includes a heating unit  31  disposed lower than the carriage  21  in the gravitational direction G, and a thermal unit  32  and a blower unit  33  disposed higher than the carriage  21  in the gravitational direction G. 
     The heating unit  31  includes a support platform  34  that supports the medium  12  on a front surface side of the support platform  34 , and a heater  35  disposed on a rear surface side of the support platform  34 . The support platform  34  is configured of, for example, a metal plate that extends in the transport direction Y, and conducts heat from the heater  35  to the medium  12 . 
     It is preferable for the support platform  34  to be tilted downward from a position corresponding to the movement region of the carriage  21  toward the upstream side and downstream side in the transport direction Y, so that wrinkles are not formed in the medium  12 . Note that in this embodiment, the downstream side in the transport direction Y is sometimes referred to as the “front side”. As such,  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  taken from the front side. 
     The heater  35  primarily serves to heat the medium from the rear surface side thereof in order to fix the pigment, which is the solute in the solution that has adhered to the medium  12 . Accordingly, it is preferable for the heater  35  to be disposed downstream from the printing region in the transport direction Y. 
     The thermal unit  32  includes a heating element  36  and a reflecting plate  37  disposed so as to cover the heating element  36  from above. The heating element  36  is an infrared heater, for example, and the thermal unit  32  prompts the vaporization of the solvent component in the solution that has adhered to the medium  12  (water, for example) using radiant heat from the infrared rays radiated from the heating element  36  and the infrared rays reflected by the reflecting plate  37 . 
     The blower unit  33  includes a blower port  38  through which air is blown toward the support platform  34 . In order to accelerate the drying of the medium  12 , the blower unit  33  blows air toward the medium  12  upon the support platform  34  and disperses the vaporized solvent component. 
     Next, the configuration of the maintenance unit  15  will be described. 
     The maintenance unit  15  is disposed at a first end side (the right end side, in  FIG. 1 ) of the movement region of the carriage  21 . 
     The maintenance unit  15  includes a suction mechanism  16  that sucks the solution from the ejection head  23 , a flushing unit  17  that receives the solution ejected from the ejection head  23 , and a waste liquid collection unit  18  that collects the solution discharged from the ejection head  23  as waste liquid. 
     Note that an operation of the ejection head  23  that ejects the solution toward the flushing unit  17  in order to suppress the nozzles  24  from clogging and so on is referred to as “flushing”. By sucking and discharging the solution in the ejection head  23  through the nozzles  24 , the suction mechanism  16  cleans the ejection head  23  through suction. The solution discharged from the ejection head  23  when maintenance such as flushing, suction cleaning, or the like is performed on the ejection head  23  is referred to as “waste liquid”. 
     The suction mechanism  16  includes a cap  41 , an introduction flow channel  43  that forms a waste liquid collection flow channel  42  whose upstream end opens into a base area of the cap  41 , and a suction pump  44  disposed partway along the introduction flow channel  43 . The introduction flow channel  43  is a flexible tube, for example, and the suction pump  44  is a tube pump that produces a negative pressure within the cap  41  by compressing the tube in one direction, for example. 
     When the ejection head  23  is not ejecting the liquid, the carriage  21  is stopped at the home position, which is set above the suction mechanism  16 . The cap  41  is raised upward when the carriage  21  is positioned at the home position, and makes contact with the ejection head  23  so as to surround the nozzles  24 . As a result, the cap  41  caps the ejection head  23  and suppresses the nozzles  24  from drying. 
     When the suction pump  44  is driven while the ejection head  23  is capped by the cap  41 , the solution within the ejection head  23  is sucked through the nozzles  24  and discharged through the introduction flow channel  43 . 
     The flushing unit  17  includes a rotating member  51  having an outer surface  50  capable of receiving the solution ejected from the ejection head  23 , a holding frame  52  that holds the rotating member  51  in a rotatable state, a receptacle  53  disposed below the holding frame  52 , a mounting portion  54 , and a flushing motor  57  serving as a driving source for rotating the rotating member  51 . 
