Patent Publication Number: US-2023150266-A1

Title: Controller, control method, and image recording device

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-186669 filed on Nov. 16, 2021. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There is known an image recording device comprising a head and a carriage mounted with the head, that discharges ink from nozzles of the head when the carriage moves in a predetermined direction. In the image recording device, a wipe processing in which a nozzle surface of the head is wiped by a wiper is executed to remove an unnecessary object (the likes of ink or a contaminant) that has adhered to the nozzle surface. 
     As the wipe processing, there is known a method by which a cleaning liquid is caused to adhere to the nozzle surface by the wiper that has been impregnated with the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid or unnecessary object that have adhered to the nozzle surface are wiped away. Sometimes, in this method, if an amount of the cleaning liquid provided to the nozzle surface is too large, then when the wiper separates from the nozzle surface, the cleaning liquid or unnecessary object that have been wiped away by the wiper will scatter. In this context, there is known a liquid discharge device in which a squeezing roller is pressed against a wiping member having liquid impregnatable properties so as to squeeze the wiping member. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     In the liquid discharge device described in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. H11-334095, a plurality of dedicated members is required to press the squeezing roller against the wiping member, hence configuration of the device becomes complicated. 
     The present disclosure, which was made in view of the above-described circumstances, has an object of providing a means by which wipe processing employing a suitable amount of a cleaning liquid can be executed by a simple configuration. 
     (1) A controller according to the present disclosure is a controller for an image recording device, the image recording device including: a carriage capable of moving in a first direction; a head which is mounted on the carriage and which is configured to discharge a liquid from a nozzle; and a wiper capable of being impregnated with a cleaning liquid, a nozzle surface of the head including a first region not having the nozzle and a second region having the nozzle, 
     the controller being configured to execute:   a pressing-against processing of abutting the wiper on the first region in a state in which a speed of a relative movement in the first direction between the carriage and the wiper is a first speed; and   a moving processing of moving the carriage and the wiper relative to each other in the first direction at a second speed faster than the first speed, while abutting the wiper on the second region.   

     The above-described controller results in that, by a pressing-against processing being executed, a wiper impregnated with a cleaning liquid is squeezed, and the cleaning liquid impregnating the wiper can be reduced to a suitable amount. The pressing-against processing can be executed without a dedicated member being employed. Hence, by executing a moving processing after the pressing-against processing, a wipe processing employing a suitable amount of the cleaning liquid can be executed by a simple configuration. 
     (2) The first speed may be zero. 
     (3) The first speed may be greater than zero. 
     (4) The image recording device may further include an additional wiper not capable of being impregnated with the cleaning liquid; and 
     in the moving processing, the carriage and the additional wiper are moved relative to each other in the first direction at the second speed, in a state in which the additional wiper abuts on the second region. 
     (5) The pressing-against processing may be executed in a state in which the additional wiper abuts on a side surface of the head. 
     (6) In the pressing-against processing, the carriage and the wiper may be moved relative to each other in a moving direction: and 
     then, in the moving processing, the carriage and the wiper may be moved relative to each other in the moving direction, without being moved relative to each other in a direction opposite to the moving direction. 
     (7) The controller may be configured to:
     after the moving processing, move the carriage and the wiper relative to each other, in a state in which the wiper does not abut on the head, until the wiper is located relative to the head at a starting position or at a position further from an ending position as compared with the starting position, the starting position being a position of the wiper relative to the head when the moving processing is started, the ending position being a position of the wiper relative to the head when the moving processing is ended; and   execute the moving processing again.   

     (8) The controller may be configured to execute the pressing-against processing for one second or more. 
     (9) A control method according to the present disclosure is a control method for an image recording device, the image recording device including: a carriage capable of moving in a first direction; a head which is mounted on the carriage and which is configured to discharges a liquid from a nozzle; and a wiper capable of being impregnated with a cleaning liquid, a nozzle surface of the head including a first region not having the nozzle and a second region having the nozzle, 
     the control method comprising:   executing a pressing-against processing of abutting the wiper on the first region in a state in which a speed of a relative movement in the first direction between the carriage and the wiper is a first speed; and   executing a moving processing of moving the carriage and the wiper relative to each other in the first direction at a second speed faster than the first speed, while abutting the wiper on the second region.   

