Patent Publication Number: US-11396181-B2

Title: Liquid ejecting system and maintenance method for liquid ejecting system

Description:
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2019-197252, filed Oct. 30, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a liquid ejecting system and a maintenance method for a liquid ejecting system. 
     2. Related Art 
     For example, as in JP-A-2015-202629, a printing apparatus is an example of a liquid ejecting system that performs printing by discharging an ink that is an example of a liquid from an ink jet head that is an example of a liquid ejecting portion. The ink jet head performs the printing by discharging the ink from a nozzle onto a recording medium that is an example of a medium transported by a transport belt. In the printing apparatus, the ink was ejected toward a flushing area on the transport belt in order to prevent clogging of the nozzle. 
     A flushing area is a predetermined area. Therefore, an operator&#39;s intention regarding a position for performing flushing was not reflected. 
     SUMMARY 
     A liquid ejecting system that solves the above problems includes: a transport portion that transports a medium in a transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on a medium supporting surface; a liquid ejecting portion that performs printing by moving in a scanning direction and ejecting a liquid from a nozzle with respect to the medium supported on the medium supporting surface; a designation portion for an operator to designate a designation range within a scanning area, the scanning area being configured to face the liquid ejecting portion that moves in the scanning direction and to include the medium and the medium supporting surface; and a control portion that sets a flushing area based on the designated designation range and performs a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle to the flushing area as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting portion. 
     A maintenance method for a liquid ejecting system including: a transport portion that transports a medium in a transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on a medium supporting surface; a liquid ejecting portion that moves in a scanning direction and ejects a liquid from a nozzle with respect to the medium supported on the medium supporting surface; and a designation portion for an operator to designate a designation range within a scanning area, the scanning area being configured to face the liquid ejecting portion that moves in the scanning direction and to include the medium and the medium supporting surface, the method including: setting a flushing area based on the designated designation range; and performing a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle to the flushing area as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting portion is provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating a schematic configuration of a liquid ejecting system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view illustrating a liquid ejecting head. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view illustrating a transport belt that transports a medium and a maintenance mechanism. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport belt that transports the medium. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a designation portion when a flushing tray, the transport belt, and the medium are selected. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the designation portion that displays a designatable range on a display portion. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the designation portion when the transport belt and the medium are selected. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the designation portion that displays designatable ranges of the transport belt and the medium on the display portion. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the designation portion when the medium is selected. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the designation portion that displays the designatable range of the medium on the display portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the designation portion when the transport belt is selected. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view of the designation portion that displays the designatable range of the transport belt on the display portion. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view of the designation portion when the flushing tray is selected. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view of the designation portion that displays a designable range of the flushing tray on the display portion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a liquid ejecting system and a maintenance method for the liquid ejecting system will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting system is, for example, an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting a liquid such as an ink onto a medium such a cloth. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a liquid ejecting system  11  includes a housing  12  and a cover  13  that is attached to the housing  12  to be openable and closeable. The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a transport portion  15  that transports a medium  14 , a liquid ejecting portion  16  that ejects a liquid to perform printing on the medium  14 , a supply mechanism  18  that supplies a liquid accommodated in a liquid accommodating portion  17  to the liquid ejecting portion  16 , and a movement mechanism  19  that moves the liquid ejecting portion  16 . The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a designation portion  20  that enables an operator to designate setting related to the liquid ejecting system  11 . 
     In the drawing, when the liquid ejecting system  11  is placed on a horizontal surface, the direction of gravity is indicated as a Z axis, and directions along a surface intersecting the Z axis are indicated as an X axis and a Y axis. It is preferable that the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis be perpendicular to each other, and the X axis and the Y axis are along the horizontal plane. In the present embodiment, the X axis direction is a width direction of the medium  14  and is a direction in which the liquid ejecting portion  16  moves. In the present embodiment, the Y axis direction is a direction in which the medium  14  is transported in a printing position P 1  where the printing is performed on the medium  14 . In the present embodiment, the Z axis direction is a direction in which the liquid ejecting portion  16  ejects the liquid. In the following description, the X axis direction is referred to as a scanning direction X, the Y axis direction is referred to as a transport direction Y, and the Z axis direction is referred to as a vertical direction Z. 
     Next, an embodiment of the transport portion  15  will be described. 
     The transport portion  15  includes a transport motor  21 , a driving pulley  22  that rotates by driving of the transport motor  21 , and a driven pulley  23  that is rotatable about an axial line parallel to an axial line of the driving pulley  22 . The transport portion  15  includes an annular transport belt  24  hung between the driving pulley  22  and the driven pulley  23 , and a pressing roller  25  that presses the medium  14  against the transport belt  24 . The pressing roller  25  presses the medium  14  and the transport belt  24  against the driven pulley  23  to sandwich the medium  14  between the pressing roller  25  and the driven pulley  23 . 
     An inner peripheral surface of the transport belt  24  is in contact with the driving pulley  22  and the driven pulley  23 . An outer peripheral surface of the transport belt  24  is a medium supporting surface  24   a  that supports the medium  14 . The transport belt  24  according to the present embodiment is an adhesive belt in which the medium supporting surface  24   a  is coated with an adhesive, and peelably adheres to and supports the medium  14 . The transport belt  24  orbits around the driving pulley  22  and the driven pulley  23  as the transport motor  21  is driven, and transports the medium  14  in the transport direction Y in a state in which the medium  14  is supported on the medium supporting surface  24   a.    
     The transport portion  15  includes a winding portion  27  that winds the printed medium  14  and a driven roller  28  located between the winding portion  27  and the transport belt  24 . After being peeled off from the transport belt  24 , the medium  14  transported by the transport belt  24  is wound on the winding portion  27  through the driven roller  28 . 
