Patent Publication Number: US-10766259-B2

Title: Inkjet printing apparatus operable in response to a preceding command

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/416,804, filed Jan. 26, 2017, which further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-016739 filed on Jan. 29, 2016. The entire subject matter of the applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosures relate to an inkjet printing apparatus which is configured to print an image on a sheet in accordance with a recording command received from an information processing device through a communication network. 
     Related Art 
     Conventionally, in a system including the information processing apparatus and a printer which are connected through a communication network, an attempt has been made to shorten an FPOT (first paper output time), which represents a time period from an instruction causing an external device to execute printing is input to the external device to a time at which a first sheet on which an image is formed by the external device has been discharged. 
     Conventionally, there has been known a recording device, which is configured to start a recording preparation operation in response to receipt of a recording preparation instruction from an information processing device, and starts a recording operation in response to completion of receipt of the recording data from the information processing device and completion of the recording preparation operation. In the above-mentioned publications, it is described that, by employing the above configuration, a time period from receipt of the recording data to start of the recording operation can be shortened. 
     SUMMARY 
     The recording preparation operation as mentioned above typically includes an operation to release a cap from an inkjet head, an operation to cause the inkjet head to execute preparatory ejection of ink, an operation to move the inkjet head to a position in the vicinity of an image recording area, an operation to convey a recording sheet, and the like. If, for example, a time period from execution of the preparatory ejection operation to start of the recording operation becomes longer, there may occur a problem that the ink is dried inside the inkjet head and an image recordation quality may be deteriorated. That is, in the above-described conventional configuration, the preparatory operation includes an operation which is preferably completed immediately before the start of the recording operation. 
     According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provide an improved inkjet recording device in which multiple preparatory operations, which should be executed before an image recordation is started, are executed at appropriate timings, respectively. 
     According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provided an inkjet printing apparatus, which has a sheet conveyer configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction, a carriage configured to move in a main scanning direction which intersect with the conveying direction in an area including a sheet facing area within which the carriage faces the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyer, an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and configured to eject ink droplets through nozzles formed on the inkjet head, a cap configured to face the inkjet head when the carriage is located at a first position which is outside the sheet facing area in the main scanning direction, the cap being movable between a covering position and a spaced position, the covering position being a position at which the cap closely contacts the inkjet head and covers the nozzles, the spaced position being a position at which the cap is spaced from the inkjet head, an ink receiver configured to face the inkjet head when the ink receiver is located at a second position which is outside the sheet facing area in the main scanning direction and different from the first position, a communication device, and a controller. In response to receipt of a preceding command, which is a command notifying transmission of a recording command in advance, from an information processing device through the communication device, the controller is configured to execute a separating process to move the cap from the covering position to the spaced position, a moving process to move the carriage from which the cap is spaced from the first position to the second position, a flushing process to cause the inkjet head to eject the ink toward the ink receiver in response to receipt of the recording command which instructs recording of an image on the sheet through the communication device and upon completion of the moving process, and a recording process to cause the conveyer to convey the sheet and cause the inkjet head to eject the ink in accordance with the recording command, in response to completion of the flushing process. 
     According to aspects of the disclosures, there is provided an inkjet printing apparatus, which includes a sheet conveyer configured to convey a sheet in a conveying direction, a carriage configured to move in a main scanning direction which intersect with the conveying direction in an area including a sheet facing area within which the carriage faces the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyer, an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and configured to eject ink droplets through nozzles formed on the inkjet head, a cap configured to face the inkjet head when the carriage is located at a first position which is outside the sheet facing area in the main scanning direction, the cap being movable between a covering position and a spaced position, the covering position being a position at which the cap closely contacts the inkjet head and covers the nozzles, the spaced position being a position at which the cap is spaced from the inkjet head, an ink receiver configured to face the inkjet head when the ink receiver is located at a second position which is outside the sheet facing area in the main scanning direction and different from the first position, a communication device, and a controller. In response to receipt of a preceding command which is a command notifying transmission of a recording command in advance from an information processing device through the communication device, the controller is configured to separate the cap from the covering position to the spaced position, move the carriage from which the cap is spaced from the first position to the second position, cause the inkjet head to eject the ink toward the ink receiver in response to receipt of the recording command which instructs recording of an image on the sheet through the communication device and upon completion of movement of the carriage, and cause the conveyer to convey the sheet and cause the inkjet head to eject the ink in accordance with the recording command, in response to completion of casing the inkjet head to eject the ink toward the ink receiver. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an MFP (multi-function peripheral) according to an illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a printer of the MFP schematically showing an inside configuration thereof according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a carriage and guide rails of the printer of the MFP according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows a configuration of a maintenance device of the printer of the MFP according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 5A  schematically shows a switching mechanism at a first state according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 5B  schematically shows the switching mechanism at a second state according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 5C  schematically shows the switching mechanism at a third state according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a configuration of the MFP according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an image forming process according to the illustrative embodiment of the disclosures. 
         FIG. 8  is a timing chart showing execution timings of a first preparatory process and a second preparatory process when a recording command indicating usage of a first feed tray before completion of the first preparatory process. 
         FIG. 9  is a timing chart showing execution timings of the first preparatory process and the second preparatory process when the recording command indicating usage of the first feed tray after completion of the first preparatory process. 
         FIG. 10  is a timing chart showing execution timings of the first preparatory process and the second preparatory process when a recording command indicating usage of a second feed tray before completion of the first preparatory process. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment according to the disclosures will be described, referring to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the illustrative embodiment described below is only one example according to the disclosures, and may be modified in various ways without departing from the aspects of the disclosures. In the following description, a term “direction” will be used to express a direction directed from a start point of an arrow toward an end point of the arrow, or a direction (regardless of its orientation) parallel to a line segment connecting the start point and the end point of the arrow. The former may also be expressed as an “orientation direction” in order to stress that the orientation should also be considered. Further, an up-down direction  7  is defined based on a state where an MFP (multi-function peripheral)  10  is placed for used (e.g., a state shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the state as shown in  FIG. 1 , a front-rear side  8  is also defined such that a side where an opening  13  is formed is a front side. Further, a right-left side  9  is defined when the MFP  10  is viewed from the front side thereof. 
