JP2001121721A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove ink mists adhered on a sensor of a high accuracy optical linear encoder. SOLUTION: A cleaning member 8s are provided on both surfaces of a linear encoder scale 5. A calculating unit moves a carriage 2 to a set standard position by a set timing. In the case the carriage 2 reaches the set position, position and speed control for a driving motor 13 is stopped temporarily. The driving motor 13 is driven by a constant current so that the carriage 2 is moved to the direction of the cleaning members 8. By sliding a linear encoder sensor 4 on the cleaning members 8 for a predetermined time, ink mists adhered on the linear encoder sensor 4 can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for performing printing by scanning a printing head, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having an optical linear encoder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a recording apparatus such as a line printer, recording is performed on a recording medium by ejecting ink while a carriage on which a recording head is mounted scans and moves on a recording medium such as paper. In such a recording apparatus, ink must be ejected at a timing such that a desired image is formed on a recording medium in accordance with the moving position of the carriage. Therefore, a linear encoder is required to detect the position of the carriage. Is provided. The linear encoder is stretched in the moving direction of the carriage, and includes a scale serving as a reference for detecting the moving amount of the carriage, and a sensor attached to the carriage and detecting the moving amount of the carriage from the scale.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional recording apparatus. This conventional recording apparatus comprises a recording head 1, a carriage 2, a carriage substrate 3, a linear encoder sensor 4, a linear encoder scale 55, a main body chassis 6, a guide shaft 7, a leaf spring 9, a screw 10 When,
A timing belt 11, an idle pulley 12, and a drive motor 13 are provided.

The main body chassis 6 is a housing of the recording apparatus,
The main body chassis 6 is provided with two guide shafts 7, an idle pulley 12, and a drive motor 13 respectively. The two guide shafts 7 are arranged in parallel with each other, and the idle pulley 12 and the drive motor 7 are installed on the same side surface of the main body chassis 6. One timing belt 11 is stretched between the idle pulley 12 and a pulley (not shown) of the drive motor 13 in parallel with the guide shaft 7.

Further, a leaf spring 9 is provided on the main body chassis 6. The leaf spring 9 has two guide shafts 7 each.
Are fixed to one of the side surfaces of the main body chassis 6 to which both ends are connected by screws 10. The linear encoder scale 55 has one end fixed to the side surface of the main body chassis 6 and the other end connected to the leaf spring 9.
It is installed in parallel with the two guide shafts 7 while being pulled to an appropriate value of tension. The carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted is mounted on the guide shaft 7 so as to slide along the guide shaft 7. A part of the timing belt 11 is connected to the carriage 2, and the carriage 2 can move along the guide shaft 7 when the drive motor 3 rotates. The linear encoder sensor 4 includes a carriage substrate 3 on the carriage 2.
Is fixed via a linear encoder scale 5
5 is sandwiched between them.

When the carriage 2 moves along the guide shaft 7 by the drive of the drive motor 13, the carriage 2
Is also moved along the linear encoder scale 55. The linear encoder sensor 4 converts the position information on the linear encoder scale 55 into a pulse signal, and transmits the pulse signal from the carriage board 3 to a main board (not shown) via a flexible cable (not shown). It is sent to the above arithmetic unit (not shown). The arithmetic unit controls the position and speed of the carriage 2 based on the pulse signal.

There are various types of linear encoders, such as a magnetic encoder and an optical encoder. A magnetic linear encoder uses a magnetic sensor and a scale formed of a metal shaft and a sheet material for magnetic information at a constant pitch. Optical linear encoders include a type having a light-emitting and light-receiving element and a constant pitch light and dark pattern on a scale, and a type having a constant pitch concavo-convex shape on a scale.

[0008] The linear encoders of the various types described above include:
Each has advantages and disadvantages. The former magnetic linear encoder has the advantage that even if a small amount of ink stains or the like does not affect the performance, it is difficult to increase the resolution of the encoder. There are also disadvantages in that the gap of the encoder sensor is difficult to widen, there is a problem of mounting accuracy, and that the gap tends to be clogged with an object. In the case of a magnetic linear encoder, care must be taken when handling tools and the like with magnetism. In addition, the latter type of optical linear encoder has advantages such as ease of high definition, relatively wide gap between encoder scale and encoder sensor, and easy assembly, but performance degradation due to ink contamination is low. It has the disadvantage of being large.

