Patent Description:
There is a known image recording apparatus which is provided with a head having nozzles configured to eject or discharge an ink. In order to prevent the nozzles from being clogged, the image recording apparatus performs a flushing processing of causing a nozzle surface of the head to face or to be opposite to a flushing foam accommodated in a flushing tank and of causing the ink to be ejected from the nozzles. The flushing foam is made, for example, of a porous material and absorbs the ink ejected from the nozzles of the head during the flushing processing.

Further, the image recording apparatus performs a wipe processing of wiping the nozzle surface with a wiper so as to remove any unwanted substance (unnecessary matter; the ink, any waste, debris, etc.) adhered to the nozzle surface of the head. As the wipe processing, a method of immersing the wiper in a wiper tank storing a cleaning liquid, causing the cleaning liquid to adhere to the nozzle surface with the wiper impregnated with the cleaning liquid, and wiping off the cleaning liquid and/or the unwanted matter adhered to the nozzle surface.

In relation to the present invention, there exists a maintenance apparatus described in Patent Literature <NUM>. This maintenance apparatus has an ink receiving chamber, a liquid injecting part and a waste liquid storing part. An absorbing member configured to absorb the ink jetted from the nozzles is positioned in the ink receiving chamber. The liquid injecting part injects a liquid (cleaning liquid) into the ink receiving chamber in a case that the head is away or separated from a location above the ink receiving chamber. The waste liquid storing part stores the ink and the liquid discharged (drained) from the ink receiving chamber. The absorbing member corresponds to the flushing foam, and the ink receiving chamber corresponds to the flushing tank. Document <CIT> discloses a liquid ejecting apparatus which includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a first liquid from a nozzle; a liquid receiving portion configured to receive the first liquid discharged from the nozzle for a purpose of maintenance of the liquid ejecting portion in a state that a second liquid is stored therein; and a discharge portion configured to discharge a liquid stored in the liquid receiving portion. The liquid receiving portion includes: a liquid storing portion that stores the second liquid; a maintenance portion that maintains a liquid surface of the liquid stored in the liquid storing portion at an upper limit position above a discharge port at which the discharge portion discharges the liquid from the liquid storing portion; and a lip portion configured to contact the liquid ejecting portion. The liquid receiving portion is configured to cap a space in which the nozzle opens with the lip portion.

In a case that the ink absorbed by the flushing foam is left as it is, the ink dries inside the flushing foam, and the dried ink is fixed to the flushing foam. In view of this, such a configuration is considered that the cleaning liquid is supplied not only to the wiper tank but also to the flushing tank. In the image recording apparatus having this configuration, however, in a case that the supply of the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank and the supply of the liquid to the flushing tank are performed independently from each other, an amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and an amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the flushing processing become to be great.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of reducing the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and in the flushing processing.

According to the method of controlling the image recording apparatus as described above, it is possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and in the flushing processing, similarly to the image recording apparatus as described above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and in the flushing processing.

A printer <NUM> (an example of an "image recording apparatus") according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. It goes without saying that the embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention. In the following explanation, advancement or movement (progress) directed from a starting point to an end point of an arrow is expressed as an "orientation", and going forth and back on a line connecting the starting point and the end point of the arrow is expressed as a "direction". Further, an up-down direction <NUM> is defined, with a state in which the printer <NUM> is installed usably (a state of <FIG>), as the reference; a front-rear direction <NUM> is defined, with a side on which a discharge port <NUM> is provided is defined as a front side (front surface); and a left-right direction <NUM> is defined, with the printer <NUM> as seen from the front side (front surface). The up-down direction <NUM>, the front-rear direction <NUM>, and the left-right direction <NUM> are orthogonal to one another.

The printer <NUM> depicted in <FIG> is an image recording apparatus which records an image on a sheet S, as an example of a recording medium, by the ink-jet recording system. The sheet S is a long sheet (paper sheet or paper) wound in a roll shape. In order to install the sheet S in the printer <NUM>, a through hole is formed in the winding center of the sheet S. The recording medium may be sticker sheet (sticker paper), fanfold paper, cut paper, or fabric, etc..

The printer <NUM> is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelopiped-shaped casing <NUM>. The casing <NUM> has a size which is placeable on a table or desk, on the floor, or on a rack, etc. A discharge port <NUM> having a slit shape and extending in the left-right direction <NUM> is positioned in a front wall <NUM> of the casing <NUM>. From the discharge port <NUM>, a sheet S on which an image is recorded by the printer <NUM> is discharged. The discharged sheet S is wound up, for example, by a winding device (not depicted in the drawings) attached to the printer <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> has, in the inside of the casing <NUM>: a holder <NUM>, a tensioner <NUM>, a conveying roller pair <NUM>, a discharging roller pair <NUM>, a platen <NUM>, four tanks 26A to 26D, a carriage <NUM> a and a head <NUM>. The head <NUM> is mounted on the carriage <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> is further provided with, in the inside of the casing <NUM>, two guide rails <NUM>, <NUM> and a maintenance unit <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> has, within the casing <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a holder driving motor <NUM>, a conveying motor <NUM>, a carriage driving motor <NUM>, a wiper driving motor <NUM> and a pump driving motor <NUM>. In addition to the above-described elements or components, the printer <NUM> may be further provided with a variety of kinds of sensors, a cap, etc..

The tanks 26A to 26D store yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks (each of which is an example of a liquid), respectively. Each of the inks is a so-called latex ink and contains a pigment, resin fine particles, and an additive. Each of the inks has a viscosity suitable for uniformly dispersing the pigment and the resin fine particles. The pigment is the color of each of the inks. The resin fine particles are configured to adhere the pigment to the sheet S. For example, the resin is a synthetic resin of which temperature exceeds the glass transition temperature by, for example, being heated by a heater (not depicted in the drawings).

Note that it is sufficient that the printer <NUM> is provided with one tank. Further, the tank may store a liquid different from the ink. The liquid stored in the tank includes, for example, a pre-processing liquid (pre-treatment liquid). The pre-treatment liquid may include a cationic polymer, a polyvalent metal salt (e.g., a magnesium salt), etc. The pre-treatment liquid has a function of preventing any ink blurring (ink blotting) and/or any ink bleed-through (back-through), by causing a component in the ink to aggregate or precipitate. In some cases, the pre-treatment liquid also has a function of improving the color developing property and/or the quick-drying property of the ink.