     &lt;Overall Configuration of MFP&gt; 
     The MFP  10  according to the illustrative embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in  FIG. 1 . The MFP  10  has a printer  11 . Further, the MFP  10  may have a scanner configured to read an image formed on an original and generate image data. It is noted that the MFP  10  is an example of an inkjet printing apparatus. 
     &lt;Printer&gt; 
     The printer  11  employs a so-called inkjet printing method and is configured to execute a printing operation to print images represented by image data on the sheets  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) by ejecting ink droplets thereon. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printer  11  has feeder assemblies  15 A and  15 B, feed trays  20 A and  20 B, a discharge tray  21 , a conveying roller assembly  54 , a printer assembly  24 , a discharge roller assembly  55 , and a platen  42 . It is noted that the conveying roller assembly  54  and the discharge roller assembly  55  are examples of conveying assembly. 
     &lt;Feed Trays and Discharge Tray&gt; 
     On a front side of the printer  11 , an opening  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) is formed. The first and second feed trays  20 A and  20 B are configured to be inserted in/withdrawn from the printer  11  in the front-rear direction  8  through the opening  13 . Each of the first and second feed trays  20 A and  20 B is configured to support multiple sheets  12  in a stacked manner. The discharge tray  21  is configured to catch and support the sheets  12  discharged, by a discharge roller assembly  55 , from the printer  11  through the opening  13 . It is noted that the first feed tray  20 A is an example of a first tray, and the second feed tray is an example of a second tray. 
     &lt;Feeder Assemblies&gt; 
     The feeder assembly  15 A has a feeding roller  25 A, a feeder arm  26 A and a shaft  27 A. The feeding roller  25 A is rotatably supported at a distal end part of the feeder arm  26 A. The feeder arm  26 A is rotatably supported by the shaft  27 A, which is supported by a frame of the printer  11 . The feeder arm  26 A is urged such that the feeding roller  25 A is urged toward the first feed tray  20 A by its own weight or an elastic force using an elastic member such as a spring. The feeder assembly  15 B has a feeding roller  25 B, a feeder arm  26 B and a shaft  27 B. The feeding roller  25 B is rotatably supported at a distal end part of the feeder arm  26 B. The detailed configuration of the feeder assembly  15 B is the same as that of the feeder assembly  15 A. 
     As the feeding motor  101  rotates forwardly and the feeding roller  25 A is driven to rotate, the feeder assembly  15 A feeds the sheet  12  supported by the first feed tray  20  to a conveying passage  65 . As the feeding motor  101  rotates forwardly and the feeding roller  25 B is driven to rotate, the feeder assembly  15 A feeds the sheet  12  supported by the first feed tray  20 A to the conveying passage  65 . 
     &lt;Sheet Conveying Passage&gt; 
     A sheet conveying passage  65  is a space defined by guide members  18 ,  19 ,  30  and  31 . The guide members  18  and  19  face each other, inside the printer  11 , with a particular clearance therebetween, and the guide members  30  and  31  face each other, inside the printer  11 , with a particular clearance therebetween. The sheet conveying passage  65  is a passage extending upward from a rear end of the feed tray  20 , making a U-turn at an upper-rear part of the printer  11 , and then extending frontward to reach the discharge tray  21 . It is noted that a conveying direction  16  of the sheet  12  in the sheet conveying passage  65  is indicated with an arrowed one-dot line in  FIG. 2 . 
     &lt;Conveying Roller Assembly&gt; 
     The conveying roller assembly  54  is arranged on an upstream in the conveying direction  16  with respect to the printer assembly  24 . The conveying roller assembly  54  has a conveying roller  60  and a pinch roller  61 , which face each other. The conveying roller  60  is driven by the conveying motor  102  to rotate. The pinch roller  61  is driven to rotate in association with rotation of the conveying roller  60 . The sheet  12  is nipped by the conveying roller  60  and the pinch roller  61 , and conveyed along the conveying direction  16  as the conveying motor  102  rotates forwardly and the conveying roller  60  rotates forwardly in association with the forward rotation of the conveying motor  102 . It is noted that the conveying roller  60  is configured to rotate reversely in association with a reverse rotation of the conveying motor  102 , which is opposite to the forward rotation of the conveying motor  102 . 
     &lt;Discharge Roller Assembly&gt; 
     A discharge roller assembly  55  is arranged on a downstream, in the conveying direction  16 , with respect to the printer assembly  24 . The discharge roller assembly  55  has a discharging roller  62  and a spur roller  63 . The discharging roller  62  is driven by the conveying motor  102  to rotate. The spur roller  63  rotates in association with rotation of the discharging roller  62 . The sheet  12  is nipped by the discharging roller  62  and the spur roller  63 , and conveyed along the conveying direction  16  as the conveying motor  102  rotate forwardly and the discharge roller  62  rotates forwardly in association with the forward rotation of the conveying motor  102 . 
     &lt;Registration Sensor&gt; 
     The printer  11  has a registration sensor  120  (see  FIG. 2 ). The registration sensor  120  is arranged on an upstream, in the conveying direction  16 , with respect to the conveying roller assembly  54 . The registration sensor  120  is configured to output different detection signals depending on whether the sheet  12  is present or absent at the position where the registration sensor  120  is arranged. Specifically, the registration sensor  120  transmits a high-level signal to a controller  130  (see  FIG. 6 ) in response to detection of presence of the sheet  12  at the arranged position, while transmits a low-level signal to the controller  130  in response to detection of absence of the sheet at the arranged position. 
     &lt;Rotary Encoder&gt; 
     The printer  11  has a rotary encoder  121  (see  FIG. 6 ) which is configured to output a pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the conveying roller  60  (in other words, in response to rotation of the conveying motor  102 ). The rotary encoder  121  is of a well-known type and has an encoder disc and an optical sensor. The encoder disc is configured to rotate in association with a rotation of the conveying roller  60 . The optical sensor is configured to read the encoder disc to generate the pulse signal, and transmits the thus generated pulse signal to the controller  130 . 