In the above-mentioned conventional recording apparatus, even if the general-purpose inexpensive recording apparatus is used, higher definition and higher precision have been further advanced.
Some have landed ink at a pitch of 1200 dots per inch (5.4 mm). When ink is ejected at such intervals, it is needless to say that the impact speed needs to be improved, and it is necessary to further increase the definition of the linear encoder. Of course, 2
For a printer with 1200 dots per 5.4 mm, 2
Ideally, a linear encoder having a resolution of 1200 dots or more per 5.4 mm is used.
In many cases, 0 dots and 600 dots were used after being multiplied.

However, recently, it has become possible to manufacture a linear encoder of 1200 dots per 25.4 mm at a low cost, and a type which can be used for a general printer has begun to appear. However, the influence of the shift of the phase and amplitude of the output signal of the sensor caused by the contamination of the component by ink or the like becomes more remarkable as the accuracy of the linear encoder increases, and is not negligible.

In order to remove the ink stains described above, the inventor of the present application has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-189574 that a cleaning member is provided on a sensor of a linear encoder in order to remove ink adhering to the scale of the linear encoder. A recording device is disclosed.

However, in the case of an optical linear encoder in which the light beam must be focused on the sensor side in order to detect the position, the dirt on the encoder sensor is larger than the dirt on the linear encoder scale. It is experimentally clear that the influence is greater.

[0013] Further, as the linear encoder becomes higher definition, ink droplets used are also reduced in size, and minute ink (hereinafter, ink mist) which cannot land on a recording medium is more likely to be generated. Further, since the ink mist is very fine, it is easy to wind up to the position of the linear encoder with the movement of the carriage, and there is a great possibility that the ink mist will enter the inside of the sensor of the linear encoder.

Conventionally, the linear encoder sensor is always in the vicinity of ink ejection, but is provided with an ink mist trap cover to prevent contamination by ink mist. It wasn't a problem. However, experiments have shown that the ink mist is reduced to small droplets, and the ink mist enters through small gaps, so that the linear encoder sensor often becomes dirty earlier than the linear encoder scale. It is clear.

[0015]

As described above, the conventional recording apparatus uses a high-precision optical linear encoder and small-sized ink droplets for higher definition and higher accuracy. However, such a printing apparatus has a problem that the durability of the linear encoder deteriorates due to the ink mist adhering to the sensor of the linear encoder.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the durability of a linear encoder by removing dirt such as ink mist adhering to a sensor of the linear encoder even if a high-precision optical linear encoder is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device capable of performing the following.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording head for recording on a recording medium, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and which reciprocates, and a movement of the carriage. A linear encoder having a scale stretched in a direction and having a sensor for detecting the amount of movement of the carriage based on the scale, a drive motor for driving the carriage, and movement of the carriage obtained from the sensor Control means for controlling the position and speed of the carriage based on an amount of the scale surface corresponding to the moving range of the carriage, wherein the scale is a range in which a recording head performs recording on the recording medium. In addition to the range obtained by adding the range between the recording range and a reference point for detecting the amount of movement of the scale, Both sides cleaning member of the scale surface is provided with a response, and the control means to the sensor be slid onto the cleaning member when filled at least one predetermined condition.

In the recording apparatus of the present invention, by providing the cleaning member on the surface of the scale, ink mist adhering to the sensor of the linear encoder can be removed, so that the durability of the linear encoder can be improved at low cost. Becomes

In another recording apparatus of the present invention, a first through hole and a second through hole are provided at one end of the scale, and the cleaning member having a third through hole at both ends is provided. After being inserted into the first through hole, the cleaning member is folded so that the third through hole overlaps with the second through hole, and the second through hole and the third through hole are removed. The cleaning member is fixed together with the scale by the penetration of a leaf spring for fixing the scale.