     The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a peeling sensor  30  that detects the medium  14  peeled off from the transport belt  24  and a control portion  31  that totally controls driving of each mechanism such as the transport portion  15  and the liquid ejecting portion  16  in the liquid ejecting system  11 . The peeling sensor  30  is provided at a position between the transport belt  24  and the driven roller  28 , which is a position along a transport path of the medium  14 . The peeling sensor  30  is, for example, an optical sensor including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and detects a distance between the peeling sensor  30  and the medium  14  by irradiating a light beam from a direction intersecting a surface of the medium  14 . The control portion  31  detects a peeling position P 2  where the medium  14  is separated from the transport belt  24 , based on a result of the detection by the peeling sensor  30 . The control portion  31  controls driving of the winding portion  27  such that the peeling position P 2  is located lower than the medium  14  located in the printing position P 1  in the vertical direction Z. 
     The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a cleaning unit  33  for cleaning the transport belt  24  with a cleaning liquid and an absorption roller  34  that can absorb the cleaning liquid. The absorption roller  34  is a roller that can absorb a liquid at a portion in contact with the transport belt  24  and, for example, uses a cloth. The absorption roller  34  holds the transport belt  24  together with the driven pulley  23 , and assists in removing the cleaning liquid and the liquid adhering to the transport belt  24 . The cleaning unit  33  and the absorption roller  34  are provided to be movable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 1  where the cleaning unit  33  and the absorption roller  34  come into contact with the transport belt  24  by driving a not-illustrated cleaning motor and a not-illustrated position where the cleaning unit  33  and the absorption roller  34  are separated from the transport belt  24 . 
     The cleaning unit  33  includes a cleaning liquid accommodating portion  36  that accommodates the cleaning liquid, a cleaning brush  37  that comes into contact with the transport belt  24  to clean the transport belt  24 , and a cleaning wiper  38  that removes the cleaning liquid and the liquid attached to the transport belt  24 . The cleaning liquid is, for example, a liquid or water containing a detergent component such as a surfactant. The cleaning unit  33  may include a plurality of the cleaning wipers  38 . 
     Next, an embodiment of the liquid ejecting portion  16  and the movement mechanism  19  will be described. 
     The movement mechanism  19  includes a first guide shaft  41  and a second guide shaft  42  in which the scanning direction X is set as the axial direction, and a carriage motor  43 . 
     The liquid ejecting portion  16  includes a carriage  45  which can reciprocate along the first guide shaft  41  and the second guide shaft  42  and at least one liquid ejecting head  46  attached to a lower end portion of the carriage  45 . In the present embodiment, four liquid ejecting heads  46  are attached in the carriage  45 . The carriage motor  43  is a motor that moves the carriage  45 . 
     Each of the liquid ejecting heads  46  has a nozzle surface  48  on which a plurality of nozzles  47  are formed. The liquid ejecting head  46  is provided such that the nozzle surface  48  faces the transport belt  24  or the medium  14  supported on the transport belt  24  in the vertical direction Z. The liquid ejecting portion  16  moves the medium  14  supported by the medium supporting surface  24   a  in the scanning direction X or a direction opposite to the scanning direction X, ejects the liquid from the plurality of nozzles  47 , and performs printing on the medium  14 . 
     The carriage  45  may include a carriage body  45 A to which the liquid ejecting head  46  is attached and a carriage base  45 B guided by the first guide shaft  41  and the second guide shaft  42 . The liquid ejecting portion  16  may include an adjustment mechanism  49  that adjusts a position of the carriage body  45 A with respect to the carriage base  45 B. The adjustment mechanism  49  includes, for example, a cam or the like. The adjustment mechanism  49  causes the carriage body  45 A to slide in the vertical direction Z or in a direction opposite to the vertical direction Z with respect to the carriage base  45 B, and changes a distance L between the nozzle surface  48  and the medium supporting surface  24   a  in the vertical direction Z. The adjustment mechanism  49  may be operated by the operator or driving of the adjustment mechanism  49  may be controlled by the control portion  31 . 
     Next, an embodiment of the supply mechanism  18  will be described. 
     The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a mounting portion  51  on which at least one liquid accommodating portion  17  is detachably mounted. The liquid ejecting system  11  may include a plurality of the supply mechanisms  18  according to the number of the liquid accommodating portions  17  that can be mounted on the mounting portion  51 . In the present embodiment, four liquid accommodating portions  17  can be mounted on the mounting portion  51 , and the liquid ejecting system  11  includes four supply mechanisms  18 . Each of the supply mechanisms  18  supplies the liquid to the corresponding liquid ejecting head  46 . 
     The plurality of liquid accommodating portions  17  accommodate different liquids, respectively. When the plurality of liquid accommodating portions  17  accommodate inks having different colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, the liquid ejecting portion  16  ejects inks having a plurality of colors, supplied from the liquid accommodating portion  17 , to perform color printing on the medium  14 . The liquid accommodating portion  17  may accommodate, for example, inks having colors such as light magenta, light cyan, light yellow, ash, orange, and white or may accommodate a moisturizing liquid or a cleaning liquid. Kinds of the liquids ejected by the liquid ejecting portion  16  may include, for example, three colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow or may include one color such as black. 
     The supply mechanism  18  includes a supply path  53  through which the liquid is supplied from the liquid accommodating portion  17  mounted on the mounting portion  51  to the liquid ejecting head  46 . The supply mechanism  18  causes the liquid to flow in the supply direction A from an upstream that is the liquid accommodating portion  17  side to a downstream that is the liquid ejecting head  46  side. A supply pump  54  that causes the liquid to flow, a filter unit  55  that captures air bubbles and foreign matters in the liquid, a static mixer  56  that changes flow of the liquid of the supply path  53  to stir the liquid, a liquid storing chamber  57  that stores the liquid, and a pressure adjusting unit  58  that adjusts a pressure of the liquid are provided in the supply path  53  in an order from an upstream of the supply direction A. 