     (10) An image recording device according to the present disclosure includes:
     a carriage capable of moving in a first direction;   a head which is mounted on the carriage and which is configured to discharge a liquid from a nozzle;   a wiper capable of being impregnated with a cleaning liquid; and   a controller, wherein   a nozzle surface of the head includes a first region not having a nozzle and a second region having a nozzle, and   the controller is configured to execute:   a pressing-against processing of abutting the wiper on the first region in a state in which a speed of a relative movement in the first direction between the carriage and the wiper is a first speed; and   a moving processing of moving the carriage and the wiper relative to each other in the first direction at a second speed faster than the first speed, while abutting the wiper on the second region.   

     (11) A controller according to the present disclosure is a controller for an image recording device, the image recording device including: a carriage capable of moving in a first direction; a head which is mounted on the carriage and which is configured to discharge a liquid from a nozzle; and a wiper capable of being impregnated with a cleaning liquid, a nozzle surface of the head including a first region not having the nozzle and a second region having the nozzle, the controller being configured to execute:
     a pressing-against processing of abutting the wiper on the first region to deform the wiper such that at least part of the cleaning liquid absorbed in the wiper is separated from the wiper; and   a wiping processing of wiping the second region with the wiper after the pressing-against processing.   

     (12) The wiping processing may include wiping the second region with the wiper while moving the head and the wiper relative to each other in the first direction, 
     the wiper may be a plate member, a thickness direction of the wiper being the first direction, and   the wiper may be configured to bend by a force in the first direction applied by the head in the pressing-against processing.   

     (13) The pressing-against processing may include abutting the wiper on the first region in a state in which a speed of a relative movement in the first direction between the carriage and the wiper is a first speed; and 
     the wiping processing may include moving the carriage and the wiper relative to each other in the first direction at a second speed faster than the first speed. 
     (14) The first speed may be zero. 
     The present disclosure results in that a wipe processing employing a suitable amount of a cleaning liquid can be executed by a simple configuration. 
    
    
     
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view depicting internal configuration of a printer  10 . 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram depicting a moving range of a carriage  41 . 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram depicting configuration of a controller  60  and elements connected to the controller  60 . 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a wiper unit  50 . 
         FIGS.  5 A,  5 B, and  5 C  are schematic views depicting states of the wiper unit  50 .  FIG.  5 A  depicts an upward facing state,  FIG.  5 B  depicts an intermediate state, and  FIG.  5 C  depicts a downward facing state. 
         FIG.  6    is a flowchart depicting operation of the controller  60 . 
         FIG.  7    is a flowchart of a wipe processing by the controller  60 . 
         FIGS.  8 A,  8 B and  8 C  are schematic views depicting states of two wipers of the wiper unit  50 .  FIG.  8 A  depicts a state before a pressing-against processing,  FIG.  8 B  depicts a state during the pressing-against processing, and  FIG.  8 C  depicts a state during a moving processing. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart of a wipe processing by a controller. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a wiper unit  59 . 
     
    
    
     A printer  10  (one example of an image recording device) and controller  60  (one example of a controller) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present disclosure can be appropriately altered in a range not altering the gist of the present invention. In the description below, an up-down direction 7 is defined with reference to a state of the printer  10  having been usably installed (the state of  FIG.  1   ), a front-rear direction 8 is defined assuming a surface provided with a discharge port  13  to be a front surface, and a left-right direction 9 is defined looking at the printer  10  from the front. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other. 
     Overall Configuration of Printer  10   
     The printer  10  depicted in  FIG.  1    is an image recording device that records an image on a sheet S by an inkjet recording system. The sheet S is a long paper sheet that has been wound into a roll shape. In order for the sheet S to be mounted in the printer  10 , a winding center of the sheet S has a through-hole formed therein. A recording objective medium may be the likes of a seal paper, fan-fold paper, cut paper, or a fabric. 
     The printer  10  includes a housing  11  of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing  11  has a size enabling it to be mounted on a tabletop, on a floor, or in a rack, and so on. Located in a front wall  12  of the housing  11  is the discharge port  13  which is slit-like and extends in the left-right direction 9. The sheet S that has been recorded with an image by the printer  10  is discharged from the discharge port  13 . The discharged sheet S is wound by a winding device (not depicted) attached to the printer  10 , for example. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  1   , the printer  10  includes the following within the housing  11 , namely, a holder  21 , a tensioner  22 , a conveying roller pair  23 , a discharging roller pair  24 , a platen  25 , four tanks  26 A- 26 D, a carriage  41 , and a head  42 . The head  42  is mounted on the carriage  41 . As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the printer  10  further includes the following within the housing  11 , namely, two guide rails  37 ,  38 , a cap  39 , and a wiper unit  50 . As depicted in  FIG.  3   , the printer  10  further includes the following within the housing  11 , namely, the controller  60 , a motor for holder drive  71 , a motor for conveyance  72 , a motor for carriage drive  73 , a motor for cap drive  74 , and a motor for wiper drive  75 . The printer  10  may further include various kinds of sensors, and so on, besides the above-mentioned elements. 
