A capping unit for capping at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3) of a printer, in particular an inkjet printer, said capping unit includes a belt element (2.1, 2.2) having an elongated extent, wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) includes at least one flexible cap (3.1, 3.2) for capping said at least one printhead (311.1, 311.2, 311.3, 321.1, 321.2, 321.3), wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) features a) a resting setting and b) a capping setting and is displaceable from said resting setting to said capping setting and back, wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability section (5.1, 5.2) extending over at least a portion of said belt element (2.1, 2.2)'s elongated extent, wherein in said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in a movement plane (13.1, 13.2), wherein in said capping setting, at all positions within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), a course of said elongated extent follows a straight line (14.1, 14.2) in said movement plane (13.113.2), wherein in said capping setting, at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of said belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to said straight line (14.1, 14.2) and being aligned in said movement plane (13.1, 13.2), wherein at least one position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in said movement plane (13.1, 13.2) away from said straight line (14.1, 14.2) in a bending direction being oriented opposite to said self-stability direction, wherein at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of said belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a local self-stability direction beyond a limit, said local self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to said course of said elongated extent at the respective position, wherein in said capping setting, at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said local self-stability direction is aligned parallel to said self-stability direction and said limit is a limiting curve being said straight line (14.1, 14.2), wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) comprises a plurality of chain elements (6.1,...,10 6.14) that are sequentially hinged together, characterised in that stoppers are provided at the chain elements, by which a pivoting movement of two adjacent chain elements with respect to each other can be limited in one direction at a specific limit such that the self-stability against bending of the belt element in the local self-stability direction beyond the limit is provided. a) a resting setting and b) a capping setting and is displaceable from said resting setting to said capping setting and back, wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability section (5.1, 5.2) extending over at least a portion of said belt element (2.1, 2.2)'s elongated extent, wherein in said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in a movement plane (13.1, 13.2), wherein in said capping setting, at all positions within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), a course of said elongated extent follows a straight line (14.1, 14.2) in said movement plane (13.113.2), wherein in said capping setting, at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of said belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to said straight line (14.1, 14.2) and being aligned in said movement plane (13.1, 13.2), wherein at least one position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) is bendable in said movement plane (13.1, 13.2) away from said straight line (14.1, 14.2) in a bending direction being oriented opposite to said self-stability direction, wherein at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said belt element (2.1, 2.2) provides a self-stability against bending of said belt element (2.1, 2.2) in a local self-stability direction beyond a limit, said local self-stability direction being oriented perpendicular to said course of said elongated extent at the respective position, wherein in said capping setting, at each position within said self-stability section (5.1, 5.2), said local self-stability direction is aligned parallel to said self-stability direction and said limit is a limiting curve being said straight line (14.1, 14.2), wherein said belt element (2.1, 2.2) comprises a plurality of chain elements (6.1,...,10 6.14) that are sequentially hinged together, characterised in that stoppers are provided at the chain elements, by which a pivoting movement of two adjacent chain elements with respect to each other can be limited in one direction at a specific limit such that the self-stability against bending of the belt element in the local self-stability direction beyond the limit is provided.