A pair of side frames (not depicted in the drawings) spreading in the up-down direction <NUM> and the front-rear direction <NUM> are located in the inside of the casing <NUM>. The holder <NUM> has a rotation shaft <NUM> which supports the sheet S. The rotation shaft <NUM> extends in the left-right direction <NUM> and both ends of the rotation shaft <NUM> are fixed to the side frames. The power from the holder driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) is transmitted to the rotation shaft <NUM>. This power causes the holder <NUM> to rotate in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft <NUM>. In <FIG>, the direction of rotation of the holder <NUM> is counterclockwise. By the rotation of the holder <NUM>, a roll body supported by the holder <NUM> also rotates. By the rotation of the conveying roller pair <NUM> and the discharging roller pair <NUM>, the sheet S is drawn upwardly from a rear end of the roll body, and is guided to the tensioner <NUM>.

Each of the tensioner <NUM>, the conveying roller pair <NUM> and the discharging roller pair <NUM> extends in the left-right direction <NUM> between the side frames, and is attached to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of a rotational axis parallel to the left-right direction <NUM>. A rearward urging force is applied to the tensioner <NUM> by an urging member such as a spring, etc. The tensioner <NUM> makes contact with the sheet S drawn from the roll body and guides the sheet S to be curved forward.

The conveying roller pair <NUM> has a drive roller <NUM> and a pinch roller <NUM>, and is positioned at a location in front of the tensioner <NUM>. The discharging roller pair <NUM> has a drive roller <NUM> and a pinch roller <NUM> and is positioned at a location further in front of the conveying roller pair <NUM>. The positions of lower ends, respectively, of the drive rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are substantially coincident with the position of an upper end of the tensioner <NUM> in the up-down direction <NUM>. The pinch roller <NUM> makes contact with the drive roller <NUM> from therebelow. The pinch roller <NUM> makes contact with the drive roller <NUM> from therebelow.

The power from the conveying motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) is transmitted to the drive rollers <NUM> and <NUM>. This power causes the drive rollers <NUM>, <NUM> to rotate. With this, the drive rollers <NUM> and <NUM> convey the sheet S in a conveyance orientation <NUM> while pinching (nipping) the sheet S between the drive roller <NUM> and the pinch rollers <NUM>, and between the drive roller <NUM> and the pinch roller <NUM>. In this embodiment, the conveyance orientation <NUM> is frontward (frontward orientation).

The platen <NUM> is attached to the side frames at a location between the conveying roller pair <NUM> and the discharging roller pair <NUM> in the front-rear direction <NUM>. The platen <NUM> extends in the left-right direction <NUM> between the side frames and has a support surface <NUM>, for the sheet S, which spreads or extends in the front-rear direction <NUM> and the left-right direction <NUM>. The support surface <NUM> is an upper end surface of the platen <NUM>. An up-down position (position in the up-down direction <NUM>) of the support surface <NUM> is substantially coincident with the position of the upper end of the tensioner <NUM>. The platen <NUM> may be a suction platen which is configured to attract the sheet S, by suction, onto the support surface <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the guide rails <NUM>, <NUM> extend parallel to each other in the left-right direction <NUM>. The positions in the up-down direction <NUM> of the guide rails <NUM> and <NUM> are same. The guide rail <NUM> is positioned behind the guide rail <NUM> in the front-rear direction <NUM>. Both ends of each of the guide rails <NUM> and <NUM> are fixed to the side frames. The carriage <NUM> is supported by the guide rails <NUM> and <NUM>. The power of the carriage driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) is transmitted to a carriage driving mechanism (not depicted in the drawings). The carriage <NUM> is moved in the left-right direction <NUM> by the action of the carriage driving mechanism in a state that the carriage <NUM> is supported by the guide rails <NUM>, <NUM>.

The carriage <NUM> is movable (moves) having the head <NUM> mounted thereon. A lower surface of the head <NUM> is referred to as a nozzle surface <NUM> (see <FIG>). A plurality of nozzles <NUM> which are configured to eject or discharge the inks are formed in the nozzle surface <NUM>. The tanks 26A to 26D and the head <NUM> are connected via an ink channel (not depicted in the drawings). The inks stored, respectively, in the tanks 26A to 26D are supplied to the head <NUM> via the ink channel. While the carriage <NUM> is moving in the left-right direction <NUM>, the ink(s) supplied to the head <NUM> is (are) ejected from the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. With this, image recording is performed on the sheet S.

As depicted in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> includes a CPU <NUM>, a ROM <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, an EEPROM <NUM> and an ASIC <NUM>. The ROM <NUM> stores various kinds of data, etc., necessary for the operation of the controller <NUM>. The RAM <NUM> is a working memory of the CPU <NUM>. The EEPROM <NUM> stores a control program, etc., executed by the CPU <NUM>. Before the printer <NUM> performs the image recording, the control program stored in the EEPROM <NUM> is copied to the RAM <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> execute the control program stored in RAM <NUM>. With this, the controller <NUM> executes an image recording processing, a cleaning liquid supplying processing which will be described later on, etc..

The controller <NUM> is electrically connected, via the ASIC <NUM>, to the holder driving motor <NUM>, the conveying motor <NUM>, the carriage driving motor <NUM>, the wiper driving motor <NUM>, the pump driving motor <NUM>, a first valve <NUM> and a second valve <NUM> included in the maintenance unit <NUM>, and the head <NUM>. Each of the holder driving motor <NUM>, the conveying motor <NUM>, the carriage driving motor <NUM>, the wiper driving motor <NUM> and the pump driving motor <NUM> rotates in accordance with the control from the controller <NUM>, and generates the power (motive power). Each of the first valve <NUM> and the second valve <NUM> changes the state thereof between an open state and a close state by the control from the controller <NUM>. The head <NUM> ejects the ink(s) to the sheet S which is (being) conveyed on the platen <NUM>, in accordance with the control from the controller <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> rotates by the power from the holder driving motor <NUM>. The drive rollers <NUM> and <NUM> rotate by the power from the conveying motor <NUM>. The sheet S is conveyed in the conveyance orientation <NUM> by the power from the conveying motor <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> moves in the left-right direction <NUM> by the power from the carriage driving motor <NUM>. A wiper unit <NUM> included in the maintenance unit <NUM> performs an operation which will be described later on by the power from the wiper driving motor <NUM>. The supply pump <NUM> and the discharge pump <NUM> perform an operation which will be described later on by the power from the pump driving motor <NUM>. Note that it is allowable that a part of the holder driving motor <NUM>, the conveying motor <NUM>, the carriage driving motor <NUM>, the wiper driving motor <NUM> and the pump driving motor <NUM> may be realized by a common motor (single motor). Further, it is allowable that the motor driving the supply pump <NUM> and the motor driving the discharge pump <NUM> may be separate motors.