     Tanks  26 A- 26 D 
     The tanks  26 A- 26 D respectively store yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks. The inks, which are so-called latex inks, contain a pigment, resin fine particles, and an additive. The ink has a viscosity suitable for evenly dispersing the pigment and the resin fine particles. The pigment represents the color of the ink. The resin fine particles, which are for causing the pigment to adhere to the sheet S, are of a synthetic resin whose glass transition temperature is exceeded by heating of a heater (not depicted), for example. 
     Note that the printer  10  may include at least one tank. Moreover, the tank may store a liquid other than ink. The liquid stored in the tank is a preprocessing liquid, for example. The preprocessing liquid may contain a cationic polymer, a polyvalent metal salt (for example, a magnesium salt), or the like. The preprocessing liquid has a function of preventing running or bleeding-through of ink, due to it causing components in the ink to aggregate or precipitate. In some cases, the preprocessing liquid has a function of improving coloring or quick-drying properties of the ink. 
     Conveying Mechanism of Sheet S 
     Located inside the housing  11  are a pair of side frames (not depicted) that extend in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The holder  21  has a rotating shaft  31  that supports the sheet S. The rotating shaft  31  extends in the left-right direction 9 and has its two ends fixed to the side frames. Motive power of the motor for holder drive  71  (see,  FIG.  3   ) is transmitted to the rotating shaft  31 . This motive power causes the holder  21  to rotate in a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft  31 . In  FIG.  1   , a rotating direction of the holder  21  is counter-clockwise. Rotation of the holder  21  causes a roll body supported by the holder  21  to rotate too. The sheet S is led out upwardly from a rear end of the roll body and guided to the tensioner  22  as a result of the conveying roller pair  23  and discharging roller pair  24  rotating. 
     The tensioner  22 , the conveying roller pair  23 , and the discharging roller pair  24  each extend in the left-right direction 9 between the side frames and are installed in a manner enabling them to rotate in a circumferential direction of their rotational axes parallel to the left-right direction 9. The tensioner  22  is applied with a biasing force in a rearward direction by a biasing member such as a spring. The tensioner  22  abuts on the sheet S led out from the roll body and thereby guides the sheet S in such a manner that the sheet S curves frontwards. 
     The conveying roller pair  23  include a drive roller  32  and a pinch roller  33 , and are located forward of the tensioner  22 . The discharging roller pair  24  include a drive roller  34  and a pinch roller  35 , and are located further forward than the conveying roller pair  23 . Lower end positions of the drive rollers  32 ,  34  substantially coincide with an upper end position of the tensioner  22  in the up-down direction 7. The pinch roller  33  abuts from below on the drive roller  32 . The pinch roller  35  abuts from below on the drive roller  34 . 
     Motive power of the motor for conveyance  72  (see,  FIG.  3   ) is transmitted to the drive rollers  32 ,  34 . This motive power causes the drive rollers  32 ,  34  to rotate. As a result, the drive rollers  32 ,  34  nip the sheet S between themselves and the pinch rollers  33 ,  35 , and, while doing so, convey the sheet S in a conveying direction 6. In the present embodiment, the conveying direction 6 is a frontward direction. 
     Platen  25   
     The platen  25  is attached to the side frames at a position between the conveying roller pair  23  and discharging roller pair  24  in the front-rear direction 8. The platen  25  extends in the left-right direction 9 between the side frames, and includes a supporting surface  36  of the sheet S, that extends in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The supporting surface  36  is an upper end surface of the platen  25 . A position in the up-down direction 7 of the supporting surface  36  substantially coincides with the upper end position of the tensioner  22 . The platen  25  may be a sucking platen that sucks the sheet S onto the supporting surface  36 . 