     The supply pump  54  has a diaphragm pump  60 , the volume of a pump chamber of which is varied, a suction valve  61  disposed between the diaphragm pump  60  and the liquid accommodating portion  17 , and a discharge valve  62  disposed between the diaphragm pump  60  and the filter unit  55 . The suction valve  61  and the discharge valve  62  are one-way valves that allow flow of the liquid from the upstream to the downstream and block flow of the liquid from the downstream to the upstream. The supply pump  54  suctions the liquid from the liquid accommodating portion  17  through the suction valve  61  as the volume of the pump chamber of the diaphragm pump  60  increases, and discharges the liquid toward the liquid ejecting head  46  through the discharge valve  62  as the volume of the pump chamber decreases. 
     The filter unit  55  is mounted detachably with respect to the supply path  53 . The filter unit  55  is disposed at a position corresponding to the cover  13  and can be replaced by opening the cover  13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the liquid ejecting head  46  includes a bracket  64  for attaching the liquid ejecting head  46  to the carriage  45 , a head body  66  having a nozzle opening surface  65  on which the plurality of nozzles  47  are opened, and a plate  67  that covers a part of the nozzle opening surface  65 . 
     The plate  67  is, for example, made of metal such as stainless steel, and is shaped such that two rectangular shapes in which the transport direction Y is set as a lengthwise direction when viewed from the lower side are misaligned in the transport direction Y. At least one through-hole  68  is formed in the plate  67 . In the present embodiment, a first through-hole  68   a  to a fourth through-hole  68   d  constituting a rectangular shape that is long in the transport direction Y are formed in the plate  67 . The plate  67  is fixed to the head body  66  such that the nozzles  47  are exposed from the through-holes  68 . The nozzle surface  48  is configured with the nozzle opening surface  65  exposed from the through-holes  68  and a lower surface  67   a  of the plate  67 . 
     The plurality of through-holes  68  are formed to be shifted in the transport direction Y. The through-holes  68  are defined as the first through-hole  68   a , a second through-hole  68   b , a third through-hole  68   c , and the fourth through-hole  68   d  in an order from the downstream in the transport direction Y. The second through-hole  68   b  is located at an intermediate position between the first through-hole  68   a  and the third through-hole  68   c  in the transport direction Y. The third through-hole  68   c  is located at an intermediate position between the second through-hole  68   b  and the fourth through-hole  68   d  in the transport direction Y. 
     The first through-hole  68   a  and the third through-hole  68   c  are located at the same position in the scanning direction X to be spaced apart from each other in the transport direction Y. The second through-hole  68   b  and the fourth through-hole  68   d  are located at the same position in the scanning direction X to be spaced apart from each other in the transport direction Y. In the scanning direction X, the first through-hole  68   a  and the third through-hole  68   c  are located in positions that are different from the position of the second through-hole  68   b  and the fourth through-hole  68   d  to be spaced apart from the second through-hole  68   b  and the fourth through-hole  68   d , respectively. 
     The liquid ejecting head  46  has a first nozzle group  69   a  to a fourth nozzle group  69   d  each having a large number of the nozzles  47  arranged at a constant pitch in the transport direction Y. The first nozzle group  69   a  is exposed from the first through-hole  68   a , the second nozzle group  69   b  is exposed from the second through-hole  68   b , the third nozzle group  69   c  is exposed from the third through-hole  68   c , and the fourth nozzle group  69   d  is exposed from the fourth through-hole  68   d . The first nozzle group  69   a  and the third nozzle group  69   c  are formed at the same position in the scanning direction X and are arranged in a row in the transport direction Y. The second nozzle group  69   b  and the fourth nozzle group  69   d  are formed at the same position in the scanning direction X and are arranged in a row in the transport direction Y. 
     A part of the first nozzle group  69   a  and a part of the second nozzle group  69   b , a part of the second nozzle group  69   b  and a part of the third nozzle group  69   c , and a part of the third nozzle group  69   c  and a part of the fourth nozzle group  69   d  overlap each other when viewed from the scanning direction X. That is, the first nozzle group  69   a  to the fourth nozzle group  69   d  constitute a nozzle row  69  continuing in the transport direction Y when viewed from the scanning direction X. One nozzle row  69  ejects the same kind of liquid. A plurality of the nozzle rows  69  may be formed in the liquid ejecting head  46 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , four liquid ejecting heads  46  are arranged in parallel to each other at a constant pitch in the scanning direction X. Configurations of the liquid ejecting heads  46  are the same. Therefore, the plurality of nozzle rows  69  are arranged in parallel to each other at a constant pitch in the scanning direction X. That is, the plurality of nozzles  47  are arranged on the nozzle surface  48  to form the plurality of nozzle rows  69  arranged in the scanning direction X. A plurality of different kinds of liquids can be ejected from the plurality of nozzle rows  69 . 
     The liquid ejecting system  11  includes a maintenance mechanism  70  for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion  16 . The maintenance mechanism  70  maintains the liquid ejecting portion  16  to prevent or resolve ejection failure caused by the clogging of the nozzles  47 , mixing of air bubbles into the liquid ejecting head  46 , attachment of the foreign matters to the peripheries of the nozzles  47 , and the like. 
     The maintenance mechanism  70  includes a first flushing tray  71  and a second flushing tray  72  that receive the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head  46 , a cleaning member  73  that wipes and cleans the nozzle surface  48 , and a cleaning mechanism  74  that cleans the liquid ejecting head  46 . The first flushing tray  71  and the second flushing tray  72  may be provided at positions on both sides of the transport belt  24  in the scanning direction X so as to be adjacent to the transport belt  24 . The first flushing tray  71  is provided between the cleaning member  73  and the transport belt  24  in the scanning direction X. The second flushing tray  72  is provided opposite to the cleaning member  73  and the cleaning mechanism  74  with the transport belt  24  interposed therebetween. 
