Inkjet recording apparatus and method for cleaning carriage

A method for cleaning a carriage of an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head configured to discharge ink to execute recording on a sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet, the carriage configured to mount the recording head thereon and to move in a main-scanning direction which is crossing to a sheet conveyance direction, and a height change mechanism configured to move the carriage in a height direction, the method comprising:

• moving the carriage in the main-scanning direction to the outside of a sheet conveyance area of the conveyance unit;
• conveying a cleaning sheet, to which a fold is previously given, to a recording position;
• moving the carriage to a first height position via the height change mechanism;
• moving the carriage to the inside of the sheet conveyance area;
• moving the carriage to a second height position via the height change mechanism;
• and
• conveying the cleaning sheet via the conveyance unit.

An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording head configured to discharge ink to execute recording on a sheet;
• a conveyance unit arranged upstream of the recording head and configured to convey the sheet;
• a discharge unit arranged downstream of the recording head and configured to convey the sheet;
• a carriage configured to mount the recording head thereon and to move in a main-scanning direction which is crossing to a sheet conveyance direction;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit, the discharge unit, and the carriage,
• wherein the control unit causes the conveyance unit to convey a cleaning sheet to a recording position, controls driving of the conveyance unit and the discharge unit to form a curved portion in the cleaning sheet, and causes the conveyance unit and the discharge unit to convey the cleaning sheet while the curved portion contacts the carriage.