     The waste liquid collection unit  18  includes a discharge flow channel  45  disposed relative to the receptacle  53  and the suction mechanism  16  so as to be arranged on a side in a direction intersecting with the gravitational direction G (on the downstream side in the transport direction Y, which is the front side in this embodiment), and a waste liquid tank  46  disposed below the suction mechanism  16 . The discharge flow channel  45  forms part of the waste liquid collection flow channel  42  on the downstream side thereof. The discharge flow channel  45  communicates with the waste liquid tank  46  via a communication opening  47 . 
     An introduction portion  55  into which a downstream end of the introduction flow channel  43  is inserted is formed as a cutout in a front surface side of the holding frame  52 . Meanwhile, a liquid outflow port  56  is formed in a front surface side of the receptacle  53 , opening toward the discharge flow channel  45  side, and by extension, toward the waste liquid collection flow channel  42  side. 
     The liquid outflow port  56  is disposed in a position that is higher than the discharge flow channel  45  in the gravitational direction G. Note that the discharge flow channel  45  is slanted so as to slope downward from the side on which the liquid outflow port  56  is located, corresponding to the upstream side, toward the side on which the communication opening  47  is located, corresponding to the downstream side. Meanwhile, the introduction portion  55  of the holding frame  52  and the downstream end of the introduction flow channel  43  that is inserted into the introduction portion  55  are disposed higher than the liquid outflow port  56  in the gravitational direction G. 
     The receptacle  53  is provided partway along the waste liquid collection flow channel  42 . Accordingly, the waste liquid discharged from the ejection head  23  by the suction mechanism  16  enters the receptacle  53  via the introduction flow channel  43 . Furthermore, the waste liquid discharged from the receptacle  53  through the liquid outflow port  56  enters the waste liquid tank  46  via the discharge flow channel  45  and the communication opening  47 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rotating member  51  is, for example, an endless belt wound upon rollers  60  and  61 . The roller  60  is a driving roller that, under a driving force from the flushing motor  57 , rotates in the counter-clockwise direction shown in  FIG. 2 . The roller  61 , meanwhile, is a slave roller that rotates under the rotational force of the roller  60  and the rotating member  51 . The roller  61  is smaller in diameter than the roller  60 , and is disposed further toward the front side (the left side, in  FIG. 2 ) than the roller  60 . 
     The holding frame  52  has a box shape including an upper wall  62 , a side wall  63 , and a base wall  64 . Note that the holding frame  52  is longer than the receptacle  53  in a direction following the transport direction Y (the horizontal direction, in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Bearing portions  65  that hold the rollers  60  and  61  in a rotatable state are formed in the side wall  63  of the holding frame  52 . An upper opening portion  66  for exposing the rotating member  51  is formed toward the rear side (the right side, in  FIG. 2 ) of the upper wall  62 . Furthermore, a lower opening portion  67  for mounting the receptacle  53  is formed toward the front side (the left side, in  FIG. 2 ) of the base wall  64 . 
     The receptacle  53  surrounds and forms a containment chamber  68  when mounted to the holding frame  52 . A plate-shaped scraper  70  capable of sliding along the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  from below is contained within the containment chamber  68 . In other words, the receptacle  53  and the holding frame  52  form the containment chamber  68  that surrounds the scraper  70  when mounted to the mounting portion  54 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     The receptacle  53  includes an opening  72  into which the scraper  70  can be inserted and a liquid reservoir portion  73  disposed below the opening  72  in the gravitational direction G and capable of holding the liquid. Note that the introduction portion  55  is disposed above the liquid reservoir portion  73  in the vertical direction so as to introduce the waste liquid into the liquid reservoir portion  73 . In addition, the liquid outflow port  56  of the receptacle  53  is disposed between the opening  72  and the liquid reservoir portion  73  in the gravitational direction G. 
     In this embodiment, a lower-side portion of the rotating member  51  is disposed within the containment chamber  68 , whereas an upper-side portion of the rotating member  51  is disposed at the outside of the containment chamber  68 , through the upper opening portion  66 . Of the lower-side portion of the rotating member  51  disposed within the containment chamber  68 , a portion spanning from the center to the roller  61  in a depth direction is disposed so that the outer surface  50  opposes the opening  72  of the receptacle  53 . Meanwhile, of the upper-side portion of the rotating member  51  disposed at the outside of the containment chamber  68 , a portion spanning from the center to the roller  60  in the depth direction is disposed so as to oppose the ejection head  23 . When the rotating member  51  makes  0 . 5  rotations, a region of the outer surface  50  that has been opposing the ejection head  23  moves to a location opposing the opening  72 , while at the same time, a region of the outer surface  50  that has been opposing the opening  72  moves to a location opposing the ejection head  23 . 