As depicted in <FIG>, the platen <NUM> has a shape which is long in the left-right direction <NUM> and is located at a position which is below the carriage <NUM> in the up-down direction <NUM> (see <FIG>). A left end of the platen <NUM> is positioned, in the left-right direction <NUM>, in the vicinity of left ends of the guide rails <NUM> and <NUM>. A right end of the platen <NUM> is positioned, in the left-right direction <NUM>, at a location on the right side with respect to the centers in the left-right direction <NUM>, respectively, of the guide rails <NUM>, <NUM>. The maintenance unit <NUM> is positioned, in the left-right direction <NUM>, on the right side with respect to the platen <NUM>. While the printer <NUM> is executing the image recording, the carriage <NUM> moves in the left-right direction <NUM> within a range of the platen <NUM>. While the printer <NUM> is not executing the image recording, the carriage <NUM> is located at a position which is on the right side with respect to the maintenance unit <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as a "standby position").

The maintenance unit <NUM> is configured to perform maintenance of the head <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, the maintenance unit <NUM> is provided with: a wiper tank <NUM>, a wiper unit <NUM>, a flushing tank <NUM> and a flushing foam <NUM>. The wiper unit <NUM> has two wipers <NUM> and <NUM>. An upper part of the flushing tank <NUM> is covered by a plate member <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the insides of the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> in a state that the wiper unit <NUM>, the flushing foam <NUM> and the plate member <NUM> are detached (omitted).

As depicted in <FIG>, the maintenance unit <NUM> is further provided with: a cleaning liquid tank <NUM>, a supply pump <NUM>, the first valve <NUM>, the second valve <NUM>, a discharge pump <NUM> and a waste liquid tank <NUM>. The flushing tank <NUM> is adjacent to the wiper tank <NUM>, and is located on the left side with respect to the wiper tank <NUM>. The wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> are integrally formed. Note that the wiper tank <NUM> is an example of a "first tank", and that the flushing tank <NUM> is an example of a "second tank".

As depicted in <FIG>, the wiper tank <NUM> has a box-like shape of which upper part is opened. As depicted in <FIG>, the wiper tank <NUM> accommodates a cleaning liquid L in the inside thereof. The cleaning liquid L is a liquid suitable for removing any unwanted substance (unnecessary matter) adhered to the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM>. As the cleaning liquid L, for example, glycerin is used.

The wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to the wiper unit <NUM> so that forward end parts, respectively, of the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are located at the outside of the wiper tank <NUM>. The wiper <NUM> is not impregnated with the cleaning liquid L and deforms in response to an external force while maintaining the shape of the wiper <NUM> to some extent. On the other hand, the wiper <NUM> is impregnated with the cleaning liquid L and deforms, with a high degree of freedom, in response to the external force. The wiper <NUM> is formed, for example, of a rubber material. The wiper <NUM> is formed, for example, of a porous material.

As depicted in <FIG>, the wiper unit <NUM> has a rotation shaft <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, each of a front wall 51a and a rear wall 51b of the wiper tank <NUM> has a support part <NUM>. The two support parts <NUM>, respectively, of the front wall 51a and the rear wall 51b are configured to support a front end and a rear end of the rotation shaft <NUM>. With this, the wiper unit <NUM> is supported by the wiper tank <NUM> so that the wiper unit <NUM> is rotatable with the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center of the rotation.

The power of the wiper driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) is transmitted to a wiper driving mechanism (not depicted in the drawings), thereby causing the rotation shaft <NUM> to make a half rotation; accompanying with this, the wiper unit <NUM> and the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> make a half rotation with the rotation shaft <NUM> as the center of the half rotation. With this, the wiper unit <NUM> rotates (pivots) to a position at which the forward end parts of the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are oriented upward (a position depicted in <FIG>, hereinafter referred to as an "upward position") and to a position at which the forward end parts of the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are oriented downward (a position depicted in <FIG>, hereinafter referred to as a "downward position").

In a case that the wiper unit <NUM> is located at the upward position, the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are not immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored the wiper tank <NUM>, and are located at a position at which the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are capable of making contact with the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM>. In a case that the wiper unit <NUM> is located at the downward position, a part of the wiper <NUM> and a part of the wiper <NUM> are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM>, and the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are located at a position at which the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are not capable of making contact with the nozzle surface <NUM>. Note that the upward position is an example of a "first position", and the downward position is an example of a "second position".

In a case that the controller <NUM> performs a wipe processing, the controller <NUM> moves the wiper unit <NUM> to the upward position, and moves the carriage <NUM> leftward at the location above the wiper unit <NUM>. In this situation, the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> make contact with the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM> and wipes the cleaning liquid and/or the unwanted substance (the ink, any waste, debris, etc.) adhered to the nozzle surface <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, a supply port <NUM> and a discharge port <NUM> are positioned in a lower wall 51c of the wiper tank <NUM>. The supply port <NUM> is configured to supply the cleaning liquid L to the wiper tank <NUM>. The discharge port <NUM> is configured to discharge (drain) the cleaning liquid L from the wiper tank <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the flushing tank <NUM> has a box-like shape of which upper part is opened. As depicted in <FIG>, the flushing tank <NUM> is configured to accommodate or store the flushing foam <NUM> therein. The flushing foam <NUM> is formed of a porous material. The flushing foam <NUM> is, for example, a sponge.

As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the plate member <NUM> is configured to cover an upper part of the flashing tank <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> has an opening <NUM> which is located in a central part of the plate member <NUM> and which exposes a part of the upper surface of the flashing foam <NUM> in a state that the plate member <NUM> is locked to the flushing tank <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> covers the entirety of the upper part of the flushing tank <NUM>, except for the position at which the opening <NUM> is located. In the state that the plate member <NUM> is locked to the flushing tank <NUM>, the plate member <NUM> causes a downward force to act on the flushing foam <NUM> accommodated in the flushing tank <NUM>.

In a case that the controller <NUM> performs a flushing processing, the controller <NUM> moves the carriage <NUM> to a location above the flushing tank <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is formed so that all the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the head <NUM> at this time face the flushing foam <NUM>. It is desired that the size of the opening <NUM> is same as, or is slightly greater than, the size of an arrangement area of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> in the head <NUM>. The flushing foam <NUM> accommodated in the flushing tank <NUM> is configured to absorb the ink(s) ejected from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the head <NUM> by the flushing processing.