     When the printing is not performed or when power is turned off, the liquid ejecting portion  16  stands by at a home position where the cleaning mechanism  74  is disposed. When performing the printing, the liquid ejecting portion  16  alternately moves in the scanning direction X away from the home position and in a direction opposite to the scanning direction X, and ejects the liquid onto a printing area PA to perform the printing. An area that can face the liquid ejecting portion  16  that moves in the scanning direction X is referred to as a scanning area SA. The scanning area SA includes the medium  14  and the medium supporting surface  24   a . The maintenance mechanism  70  is provided in the scanning area SA. 
     As a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting portion  16 , the control portion  31  performs a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle  47  to the flushing area FA. The flushing area FA may be set on any of the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , the transport belt  24 , and the medium  14 . The control portion  31  may set the flushing areas FA on both sides of the printing area PA in the scanning direction X. 
     An area of the scanning area SA that can be set as the flushing area FA is referred to as a setting area CA. The setting area CA includes the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , and an area between the first flushing tray  71  and the second flushing tray  72 . 
     The flushing operation is an operation of ejecting and discharging the liquid from the nozzle  47  separately from ejection of the liquid onto the medium  14  to be printed, in order to prevent or resolve clogging of the nozzles  47 . Foreign matters, air bubbles, and altered liquids, which cause ejection failure, can be discharged through the flushing operation. An example of the altered liquids is thickened ink. The flushing operation is executed to resolve a slight ejection failure. 
     The cleaning member  73  performs a wiping operation of wiping the nozzle surface  48  as the maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting head  46 . The cleaning member  73  is formed of an elastic member such as rubber or resin elastomer and is formed in a thin plate shape. At least one of the cleaning member  73  and the liquid ejecting head  46  is configured to relatively move in the vertical direction Z between a wiping position where the cleaning member  73  and the nozzle surface  48  can come into contact with each other and a retracted position where the cleaning member  73  is separated from the nozzle surface  48  in the vertical direction Z. When the liquid ejecting head  46  moves in the scanning direction X and passes through the cleaning member  73  while being located in the wiping position, the cleaning member  73  and the liquid ejecting head  46  come into contact with the nozzle surface  48  to wipe the nozzle surface  48  while the cleaning member  73  is elastically deformed. That is, the cleaning member  73  moves relatively to the liquid ejecting portion  16  in the scanning direction X along the nozzle surface  48  to wipe the nozzle surface  48 . 
     The cleaning mechanism  74  includes a suction cap  76 , a suction tube  78  that connects the suction cap  76  and a waste liquid accommodating portion  77 , and a suction pump  79  that sucks an inside of the suction cap  76 . The suction pump  79  is, for example, a tube pump provided in the middle of the suction tube  78 . At least one of the suction cap  76  and the liquid ejecting head  46  is configured to relatively move between a capping position in which a space where the nozzles  47  are opened is a closed space and a retracted position where the space where the nozzles  47  are opened is an opened space. The suction cap  76  and the liquid ejecting head  46  are disposed in the capping position so that capping is performed. 
     The suction cap  76  comes into contact with the liquid ejecting head  46  to form a closed space covering all the nozzles  47  at once. The cleaning mechanism  74  performs a cleaning operation as the maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting head  46 , in which the suction pump  79  is driven to apply a negative pressure to the closed space formed by disposing the suction cap  76  at the capping position, so that the liquid is sucked from the nozzles  47 . 
     The medium supporting surface  24   a  can support the medium  14  at a predetermined position in the scanning direction X. For example, the medium supporting surface  24   a  may support the medium  14  arranged at the center in the scanning direction X or may support the medium  14  arranged close to an end of the transport belt  24 . 
     In the present embodiment, among ends of the medium  14  in the scanning direction X, an end closer to the home position is called a first medium end  14 A, and an end away from the home position is called a second medium end  14 B. Among ends of the transport belt  24  in the scanning direction X, an end closer to the home position is called a first belt end  24 A, and an end away from the home position is called a second belt end  24 B. The first belt end  24 A is an end adjacent to the first flushing tray  71 , and is located between the first flushing tray  71  and the first medium end  14 A in the scanning direction X. The second belt end  24 B is an end adjacent to the second flushing tray  72 , and is located between the second medium end  14 B and the second flushing tray  72  in the scanning direction X. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in the scanning direction X, the position of the first belt end  24 A is a reference position BP, the position of the second belt end  24 B is a belt end position EP, the position of the first medium end  14 A is a first medium end position MP 1 , and the position of the second medium end  14 B is a second medium end position MP 2 . In the printing area PA, the position of an end closer to the home position is a first printing end position PP 1 , and the position of an end away from the home position is a second printing end position PP 2 . In the setting area CA, the position of an end closer to the home position is a first setting end position CP 1 , and the position of an end away from the home position is the second setting end position CP 2 . 
     In the scanning direction X, the size from the first printing end position PP 1  to the second printing end position PP 2  is a printing width PW. The printing width PW is also the size of the printing area PA. In the scanning direction X, the size from the first medium end position MP 1  to the second medium end position MP 2  is a medium width MW. In the scanning direction X, the size from the reference position BP to the belt end position EP is a belt width BW. In the scanning direction X, the size from the reference position BP to the first setting end position CP 1  is a first setting width CW 1 , and the size from the reference position BP to the second setting end position CP 2  is a second setting width CW 2 . 