     The receptacle  53  includes, in a location toward the rear side thereof (the right side, in  FIG. 2 ), a holding portion  74  that holds the scraper  70 . The holding portion  74  includes a biasing member  75  that biases the scraper  70  upward in the gravitational direction G. The biasing member  75  is a coil spring, for example. The scraper  70  held by the holding portion  74  is pressed against the outer surface of the rotating member  51  by the biasing force of the biasing member  75 . The scraper  70  slides along the outer surface  50  when the rotating member  51  rotates and removes the solution that adheres to the outer surface  50 . 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus  11  includes a control unit  100  that controls the suction pump  44  and the flushing motor  57 . The control unit  100  controls operation of the suction cleaning, which forcefully discharges liquid from the nozzles  24 , by driving the suction pump  44  while the ejection head  23  is capped. Furthermore, the control unit  100  causes the rotating member  51  to rotate by controlling the driving of the flushing motor  57  to rotate the roller  60 . 
     Next, operations of the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  configured as above will be described. 
     With the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 , partway through printing, after suction cleaning, or the like, the carriage  21  is moved to a location above the flushing unit  17 , and flushing, in which the ejection head  23  ejects the solution toward the outer surface  50  of the stopped rotating member  51 , is carried out. When the flushing ends, the rotating member  51  is rotated and the solution adhering to the outer surface  50  is wiped off by the scraper  70 . 
     Here, a rotation of the rotating member  51  carried out after flushing, in which the ejection head  23  ejects the solution toward the outer surface  50 , will be referred to as a “first rotational operation”. In the first rotational operation, it is preferable to control the flushing motor  57  so that the rotating member  51  rotates at least until the region that opposed the ejection head  23  during the flushing passes the scraper  70 . In this embodiment, the region of the rotating member  51  that opposed the ejection head  23  during flushing passes the scraper  70  and moves once again to the location opposing the ejection head  23  as a result of the rotating member  51  making a single rotation as the first rotational operation. 
     The rotating member  51  performs the first rotational operation when the control unit  100  makes processing of a first control routine be executed, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when flushing has ended, for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the first control routine is started, first, in step S 11 , the control unit  100  starts driving the flushing motor  57 . 
     Next, the process advances to step S 12 , where the control unit  100  determines whether or not the rotating member  51  has made a single rotation. In the case where it is determined in step S 12  that the rotating member  51  has made a single rotation (step S 12 : YES), the process advances to step S 13 . In step S 13 , the control unit  100  stops driving the flushing motor  57 . 
     On the other hand, in the case where a determination of “no” is made in step S 12  (step S 12 : NO), the determination of step S 12  is repeated. In other words, the flushing motor  57  continues to be driven until the rotating member  51  has made a single rotation. 
     Note that, for example, a counter that counts the rotational amount of the flushing motor  57  can be provided and whether or not the rotating member  51  has rotated by a predetermined amount (a single rotation, for example) can then be determined based on whether or not a value counted by the counter has reached a set value. 
     By sliding along the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  during the first rotational operation, the scraper  70  wipes off the solution that has adhered to the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  due to the flushing. The solution wiped off by the scraper  70  falls into the liquid reservoir portion  73  and is held in the receptacle  53 . In other words, the receptacle  53  has the opening  72  in a location opposing the outer surface  50 , and holds the solution wiped off from the outer surface  50  by the scraper  70 . 
     As a second rotational operation, the rotating member  51  rotates from when the first rotational operation has ended to when the next flushing is executed. In other words, the rotating member  51  executes the second rotational operation after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed following the end of the first rotational operation. In this embodiment, the rotating member  51  performs the second rotational operation when the control unit  100  makes processing of a second control routine be executed, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  is turned on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the second control routine is started, first, in step S 21 , the control unit  100  starts driving the flushing motor  57 . 
     Next, the process advances to step S 22 , where the control unit  100  determines whether or not the rotating member  51  has made  1 . 5  rotations. In the case where it is determined in step S 22  that the rotating member  51  has made  1 . 5  rotations (step S 22 : YES), the process advances to step S 23 . In step S 23 , the control unit  100  stops driving the flushing motor  57 . 
