Printer, control method of a printer, control device, and maintenance system

A printing device configured to be used simultaneously with other printing devices, the printing device comprising:

• a print head configured to print by ejecting ink from nozzles;
• a timekeeper configured to keep time;
• a storage configured to store a reference period for executing a nozzle maintenance operation, the reference period being initially set at an initial reference period;
• and
• a maintenance processor configured to:
• execute a nozzle maintenance operation each time the reference period passes based on the time kept by the timekeeper,
• change the reference period stored in the storage from the initial reference period to a changed reference period such that a timing of the nozzle maintenance operation differs from a timing of the nozzle maintenance operation of at least one of the other printing devices,
• execute the nozzle maintenance operation after the changed reference period passes, and
• return, after the maintenance processor executes the nozzle maintenance operation after the changed reference period passes, the changed reference period stored by the storage to the initial reference period.

A method of controlling a printing device that is used simultaneously with other printing devices and includes:

• a print head that prints by ejecting ink from nozzles, a timekeeper that keeps time, storage that stores a reference period for executing a nozzle maintenance operation, the reference period being initially set at an initial reference period, and a maintenance processor that, based on the time kept by the timekeeper, executes a nozzle maintenance operation each time the reference period passes, the method comprising:
• changing, without acquiring information related to maintenance from the other printing devices, the reference period stored in the storage from the initial reference period to a changed reference period such that a timing of the nozzle maintenance operation differs from a timing of the nozzle maintenance operation of at least one of the other printing devices;
• and
• executing the nozzle maintenance operation after the changed reference period passes.