     &lt;Printer Assembly&gt; 
     The printer assembly  24  is arranged between, in the conveying direction  16 , the conveying roller assembly  54  and the discharge roller assembly  55  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, the printer assembly  24  is arranged to face, in the up-down direction, the platen  42 . The printer assembly  24  is provided with a carriage  23 , the inkjet head  39  and an encoder sensor  38 A. Further, to the carriage  23 , an ink tube  32  and a flexible flat cable  33  are connected as shown in  FIG. 3 . The ink tube  32  serves to supply ink of the ink cartridge to the inkjet head  39 . The flexible flat cable  33  serves to electrically connect a control circuit board implemented in the controller  130  with the inkjet head  39 . 
     The carriage  23  is slidably supported by guide rails  43  and  44 , which are arranged to be spaced in the front-read direction  8  and each of which extends in the right-left direction  9  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The carriage  23  is connected to a well-known belt-driving mechanism associated with the guide rail  44 . The belt-driving mechanism is driven by a carriage motor  103  (see  FIG. 6 ). That is, the carriage  23  is connected to a belt of the belt-driving mechanism, which belt is driven to circumferentially move by the carriage motor  103 , thereby the carriage  23  being reciprocally moved in the right-left direction  9 . It should be noted that right-left direction is an example of a main scanning direction. 
     The inkjet head  39  is mounted on the carriage  23  as shown in  FIG. 2 . On a bottom surface of the inkjet head  39 , multiple nozzles  40  are formed. The inkjet head  39  ejects ink droplets through the multiple nozzles  40 . Specifically, while the carriage  23  is moving, the inkjet head  39  ejects the ink droplets to the sheet  12  supported by the platen  42 , thereby an image is formed on the sheet  12 . 
     A belt-like encoder strip  38 , which extends in the right-left direction, is attached to the guide rail  44  (see  FIG. 3 ). The encoder sensor  38 A is mounted on the bottom surface of the carriage  23  at a position where the encoder sensor  38 A faces the encoder strip  38 B. As the carriage  23  moves, the encoder sensor  38 A reads the encoder strip  38 B and generates a pulse signal, and transmits the thus generated pulse signal to the controller  130 . It is noted that the encoder sensor  38 A and the encoder strip  38 B constitute a carriage sensor  38  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     &lt;Platen&gt; 
     The platen  42  is arranged between, in the conveying direction  16 , the conveying roller assembly  54  and the discharge roller assembly  55  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Further, the platen  42  is arranged to face, in the up-down direction, the printer assembly  24 . The platen  42  is configured to support the sheet  12 , which is conveyed by at least one of the conveying roller assembly  54  and the discharge roller assembly  55 , from below. 
     &lt;Maintenance Device&gt; 
     The printer  11  has a maintenance device  70  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The maintenance device  70  is used for maintenance of the inkjet head  39 . Specifically, the maintenance device  70  executes a purge operation to suck the ink and/or air inside the nozzles  40  and foreign substances adhered onto a nozzle surface. It is noted that the nozzle surface is a surface of the inkjet head  39  on which the nozzles  40  are formed. In the following description, the ink and/or air inside the nozzles  40  and the foreign substances adhered onto the nozzle surface will be simply referred to as “ink and the like” for brevity. The sucked/removed ink and the like by the maintenance device  70  is stored in a waste-liquid tank  74  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the maintenance device  70  is arranged on an outer side (i.e., the right side in the illustrative embodiment) with respect to a sheet facing area. The sheet facing area is an area, in the main scanning direction, within which the sheet  12  conveyed by the conveying assembly  54  can face the carriage  23 . The maintenance device  70  has a cap  71 , a tube  72  and a pump  73  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The cap  71  is made of rubber. The cap  71  is arranged such that, when the cap  71  is located on the right side (along the main scanning direction) with respect to the sheet facing area, the cap  71  face the inkjet head  39  of the carriage  23 . The tube  72  extends from the cap  71  to the waste-liquid tank  74  via the pump  73 . The pump  73  is, for example, a rotary type tube pump. The pump  73  is driven by the conveying motor  102  to operate to suck the ink and the like in the nozzles  40  through the cap  71  and the tube  72 , and discharge the same in the waste-liquid tank  74  though the tube  72 . 
     The cap  71  is configured to be movable between a covering position and a spaced position which are spaced in the up-down direction  7 . When located at the covering position, the cap  71  closely contacts the inkjet head  39  of the carriage  23  located at the first position to cover the nozzle surface thereof. When located at the spaced position, the cap  71  is spaced from the nozzle surface. The cap  71  is configured to move between the covering position and the spaced position with a lifting device (not-shown) which is driven by the feeding motor  101 . 
     &lt;Cap Sensor&gt; 
     A cap sensor  122  is configured to output different signals depending on whether the cap  71  is located at the covering position or not. According to the illustrative embodiment, the cap sensor  122  transmits a high level signal to a controller  130  in response to the cap  71  being located at the covering position, while the cap sensor  122  transmits a low level signal to the controller  130  in response to the cap  71  being located at a position other than the covering position. Accordingly, when the cap  71  moves from the covering position to the spaced position, the detection signal output by the cap sensor  122  changes from the high signal to the low level signal before the cap  71  reaches the spaced position. 
     &lt;Ink Receiver&gt; 
     The printer  11  has an ink receiver  75  (see  FIG. 3 ). The ink receiver  75  is arranged at a position on the other side (i.e., left side), in the main scanning direction, with respect to the sheet facing area. According to the illustrative embodiment, the ink receiver  75  is arranged such that, when the carriage  23  is located at a second position which is a position on the left side, in the main scanning direction, with respect to the sheet facing area, the ink receiver  75  faces the inkjet head  39  of the carriage  23 . It is noted that the maintenance mechanism and the ink receiver may be arranged on the same side, in the main scanning direction, with respect to the sheet facing area. It is noted, however, the first position and the second position should be spaced in the main scanning direction. 