     The scanning area SA may be provided with a prohibited range NR that is not suitable as the flushing area FA. In the present embodiment, the prohibited range NR is provided by using, as ends, the reference position BP, the first medium end position MP 1 , the first printing end position PP 1 , the second printing end position PP 2 , the second medium end position MP 2 , and the belt end position EP. In other words, the prohibited range NR includes the end of the transport belt  24 , the end of the medium  14 , and the end of the printing area PA. The control portion  31  may set, as the prohibited range NR, an area between the first flushing tray  71  and the transport belt  24 , an area between the second flushing tray  72  and the transport belt  24 , and the printing area PA. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the designation portion  20  of the present embodiment may include a display portion  81  that displays information. The designation portion  20  may be a touch panel that can directly operate the display portion  81  or may also include an operation portion provided separately from the display portion  81 . The designation portion  20  may be provided separately from the housing  12  and may also be electrically coupled to the control portion  31  by wired or wireless communication. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the designation portion  20  can designate a designation range AR in the scanning area SA by being operated by the operator. In other words, the operator can designate the designation range AR through the designation portion  20 . In detail, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the control portion  31  may display, on the display portion  81 , a selection button  82  for selecting a member that can set the flushing area FA, and the operator may designate the designation range AR by selecting the selection button  82 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the control portion  31  may display, on the display portion  81 , an input portion  83  that can input a numerical value, and the operator may designate the designation range AR by inputting, to the input portion  83 , values of a flushing width FW, a flushing start position FS, and a flushing end position FE. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the designation portion  20  may display, on the display portion  81 , a selection frame  84  indicating a designatable range, and the operator may designate the designation range AR by selecting the selection frame  84 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the display portion  81  may display a confirmation button  85  for confirming the designated designation range AR. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the control portion  31  may display, on the display portion  81 , the designatable range excluding the prohibited range NR that cannot be designated as the designation range AR. For example, the control portion  31  may not display the selection frame  84  including the prohibited range NR. In this case, a range in which the selection frame  84  is displayed becomes the designatable range. 
     The control portion  31  may display a recommendation range RR that is a range recommended as the flushing area FA. The recommendation range RR is a range recommended as the flushing area FA based on printing specifications on the medium  14 . The control portion  31  may set the recommendation range RR based on the medium width MW, the printing width PW, the first printing end position PP 1 , the second printing end position PP 2 , the type of liquid, and the like. For example, the control portion  31  may set the recommendation range RR to be narrower when the type of the liquid is likely to thicken than when the type of the liquid is less likely to thicken or may set the recommendation range RR to be wider in the case of the printing specifications in which a large amount of the liquid is ejected onto the medium  14  than in the case of the printing specifications in which a small amount of the liquid is ejected onto the medium  14 . The control portion  31  may display the recommendation range RR by displaying the recommendation range RR in a solid-line selection frame  84  and by displaying the selection frame  84  in a range different from the recommendation range RR by an one dot chain line. The control portion  31  may display the designation range AR by changing and displaying the color of the selection frame  84  selected by the operator. 
     The designation of the designation range AR by the operator may be performed using any one of the selection button  82 , the input portion  83 , and the selection frame  84  or may be performed in a combination of at least two thereof. For example, the operator may roughly designate the designation range AR by selecting the selection button  82  or may finely designate the designation range AR by inputting a numerical value to the input portion  83 . The control portion  31  causes the operator to identify whether or not the designated designation range AR coincides with a range intended by the operator, by displaying the selection frame  84  based on the designation range AR designated by the selection button  82  and the input portion  83 . The control portion  31  may display the selection frame  84  indicating the designatable range based on the designation range AR roughly set by the selection button  82 , and cause the operator to select the selection frame  84 . 
     An operation of the present embodiment will be described. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the operator selects the selection button  82 , the control portion  31  of the present embodiment displays, on the display portion  81 , a start range SR that can be designated as the flushing start position FS and an end range ER that can be designated as the flushing end position FE according to the selected item. At this time, the control portion  31  may input recommendation values of the flushing start position FS and the flushing end position FE into the input portion  83 . The recommendation value is a value at which the designation range AR is within the recommendation range RR. 
     The control portion  31  may display, on the display portion  81 , a range which the operator can set as the flushing width FW. A designatable range of the flushing width FW may be set according to whether a simultaneous flushing operation of collectively ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzle rows  69  or an individual flushing operation of ejecting the liquid at different timing each for nozzle row  69  is performed or may be set according to the type of used liquid. 
     When the operator confirms the flushing width FW, the flushing start position FS, and the flushing end position FE by pressing the confirmation button  85  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the control portion  31  may determine whether or not the designation range AR is within the recommendation range RR. In this case, a range between the flushing start position FS and the position obtained by adding the flushing width FW to the flushing start position FS and a range between the position obtained by subtracting the flushing width FW from the flushing end position FE and the flushing end position FE become the designation range AR. 
     When at least a part of the designation range AR is within the recommendation range RR, the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA such that at least a part of the flushing area FA is located within the recommendation range RR. When performing the flushing operation, the control portion  31  ejects the liquid from the nozzle  47  to the set flushing area FA. 
     When the designation range AR is outside the recommendation range RR, the control portion  31  may display the selection frame  84  and cause the operator to identify whether or not the flushing area FA is set outside the recommendation range RR. The control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA to the designation range AR when the result reconfirmed by the operator is the same. 
     Next, a detailed example of the maintenance method for the liquid ejecting system  11  will be described. 