     Carriage  41  and Head  42   
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the guide rails  37 ,  38  extend in the left-right direction 9 parallelly to each other. Positions in the up-down direction 7 of the guide rails  37 ,  38  are the same. The guide rail  38  is located rearward of the guide rail  37  in the front-rear direction 8. Both ends of the guide rails  37 ,  38  are fixed to the side frames. The carriage  41  is supported by the guide rails  37 ,  38 . Motive power of the motor for carriage drive  73  (see,  FIG.  3   ) is transmitted to a carriage drive mechanism (not depicted). The carriage  41  moves in the left-right direction 9 due to action of the carriage drive mechanism, in a state of being supported by the guide rails  37 ,  38 . The left-right direction 9 is an example of a first direction. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  1   , the head  42  is mounted on the carriage  41 . A lower surface of the head  42  is referred to as a nozzle surface  43 . A plurality of nozzles  44  each configured to discharging ink is formed in the nozzle surface  43 . The tanks  26 A- 26 D and the head  42  are connected via ink channels (not depicted). Inks stored in the tanks  26 A- 26 D are supplied to the head  42  via the ink channels. While the carriage  41  is moving in the left-right direction 9, inks that have been supplied to the head  42  are discharged from the nozzles  44 . As a result, image recording is performed on the sheet S. 
     Controller  60   
     As depicted in  FIG.  3   , the controller  60  has a CPU  61 , a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , an EEPROM  64 , and an ASIC  65 . The ROM  62  stores the likes of various kinds of data required in operation of the controller  60 . The RAM  63  is a working memory of the CPU  61 . The EEPROM  64  stores the likes of a control program executed by the CPU  61 . Prior to image recording being executed by the printer  10 , the control program stored in the EEPROM  64  is copied to the RAM  63 . The CPU  61  executes the control program stored in the RAM  63 . As a result, the controller  60  executes an image recording processing and a wipe processing that will be described later. 
     The controller  60  is electrically connected to the motor for holder drive  71 , the motor for conveyance  72 , the motor for carriage drive  73 , the motor for cap drive  74 , the motor for wiper drive  75 , and the head  42 , via the ASIC  65 . The motor for holder drive  71 , the motor for conveyance  72 , the motor for carriage drive  73 , the motor for cap drive  74 , and the motor for wiper drive  75  rotate according to control from the controller  60 , and generate motive power. The head  42  discharges ink onto the sheet S conveyed on the platen  25 , according to control from the controller  60 . 
     The holder  21  rotates due to motive power from the motor for holder drive  71 . The drive rollers  32 ,  34  rotate due to motive power from the motor for conveyance  72 . The sheet S is conveyed in the conveying direction 6 due to motive power from the motor for conveyance  72 . The carriage  41  moves in the left-right direction 9 due to motive power from the motor for carriage drive  73 . The cap  39  moves in the up-down direction 7 between a relatively high covering position and a relatively low separated position, due to motive power from the motor for cap drive  74 . The wiper unit  50  rotates due to motive power from the motor for wiper drive  75 , and has its state changed between the three states depicted in  FIGS.  5 A to  5 C . Note that some of the motor for holder drive  71 , the motor for conveyance  72 , the motor for carriage drive  73 , the motor for cap drive  74 , and the motor for wiper drive  75  may be realized by a common motor (that is, one motor functioning as two or more of them). 
     Moving Range of Carriage  41 , and Cap  39   
     As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the platen  25 , which has a shape long in the left-right direction 9, is located below the carriage  41  in the up-down direction 7 (see,  FIG.  1   ). A left end of the platen  25  is located close to left ends of the guide rails  37 ,  38  in the left-right direction 9. A right end of the platen  25  is located further to the right than centers of the guide rails  37 ,  38  in the left-right direction 9. The wiper unit  50  is located to the right of the platen  25  in the left-right direction 9. The cap  39  is located further to the right of the wiper unit  50 , close to right ends of the guide rails  37 ,  38  in the left-right direction 9. While image recording is being executed by the printer  10 , the carriage  41  moves in the left-right direction 9 within a range of the platen  25 . While image recording is not being executed by the printer  10 , the carriage  41  is located in a position at which the head  42  will face the cap  39  (hereafter, referred to as a standby position). 
     When the carriage  41  is located in the standby position, the cap  39  is located in the covering position. The cap  39  located in the covering position covers the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42 . When the carriage  41  is located in other than the standby position, the cap  39  is located in the separated position. The cap  39  located in the separated position does not cover the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42 . In this way, the cap  39  has a function of covering the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  while image recording is not being executed. 
     Wiper Unit  50   
     As depicted in  FIG.  4   , the wiper unit  50  has a first wiper  51 , a second wiper  52 , a wiper supporting portion  53 , and a cleaning liquid tub  54 . The cleaning liquid tub  54  is shaped like an open-topped box. As depicted in  FIGS.  4  and  5 A to  5 C , the cleaning liquid tub  54 , which is located at the lower part of the wiper unit  50 , stores a cleaning liquid L. The cleaning liquid L is a liquid suitable for removing an unnecessary object that has adhered to the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42 . Glycerin, for example, is used for the cleaning liquid L. 