     The ink receiver  75  has a substantially rectangular-parallelepiped shape having an opening on an upper surface thereof. Inside the ink receiver  75 , an ink absorbing member is accommodated. The ink discharged from the nozzles  40  of the inkjet head  39 , when the carriage  23  is located at the second position, toward the opening of the ink receiver  75  is caught by the ink receiver  75  and absorbed by the ink absorbing member inside the ink receiver  75 . 
     &lt;Driving Force Transmission Assembly&gt; 
     The printer  11  is provide with a driving force transmission assembly  80  (see  FIG. 6 ). The driving force transmission assembly  80  is configured to transmit driving forces of the feeding motor  101  and the conveying motor  102  to the feeding roller  25 , the conveying roller  60 , the discharging roller  62 , the lifting device for the cap  71  and the pump  73 . The driving force transmission assembly  80  is configured by combining all or parts of gears, pulleys, an endless annular belt, a planetary gear mechanism (a pendulum gear mechanism), and a one way clutch and the like. Further, the driving force transmission assembly  80  includes a switching mechanism  170  (see  FIG. 5 ) configured to switch destinations of the driving forces of the feeding motor  101  and the conveying motor  102 . 
     &lt;Switching Mechanism&gt; 
     The switching mechanism  170  is arranged at a position on one side, in the main scanning direction, of the sheet facing area as shown in  FIG. 3 . Further, the switching mechanism  170  is arranged below the guide rail  43 . As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the switching mechanism  170  has a sliding member  171 , driving gears  172  and  174 , driven gears  174 ,  175 ,  176  and  177 , and sprints  179  and  180  which are examples of urging members. The switching mechanism  171  is configured to be switched to be one of a first state, a second state and a third state. 
     The first state is a state in which the driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the feeding roller  25 A, but not to the feeding roller  25 B or the lifting mechanism of the cap  71 . The second state is a state in which the driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the feeding roller  25 B, but not to the feeding roller  25 A or the lifting device for the cap  71 . The third state is a state where the driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the lifting device for the cap  71 , but not to the feeding roller  25 A or the feeding roller  25 B. Further, in the first state, the driving force of the conveying motor  102  is transmitted to the conveying roller  60  and the discharging roller  62 , but not to the pump  73 . The second state is a state in which, the driving force of the conveying motor  102  is transmitted to all of the conveying roller  60 , the discharging roller  62  and the pump  73 . 
     The slidable member  171  is a substantially cylindrical member and is supported by the supporting shaft (indicated by broken lines in  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C ) which extends in the right-left direction. The sliding member  171  is configured to be slidable in the right-left direction  9  along the supporting shaft. The sliding member  171  rotatably supports the driving gears  172  and  173 , which are configured to be independently rotatable on the outer circumferential surface of the slidable member  171 , at different positions in the right-left direction. It is noted that, in the right-left direction, the slidable member  171  moves integrally with the driving gears  172  and  173 . 
     The driving gear  172  rotates as the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted. It is noted that the driving gear  172  engages with one of the driven gears  174 ,  175  and  176 . Specifically, the driving gear  172  engages with the driven gear  174  when the switching mechanism  170  is in the first state (see  FIG. 5A ). The driving gear  172  engages with the driven gear  175  when the switching mechanism  170  is in the second state (see  FIG. 5B ). The driving gear  172  engages with the driven gear  176  when the switching mechanism  170  is in the third state (see  FIG. 5C ). 
     The driving gear  173  rotates as the rotational driving force of the conveying motor  102  is transmitted. It is noted that the driving gear  173  disengaged from the driven gear  176  when the switching mechanism  170  is in the first or second state (see  FIGS. 5A and 5B ), while the driving gear  173  engages with the driven gear  176  when the switching mechanism  170  is in the third state (see  FIG. 5C ). 
     The driven gear  174  engages with a gear train that rotates the feeding roller  25 A. That is, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the feeding roller  25 A as the driving gear  172  engages with the driven gear  174 . Further, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is not transmitted to the feeding roller  25 A when the driving gear  172  is disengaged from the driven gear  174 . It is noted that the driven gear  174  is an example of a first driven gear. 
     The driven gear  175  engages with a gear train that rotates the feeding roller  25 B. That is, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the feeding roller  25 B as the driving gear  172  engages with the driven gear  175 . Further, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is not transmitted to the feeding roller  25 B when the driving gear  172  is disengaged from the driven gear  175 . It is noted that the driven gear  175  is an example of a second driven gear. 
     The driven gear  176  engages with a gear train which is configured to drive the lifting device for the cap  71 . Further, the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is not transmitted to the lifting device for the cap  71  when the driving gear  172  is disengaged from the driven gear  176 . It is noted that the driven gear  176  is an example of a third driven gear. 
     The driven gear  177  engages with a gear train that drives the pump  73 . That is, the rotational driving force of the conveying motor  102  is transmitted to the pump  73  as the driving gear  173  engages with the driven gear  177 . Further, the rotational driving force of the conveying motor  102  is not transmitted to the pump  73  when the driving gear  173  is disengaged from the driven gear  177 . The rotational driving force of the conveying motor  102  is transmitted to the conveying roller  60  and the discharging roller  62  with bypassing the switching mechanism  170 . That is, the conveying roller  60  and the discharging roller  62  are driven by the rotational driving force of the conveying motor  102 , regardless of the driving state of the switching mechanism  170 . 
     The lever  178  is supported by the supporting shaft at a position, in the right-left direction  9 , on the right side of the slidable member  171 . Further, the lever  178  is configured to slide in the right-left direction  9 , along the supporting shaft. Further, the lever  178  protrudes upward. A tip end of the lever  178  extends through an opening  43 A formed on the guide rail  43  and reaches a position at which the tip end of the lever  178  could contact the carriage  23  in the right-left direction  9 . 