As depicted in <FIG>, the flushing tank <NUM> has a lower wall 61a, a front wall 61b, a left wall 61c, a rear wall 61d, and a partition 61e. The front wall 61b has two ribs <NUM> protruding towards the internal space of the flushing tank <NUM>; and the rear wall 61d also has two ribs <NUM> protruding towards the internal space of the flushing tank <NUM>. An annular rib <NUM> protruding towards the internal space of the flushing tank <NUM> is located at a central part of an inner surface of the lower wall 61a. The planar shape of the rib <NUM> is substantially rectangular. In a case that the flushing foam <NUM> is placed in the flushing tank <NUM> in a state that the plate member <NUM> does not cover the upper part of the flushing tank <NUM>, a bottom surface of the flushing foam <NUM> makes contact with an upper surface of the rib <NUM> without being deformed. Afterwards, in a case that such a state is provided wherein the plate member <NUM> covers the upper part of the flushing tank <NUM>, a part, of the bottom surface of the flushing foam <NUM> accommodated in the flushing tank <NUM>, which makes contact with the upper surface of the rib <NUM> is deformed, and a part of the rib <NUM> bits into the flushing foam <NUM>. In this state, the rib <NUM> supports the bottom surface of the flushing foam <NUM>.

A recessed part <NUM> is positioned in a part, in the inner surface of the lower wall 61a, which is surrounded by the rib <NUM>. The recessed part <NUM> is a part which is further away outwardly from the internal space of the flushing tank <NUM> as closer to the center of the recessed part <NUM>, and which is formed by four triangular-shaped inclined surfaces <NUM>. A discharge port <NUM> is positioned at the center of the recessed part <NUM>. The discharge port <NUM> is configured to discharge (drain) the cleaning liquid from the flushing tank <NUM>.

The plate member (plate-like member) <NUM> is a member obtained by forming the opening <NUM> in a plate made of a metal and by machining the respective ends of the metal plate. As depicted in <FIG>, a left end and a right end of the plate member <NUM> are bent in the up-down direction <NUM>. A rear end of the plate member <NUM> is fixed to the outer side of the rear wall 61d of the flashing tank <NUM>, via a plate spring (not depicted in the drawings). As depicted in <FIG>, an operating part <NUM> and a hook <NUM> are positioned at a front end of the plate member <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, a hook receiving part <NUM> is positioned at the outer side of the front wall 61b of the flushing tank <NUM>. In a case that the plate member <NUM> covers the upper part of the flushing tank <NUM>, the hook <NUM> is engaged with the hook receiving part <NUM>, and the plate member <NUM> is locked to the flushing tank <NUM>.

In a case that the flushing processing is performed repeatedly, there arises a need to exchange the flushing foam <NUM>. In a case that the user of the printer <NUM> exchanges the flushing foam <NUM>, the user lifts the operating part <NUM> upwardly until the hook <NUM> is detached from the hook receiving part <NUM>. In a case that the hook <NUM> is detached from the hook receiving part <NUM>, the plate member <NUM> rotates with the rear end side thereof as the center of rotation due to the urging force of the plate spring, and is away from the upper surface of the flushing tank <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the supply port <NUM> of the wiper tank <NUM> is connected to one end of the supply pump <NUM> via a tube <NUM>. The other end of the supply pump <NUM> is connected to the cleaning liquid tank <NUM> via a tube <NUM>. The cleaning liquid tank <NUM> stores an unused cleaning liquid. In a case that the supply pump <NUM> is driven by the pump driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>), the supply pump <NUM> supplies the unused cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank <NUM> to the wiper tank <NUM>. The wiper tank <NUM> stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid tank <NUM> by using the supply pump <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> are partitioned from each other by the partition 61e. The partition 61e is lower than the front wall 61b, the left wall 61c and the rear wall 61d. In a case that the supply pump <NUM> is operated and that the cleaning liquid of which amount is not less than a predetermined amount is supplied from the cleaning liquid tank <NUM> to the wiper tank <NUM>, a part of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> flows over the partition 61e and flows into the inside of the flushing tank <NUM>. In such a manner, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>. The cleaning liquid overflown from the wiper tank <NUM> is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>, over (across) the partition 61e. The cleaning liquid supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> flows through the space at the outside of the rib <NUM> and surrounds the outer side of the rib <NUM>. The cleaning liquid located at the outside of the rib <NUM> is absorbed by the flushing foam <NUM> and diffuses in the inside of the flushing foam <NUM>. A configuration of supplying the cleaning liquid to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM> has such a merit that the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM> is not wiped by a cleaning liquid which is dirtied due to the flushing foam <NUM> absorbing the ink and immersed in the cleaning liquid.

As depicted in <FIG>, the discharge port <NUM> of the wiper tank <NUM> is connected to a first terminal of a joint <NUM> via a tube <NUM>, the first valve <NUM> and a tube <NUM>. The discharge port <NUM> of the flushing tank <NUM> is connected to a second terminal of the joint <NUM> via a tube <NUM>, the second valve <NUM> and a tube <NUM>. A third terminal of the joint <NUM> is connected to one end of the discharge pump <NUM> via a tube <NUM>. The other end of the discharge pump <NUM> is connected to the waste liquid tank <NUM> via a tube <NUM>. As described above, each of the first valve <NUM> and the second valve <NUM> changes the state thereof between the open state and the close state in accordance with the control from the controller <NUM>. In a case that the discharge pump <NUM> is driven by the pump driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>), the discharge pump <NUM> applies a negative pressure to a channel arriving at the discharge port <NUM> or a channel arriving at the discharge port <NUM>, depending on the open/close state of each of the first valve <NUM> and the second valve <NUM>.

In a case that the discharge pump <NUM> is driven with the first valve <NUM> being in the open state and with the second valve <NUM> being in the close state, the negative pressure is applied to the channel arriving at the discharge port <NUM>. In this situation, the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is sucked (suctioned); the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is discharged (drained) to the waste liquid tank <NUM> via the discharge port <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the first valve <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the joint <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the discharge pump <NUM> and the tube <NUM>.