     The first wiper  51  is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped whose length in the front-rear direction 8 is long, and whose length in the left-right direction 9 is short. The length in the front-rear direction 8 of the first wiper  51  is shorter than a length in the front-rear direction 8 of the wiper supporting portion  53 . The second wiper  52  has substantially the same shape and size as the first wiper  51 . However, when cut in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction 8, cross-sectional shape of the first wiper  51  is rectangular, whereas cross-sectional shape of the second wiper  52  is trapezoidal. Hereafter, the first wiper  51  and the second wiper  52  will be collectively referred to as two wipers. 
     The first wiper  51 , which is capable of being impregnated with the cleaning liquid L, deforms with a high degree of freedom in response to an external force. On the other hand, the second wiper  52 , which is not capable of being impregnated with the cleaning liquid L, deforms while keeping the shape of the second wiper  52  to a certain extent, in response to an external force. The first wiper  51  is formed by a porous material, for example. The second wiper  52  is formed by a rubber material, for example. The first wiper  51  is one example of a wiper. The second wiper  52  is one example of an additional wiper. 
     The wiper supporting portion  53 , which has a shape whose length in the front-rear direction 8 is long, includes a attachment surface  55  and a rotating shaft  56 . The first wiper  51  is attached to the attachment surface  55  so that its longitudinal direction coincides with the front-rear direction 8. The second wiper  52  is attached to the attachment surface  55  so as to face the first wiper  51 . The two wipers are attached to the attachment surface  55  so that in a state of the attachment surface  55  facing upward, the first wiper  51  will be located further to the right than the second wiper  52  in the left-right direction 9. 
     The cleaning liquid tub  54  has a front wall  57  and rear wall (not depicted) that extend in the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9. The front wall  57  and rear wall each have a through-hole in their central upper portion (in  FIG.  4   , only the through-hole  58  of the front wall  57  is depicted). One end of the rotating shaft  56  is inserted in the through-hole  58  of the front wall  57 . The other end (not depicted) of the rotating shaft  56  is inserted in the through-hole of the rear wall. As a result, the wiper supporting portion  53  is supported by the cleaning liquid tub  54  in a manner enabling the wiper supporting portion  53  to rotate around the rotating shaft  56 . Motive power of the motor for wiper drive  75  (see,  FIG.  3   ) is transmitted to a wiper drive mechanism (not depicted). The rotating shaft  56  undergoes a half-rotation due to action of the wiper drive mechanism. As a result, the first wiper  51 , second wiper  52 , and wiper supporting portion  53  also undergo a half-rotation around the rotating shaft  56 . Note that configuration of the wiper drive mechanism may be any configuration. 
     As depicted in  FIGS.  5 A to  5 C , the wiper unit  50  has its state changed between an upward facing state, an intermediate state, and a downward facing state, due to undergoing a half-rotation around the rotating shaft  56 . The upward facing state ( FIG.  5 A ) is a state of the attachment surface  55  facing upward. The intermediate state ( FIG.  5 B ) is a state of the attachment surface  55  facing rightward. The downward facing state ( FIG.  5 C ) is a state of the attachment surface  55  facing downward. 
     In the upward facing state, the two wipers are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 , and are located in a position allowing the two wipers to abut on the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42 . In the downward facing state, part of the first wiper  51  and part of the second wiper  52  are immersed in the liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 , and the two wipers are located in a position where the two wipers cannot abut on the nozzle surface  43 . The intermediate state is a state midway between the upward facing state and the downward facing state. In the intermediate state, the two wipers are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 , and are located in a position where they cannot abut on the nozzle surface  43 . Note that in the downward facing state, the whole of the first wiper  51  and whole of the second wiper  52  may be immersed in the cleaning liquid L. 
     While image recording is not being performed, the carriage  41  is located in the standby position, and the wiper unit  50  is in the downward facing state. In this period, the first wiper  51  is impregnated with the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 . The controller  60  receives an image recording instruction, and thereupon moves the carriage  41  from the standby position to a recording start position to execute image recording. After receiving the image recording instruction but before executing image recording, the controller  60  uses the wiper unit  50  to execute the wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  7   . 
     Operation of Controller  60   
     Operation of the controller  60  will be described with reference to  FIG.  6   . At a timepoint when the controller  60  has reached a step S 11 , the carriage  41  is located in the standby position, the cap  39  is located in the covering position, and the wiper unit  50  is in the downward facing state. At this time, the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  is covered by the cap  39 , and part of the first wiper  51  and part of the second wiper  52  are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 . The first wiper  51  is in a state of having been impregnated with the cleaning liquid L. 