     Note that in the second rotational operation, it is preferable for the rotating member  51  to rotate until a region that has been kept moist by opposing the opening  72  since the first rotational operation ended reaches a position opposing the ejection head  23 . With respect to this point, when the second control routine illustrated in  FIG. 4  is executed upon the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  being turned on, the region that opposed the opening  72  when the first rotational operation ended reaches the position opposing the ejection head  23  as a result of the rotating member  51  making  1 . 5  rotations. 
     Incidentally, the solution that has just adhered to the outer surface due to the flushing sometimes flows between the scraper  70  and the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  rotating due to the first rotational operation, with a thin layer thereof remaining on the outer surface  50 ; this remaining solution will begin to harden as time passes. It is particularly easy for the solution to accumulate at the point of contact between the scraper  70  and the outer surface  50 . 
     When the second rotational operation is executed, the remaining solution that could not be removed during the first rotational operation has begun to harden and does not easily flow, and is accordingly wiped off by the scraper  70  sliding along the outer surface  50 . Here, because the scraper  70  is biased by the biasing member  75 , the solution hardening at the point of contact between the outer surface and the scraper  70  and so on can be wiped off by the rotating member  51  making  1 . 5  rotations. 
     Note that in the case where the flushing is carried out partway through printing, it is preferable to first eject the solution from the nozzle rows  25 , which eject the solution that does not harden easily, when the carriage  21  makes the inbound pass in the movement direction −X from the printing region toward the home position. It is then preferable to eject the solution from the remaining nozzle rows  25 , which eject the solution that hardens easily, when the carriage  21  moves in the movement direction +X from the home position side toward the printing region following the inbound pass. 
     In other words, causing the solution that does not harden easily to adhere to the outer surface  50  first makes it easy to remove the solution from the rotating member  51  when the scraper  70  slides thereon, even in the case where more solution has hardened on top of the solution that initially adhered thereto. Note that the number of nozzle rows  25  that eject the solution onto the outer surface  50  first can be set as desired. 
     Incidentally, in the liquid ejecting apparatus  11 , the suction mechanism  16  carries out the suction cleaning and fills the ejection head  23  with new solution before, for example, the liquid is ejected. At this time, the solution sucked by the suction mechanism  16  and discharged from the ejection head  23  enters into the liquid reservoir portion  73  of the receptacle  53  via the introduction flow channel  43 . 
     In other words, waste liquid solution enters the liquid reservoir portion  73  via the introduction flow channel  43  each time the solution is sucked from the ejection head  23 . Furthermore, when the liquid surface of the solution that has accumulated in the liquid reservoir portion  73  reaches the liquid outflow port  56 , the supernatant solution flows into the discharge flow channel  45  via the liquid outflow port  56 . 
     If the introduction portion  55  is disposed above the liquid reservoir portion  73  in the vertical direction when the waste liquid enters the liquid reservoir portion  73 , there arises a risk such that the waste liquid that enters into the receptacle  53  via the introduction portion  55  will fall onto the liquid surface formed in the liquid reservoir portion  73 , and the solution may form foam that then overflows from the opening  72 . 
     Accordingly, the rotating member  51  performs a third rotational operation for rotating when the solution enters the receptacle  53 . For example, the rotating member  51  performs the third rotational operation when the control unit  5  makes processing of a third control routine be executed, illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the driving of the suction pump  44  begins. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the third control routine is started, first, in step S 31 , the control unit  100  starts driving the flushing motor  57 . Next, the process advances to step  532 , where the control unit  100  determines whether or not the driving of the suction pump  44  has stopped. In the case where it is determined in step S 32  that the driving of the suction pump  44  has stopped (step S 32 : YES), the process advances to step S 33 . In step S 33 , the control unit  100  stops driving the flushing motor  57 . 
     On the other hand, in the case where a determination of “no” has been made in step S 32  (step S 32 : NO), the determination of step S 32  is repeated. In other words, the flushing motor  57  continues to be driven until the driving of the suction pump  44  stops. As a result, the rotating member  51  continues to rotate while the waste liquid is entering into the receptacle  53 . 
     Accordingly, foam that has reached the opening  72  adheres to the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51 , and thus the foam can be eliminated and the resulting liquid returns to the receptacle  53  by being wiped off by the scraper  70  as the rotating member  51  rotates. 