In a case that the discharge pump <NUM> is driven with the first valve <NUM> being in the close state and with the second valve <NUM> being in the open state, the negative pressure is applied to the channel arriving at the discharge port <NUM>, and a negative pressure is applied to a space <NUM> at a location below the flushing foam <NUM>. In this situation, the ink and the cleaning liquid L in the flushing foam <NUM> are sucked and quickly moved downward. The ink and the cleaning liquid arriving at the space <NUM> are discharged (drained) to the waste liquid tank <NUM> via the discharge port <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the second valve <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the joint <NUM>, the tube <NUM>, the discharge pump <NUM> and the tube <NUM>. In such a manner, the discharge pump <NUM> causes the cleaning liquid to be discharged (drained) from the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an image recording processing by the controller <NUM> will be explained. At a point of time that the controller <NUM> reaches step S11, the carriage <NUM> is located at the standby position and the wiper unit <NUM> is located at the downward position. At this time, the part of the wiper <NUM> and the part of the wiper <NUM> are immersed in the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> receives an image recording instruction from an operation part (not depicted in the drawings) (step S11). Specifically, the controller <NUM> stands by in step S11 until the controller <NUM> receives the image recording instruction. In a case that the controller <NUM> receives the image recording instruction in step S11, the controller <NUM> controls the wiper driving motor <NUM> to thereby move the wiper unit <NUM> to the upward position (step S12).

Next, the controller <NUM> executes the wipe processing (step S13). In step S13, the controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby cause the carriage <NUM> to move in the leftward orientation from the standby position to a position above the wiper unit <NUM>. In this situation, the carriage <NUM> moves in the leftward orientation while the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> are making contact with the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby cause the carriage <NUM> to move to a position at which the wipers <NUM> and <NUM> do not make contact with the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM>. At this point of time, the controller <NUM> ends the wipe processing. Next, the controller <NUM> controls the wiper driving motor <NUM> to thereby cause the wiper unit <NUM> to move to the downward position (step S14).

Next, the controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby move the carriage <NUM> in the leftward orientation to a recording start position (step S15). The recording start position is a predetermined position at which the carriage <NUM> faces the platen <NUM>. Next, the controller <NUM> controls the holder driving motor <NUM> and the conveying motor <NUM> to thereby convey the sheet S to the recording start position (step S16). Note that the controller <NUM> may execute step S16 in parallel to all or a part of steps S12 to S15.

Next, the controller <NUM> executes image recording on the sheet S (step S17). In step S17, the controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby move the carriage <NUM> in the left-right direction <NUM> (to move leftward or rightward orientation). The controller <NUM> controls the head <NUM> during a period in which the carriage <NUM> is moving in the left-right direction <NUM>, to thereby cause the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the head <NUM> to eject the ink(s) of an amount corresponding to image data.

Next, the controller <NUM> determines whether there is any remaining image data or not (step S18). In accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S18 that there is the remaining data (step S18: YES), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S19. In this case, the controller <NUM> controls the conveying motor <NUM> to thereby convey the sheet S by a predetermined amount (step S19). Then, the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S17.

In accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S18 that there is not any remaining data (step S18: NO), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S20. In this case, the controller <NUM> controls the conveying motor <NUM> to thereby discharge the sheet S up to a predetermined position (step S20). Next, the controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby move the carriage <NUM> in the rightward orientation up to the standby position (step S21). Then, the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S11 so as to execute a next image recording.

In a case, for example, that an elapsed time which has elapsed since the flushing processing executed the last time exceeds a threshold value or in a case that the controller <NUM> receives an instruction from the user of the printer <NUM>, the controller <NUM> determines that the flushing processing needs to be performed. The controller <NUM> performs the flushing processing in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the flushing processing needs to be performed.

As described above, in a case that the controller <NUM> performs the flushing processing, the controller <NUM> controls the carriage driving motor <NUM> to thereby cause the carriage <NUM> to move to the location above the flushing tank <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is formed such that in the above-described situation all of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the head <NUM> face the flushing foam <NUM>. The controller <NUM> performs a control of causing the head <NUM> to eject, from the plurality of nozzles <NUM>, the ink(s) of an amount suitable for the flushing processing. The flushing foam <NUM> accommodated in the flushing tank <NUM> absorbs the ink(s) ejected from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the head <NUM> by the flushing processing.

Since the flushing foam <NUM> is impregnated with the cleaning liquid L, the ink(s) absorbed by the flushing foam <NUM> moves downwardly, together with the cleaning liquid, in the inside of the flushing foam <NUM>, and reaches the space <NUM> defined at the location below the flushing foam <NUM>.

While performing the flushing processing or after performing the flushing processing, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the first valve <NUM> to be in the close stand and to make the second valve <NUM> to be in the open state and drives the pump driving motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) to thereby cause the discharge pump <NUM> to apply the negative pressure to the space <NUM>. In this situation, the ink and the cleaning liquid in the inside of the flushing foam <NUM> are sucked and move quickly downward, and the ink and the cleaning liquid which have reached the space <NUM> are sucked and discharged (drained) to the waste liquid tank <NUM>.

In the printer <NUM>, in a case that a water content of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is evaporated and a concentration of the cleaning liquid L becomes high, the viscosity of the cleaning liquid L becomes to be high. Accordingly, in a case that the controller <NUM> performs the wipe processing, the nozzle surface <NUM> of the head <NUM> cannot be wiped cleanly and/or that the cleaning liquid L which has become highly viscous clogs the nozzles <NUM>, which in turn leads to any unsatisfactory ejection of the head <NUM>, in some cases. In a case that the viscosity of the cleaning liquid L becomes high in such a manner, the effect of the wipe processing is lowered, and thus the concentration of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is required to be maintained to be not more than a predetermined concentration (value).

In view of this, the controller <NUM> performs a processing of calculating a remaining amount of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as a "remaining amount P"), a processing of calculating a vacant capacity (space capacity, free space capacity) of the wiper tank <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as a "vacant capacity Q"), and a processing of calculating an evaporation rate of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as an "evaporation rate R").

In a case that the controller <NUM> executes the processing of step S110, step S120 or step S130 as depicted in <FIG> (details of which will be described later on), the controller <NUM> resets the remaining amount P and makes the remaining amount P to be a capacity of the wiper tank <NUM>. The capacity of the wiper tank <NUM> is a maximum amount of the cleaning liquid storable in the wiper tank <NUM>, namely, an amount of the cleaning liquid in a case that the height of a liquid surface of the cleaning liquid is equal to a height of the partition 61e.