     The lever  178  slides in the right-left direction  9  as the carriage  23  contacts with/released from the lever  178 . The switching mechanism  170  has multiple engaging parts configured to engage with the lever  178 . When engages with one of the engaging parts provided to the switching mechanism  170 , the lever  178  stays at the position after the carriage  23  is released from the lever  178 . 
     The springs  179  and  180  are supported by the supporting shaft. The spring  179  is arranged such that one end (i.e., left end) thereof contacts a frame of the printer  11 , while the other end (i.e., right end) thereof contacts a left surface of the slidable member  171 . That is, the spring  179  urges the slidable member  171  and the lever  177  which contacts and urges the slidable member  171  rightward. The spring  180  is arranged such that one end (i.e., right end) thereof contacts the frame of the printer  11 , while the other end (i.e., left end) thereof contacts the right surface of the lever  177 . That is, the spring  180  urges the lever  177  and the slidable member  171 , which contacts the lever  177 , leftward. Further, it is noted that the urging force of the spring  180  is greater than that of the spring  179 . 
     When the lever  178  is engages with a first engaging member, the switching mechanism  170  is in its first state. As the carriage  23  moves rightward, the lever  178  is pushed by the carriage  23  and moves rightward, against an urging force by a spring  180 , and engages with a second engaging member which is located on a right side with respect of the first engaging member. Then, the slide member  171  moves rightward, against the urging force of a sprint  179  and following the rightward movement of the lever  178 . As a result, the state of the switching mechanism  170  changes from the first state (see  FIG. 5A ) to a second state (see  FIG. 5B ). That is, the lever  178  contacts the carriage  23  moving from the second position to the first position, thereby the state of the switching mechanism  170  being changed from the first state to the second state. 
     Further, the lever  178  pushed by the carriage  23  and moving toward the first position moves rightward against the urging force of the spring  180 , and engages with a third engaging member located on the right side with respect to the second engaging member. With this configuration, the slide member  171  moves rightward by the urging force of the spring  179  and following the movement of the lever  178 . As a result, the state of the switching mechanism  170  is changed from the first state (see  FIG. 5A ) or the second state (see  FIG. 5B ) to the third state. 
     The switching mechanism  170  is in the first driving state (see  FIG. 5A ) when the carriage  23  is spaced from the lever  177 . The lever  177 , which is pushed rightward by the carriage  23 , moves rightward against the urging force of the spring  179 . With this movement, the slidable member  171  moves rightward, with following movement of the lever  177 , by the urging force of the spring  178 . As a result, the switching mechanism  170  changes its state from the first state (see  FIG. 5A ) to the second state (see  FIG. 5B ). 
     Thereafter, the lever  178  is further pushed by the carriage  23  which further moves rightward from the first position, and then the carriage  23  moves rightward and is separated from the lever  178 . At this stage, the engagement between the lever  178  and the third engaging member is released. Then, the slide member  171  and the lever  178  are moved leftward by the urging force of the spring  180 , and the lever  178  engages with the first engaging member. As a result, the switching mechanism changes it state from the third state (see  FIG. 5C ) to the first state (see  FIG. 5A ). That is, as the carriage  23 , which moves from the first position toward the second position, is separated from the lever  178 , the state of the switching mechanism  170  is changed from the third state to the first state. 
     That is, the state of the switching mechanism  170  is switched by contact/separation of the carriage  23  with respect to the lever  178 . In other words, destinations to which the driving forces of the feeding motor  101  and the conveying motor  102  are transmitted are switched by the carriage  23 . It is noted that, according to the illustrative embodiment, the state of the switching mechanism  170  cannot be switched directly from the third state to the second state. That is, in order to switch the state of the switching mechanism  170  from the third state to the second state, it must be switched from the third state to the first state, and then from the first state to the second state. 
     &lt;Power Source&gt; 
     The MFP  10  has a power source  110  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Power of an external power source is supplied, typically through a power plug, to the power source  110 , which supplies power to respective components of the MFP  10 . For example, the power source  110  supplies the power obtained from the external power source to each of the motors  101 - 103  and the inkjet head  39  as driving powers (e.g., 24 volts), and to a controller  130  as a control power (e.g., 5 volts). It is noted that, in  FIG. 6 , only an arrow extending from the power source  110  to the recording  39  is representatively shown to avoid the drawings from being complicated. 
     The power source  110  is configured to selectively operate in a driving state and a sleeping state based on a power control signal supplied from the controller  130 . According to the illustrative embodiment, when the controller  130  supplies a high level power control signal (e.g., 5 volts) to the power source  110 , the operating state of the power source  110  is switched to the sleeping state to the driving state. Further, when the controller  130  supplies a low level power control signal (e.g., 0 volt) to the power source  110 , the operating state of the power source  110  is switched to the driving state to the sleeping state. 
     It is noted that the driving state is a state in which the power source  110  is supplying the power to the motors  101 - 103  and the inkjet head  39 . In other words, when the power source  110  is in the driving state, the motors  101 - 103  and the inkjet head  39  are ready to operate. In contrast, the sleeping state is a state in which the power source  110  supplies the power to none of the motors  101 - 103  and the inkjet head  39 . In other words, when the power source  110  operates in the sleeping state, none of the motors  101 - 103  and the inkjet head  39  is ready to operate. Although not shown in the drawings, the power source  110  is configured to keep supplying the control power to the controller  30  and the communication device  50  regardless whether the power source  110  operates in the driving mode or the sleeping mode. 
     &lt;Controller&gt; 
     The controller  130  has a CPU (central processing unit)  131 , a ROM (read only memory)  132 , a RAM (random access memory)  133 , EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM)  134  and ASIC (application specific integrated circuit)  135 , which are interconnected via a bus  137 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The ROM  132  stores programs to be executed by the CPU  131  to control operations of the MFP  10 . The RAM  133  is used as a storage area in which the CPU  131  temporarily stores data, signals and the like when the CPU  131  executes respective programs stored in the ROM  132 . The RAM  133  is also used as a work area when the CPU  131  processes data. The EEPROM  134  stores setting information and the like which should be retained after the MFP  10  is powered off. 