     In the drawing, a distance between respective positions in the scanning direction X with reference to the reference position BP is illustrated in parentheses. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the liquid ejecting system  11  performs printing on the medium  14  disposed in the center of the medium supporting surface  24   a  in the scanning direction X. As an example, the first printing end position PP 1  is a position away from the reference position BP by 650 mm, the printing width PW is 600 mm, the medium width MW is 1500 mm, the belt width BW is 1900 mm, the first setting width CW 1  is 90 mm, the second setting width CW 2  is 1990 mm, and the width of each prohibited range NR is 30 mm. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a case will be described where the operator can use, as the flushing area FA, all the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , the transport belt  24 , and the medium  14 , and the flushing width FW is set to 50 mm. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the control portion  31  may display, on the display portion  81 , the start range SR, the end range ER, and the recommendation value. In detail, the start range SR is not less than the first setting end position CP 1  and not more than the first printing end position PP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the flushing width FW. The end range ER that can be designated as the flushing end position FE is not less than the second printing end position PP 2 +the width of the prohibited range NR+the flushing width FW and not more than the second setting end position CP 2 . That is, in the scanning direction X with reference to the reference position BP, the start range SR is not less than −90 mm and not more than 570 mm, and the end range ER is not less than 1330 mm and not more than 1990 mm. The recommendation value of the start range SR is 570 mm which is a maximum value of the start range SR, and the recommendation value of the end range ER is 1330 mm which is a minimum value of the end range ER. 
     When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  with the recommendation value, the designation range AR is a range between the recommendation value with the recommendation value at an end and the printing area PA, and is equal to the flushing width FW. 
     The control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA based on the designated designation range AR. That is, the control portion  31  sets, to the flushing area FA, a range from the flushing start position FS input to the input portion  83  to the flushing start position FS+the flushing width FW and a range from the flushing end position FE−the flushing width FW to the flushing end position FE. Therefore, when the operator presses the confirmation button  85  in a state in which the flushing width FW is 50 mm, the flushing start position FS is 570 mm, and the flushing end position FE is 1330 mm, the control portion  31  sets, to the flushing area FA, a range from 570 mm to 620 mm and a range from 1280 mm to 1330 mm with reference to the reference position BP. When performing the flushing operation, the control portion  31  ejects the liquid from the nozzle  47  to the set flushing area FA. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a case where the designation range AR deviates from the recommendation range RR. When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  in this state, the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA at a position closest to the printing area PA in the designation range AR. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a case will be described in which the operator disables the first flushing tray  71  and the second flushing tray  72  and sets the transport belt  24  and the medium  14  to be usable. This is the recommendation setting for the liquid ejecting system  11 . The flushing width FW is set to 50 mm. 
     In this case, the start range SR is not less than the width of the prohibited range NR and not more than the first printing end position PP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the flushing width FW. The end range ER is not less than the second printing end position PP 2 +the width of the prohibited range NR+the flushing width FW and not more than the belt end position EP−the width of the prohibited range NR. That is, in the scanning direction X with reference to the reference position BP, the start range SR is not less than 30 mm and not more than 570 mm, and the end range ER is not less than 1330 mm and not more than 1870 mm. 
     When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  with the recommendation value, the control portion  31  sets, as the flushing area FA, the range from 570 mm to 620 mm and the range from 1280 mm to 1330 mm with reference to the reference position BP. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a case will be described in which the operator disables the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , and the transport belt  24 , enables the medium  14 , and sets the flushing width FW to 50 mm. When the designated designation range AR is only the medium  14 , the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA to the end of the medium  14  and an area away from the printing area PA on the medium  14 . 
     The start range SR is not less than the first medium end position MP 1 +the width of the prohibited range NR and not more than the first printing end position PP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the flushing width FW. The end range ER is not less than the second printing end position PP 2 +the width of the prohibited range NR+the flushing width FW and not more than the second medium end position MP 2 −the width of the prohibited range NR. That is, with reference to the reference position BP, the start range SR is not less than 230 mm and not more than 570 mm, and the end range ER is not less than 1330 mm and not more than 1670 mm. The recommendation value for the flushing start position FS is 570 mm, and the recommendation value for the flushing end position FE is 1330 mm. 
     When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  with the recommendation value, the control portion  31  sets, as the flushing area FA, the range from 570 mm to 620 mm and the range from 1280 mm to 1330 mm with reference to the reference position BP. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a case will be described where the operator disables the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , and the medium  14 , enables the transport belt  24 , and sets the flushing width FW to 50 mm. When the designated designation range AR is only the medium supporting surface  24   a , the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA to an area away from the medium  14  supported by the medium supporting surface  24   a . When the designated designation range AR includes the medium supporting surface  24   a , the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA to an area away from an end of the medium supporting surface  24   a . That is, when the prohibited range NR set at ends of the medium  14  and the transport belt  24  is included in the designation range AR, the control portion  31  removes the prohibited range NR and sets the flushing area FA. 
     In this case, the start range SR is not less than the width of the prohibited range NR and not more than the first medium end position MP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the flushing width FW. The end range ER is not less than the second medium end position MP 2 +the width of the prohibited range NR+the flushing width FW and not more than the belt end position EP−the width of the prohibited range NR. That is, with reference to the reference position BP, the start range SR is not less than 30 mm and not more than 120 mm, and the end range ER is not less than 1780 mm and not more than 1870 mm. The recommendation value for the flushing start position FS is 570 mm, and the recommendation value for the flushing end position FE is 1780 mm. 
     When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  with the recommendation value, the control portion  31  sets, as the flushing area FA, a range from 120 mm to 170 mm and a range from 1730 mm to 1780 mm with reference to the reference position BP. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a case will be described where the operator enables the first flushing tray  71  and the second flushing tray  72 , disables the medium  14  and the transport belt  24 , and sets the flushing width FW to 50 mm. The control portion  31  sets a maximum value of the flushing width FW to be not more than the width of each of the first flushing tray  71  and the second flushing tray  72 . 
     In this case, the start range SR is not less than the first setting end position CP 1  and not more than the reference position BP−the width of the prohibited range NR−the flushing width FW. The end range ER is not less than the belt end position EP+the width of the prohibited range NR+the flushing width FW and is not more than the second setting end position CP 2 . That is, with reference to the reference position BP, the start range SR is not less than −90 mm and not more than −80 mm and the end range ER is not less than 1980 mm and not less than 1990 mm. The recommendation value for the flushing start position FS is −80 mm, and the recommendation value for the flushing end position FE is 1980 mm. 