     The controller  60  receives an image recording instruction from an operating unit (not depicted) (S 11 ). Specifically, the controller  60  waits in the step S 11  until it receives the image recording instruction. Upon receiving the image recording instruction in the step S 11 , the controller  60  moves the cap  39  from the covering position to the separated position (S 12 ). Next, the controller  60  executes the wipe processing (details of which will be described later) (S 13 ). At a timepoint when the controller  60  has completed processing up to the step S 13 , the carriage  41  is located to the left of the wiper unit  50  in the left-right direction 9. 
     Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a leftward direction to a recording start position (S 14 ). The recording start position is a predetermined position at which the carriage  41  will face the platen  25 . Next, the controller  60  conveys the sheet S to the recording start position (S 15 ). Note that the controller  60  may execute the step S 15  parallelly to the whole or part of the steps from the step S 12  to the step S 14 . At a timepoint when the controller  60  has completed processing up to the step S 15 , the printer  10  is in a state allowing image recording to be executed. 
     Next, the controller  60  executes image recording on the sheet S (S 21 ). In the step S 21 , the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in the left-right direction 9 (in a leftward direction or rightward direction). While the carriage  41  is moving in the left-right direction 9, the controller  60  causes ink as much as a quantity corresponding to image data to be discharged from the nozzles  44  of the head  42 . 
     Next, the controller  60  determines whether there is image data remaining (S 22 ). In response to having determined there to be image data remaining in the step S 22  (S 22 : Yes), the controller  60  proceeds to a step S 23 . In this case, the controller  60  conveys the sheet S a predetermined amount (S 23 ), and proceeds to the step S 21 . 
     In response to having determined there to be no image data remaining in the step S 22  (S 22 : No), the controller  60  proceeds to a step S 24 . In this case, the controller  60  discharges the sheet S to a predetermined position (S 24 ). At a timepoint when the controller  60  has completed processing up to the step S 24 , the printer  10  is in a state of having completed the image recording. 
     Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a rightward direction to the standby position (S 25 ). Next, the controller  60  moves the cap  39  in an upward direction from the separated position to the covering position (S 26 ). After that, the controller  60  proceeds to the step S 11  in order to execute the next image recording. 
     Details of the wipe processing executed by the controller  60  will be described with reference to  FIGS.  7  and  8 A to  8 C . At a timepoint when the controller  60  starts execution of the wipe processing, the carriage  41  is located in the standby position, the cap  39  is located in the separated position, and the wiper unit  50  is in the downward facing state. 
     The standby position is located further to the right than the wiper unit  50  in the left-right direction 9. At a timepoint when the controller  60  starts execution of the wipe processing, the carriage  41  is located further to the right than the wiper unit  50  in the left-right direction 9. As depicted in  FIG.  8 A , the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  includes: a first region  45  not having the nozzles  44 ; and a second region  46  having the nozzles  44 . 
     The controller  60  controls the wiper unit  50  to the upward facing state at the start of the wipe processing (S 31 ). Upon the wiper unit  50  changing its state from the downward facing state to the upward facing state, the two wipers emerge (come out) from the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54  to be in an upright state (see,  FIG.  8 A ). In the course of the wiper unit  50  changing its state from the downward facing state to the upward facing state, and while the wiper unit  50  is in the upward facing state, some of the cleaning liquid that the first wiper  51  has been impregnated with, and cleaning liquid that has adhered to a surface of the second wiper  52  moves in a downward direction due to action of gravity, and is collected in the cleaning liquid tub  54 . 
     Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a leftward direction to a pressing-against position (S 32 ). The pressing-against position is a position of the carriage  41  by which the first wiper  51  will abut on the first region  45  (the region not having the nozzles  44 ) of the nozzle surface  43  (see,  FIG.  8 B ). The pressing-against position may be a position of the carriage  41  at which, for example, the first wiper  51  will abut on the first region  45  and the second wiper  52  will abut on a side surface  47  of the head  42 . By setting the pressing-against position to the above-described position, the cleaning liquid that has adhered to the head  42  when the head  42  is abutted on by the first wiper  51  can be recovered in the cleaning liquid tub  54  via the second wiper  52 . Note that, a moving speed of the carriage  41  until it reaches the pressing-against position may be any speed. 
