Automatic maintenance-performing apparatus and method thereof of an image forming device

An automatic maintenance-performing method of an image forming device having a maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation to ink ejection nozzles to jet ink of print heads, and a control unit to control the maintenance operation having a timer;

• comprising:
• automatically performing a periodic maintenance operation at a predetermined time when a power plug of the image forming device is connected to an electric power source and a power switch of the image forming device is turned off over a period of time;
• wherein the automatically performing the periodic maintenance operation comprises:
• determining whether a first and a second power supply are in operation, the first power supply being connected to a power plug to supply electric power to the control unit, and the second power supply being connected to the power plug through a power switch to supply the electric power to at least the maintenance unit;
• and
• periodically operating at least one of the print heads and the maintenance unit at predetermined times when the first power supply is in an ‘on’ state and the second power supply is in an ‘off’ state.

An automatic maintenance-performing apparatus of an image forming device, comprising:

• a maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation to ink ejection nozzles to jet ink of print heads;
• a control unit to control the maintenance operation;
• and
• an automatic maintenance executing unit to automatically perform the maintenance operation of wiping surfaces of the ink ejection nozzles of the print heads at a predetermined time when a power plug of the image forming device is connected to an electric power source and a power switch of the image forming device is turned off for a period of time.

An automatic maintenance-performing apparatus of an image forming device, comprising:

• a maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation to ink ejection nozzles to jet ink of print heads;
• a control unit to control the maintenance operation;
• and
• an automatic maintenance executing unit to automatically perform the maintenance operation at a predetermined time when a power plug of the image forming device is connected to an electric power source and a power switch of the image forming device is turned off for a period of time;
• wherein the automatic maintenance executing unit comprises:
• a power supplying part having a first power supply to supply an electric power to the control unit and connected to a power plug, and a second power supply to supply the electric power to at least the maintenance unit and connected to the power plug through a power switch;
• and
• a maintenance executing part to count a time and supply the electric power to the second power supply to perform the maintenance operation depending on whether the second power supply is in an ‘on’ state or an ‘off’ state when the counted time passes a predetermined time period.

A method of performing an automatic maintenance of an image forming device, comprising:

• periodically determining whether a first and a second power supply are on;
• counting time via a timer upon determination that the first and/or the second power supply are off;
• determining whether the counted time coincides with a predetermined time;
• supplying electric power to the first or second power supply;
• and
• performing cleaning operation of ink ejection nozzles of at least one print head.

An automatic maintenance-performing apparatus of an image forming device, comprising:

• a maintenance unit to perform a maintenance operation to ink ejection nozzles to jet ink of print heads;
• a control unit to control the maintenance operation;
• a power supplying part having a first power supply to supply an electric power to the control unit and connected to a power plug, and a second power supply to supply the electric power to at least the maintenance unit and connected to the power plug through a power switch;
• and
• a maintenance executing part comprising a timer to count time, the maintenance executing part counting a time and supplying the electric power to the second power supply to perform the maintenance operation depending on when the power plug is connected to an electric power source and the power switch is turned off, for a predetermined time period.