     When the operator presses the confirmation button  85  with the recommendation value, the control portion  31  sets, as the flushing area FA, a range from −80 mm to −30 mm and a range from 1930 mm to 1980 mm with reference to the reference position BP. 
     The effects of the present embodiment will be described. 
     (1) The control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA based on the designation range AR designated by the operator. Therefore, it is possible to perform flushing on the flushing area FA that reflects the intention of the operator. 
     (2) For example, when the liquid ejecting portion  16  ejects the liquid to a position different from the medium supporting surface  24   a  and the medium  14  due to a flushing operation, the inside of the device may be contaminated. In this point, for example, by displaying the designatable range excluding the prohibited range NR that may contaminate the inside of the device, the operator can easily designate the designation range AR excluding the prohibited range NR. 
     (3) For example, when the liquid ejecting portion  16  ejects the liquid to the end of the transport belt  24  by the flushing operation, there is a concern in that an area around the transport belt  24  may be contaminated by the liquid splashing against the transport belt  24  or the liquid deviating from the transport belt  24 . In this point, the prohibited range NR includes the end of the transport belt  24 . Therefore, since the display portion  81  displays the designatable range with the end of the transport belt  24  removed, contamination around the transport belt  24  due to the flushing operation can be reduced. 
     (4) The control portion  31  displays the recommendation range RR on the display portion  81 . Therefore, the operator can easily designate the designation range AR in consideration of the recommendation range RR. 
     (5) The flushing area FA is set to an area away from the medium  14 . Therefore, contamination of the medium  14  due to the flushing operation can be reduced. 
     (6) The flushing area FA is set to an area away from the end of the medium  14  and the printing area PA. Therefore, it is possible to reduce contamination of the medium supporting surface  24   a  by the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting portion  16  according to the flushing operation. 
     (7) When the designation range AR is outside the recommendation range RR, the operator identifies whether or not the designation range AR is incorrect. Therefore, when the operator erroneously designates the designation range AR, it is possible to reduce a concern that the operator sets the flushing area FA to an unintended range. When there is no change in the designation range AR even after the confirmation with the operator, the flushing area FA is set to the designation range AR, so that the flushing operation can be performed which prioritizes an operator&#39;s intention. 
     The present embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
         The operator may select the selection button  82  to enable the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , and the medium  14  and disable the transport belt  24 . In this case, the control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA as in the case where only the medium  14  is usable. The operator may enable the first flushing tray  71 , the second flushing tray  72 , and the transport belt  24 , and may disable the medium  14 . In this case, the control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA as in the case where only the transport belt  24  is usable.   When the designation range AR includes the prohibited range NR, the control portion  31  may set the size of the flushing area FA in the scanning direction X to the flushing width FW+the width of the prohibited range NR and may set the flushing area FA across the prohibited range NR. In the flushing operation, the control portion  31  may stop the ejection of the liquid after ejecting the liquid from the end of the flushing area FA to the end of the prohibited range NR, and restart the ejection of the liquid after exceeding the prohibited range NR.   The number of the flushing areas FA set in the scanning area SA by the control portion  31  may be one.   When the control portion  31  sets a plurality of the flushing areas FA, intervals from the printing area PA to each flushing area FA may be different in the scanning direction X. The control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA in different members. For example, the control portion  31  may set, on the transport belt  24 , the flushing area FA located between the printing area PA and the home position, and may set the other flushing area FA on the medium  14 .   The control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA in the designation range AR without determining whether or not the designated designation range AR is within the recommendation range RR.   When the designated designation range AR is outside the recommendation range RR, the control portion  31  may display a message and request identification from the operator.   Even when the designated designation range AR is only the medium  14 , if the size of a blank space of the medium  14  is smaller than the size required to set the flushing area FA, the control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA to an area different from the medium  14 . In detail, when the first printing end position PP 1 −the first medium end position MP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the width of the prohibited range NR is smaller than the flushing width FW, the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA to the transport belt  24  or the first flushing tray  71 .   Even when the designated designation range AR is only the transport belt  24 , if the size from the reference position BP to the first medium end position MP 1  is smaller than the size required to set the flushing area FA, the control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA in an area different from that on the transport belt  24 . In detail, when the first medium end position MP 1 −the width of the prohibited range NR−the width of the prohibited range NR is smaller than the flushing width FW, the control portion  31  sets the flushing area FA in the first flushing tray  71 .   The width of the designation range AR may be changed according to the type of the medium  14  or the type of the liquid or may be designated by the operator. For example, when the operator sets the width of the designation range AR to 0 mm and enables only the transport belt  24  as the flushing area FA, the control portion  31  may set an area adjacent to the medium  14  as the flushing area FA.   The control portion  31  may set the recommendation range RR based on a printing environment such as temperature and humidity. For example, the control portion  31  may set the recommendation range RR to be narrower when the printing environment is high temperature and low humidity in which the nozzle  47  is likely to be clogged than when the printing environment is low temperature and high humidity in which the nozzle  47  is less likely to be clogged.   The control portion  31  may not display the recommendation range RR. That is, the control portion  31  may display the same selection frame  84  regardless of whether the selection frame  84  is within the recommendation range RR.   The transport portion  15  that transports the medium  14  may include a transport roller pair that transports the medium  14  by rotating while sandwiching the medium  14  and a support portion that supports the medium  14 . In this case, the support portion may have a support surface that supports the medium  14  and a recess that is recessed with respect to the support surface, and the control portion  31  may set the flushing area FA on the support portion. As the flushing operation, the control portion  31  may eject the liquid toward a recess located in the flushing area FA.   The control portion  31  may display the designatable range including the prohibited range NR. When the designation range AR designated by the operator includes the prohibited range NR, the control portion  31  may remove the prohibited range NR and set the flushing area FA.   The liquid ejecting system  11  may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges a liquid other than an ink. Further, a state of the liquid discharged as a minute amount of the droplets from the liquid ejecting apparatus includes a grain state, a teardrop state, and a thread-like tail. The liquid mentioned herein may be any material that can be ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, the liquid may be in a state when the material is in a liquid phase state, and includes a fluid-state body such as liquid having high viscosity or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, an organic solvent, a solution, liquid resin, liquid metal, and metallic melt. The liquid, which is a state of a matter, includes a solution obtained by dissolving, dispersing, and mixing, in a solvent, particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles, in addition to the liquid. Representative examples of the liquid include ink, liquid crystal, and the like as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes various kinds of liquid compositions such as general water-based ink, oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot melt ink. As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is an apparatus that ejects a liquid containing, in a dispersed or dissolved form, a material such as an electrode material and a coloring material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence display, a surface light emitting display, a color filter, or the like. The liquid ejecting apparatus may be an apparatus that ejects a biological organic substance used for manufacturing a biochip, an apparatus that is used as a precision pipette and ejects a liquid as a sample, a textile printing apparatus, a micro dispenser, and the like. The liquid ejecting apparatus may be an apparatus that ejects a lubricating oil to a precision machine such as a watch and a camera using a pinpoint and an apparatus that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin onto a substrate to form a micro-hemispherical lens, an optical lens, and the like used for an optical communication element. The liquid ejecting apparatus may be an apparatus that ejects an etching liquid such as acid or alkali to etch a substrate or the like.       