     The ASIC  135  is connected with the feeding motor  101 , the conveying motor  102 , and the carriage motor  103 . The ASIC  135  generates driving signals to rotate respective motors, and controls the motors based on the driving signal, respectively. Each motor is configured to forwardly or reversely in accordance with the driving signal transmitted from the ASIC  135 . The controller  130  is configured to control the power source  110  to apply the driving voltage to driving elements of the inkjet head  39  so that the ink droplets are ejected through the nozzles  40 . 
     It is noted that the ASIC  135  is connected with the communication device  50 . The communication device  50  is an interface which is communicatable with the information processing device  51 . That is, the controller  130  is configured to transmit/receive information to/from the information processing device  51  through the communication device  50 . The communication device  50  may be, for example, a device capable of transmitting/receiving wireless signals in accordance with a communication protocol based on the Wi-Fi standard, or an interface to which a LAN cable or a USB cable is connected. It is noted that, in  FIG. 6 , the information processing device  51  is circled with broken lines to indicate that the image processing device  51  is not a component of the MFP  10 . 
     Further, the ASIC  135  is connected with the registration sensor  120 , the rotary encoder  121 , the carriage sensor  38 , and the cap sensor  122 . The controller  130  detects the position of the sheet  12  based on the detection signal transmitted from the registration sensor  120  and the pulse signal transmitted from the rotary encoder  121 . Further, the controller  130  detects the position of the carriage  23  based on the pulse signal transmitted from the carriage sensor  38 . Furthermore, the controller  130  detects the position of the cap  71  based on the detection signal transmitted from the cap sensor  122 . 
     &lt;Image Recording Process&gt; 
     Hereinafter, an image recording process will be described referring to  FIGS. 7-9 . The image recording process is started in response to receipt of a command from the information processing device  51  through the communication device  50 . It is assumed that, at a point of time when the image recording process is started, the carriage is located at the first position, the cap  71  is located at the covered position and the switching mechanism  170  operate in the third state. It is noted that respective processes described below may be executed as the CPU  131  retrieves programs stored in the ROM  132 , or realized by hardware circuits implemented to the controller  130 . Further, an execution order of respective processes may be changed within such a range as not change the scope of the present disclosures. 
     Although not shown in the drawings, the information processing device  51  is configured to, for example, transmits a preceding command to the MFP  10  in response to receipt of an instruction to cause the MFP  10  to execute the image recording process from the user. The preceding command is a command which notifies transmission of a recording command in advance. Next, in response to transmission of the preceding command, the information processing device  51  converts the image data designated by the user to raster data. Then, in response to generation of the raster data, the image processing device  51  transmits the recording command to the MFP  10 . The recording command is a command causing the MFP  10  to record an image represented by the raster data on the sheet. 
     The controller  130  executes a first preparatory process in response to receipt of the preceding command from the information processing device  50  through the communication device  50  (S 11 : preceding command). That is, the preceding command can be regarded as a command instructing execution of the first preparatory process. The first preparatory process is a process to bring the printer  11  in condition for executing the recording process. It is noted that the “condition for executing the recording process” is, for example, a condition in which an image could be recorded with a particular or higher quality. According to the illustrative embodiment, the first preparatory process includes, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a voltage boosting process (S 21 ), a separating process (S 22 ), a first moving process and a first switching process (S 23 ), and quick reciprocating processes (S 24  and S 25 ). 
     The voltage boosting process (S 21 ) is a process to raise the driving voltage, which the power source  110  supplies to each component of the printer  11  up to a target voltage VT. The power source  110  serves, for example to raise a source voltage supplied from the external power source to the target voltage VT with use of a well-known boosting circuit. Boosting of the voltage means, for example, electrical energy is stored in a choke coil or condenser (not shown). It is noted that, if the driving voltage is raised too quickly, there is a possibility that the voltage being raised becomes unstable. 
     Therefore, according to the embodiment, a feedback control is employed to raise the driving voltage to a checking voltage V 1  in the voltage boosting process. Then, in response to the driving voltage having been reached to the checking voltage V 1 , the driving voltage is further raised to a next checking voltage V 2 , which is lower than the target voltage VT, with use of the feedback control (i.e., V 1 &lt;V 2 &lt;VT). As above, by raising the driving voltage gradually with multiple raising steps, unstable variation of the driving voltage during boosting can be suppressed. 
     It is noted that the voltage boosting process (S 21 ) is typically executed at a timing when the MFP  10  is powered on, or the operating state of the power source  110  is switched from the sleeping state to the driving state. It is noted that, when the driving voltage supplied by the power source  110  has reached the target voltage VT, execution of the voltage boosting process (S 21 ) may be omitted. 
     The separating process (S 22 ) is a process to move the cap  71  from the covering position to the spaced position. The controller  130  rotates the feeding motor  101  by a particular amount in a particular direction. As the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the lifting device for the cap  71 , the cap  71  is moved from the covering position to the spaced position. Further, the detection signal output by the cap sensor  122  changes from the high level signal to the low level signal before the cap  71  reaches the spaced position, or during execution of the separating process. 
     The first moving process (S 23 ) is a process to move the carriage  23 , from which the cap  71  has been separated, from the first position to the second position. The first switching process (S 23 ) is a process to switch the state of the switching mechanism  170  from the third state to the first state. That is, the controller  130  executes the first moving process and the first switching process simultaneously by moving the carriage  23  at the first position rightward, and thereafter moving the carriage  23  leftward until the carriage  23  reaches the second position. It is noted that the controller  130  may move the carriage  23  leftward at a low speed when S 23  is to be executed, and then execute S 23  in order to suppress that meniscus of the ink formed on each nozzle  40  of the inkjet head  39  from broken. 