In a case that the controller <NUM> starts the image recording, in a case that the controller <NUM> ends the image recording and in a case that a predetermined time (for example, <NUM> (one) hour) elapses since execution of the image recording, the controller <NUM> newly calculates and updates the remaining amount P. The controller <NUM> obtains the temperature and the humidity from a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor (both of which are not depicted in the drawings) provided on the printer <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> newly calculates the remaining amount P based on the remaining amount P calculated the last time, an elapsed time elapsed since the remaining amount P has been calculated the last time (an elapsed time during the image recording and an elapsed time during which the image recording is not performed), the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor, the humidity obtained from the humidity sensor, etc. In a case that the controller <NUM> resets or newly calculates the remaining amount P, the controller <NUM> deducts the remaining amount P from the capacity of the wiper tank <NUM> to thereby calculates the vacant capacity Q.

In a case that the controller <NUM> executes step S110 indicated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> resets the evaporation rate R so as to make the evaporation rate R to be <NUM> (zero). In a case that the controller <NUM> executes step S120 or step S130 indicated in <FIG>, in a case that the controller <NUM> starts the image recording, in a case that the controller <NUM> ends the image recording, and in a case that the predetermined time elapses since the execution of the image recording, the controller <NUM> updates the evaporation rate R by newly calculating the evaporation rate R. In a case that the controller <NUM> executes step S120 or step S130, the controller <NUM> newly calculates the evaporation rate R based on the remaining amount P calculated the last time, the evaporation rate R calculated the last time, the amount of the cleaning liquid to be supplied to the wiper tank <NUM>, etc. In a case that the controller <NUM> starts the image recording, in a case that the controller <NUM> ends the image recording and in a case that the predetermined time elapses since execution of the image recording, the controller <NUM> newly calculates the evaporation rate R based on the remaining amount P calculated the last time, the evaporation rate R calculated the last time, an elapsed time elapsed since the evaporation rate R has been calculated the last time, the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor, the humidity obtained from the humidity sensor, etc..

Note that each of the remaining amount P, the vacant capacity Q and the evaporation rate R calculated by the controller <NUM> is a presumed value. It is allowable that the controller <NUM> directly calculates the vacant capacity Q, instead of calculating the remaining amount P.

A cleaning liquid supplying processing by the controller <NUM> will be explained with reference to <FIG>. In a case that a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller <NUM> executes the cleaning liquid supplying processing indicated in <FIG>. The controller <NUM> may execute the cleaning liquid supplying processing, for example, in a case that the power source of the printer <NUM> is switched ON. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> may execute the cleaning liquid supplying processing at a frequency of once a day. It is presumed that, at a point of time at which the controller <NUM> starts the cleaning liquid supplying processing, the first valve <NUM> and the second valve <NUM> are both in the close state.

At the beginning of the cleaning liquid supplying processing (<FIG>), the controller <NUM> obtains the evaporation rate R of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> (step S101). Next, the controller <NUM> obtains an elapsed time (hereinafter referred to as an "elapsed time T") elapsed since the flushing processing which has been performed first (first flushing processing) after cleaning of the flushing tank <NUM> (step S102).

Next, the controller <NUM> determines as to whether or not the evaporation rate R is not less than a second threshold value Th2 (step S103). In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S103 that the evaporation rate R is not less than the second threshold value Th2 (step S103: YES), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S104. In this case, the controller <NUM> determines as to whether or not the elapsed time T is not less than a first threshold value Th1 (step S104). In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S104 that the elapsed time T is less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: NO), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S110. In this case, the controller <NUM> executes a wiper tank-cleaning processing indicated in <FIG> (step S110).

In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S104 that the elapsed time T is not less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: YES), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S120. In this case, the controller <NUM> executes an adding-to-wiper tank and flushing tank-cleaning processing indicated in <FIG> (step S120).

In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S103 that the evaporation rate R is less than the second threshold value Th2 (step S103: NO), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S105. In this case, the controller <NUM> determines as to whether or not the elapsed time T is not less than a third threshold value Th3 (step S105). The third threshold value Th3 is greater than the first threshold value Th1. For example, the first threshold value Th1 is <NUM> hours, and the third threshold value Th3 is <NUM> hours. In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S105 that the elapsed time T is not less than the third threshold value Th3 (step S105: YES), the controller <NUM> proceeds to step S130. In this case, the controller <NUM> executes a flushing tank-cleaning processing indicated in <FIG> (step S130).

After the controller <NUM> executes any one of step S110, step S120 and step S130, the controller <NUM> ends the cleaning liquid supplying processing. In accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S105 that the elapsed time is less than the third threshold value Th3 (step S105: NO), the controller <NUM> ends the cleaning liquid supplying processing, without executing any one of step S110, step S120 and step S130. Note that step S110 is an example of a "first processing", that step S120 is an example of a "second processing" and that step S130 is an example of a "third processing". The first flushing processing is an example of a "first predetermined processing regarding the second tank".

At the beginning of the wiper tank-cleaning processing (step S110) indicated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the first value <NUM> to be in the open state (step S111). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the discharge pump <NUM> so as to cause the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the wiper tank <NUM> (step S112). In step S112, all the cleaning liquid stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is discharged via the discharge port <NUM>.

Next, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the first value <NUM> to be in the close state (step S113). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply the cleaning liquid of a first amount V1 to the wiper tank <NUM> (step S114). The first amount V1 is not less than the capacity of the wiper tank <NUM>. More specifically, the first amount V1 is an amount not less than the capacity of the wiper tank <NUM> and is less than an amount required for executing the flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S130). It is preferred that the first amount V1 is slightly greater than the capacity of the wiper tank <NUM>. After the controller <NUM> executes step S114, the controller <NUM> ends the wiper tank-cleaning processing.

At the beginning of the adding-to-wiper tank and flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S120) indicated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the second value <NUM> to be in the open state (step S121). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the discharge pump <NUM> so as to cause the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S122). In step S122, the ink and the cleaning liquid, including the ink and the cleaning liquid which are absorbed in the flushing foam <NUM>, are discharged (drained) from the flushing tank <NUM> via the discharge port <NUM>.

While the controller <NUM> drives the discharge pump <NUM> so as to cause the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S123), the controller <NUM> drives the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply the cleaning liquid of a fourth amount V4 to the wiper tank <NUM> (step S124). The controller <NUM> executes step S123 and step S124 in parallel. While the controller <NUM> causes the cleaning liquid of the fourth amount V4 to be supplied to the wiper tank <NUM> in step S124, the controller <NUM> causes the discharge pump <NUM> to perform an idle suction. By causing the discharge pump <NUM> to perform the idle suction, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid overflown from the wiper tank <NUM> and flowed into the flushing tank <NUM> from overflowing from the flushing tank <NUM>.