     Hereinafter, a technical spirit identified from the above-described embodiments and the modification examples and an effects thereof will be described. 
     A. A liquid ejecting system includes: a transport portion that transports a medium in a transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on a medium supporting surface; a liquid ejecting portion that performs printing by moving in a scanning direction and ejecting a liquid from a nozzle with respect to the medium supported on the medium supporting surface; a designation portion for an operator to designate a designation range within a scanning area, the scanning area being configured to face the liquid ejecting portion that moves in the scanning direction and to include the medium and the medium supporting surface; and a control portion that sets a flushing area based on the designated designation range and performs a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle to the flushing area as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting portion. 
     According to this configuration, the control portion sets the flushing area based on the designation range designated by the operator. Therefore, the flushing can be performed in the flushing area that reflects the intention of the operator. 
     B. In the liquid ejecting system, the control portion may display, on a display portion included in the designation portion, a designatable range excluding a prohibited range configured not to be designated as the designation range. 
     For example, when the liquid ejecting portion ejects a liquid to a position different from the medium supporting surface and the medium due to the flushing operation, the inside of the device may be contaminated. In this respect, according to this configuration, for example, by displaying the designatable range excluding the prohibited range that may contaminate the inside of the device, the operator can easily designate the designation range outside the prohibited range. 
     C. In the liquid ejecting system, the transport portion may have a transport belt that transports the medium in the transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on the medium supporting surface, and an end of the transport belt may be included in the prohibited range. 
     For example, when the liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid to the end of the transport belt due to the flushing operation, there is a concern in that an area around the transport belt may be contaminated by the liquid splashing against the transport belt or the liquid deviating from the transport belt. In this point, according to this configuration, the prohibited range includes the end of the transport belt. Therefore, since the display portion displays the designatable range with the end of the transport belt removed, contamination around the transport belt due to the flushing operation can be reduced. 
     D. In the liquid ejecting system, the control portion may display, on a display portion included in the designation portion, a recommendation range recommended as the flushing area. 
     According to this configuration, the control portion displays the recommendation range on the display portion. Therefore, the operator can easily designate the designation range in consideration of the recommendation range. 
     E. A maintenance method for a liquid ejecting system including: a transport portion that transports a medium in a transport direction in a state in which the medium is supported on a medium supporting surface; a liquid ejecting portion that moves in a scanning direction and ejects a liquid from a nozzle with respect to the medium supported on the medium supporting surface; and a designation portion for an operator to designate a designation range within a scanning area, the scanning area being configured to face the liquid ejecting portion that moves in the scanning direction and to include the medium and the medium supporting surface, the method including: setting a flushing area based on the designated designation range; and performing a flushing operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzle to the flushing area as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting portion may be provided. According to this method, the same effect as the liquid ejecting system can be obtained. 
     F. In the maintenance method of the liquid ejecting system, when the designated designation range includes the medium supporting surface, the flushing area may be set to an area spaced apart from an end of the medium supporting surface. According to this method, the same effect as the liquid ejecting system can be obtained. 
     G. In the maintenance method of the liquid ejecting system, when the designated designation range is only the medium supporting surface, the flushing area may be set to an area spaced apart from the medium supported by the medium supporting surface. According to this method, the flushing area is set in the area away from the medium. Therefore, the contamination of the medium due to the flushing operation can be reduced. 
     H. In the liquid ejecting system maintenance method, when the designated designation range is only the medium, the flushing area may be set to an area spaced apart from an end of the medium and a printing area on the medium. 
     According to this method, the flushing area is set in an area away from the end of the medium and the printing area. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the contamination of the medium supporting surface due to the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting portion according to the flushing operation. 
     I. In the liquid ejecting system maintenance method, when the designated designation range is outside a recommendation range recommended as the flushing area based on printing specifications on the medium, and a result re-identified by an operator is the same, the flushing area may be set to the designation range. 
     According to this method, when the designation range is outside the recommendation range, the operator identifies whether or not the designation range is incorrect. Therefore, when the operator incorrectly designates the designation range, it is possible to reduce a risk that the operator sets the flushing area to an unintended range. When there is no change in the designation range even after the identification by the operator, the flushing area is set to the designation range, so that the flushing operation can be performed which prioritizes an operator&#39;s intention.