     Note that the solution wiped off by the scraper  70  during the first rotational operation, the second rotational operation, and the third rotational operation falls into the liquid reservoir portion  73  and is held along with the unhardened liquid solution discharged from the ejection head  23 . Here, the solution ejected from the ejection head  23  and the solution corresponding to the liquid held in the liquid reservoir portion  73  both contain water. 
     In other words, the liquid reservoir portion  73  holds a liquid in which the solute component of the solution can dissolve. Accordingly, solute components of the hardened solution dissolve once again in the water contained as the solvent in the solution (liquid) having been discharged as waste liquid. As a result, the production of sediment caused by the solution hardening in the receptacle  53  can be suppressed without providing a separate liquid for re-dissolving the solute components. 
     When the liquid reservoir portion  73  is filled with the waste liquid produced by the suction cleaning, the solution wiped off by the scraper  70 , and so on, the supernatant liquid of the solution held in the liquid reservoir portion  73  overflows into the discharge flow channel  45  via the liquid outflow port  56 . By causing the liquid held in the liquid reservoir portion  73  to flow into the waste liquid collection flow channel  42  via the liquid outflow port  56 , the lifespan of the receptacle  53  can be lengthened. 
     Meanwhile, solids that have not dissolved in the liquid are held within the liquid reservoir portion  73 , which makes it difficult for solids to accumulate in the discharge flow channel  45  and inhibit the flow therein, makes it difficult for solids to clog the communication opening  47 , and so on. Accordingly, the accumulation of solids in the waste liquid collection flow channel  42  can be suppressed. 
     Because the flushing unit  17  is disposed near the drying unit  14 , the temperature around the receptacle  53  will rise due to the radiant heat radiated by the thermal unit  32 , indicated by the dot-dash arrow lines in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, the blower unit  33  blows air as indicated by the dotted line arrow in  FIG. 2 , and thus it is easy for the moisture in the solution to evaporate. 
     With respect to this point, the rotating member  51  is, aside from the upper surface side area thereof, housed within the containment chamber  68  along with the scraper  70  and the liquid reservoir portion  73 . Furthermore, the opening  72  in the receptacle  53  is positioned lower, in the gravitational direction G, than the rotating member  51  and a tip of the scraper  70  that is pressed against the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51 . Accordingly, the interior of the containment chamber  68  is kept moist by the moisture that has evaporated from the liquid reservoir portion  73 , and the scraper  70 , the rotating member  51  aside from the upper surface side area thereof, and so on are suppressed from drying out. Accordingly, it is difficult for the solution to harden within the containment chamber  68 . Furthermore, because the receptacle  53  is filled with new waste liquid each time the suction cleaning is executed, the concentration of solute in the liquid reservoir portion  73  is suppressed from rising. 
     According to the embodiment described thus far, the following effects can be achieved. 
     1. The solution adhering to the outer surface  50  as a result of the flushing can be removed by the first rotational operation of the rotating member  51 . Note that the solution that has just adhered to the outer surface  50  due to the flushing sometimes flows between the scraper  70  and the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  rotating due to the first rotational operation, with a thin layer thereof remaining on the outer surface  50 ; this remaining solution will begin to harden as time passes. Accordingly, the solution not completely removed by the first rotational operation that remains on the outer surface  50  and begins to harden can be removed by the second rotational operation of the rotating member  51 , which is executed after the first rotational operation has ended but before the next flushing is executed. Accordingly, the solution adhering to the rotating member  51  can be suppressed from accumulating. 
     2. Solution that is not completely removed by the first rotational operation and remains on the outer surface  50  after flushing and that begins to harden while the power is turned off can be removed by the rotating member  51  carrying out the second rotational operation when the power is turned on. Meanwhile, although the solution not completely removed by the first rotational operation often adheres and begins to harden at the point of contact between the outer surface  50  and the scraper  70 , causing the rotating member  51  to carry out the second rotational operation when the power is turned on separates the scraper  70  and the outer surface  50  from each other. This makes it possible to rotate the rotating member  51  in a smooth manner when the first rotational operation is carried out after the next flushing. 