Next, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the second value <NUM> to be in the close state (step S125). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply, to the wiper tank <NUM>, the cleaning liquid of a second amount V2 in the entirety (total) of the adding-to-wiper tank and flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S126).

The fourth amount V4 is a value which is not a smaller value (that is, a larger value) of a predetermined fix amount and the vacant capacity Q. The second value V2 is a sum of the fourth amount V4 and an amount of the cleaning liquid (to be) supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. The second amount V2 is not less than a sum of the vacant capacity Q and the amount of the cleaning liquid (to be) supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>.

At a point of time at which the controller <NUM> arrives at step S125, the wiper tank <NUM> is in a full state. Due to this, the cleaning liquid supplied to the wiper tank <NUM> in step S126 overflows from the wiper tank <NUM>, flows over (across) the partition 61e and is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid of a desired amount is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>. After the controller <NUM> executes step S126, the controller <NUM> ends the flushing tank-cleaning processing.

At the beginning of the flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S130) indicated in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> performs control so as to make the second value <NUM> to be in the open state (step S131). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the discharge pump <NUM> so as to cause the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S132). In step S132, the ink and the cleaning liquid, including the ink and the cleaning liquid which are absorbed in the flushing foam <NUM>, are discharged (drained) from the flushing tank <NUM> via the discharge port <NUM>.

While the controller <NUM> drives the discharge pump <NUM> so as to cause the cleaning liquid to be discharged from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S133), the controller <NUM> drives the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> until the cleaning liquid slightly overflows from the wiper tank <NUM> (step S134). The controller <NUM> executes step S133 and step S134 in parallel. In step S134, the controller <NUM> supplies, to the wiper tank <NUM>, the cleaning liquid of which amount is equal to the vacant capacity Q.

Next, the controller <NUM> performs control so as make the second value <NUM> to be in the close state (step S135). Next, the controller <NUM> drives the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply, to the wiper tank <NUM>, the cleaning liquid of a third amount V3 in the entirety of the flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S136). The third amount V3 is a sum of the vacant capacity Q and the amount of the cleaning liquid (to be) supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. The third amount V3 is not more than the second amount V2.

At a point of time at which the controller <NUM> arrives at step S135, the wiper tank <NUM> is in a full state. Due to this, the cleaning liquid supplied to the wiper tank <NUM> in step S136 overflows from the wiper tank <NUM>, flows over (across) the partition 61e and is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid of a desired amount is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>. After the controller <NUM> executes step S136, the controller <NUM> ends the flushing tank-cleaning processing.

In the printer <NUM>, in a case that the elapsed time T is not less than the third threshold value Th3, there is such a possibility that the ink on the flushing foam <NUM> might be fixed to the flushing foam <NUM>. Accordingly, in accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> in step S105 that the elapsed time T is not less than the third threshold value Th3 (step S105: YES), the controller <NUM> executes the flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S130).

In a case that the elapsed time T is not less than the first threshold value Th1 and less than the third threshold value Th3, the ink on the flushing foam <NUM> has not been fixed to the flushing foam <NUM>. Accordingly, considering only regarding the flushing foam <NUM>, there is no need to clean the flushing tank <NUM> at this point of time. However, cleaning the flushing tank <NUM> by adding the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> can reduce the consumption amount of the cleaning liquid than performing the cleaning of the wiper tank <NUM> and the cleaning of the flushing tank <NUM> separately. Accordingly, in accordance with a determination made by the controller <NUM> that the elapsed time T is not less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: YES), the controller <NUM> executes the adding-to-wiper tank and flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S120).

In a case that the elapsed time T is less than the first threshold value Th1, since a time until the flushing tank <NUM> is to be cleaned the next time is long, it is thus not possible to effectively prolong the time until the flushing tank <NUM> is to be cleaned the next time even if the cleaning of the flushing tank <NUM> is performed at a same time as the supplying of the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM>. Meanwhile, regarding an effect of lowering the evaporation rate R of the wiper tank <NUM>, adding of the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> is less effective than the cleaning of the wiper tank <NUM>. Thus, in a case that the cleaning liquid is added to the wiper tank <NUM>, the time period until the wiper tank <NUM> is to be cleaned the next time becomes short, which in turn results in an increase in the consumption amount of the cleaning liquid. Accordingly, in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the elapsed time T is less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: NO), the controller <NUM> performs the wiper tank-cleaning processing (step S110).

As described above, in a case that the elapsed time T is not less than the first threshold value Th1, there is such a possibility that the cleaning liquid might be evaporated also from the flushing tank <NUM> and that the ink on the flushing foam <NUM> might be fixed to the flushing foam <NUM>, and thus the controller <NUM> performs the adding-to-wiper tank and flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S120). On the other hand, in a case that the elapsed time T is less than the first threshold value Th1, since the ink on the flushing foam <NUM> has not been fixed to the flushing foam <NUM>, the controller <NUM> performs the wiper tank-cleaning processing (step S110). With this, it is possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and the flushing processing. Similarly, also in a case that the elapsed time T is not less than the third threshold value Th3, since there is such a possibility that the ink on the flushing foam <NUM> might be fixed to the flushing foam <NUM> and the cleaning liquid has not evaporated from the wiper tank <NUM> in a large amount. Accordingly, the controller <NUM> performs the flushing tank-cleaning processing (step S130), thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and the flushing processing.

As indicated above, the printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the head <NUM>, the maintenance unit <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. The maintenance unit <NUM> is provided with the wiper tank <NUM>, the wipers <NUM> and <NUM>, the flushing foam <NUM>, the flushing tank <NUM>, the supply pump <NUM> configured to supply the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> and the discharge pump <NUM> configured to discharge (drain) the cleaning liquid from the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM>. The cleaning liquid is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>. In a case that the controller <NUM> executes the cleaning liquid supplying processing (in a case that the controller <NUM> supplies the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM>), the controller <NUM> performs the processing of cleaning the wiper tank <NUM> (step S110), in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the elapsed time T elapsed since the first flushing processing performed first after the flushing tank <NUM> has been cleaned is less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: NO); whereas the controller <NUM> performs the processing of cleaning the flushing tank <NUM> by adding the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> (step S120), in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the elapsed time T is not less than the first threshold value Th1 (step S104: YES).

