Ink jet recording apparatus, moving position control method of capping device therein, and flushing control method therefor

A moving position control method of a capping device adapted to an ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage for jetting ink droplets in accordance with print data, and the capping device capable of capping a nozzle forming surface of the recording head, wherein when the carriage is moved to a mount portion where the capping device is mounted, the capping device is moved toward the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by receiving driving force of the carriage,

• the moving position control method comprising the steps of:
• judging a flushing requirement as to whether or not the flushing operation is required;
• acquiring a platen gap adjustment information from a platen gap adjuster if the flushing operation is required;
• adjusting an interval between the nozzle forming surface of the recording head and the capping device at a flushing position by controlling the moving position of the carriage to a mount portion of the capping device based on the platen gap adjustment information;
• and
• flushing ink droplets from the recording head into the capping device, while maintaining the interval.

A moving position control method of a capping device adapted to an ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage for jetting ink droplets in accordance with print data and a capping device for capping a nozzle forming surface of the recording head, wherein when the carriage is moved to a mount portion where the capping device is mounted, the capping device is moved toward the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by receiving driving force of the carriage,

• the moving position control method comprising the steps of:
• judging a capping requirement as to whether or not the ink jet recording head is required to be advanced to a capping condition;
• acquiring a platen gap adjustment information from a platen gap adjuster if the capping operation is required;
• and
• controlling the moving position of the carriage to a mount portion of the capping device based upon the platen gap adjustment information.

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

• an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage for jetting ink droplets in accordance with print data;
• and
• flushing control unit for moving the recording head to a flushing area and for applying a drive signal irrespective of a printing operation to the recording head so as to flush ink droplets into the flushing area;
• wherein when a flushing operation is carried out in the flushing area, the flushing control unit adjusts an ink jetting amount of one dot during the flushing operation based upon adjustment information of a platen gap adjuster.

A flushing control method executed in an ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet recording head mounted on a carriage transported in a reciprocation motion, for jetting ink droplets in accordance with print data and flushing control unit for moving the recording head to a flushing area and for applying a drive signal irrespective of a printing operation to the recording head so as to flush ink droplets into the flushing area, the flushing control method comprising the steps of:

• a flushing requirement judging step for judging as to whether or not the flushing operation is required;
• an ink amount setting step for setting an ink jetting amount of one dot during a flushing operation based on platen gap adjustment information in such a case that the flushing requirement judging step judges that the flushing operation is required;
• and
• a flushing step for flushing ink droplets with respect to a flushing area based upon the ink jetting amount of one dot which is set in the ink amount setting step.