     Next, the controller  60  keeps the carriage  41  in a stopped state for a first time period at the pressing-against position (S 33 ). The step S 33  is one example of pressing-against processing. While the carriage  41  is stopped at the pressing-against position, the first wiper  51  abuts on the first region  45 , and the first wiper  51  deforms with its tip portion bending to the left (see,  FIG.  8 B ). As a result, the first wiper  51  is squeezed, and some of the cleaning liquid with which the first wiper  51  has been impregnated separates from the first wiper  51 . The cleaning liquid that has separated from the first wiper  51  moves in a downward direction due to action of gravity, and is recovered in the cleaning liquid tub  54 . Length of the first time period is determined according to the likes of material (quality of material) of the first wiper  51 , characteristics of the cleaning liquid, and degree of deformation of the first wiper  51 , for example. The first time period is one second or more, for example. 
     Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a leftward direction at a speed suitable for wiping the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  (hereafter, referred to as a wipe speed), for a second time period (S 34 ). The step S 34  is one example of a moving processing. While the step S 34  is being executed by the controller  60 , the first wiper  51  abuts on the second region  46  (the region having the nozzles  44 ) of the nozzle surface  43 . At this time, the two wipers abut on the second region  46 , and the two wipers deform with their tip portions bending to the left (see,  FIG.  8 C ). Thus, due to the carriage  41  moving in a leftward direction in a state of the second region  46  having been abutted on by the two wipers, an unnecessary object that has adhered to the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  is removed. 
     Note that in the step S 34 , the controller  60  accelerates the carriage  41  in the stopped-state to the wipe speed, and then moves the carriage  41  at the wipe speed for the second time period. During the second time period, a moving speed of the carriage  41  is constant (is always the wipe speed), and a time period that the carriage  41  is accelerating is not included in the second time period. 
     Next, the controller  60  controls the wiper unit  50  to the downward facing state (S 35 ). Upon the wiper unit  50  changing its state from the upward facing state to the downward facing state, part of the first wiper  51  and part of the second wiper  52  are again immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54  (see,  FIG.  5 C ). Subsequently, the controller  60  executes the processing of the step S 14  and the steps following the step S 14  depicted in  FIG.  6   . 
     Effects of Embodiment 
     As described above, the controller  60  executes: the pressing-against processing in which the carriage  41  is kept in a stopped state at the pressing position for the first time period, and the first wiper  51  is abutted on the first region  45 ; and the moving processing in which, while the first wiper  51  is abutting on the second region  46 , the carriage  41  is moved in a leftward direction at the wipe speed. 
     The printer  10  and controller  60  according to the present embodiment result in that by the pressing-against processing being executed, the first wiper  51  that has been impregnated with the cleaning liquid is squeezed, and the cleaning liquid with which the first wiper  51  has been impregnated is reduced to a suitable amount. The pressing-against processing can be executed without a dedicated member being employed. Hence, by the moving processing being executed subsequently to the pressing-against processing, wiper processing employing a suitable amount of cleaning liquid can be executed by a simple configuration. 
     When relative moving speed of the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  during pressing-against processing is assumed to be the first speed, and relative moving speed of the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  during moving processing is assumed to be the second speed, the first speed is zero, and the second speed is the wipe speed. The second speed is faster than the first speed. Since the first speed is zero, the first wiper  51  is squeezed in a state of the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  having been relatively stopped. 
     In the moving processing, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a leftward direction along the left-right direction 9 at the wipe speed, in a state of the second wiper  52  having been abutted on the second region  46 . This results in that after the nozzle surface  43  has been applied with a suitable amount of the cleaning liquid using the first wiper  51 , the cleaning liquid and an unnecessary object that have adhered to the nozzle surface  43  can be removed using the second wiper  52 . 
     By the controller  60  executing the pressing-against processing in a state of the second wiper  52  having been abutted on the side surface  47  of the head  42 , the cleaning liquid that has adhered to the head  42  can be removed via the second wiper  52 . Due to the first time period being set at one second or more, the first wiper  51  is squeezed for a sufficient time. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and not limiting the invention. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described invention are provided below: 
     Modifications 
     In the above-described embodiment, the controller  60  keeps the carriage  41  in a stopped state for the first time period in the pressing-against processing. In a first modification, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  at a speed greater than zero for the first time period in the pressing-against processing. That is, in the first modification, the first speed (the relative moving speed of the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  during the pressing-against processing) is greater than zero. In such a first modification too, the first wiper  51  that has been impregnated with the cleaning liquid is squeezed, and the cleaning liquid with which the first wiper  51  has been impregnated is reduced to a suitable amount, in the pressing-against processing. Since the first speed is greater than zero, the first wiper  51  is squeezed in a state of the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  moving relative to each other. 