     The quick reciprocation process (S 24  and S 25 ) is a process to reciprocate at least one of the feeding motor  101  and the conveying motor  102 . Specifically, when the switching mechanism  170  is in the third state, the controller  130  reciprocates (i.e., rotates in forward/reverse directions) both of the feeding motor  101  and the conveying motor  102  (S 24 ). With this control, a surface pressure between the driving gear  172  and the driven gear  176 , and a surface pressure between the driving gear  173  and the driven gear  177  are released, engagements among respective gears are smoothly released. 
     Further, when the switching mechanism  170  is switched to be in the first state, the controller  130  quickly reciprocates the feeding motor  101  (S 25 ). With this control, the driving gear  172  and the driven gear  174  can be smoothly engaged with each other. It is noted that only one of the quick reciprocation processes (S 24  and S 25 ) may be executed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the controller  130  executes S 21  and S 22  simultaneously at a timing when the preceding command is received. Further, the controller  130  starts executing S 23  and S 24  simultaneously. It is note that a start timing of S 24  may be slightly after a start timing of S 23 , although  FIG. 8  shows a case where S 23  and S 24  are started at the same timing. 
     It is noted that the controller  130  starts the process of S 23  at a timing when the detection signal of the cap sensor  122  has changed from the high level signal to the low level signal. That is, the controller  130  starts executing S 23  after S 21  and S 22  are started. Specifically, the controller  130  executes, within a process of S 23 , a process to move the carriage  23  leftward at a low speed, and a process to move the carriage  23  rightward from the first position in parallel with S 22 . Further, the controller  130  executes a process to move the carriage  23  leftward toward the second position after completion of S 22 . 
     Typically, the voltage boosting process has the longest execution time among the processes (S 21 -S 25 ) included in the first preparatory process. Accordingly, the controller  130  executes the process of S 21  simultaneously with each of steps S 22 -S 25 . In other words, the controller  130  is configured to starts each of steps S 22 -S 25  at particular timings during execution of S 21 . Still in other words, each of steps S 22 -S 25  is executed in parallel with S 21 . 
     The controller  130  determines whether the first preparatory process has completed (S 13 ) in response to receipt of the recording command from the information processing device  51  through the communication device  50  (S 11 : recording command). It is noted that the recording command may be received before completion of the first preparatory process as shown in  FIG. 8 , or after completion of the first preparatory process as shown in  FIG. 9 . In response to determination that the first preparatory process has not completed (S 13 : NO), the controller  130  waits execution of the remaining process until the first preparatory process is completed. 
     Then, in response to determination that the first preparatory process has completed (S 13 : YES), the controller  130  starts executing the second preparatory process (S 14 ). The second preparatory process is a process to bring the printer  11  in condition for executing the recording process and is not included in the first preparatory process. The second preparatory process includes, for example, a flushing process (S 31 ), a second moving process (S 32 ), a first conveying process (S 33 ) and a cueing process (S 34 ) as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The flushing process (S 31 ) is a process to cause the inkjet head  39  to eject ink droplets toward the ink receiver  75 . That is, the controller  130  is configured to apply the driving voltage of the power source  110 , which is boosted up to the target voltage VT, to the driving elements to cause the inkjet head  39  of the carriage  23  located at the second position to eject the ink droplets. It is noted that a time period for executing the flushing process may be longer when an elapsed time since the inkjet head  39  ejects the ink droplets lastly. 
     That is, the controller  130  start measuring the elapsed time period when the inkjet head  39  ejects the ink droplets, and resets a measured time period at a time when the inkjet head  39  ejects the ink droplets again. It is noted that a trigger to start measuring the elapsed time period may be ejection of the ink droplets in the flushing process (S 31 ), or the ink ejection in an ejecting process (S 15 ) which will be described later. The controller  130  determines an execution time period of the flushing process based on the measured time period (S 14 ). Then, the controller causes the inkjet head  39  to ejects the ink droplets for the determined execution time period. 
     The second moving process is a process to move the carriage  23  to a recording start position. That is, the controller  130  moves the carriage  23  from the second position to the recording start position. The recording start position is a position from which the carriage  23  starts moving in the main scanning direction in the ejecting process described later. The recording start position is indicated by the received recording command. 
     The first conveying process (S 33 ) is a process to cause the feeder assembly  15 A to feed the sheet  12  accommodated in the first feed tray  20  toward the conveying roller  54 . The first conveying process is executed when the recording command indicates the first feed tray  20 A as the feeding source of the sheets  12 . The controller  130  causes the feeding motor  110  to rotate forwardly. Thereafter, when the detection signal of the registration sensor  120  is changed from the low level signal to the high level signal, the controller  130  lets the feeding motor  101  to further rotate by the particular rotating amount. As the rotational driving force of the feeding motor  101  is transmitted to the feeding roller  25 A through the switching mechanism  170 , the sheet  12  supported by the first feed tray  20 A is conveyed to the conveying passage  65 . 
     The cueing process (S 34 ) is a process to cause the sheet conveying assembly to further convey the sheet  12 , which has been conveyed and reached the conveying roller  54  during the first conveying process, in the conveying direction  16  to a position at which an initial area of the sheet  12  on which an image is initially recorded (hereinafter, occasionally referred to a recordation area) faces the inkjet head  39 . The initial recording area of the sheet is indicated by the recording command. The controller  130  causes the conveying assembly to convey the sheet  12 , which has been conveyed and reached conveying roller  54  during the first conveying process. 
     It is noted that the each of the processes S 31 -S 34  included in the second preparatory process cannot be started until at least a part of a plurality of processes included in the first preparatory process has completed. For example, the flushing process cannot be started until the voltage boosting process, the separating process and the first moving process have completed. However, the flushing process can be started even through the quick reciprocation process has not completed. The first conveying process cannot be started until the first switching process and the quick reciprocation process have completed, but can be started even though the voltage boosting process or the first moving process has not completed. Further, the second moving process cannot be started until the flushing process has completed. Furthermore, the cueing process cannot be started until the first conveying process has completed. 