     3. In the first rotational operation performed after the flushing, the rotating member  51  rotates until the region that opposed the ejection head  23  during the flushing passes the scraper  70 , and thus the solution ejected from the ejection head  23  and adhering to the outer surface  50  can be removed by the scraper  70  and held in the receptacle  53 . Furthermore, in the second rotational operation, the rotating member  51  is rotated until the region that opposed the opening  72  when the first rotational operation ended reaches a position opposing the ejection head  23 , and thus during the next flushing, the solution is ejected onto the region that has been kept in a moist state by the solvent of the solution held in the receptacle  53 . As a result, the solution adhering to the outer surface  50  due to the next flushing can be removed with ease. 
     4. When a liquid in which the solute component of the solution can dissolve (waste liquid, for example) enters into the liquid reservoir portion  73  via the introduction portion  55 , the amount of solvent component held in the receptacle  53  increases. As a result, the interior of the receptacle  53  is kept in a moist state by the solvent component, which in turn makes it possible to keep the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51  that opposes the opening  72  in a moist state. 
     5. The rotating member  51  rotates when the liquid (waste liquid, for example) enters the receptacle  53 , and thus foam that has reached the opening  72  adheres to the outer surface  50  of the rotating member  51 . Foam that adheres to the outer surface  50  can be eliminated and the resulting liquid returns to the receptacle  53  by being wiped off by the scraper  70  as the rotating member  51  rotates. As a result, foam produced when the liquid enters can be suppressed from overflowing from the receptacle  53 . 
     Note that the aforementioned embodiment may be modified as described hereinafter. 
     The amount by which the rotating member  51  rotates in the first rotational operation and the second rotational operation may be changed. For example, the processing of the same control routine as the first rotational operation may be executed, and the rotating member  51  may make a single rotation as a result, in the second rotational operation as well. However, because flushing is carried out after the second rotational operation, it is preferable to set the amount by which the rotating member  51  rotates in the second rotational operation so that the region thereof contained within the containment chamber  68  when the first rotational operation ended reaches a position opposing the ejection head  23 . In this case, the region of the outer surface  50  contained within the containment chamber  68  has been kept in a moist state, and thus the solution adhering to the outer surface  50  in the next flushing can be removed with ease. Note that the dispositions, sizes, and so on of the ejection head  23 , the rotating member  51 , and the scraper  70  may be modified in order to realize such a configuration. 
     The timing at which the second rotational operation is carried out is not limited to when the power is turned on. For example, the second rotational operation may be carried out when the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  is turned off, when the liquid ejecting apparatus  11  enters or exits a power-saving mode, when printing has ended, or the like. By performing the second rotational operation when the power is turned off, when the apparatus enters a power-saving mode, or the like, a situation where the solution remaining on the outer surface  50  hardens and the scraper  70  adheres to the outer surface  50  due to the rotating member  51  being stopped for a long period of time can be suppressed from occurring. 
     The second rotational operation may be carried out a plurality of times between the first rotational operation and the next flushing. 
     During the third rotational operation, the control unit  100  may start and stop the driving of the suction pump and the flushing motor  57  at the same time. Alternatively, the driving of the flushing motor  57  may be started after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed following the driving of the suction pump  44  being started, the driving of the flushing motor  57  may be stopped after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed following the driving of the suction pump  44  being stopped, and so on. 
     A counter that counts an amount of time that has passed from when the flushing starts or from when the flushing ends may be provided. According to this configuration, the rotating member  51  can carry out the first rotational operation when a count value of the counter exceeds a first determination value, and the rotating member can carry out the second rotational operation when the count value of the counter exceeds a second determination value that is greater than the first determination value. Through this, the second determination value can be set to a value at which the liquid does not completely harden, and the solution can then be removed from the rotating member  51  by carrying out the second rotational operation before the liquid completely hardens. 
     Alternatively, the rotating member  51  may carry out the second rotational operation in the case where an amount of time that has elapsed following the end of the first rotational operation has exceeded a predetermined determination value. 
     It should be noted that in the case where the second rotational operation is carried out based on an amount of time that has elapsed following the end of the flushing or the first rotational operation, as in these variations, the second rotational operation is not carried out in the case where the period of time before the next flushing is carried out is shorter than the determination value. Accordingly, the second rotational operation can be carried out only when there is a long time until the next flushing is carried out and a resulting risk that the solution adhering to the rotating member  51  will harden. 