     In the above-described embodiment, controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in the left-right direction 9 (specifically, in a leftward direction), without moving the two wipers in the left-right direction 9, when executing wipe processing. In a second modification, the controller  60  moves the two wipers in the left-right direction 9, without moving the carriage  41  in the left-right direction 9, when executing wipe processing. Alternatively, the controller  60  moves both the carriage  41  and two wipers in the left-right direction 9, when executing wipe processing. 
     Generally, in the pressing-against processing, the controller  60  may move the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in the left-right direction 9 for the first time period at the first speed, while abutting the first wiper  51  on the first region  45 . In the moving processing, the controller  60  may move the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in the left-right direction 9 at the second speed faster than the first speed, while abutting the first wiper  51  on the second region  46 . 
     The controller  60  may move the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in a moving direction in the pressing-against processing, and then, move the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in an opposite direction opposite to the moving direction of the pressing-against processing in the moving processing. Meanwhile the controller  60  may move the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in the moving processing without moving the carriage  41  and first wiper  51  relative to each other in the opposite direction. By doing so, the moving processing can be executed immediately after the pressing-against processing. 
     In the above-described embodiment, controller  60  executes the wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  7   , in the step S 13 . In a third modification, the controller  60  executes the wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  9   , in the step S 13 . The wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  9    is the wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  7    to which step S 41 -S 44  have been added. 
     In the wipe processing depicted in  FIG.  9   , the controller  60  execute the steps S 31 -S 34 , after which the controller  60  controls the wiper unit  50  to the intermediate state (S 41 ). In the intermediate state, the two wipers are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the cleaning liquid tub  54 , and are located in a position where the two wipers are unable to abut on the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42 . 
     Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a rightward direction to the pressing-against position (S 42 ). The pressing-against position is a position of the carriage  41  when moving processing is started. Note that in the step S 42 , the controller  60  may move the carriage  41  to the position where moving processing is started or to a position separated rightward from the position where moving processing is started. 
     Next, the controller  60  controls the wiper unit  50  to the upward facing state (S 43 ). Next, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in a leftward direction at the wipe speed for the second time period (S 44 ). Processing of the step S 44  is the same as processing of the step S 34 . The controller  60  does not execute pressing-against processing in the process between the step S 42  and the step S 44 . Next, the controller  60  controls the wiper unit  50  to the downward facing state (S 35 ). 
     In the third modification, subsequent to moving processing, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  to the position where moving processing is started or to a position further from the position where moving processing is ended as compared with the position where moving processing is started, without causing the two wipers to abut on the head  42 , and re-executes the moving processing. In the third modification, pressing-against processing is executed prior to executing moving processing for the first time, so an amount of the cleaning liquid with which the first wiper  51  is impregnated will be still suitable when executing moving processing for the second time. Hence, the nozzle surface  43  of the head  42  can be wiped twice using a suitable amount of the cleaning liquid. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the printer  10  includes the wiper unit  50  depicted in  FIG.  4   . In a fourth modification, the printer  10  includes a wiper unit  59  depicted in  FIG.  10   . The wiper unit  59  depicted in  FIG.  10    has the first wiper  51 , the wiper supporting portion  53 , and the cleaning liquid tub  54 , but does not have the second wiper  52 . Thus, the printer need not include a second wiper not capable of being impregnated with the cleaning liquid. 
     In the above-described embodiment, in the moving processing after the pressing-against processing, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in the same direction (leftward direction) as a moving direction of the carriage  41  prior to pressing-against processing, without moving the carriage  41  in an direction (rightward direction) opposite to the moving direction of the carriage  41  prior to pressing-against processing. In a fifth modification, the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in the direction (rightward direction) opposite to the moving direction of the carriage  41  prior to pressing-against processing for a predetermined time, after which the controller  60  moves the carriage  41  in the same direction (leftward direction) as the moving direction of the carriage  41  prior to pressing-against processing, in the moving processing after the pressing-against processing. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the printer  10  includes one head  42 . However, the printer  10  may include two or more heads  42 . In the above-described embodiment, the printer  10  includes four tanks  26 A- 26 D. However, the printer  10  may include three or fewer, or five or more tanks. 
     Moreover, characteristics of the printers and controllers according to the above-described embodiment and its modifications may be arbitrarily combined provided there occurs no contradiction with those characteristics, and there may thereby be configured printers and controllers that combine the characteristics of the printers and controllers according to the above-described embodiments and modifications.