     Thus, in response to receipt of the recording command, completion of the voltage boosting process, separating process and the first moving process (S 11 : recording command; S 13 : YES), the controller  130  executes the flushing process. In response to complete of the flushing process, the controller executes the second moving process. Further, in response to receipt of the recording command and completion of the first switching process and the quick reciprocation process (S 11 : recording command; S 13 : YES), the controller executes the first conveying process. In response to completion of the first conveying process, the controller executes the cueing process. It is note that the flushing process and the second moving process which are sequentially executed in the illustrative embodiment may be executed in parallel. Similarly, the first conveying process and the cueing process, which are sequentially executed in the embodiment, may be executed in parallel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , timings at which the flushing process and the first conveying process start vary depending on a relationship between a timing at which the first preparatory process is completed and a timing at which the recording command is received. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the recording command is received before completion of the first preparatory process, the controller  130  starts the flushing process and the first conveying process at different timings. In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 9 , when the recording command is received after completion of the first conveying process, the controller starts the flushing process and the first conveying process at the same timing. 
     When the recording command indicates the second feed tray  20 B as the feeding source of the sheets  12 , the second preparatory process is to be executed at a timing shown in  FIG. 10 . It is noted that the second preparatory process shown in  FIG. 10  is different from the second preparatory process shown in  FIG. 8 or 9  by including a second switching process (S 41 ) and including a second feeding process (S 42 ) instead of the first conveying process (S 33 ). 
     Hereinafter, the second preparatory process shown in  FIG. 10  will be described. It is noted that, in the following description regarding  FIG. 10 , configurations which are common between the process shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  and the process shown in  FIG. 10  will be omitted for brevity. 
     The second switching process (S 41 ) is a process to switch the state of the switching mechanism  170  from the first state to the second state. According to the illustrative embodiment, the controller  130  moves rightward the carriage  23  located at the second position so that the lever  178  engaged with the first engaging member engages with the second engaging member. It is noted that the controller  130  may execute the quick reciprocating process in association with execution of the second switching process. The second conveying process (S 42 ) is a process to cause the feeder assembly  15 B to feed the sheet  12  supported on the second feed tray  20 B to a position at which the sheet  12  reaches the conveying roller  54 . The second conveying process is substantially the same as the first conveying process except that the process is executed with the state of the switching mechanism  170  is the second state. 
     In  FIG. 10 , the controller  130  executes the second switching process in response to completion of the flushing process, and executes the second moving process in response to completion of the second switching process. Further, the controller  130  execute the second conveying process in response to completion of the second switching process, and executes the cueing process in response to completion of the second conveying process. It is noted that, in  FIG. 10 , when the recording command is received after completion of the first preparatory process, substantially the same process is executed except that the start timing of the flushing process is deferred to a timing at which the recording command is received. 
     The controller  130  executes the recording process in accordance with the received recording command (S 15 -S 18 ) in response to completion of all the processes included in the second preparatory process. The recording process includes, for example, alternately executed ejecting process (S 15 ), conveying process (S 17 ) and discharging process (S 18 ). The ejecting process (S 15 ) is a process to cause the inkjet head  39  to eject ink droplets toward the recordation area of the sheet  12  facing the inkjet head  39 . The conveying process (S 17 ) is a process to cause the conveying assembly to convey the sheet  12  by a particular conveying length in the conveying direction  16 . 
     That is, the controller  130  moves the carriage  23  from one end to the other end of the sheet facing area with causing the inkjet head  39  to eject ink droplets at timings indicated by the recording command (S 16 ). Next, in response to existence of an image to be recorded on the next recording area (S 16 : NO), the controller  130  causes the conveying assembly to convey the sheet  12  to a position where the next recording area faces the inkjet head  39  (S 17 ). Until images are recorded on all the recording areas (S 16 : NO), the controller  130  repeatedly executes the process of S 15 -S 17 . Finally, in response to recordation of the images on all the recording areas (S 16 : YES), the controller causes the discharging roller  55  to discharge the sheet  12  onto the discharge tray  21  (S 18 ). 
     Although not shown in the drawings, in response to elapse of a particular period of time after completion of the recording process (S 15 -S 18 ), the controller  130  moves the carriage to the first position, changes the state of the switching mechanism  170  to the third state and moves the cap  71  to the covering position. It is noted that the controller  130  may further execute the quick reciprocation process in association with the above processes after completion of the recording process (S 15 -S 18 ). 
     According to the above-described illustrative embodiment, the first preparatory process is executed as the preceding command is regarded as a trigger. Accordingly, in comparison with a configuration where the first preparatory process is executed after receipt of the recording command, FPOT can be shortened. Further, in the first preparatory process, the separating process, the first moving process, the first switching process and the quick reciprocation process are executed in parallel with the voltage boosting process. Accordingly, in comparison with a case where such processes are executed sequentially, the execution time period of the first preparatory process can be shortened. 
     According to the illustrative embodiment, since the flushing process is executed after the recording command is received, it is possible to shorten the waiting time period from completion of the flushing process to start of the recording process. Thus, deterioration of the image recording quality due to drying of the ink in the nozzles can be suppressed. As above, by executing the first preparatory process and the second preparatory process at appropriate timings, FPOT can be shortened, and further deterioration of the image recording quality can be suppressed. 
     At the point of time when the processes of S 21 -S 23  have completed, in response to the measured elapsed time being equal to or greater than a particular threshold, the controller  130  may be configured to start the flushing process regardless whether the recording command is received or not. Further, at the point of time when the processes of S 21 -S 23  have completed, in response to the measured elapsed time being less than a particular threshold, the controller  130  may start the flushing process at the timing according to the above-described embodiment. With this control, the flushing process of which execution time is relatively long, can be executed without waiting for the recording command, and the FPOT can be shortened. 
     According to the illustrative embodiment, the conveying process (S 33 , S 42 ) is executed after receipt of the recording command. As a result, the sheets  12  are fed from the feed tray  20 A or  20 B designated in the recording command. Therefore, images can be recorded on appropriate sheets  12 . It is noted that, if the MFP  10  has only one feed tray, the conveying process may be executed in response to completion of the quick reciprocation process, regardless whether the recording command is received.