     The areas of the rotating member  51  aside from the upper surface that receives the solution, and the scraper  70 , may be disposed within the liquid reservoir portion  73 . According to this configuration, the solution that has adhered to and hardened on the upper surface of the rotating member  51  can be re-dissolved by the liquid held in the liquid reservoir portion  73  and wiped off by the scraper  70 . Note that if the rotating member  51  is a cylindrical drum, rotational problems caused by the solute components adhering thereon will not easily occur even if the rotating member  51  is submerged in the solution within the liquid reservoir portion  73 . 
     The scraper  70  is not limited to having a plate shape, and may instead be a band-shaped member configured of a belt, for example, that sandwiches the rotating member  51 . According to this configuration, even in the case where part of the belt-shape rotating member  51  is disposed within the liquid reservoir portion  73 , the solution can be suppressed from adhering on the inner circumferential surface of the belt. 
     One or both of the rotating member  51  and the scraper  70  may be configured of metal members. According to this configuration, the water that has evaporated from the solution will condense on the surface of the metal members exposed from the liquid reservoir portion  73  within the containment chamber  68 , which is kept in a moist state; as a result, the solution can be suppressed from adhering on the metal members. 
     The holding frame  52  and the receptacle  53  may be formed as a single integrated member. 
     The suction mechanism  16  may be omitted from the configuration. Furthermore, the introduction flow channel  43  connected to the suction mechanism  16  may be omitted from the configuration. Even in such case, providing, for example, a flow channel that introduces a liquid containing a solvent component such as water into the liquid reservoir portion  73 , mounting the receptacle  53  to the mounting portion  54  in a state where a liquid such as water is already in the liquid reservoir portion  73 , and so on make it possible to hold a liquid into which the solute components of the solution can dissolve in the liquid reservoir portion  73 . Note that holding water that does not contain the solute in the liquid reservoir portion  73  in advance makes it possible to increase the solubility of the hardened solute. Furthermore, the rotating member  51  may not carry out the third rotational operation in cases such as where the waste liquid is not introduced into the receptacle  53  via the introduction flow channel  43 . 
     The drying unit  14  may be omitted from the configuration. 
     The configuration may be such that the scraper  70  is held by the holding frame  52 . According to this configuration, the waste liquid held in the liquid reservoir portion  73  can be suppressed from adhering to the scraper  70 . 
     The scraper  70  and the rotating member  51  may be disposed at the outside of the containment chamber  68 . 
     The holding portion  74  may not include the biasing member  75 . 
     The liquid outflow port  56  may not be provided in the receptacle  53 . 
     The liquid outflow port  56  can also be provided within the liquid reservoir portion  73 . In other words, the liquid reservoir portion  73  may not normally hold a liquid. Even in this case, solids in the solution held in the receptacle  53  can be dissolved each time the waste liquid is introduced into the liquid reservoir portion  73  via the introduction flow channel  43 . 
     The liquid outflow port  56  may be provided in a base area of the liquid reservoir portion  73 . In this case, providing a net or the like in the liquid outflow port  56  to suppress solids from flowing out makes it possible to suppress large solids from flowing out. According to this configuration, solute components that have sunk to the base area of the liquid reservoir portion  73  can be caused to flow out from the liquid outflow port  56 . 
     The liquid ejecting apparatus may be what is known as a full-line type, in which a fixed ejection head that is long so as to match the overall width of the medium  12  is provided rather than the ejecting unit  13  including the carriage  21 . In this case, a printing range of the ejection head may span the overall width of the medium  12  by disposing a plurality of unit head portions, in which nozzles are formed, in parallel, or the printing range may span the overall width of the medium  12  by disposing a plurality of nozzles in a single, long head so as to span the entire width of the medium  12 . 
     The ejection head  23  may be configured to eject a solution that does not contain water. 
     The solution ejected by the ejection head  23  may be a fluid aside from ink (including liquids, a liquid state material in which the particles of a functional material are dispersed throughout or mixed with a liquid, fluids such as gels, and solids that can be flowed and ejected as fluids). For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus may be configured to record by ejecting fluids including materials such as electrode materials, coloring materials (pixel materials), and so on in a dispersed or dissolved state for use in the manufacture and so on of, for example, liquid-crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, surface emitting displays, and so on.