According to the printer <NUM> of the present embodiment, in a case that the cleaning liquid is to be supplied to the cleaning tank <NUM> and that the time until the cleaning liquid is to be supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> the next time is short, the adding of the cleaning liquid having the effect of preventing the ink from being fixed to the flushing foam <NUM> in addition to the effect of lowering the evaporation rate of the cleaning liquid stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is performed, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and the flushing processing.

Further, the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> are adjacent to each other; the printer <NUM> is further provided with the partition 61e configured to partition the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> from each other; and the cleaning liquid overflown from the wiper tank <NUM> is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> over (across) the partition 61e. Accordingly, it is possible to supply the cleaning liquid to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>.

Further, the controller <NUM> performs, as step S110, the processing of controlling the discharge pump <NUM> so as to discharge the cleaning liquid from the wiper tank <NUM> (step S112), and of controlling the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply, to the wiper tank <NUM>, the cleaning liquid of the first amount V1 being not less than the capacity of the wiper tank <NUM> (step S114); the controller performs, as step S120, the processing of controlling the discharge pump <NUM> so as to discharge the cleaning liquid from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S122), and of controlling the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply, to the wiper tank <NUM>, the cleaning liquid of the second amount V2 with which the cleaning liquid is overflown from the wiper tank <NUM>, thereby supplying the cleaning liquid to the flushing tank <NUM> (steps S124 and S126). Accordingly, by discharging the cleaning liquid from the wiper tank <NUM> and by supplying the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM> in step S110, it is possible to exchange the cleaning liquid stored in the wiper tank <NUM> and to clean the wiper tank <NUM>. Furthermore, in step S120, by discharging (draining) the cleaning liquid from the flushing tank <NUM> and by causing the cleaning liquid to overflow from the wiper tank <NUM>, it is possible to clean the flushing tank <NUM> by adding the cleaning liquid to the wiper tank <NUM>.

Moreover, the second amount V2 is not less than the sum of the vacant capacity Q of the wiper tank <NUM> and the amount of the cleaning liquid to be supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. Accordingly, in step S120, it is possible to supply the cleaning liquid of the desired amount to the flushing tank <NUM> via the wiper tank <NUM>.

Further, in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the evaporation rate R of the cleaning liquid L stored in the wiper tank <NUM> is not less than the second threshold value Th2 (step S103: YES), the controller <NUM> performs either one of step S110 and step S120, based on the elapsed time T. In accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the evaporation rate R is less than the second threshold value Th2 (step S103: NO), the controller <NUM> performs the processing of supplying the cleaning liquid to the flushing liquid <NUM> (steps S134, S136) by controlling the discharge pump <NUM> in step S130 so as to discharge (drain) the cleaning liquid from the flushing tank <NUM> (step S132) and by controlling the supply pump <NUM> so as to supply the cleaning liquid of the third amount V3 to the wiper tank <NUM>, the third amount V3 being an amount with which the cleaning liquid is overflown from the wiper tank <NUM> and which is not more than the second amount V2. The third amount V3 is the sum of the vacant capacity Q of the wiper tank <NUM> and the amount of the cleaning liquid (to be) supplied to the flushing tank <NUM>. Accordingly, in the case that the evaporation rate R of the cleaning liquid L is less than the predetermined value, it is possible to clean the flushing tank <NUM> with the cleaning liquid of a smaller amount.

The controller <NUM> performs step S130 in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the evaporation rate R is less than the second threshold value Th2 (step S103: NO) and in accordance with the determination made by the controller <NUM> that the elapsed time T is not less than the third threshold value Th3 (step S105: YES). The third threshold value Th3 is greater than the first threshold value Th1. In a case that the evaporation rate R of the cleaning liquid L is small and that the elapsed time elapsed since the cleaning of the flushing tank <NUM> is long, it is considered that the cleaning liquid is evaporated also from the flushing tank <NUM>. Accordingly, in this case, by performing the processing of cleaning the flushing tank <NUM>, rather than performing the processing of supplying the cleaning liquid in order to lower the evaporation rate R of the wiper tank <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the amount of the cleaning liquid consumed in the wipe processing and the flushing processing, than in the case of performing the processing of supplying the cleaning liquid in order to lower the evaporation rate R of the wiper tank <NUM>.

With respect to the printer <NUM> according to the present embodiment, a variety of kinds of modification can be configured. In the printer <NUM>, the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> are configured to be integrally formed. In an image recording apparatus according to a modification, the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> may be formed separately or individually. In the printer <NUM>, the wiper unit <NUM> is configured to have the two wipers <NUM> and <NUM>. In an image recording apparatus according to a modification, the wiper unit may have only one wiper. The printer <NUM> is configured so that the wiper tank <NUM> and the flushing tank <NUM> are adjacent to each other, and that the cleaning liquid overflown from the wiper tank <NUM> is supplied to the flushing tank <NUM> over the partition 61e. In an image recording apparatus according to a modification, a wiper tank and a flushing tank may be positioned to be apart from each other, the wiper tank and the flushing tank may be connected to each other via a tube, and the cleaning liquid may be supplied to the flushing tank from the wiper tank via the tube.

Claim 1:
An image recording apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a head (<NUM>) having a nozzle (<NUM>) configured to eject a liquid;
a maintenance unit (<NUM>) configured to perform maintenance of the head; and
a controller,
wherein the maintenance unit includes:
a wiper tank (<NUM>) of which upper part is opened and which is configured to store a cleaning liquid;
a wiper (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to move to a first position at which the wiper is capable of making contact with a nozzle surface of the head and to a second position at which the wiper is immersed in the cleaning liquid stored in the wiper tank;
a flushing foam (<NUM>) configured to absorb the liquid ejected from the nozzle;
a flushing tank (<NUM>) of which upper part is opened and which is configured to accommodate the flushing foam;
a supply pump (<NUM>) configured to supply the cleaning liquid to a first tank being one of the wiper tank and the flushing tank; and
a discharge pump (<NUM>) configured to discharge the cleaning liquid from the wiper tank and the flushing tank,
the maintenance unit is configured such that the cleaning liquid is supplied, via the first tank, to a second tank being remaining one of the wiper tank and the flushing tank; and
in a case that the controller supplies the cleaning liquid to the first tank, the controller is configured to perform a first processing of cleaning the first tank, under a condition that an elapsed time is less than a first threshold value, the elapsed time being a time elapsed since cleaning of the second tank or since a first predetermined processing regarding the second tank performed first after the cleaning of the second tank, and the controller is configured to perform a second processing of cleaning the second tank by adding the cleaning liquid to the first tank, under a condition that the elapsed time is not less than the first threshold value.