Printing apparatus

A printing apparatus capable of forming images successively on a plurality of pieces of recording media, comprising:

• at least two medium holders including a first medium holder to hold a first recording medium and a second medium holder to hold a second recording medium;
• at least one print head, which is driven according to print data to eject ink onto the first recording medium and the second recording medium;
• at least one print head drive unit to drive the at least one print head in a main scanning direction;
• at least two holder drive units to drive each of the at least two medium holders including a first holder drive unit to drive the first medium holder in an auxiliary direction, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a second holder drive unit to drive the second medium holder in the auxiliary direction;
• at least one ink cartridge to store ink therein and supply the ink to the at least one print head;
• and
• a cooperation controlling system to control printing operations in the printing apparatus,
• wherein the printing operations include:
• a first printing operation to print an image on the first recording medium in cooperation with the at least one print head, the at least one print head drive unit, and the first holder drive unit;
• a first pre-print operation including a maintenance behavior in a maintenance position, by which the at least one print head is maintained in condition for printing, and a moving behavior, by which the at least one print head is moved from the maintenance position to a first starting position;
• a first after-print operation including a moving behavior, by which the at least one print head is moved from a first ending position to the maintenance position, and a maintenance behavior in the maintenance position, by which the at least one print head is maintained in condition for printing;
• a second printing operation to print an image on the second recording medium in cooperation with the at least one print head, the at least one print head drive unit, and the second holder drive unit;
• a second pre-print operation including a maintenance behavior in a maintenance position, by which the at least one print head is maintained in condition for printing, and a moving behavior, by which the at least one print head is moved from the maintenance position to a second starting position;
• and
• a second after-print operation including a moving behavior, by which the at least one print head is moved from a second ending position to the maintenance position, and a maintenance behavior in the maintenance position, by which the at least one print head is maintained in condition for printing;
• wherein one of redundant behaviors included in the first after-print operation and the second pre-print operation is omitted by the cooperation controlling system when the second printing operation is conducted successively to the first printing operation.