According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, a first through hole is provided in the scale, and the cleaning member is fixed so as to be inserted into the first through hole and folded. Since the cleaning member is exposed on both sides of the cleaning member, only one cleaning member, which is required for two cleaning members, can be realized. Also, since the cleaning member is fixed to the scale by a leaf spring for fixing the scale to the main body, an adhesive or a double-sided tape is not required for attaching the cleaning member to the linear encoder scale. Therefore, the disassembly of the apparatus and the replacement of the cleaning member can be easily performed.

Further, in another recording apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning member has a hollow square hole, and is mounted on the scale by fitting the scale into the hollow square hole. Since the cleaning device of the present invention has a structure in which the cleaning member can be mounted on the conventional linear encoder scale, it is possible to remove ink mist adhering to the sensor even with the conventional linear encoder.

[0022]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the components denoted by the same reference numerals all indicate the same components.

(First Embodiment) First, a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, a linear encoder scale 5 is provided as shown in FIG. The linear encoder scale 5 is fixed at both ends by a leaf spring 9 and the main body chassis 1 like the linear encoder 55 in the conventional recording apparatus of FIG. Cleaning members 8 are attached to both sides of the left end of the linear encoder scale 5 as viewed in the drawing. The cleaning member 8 is fixed to the front and back of the linear encoder 5 with an adhesive or the like, and is formed of a member having a certain degree of elasticity.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a carriage position at the time of setting a base position for performing pulse counting of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a carriage position at the time of printing of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a carriage position at the time of determining a base position for performing a cleaning operation of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a carriage position during cleaning of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus of the present embodiment drives the drive motor 13 with a constant current to initialize the position of the carriage 2 when the power of the apparatus is turned on. The carriage 2 is moved to the base point A.
The base point A is a point where the pulse signal of the linear encoder is not output even if the carriage 2 moves toward the end of the linear encoder scale 5 any longer. Output as quantity. In general, the base point A is provided at one end of the moving range of the carriage 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, a range sandwiched between the base points B and C is a recording range, and recording on a recording medium is performed within this range. When the carriage 2 moves in the recording range, control of the position and speed of the carriage 2 and timing control of ink ejection are performed based on a pulse signal output from the linear encoder. If the linear encoder sensor 4 is contaminated by ink mist and the pulse signal generated by the linear encoder sensor 4 deviates from the actual position of the carriage 2, the ink ejection timing also deviates, and a desired recording result cannot be obtained. I will. In the worst case, there is a possibility that the carriage 2 collides with the side surface of the recording apparatus beyond the original movement range.

In the printing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a base point D for performing a cleaning operation is provided outside the printing range of the carriage (left side of the base point C in FIG. 3).
When the pulse at the position of the base point D is counted, the arithmetic unit (not shown) stops the position control and the speed control of the carriage 2 based on the pulse signal from the linear encoder, and is the base point of the pulse count when viewed from the base point D. On the opposite side of the direction in which the base point A is located, the drive motor 13 is rotated at such a low speed that the carriage 2 does not break down even if the carriage 2 collides with the end of the main body chassis 6, and is pressed against the end of the main body chassis 6 for a certain time. As shown in FIG. 5, a cleaning member 8 is provided at the base point E. By the cleaning operation as described above, the linear encoder sensor 4 slides on the cleaning member 8 and the ink mist stain is absorbed by the cleaning member 8.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the linear encoder when the linear encoder sensor 4 moves between a base point B and a base point C, which is a recording range of the linear encoder sensor 4, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the linear encoder when the sensor 4 has moved.

As shown in FIG. 6, on the surface of the linear encoder sensor 4 which is in contact with the linear encoder scale 5,
The reflection mirror cover 4a and the optical lens 4b are attached so as to face each other. When the ink is ejected, the ink mist 14 adheres to the linear encoder scale 5, the reflection mirror cover 4a, and the optical lens 4b. As shown in FIG. 7, when the linear encoder sensor 4 moves to the point E, the linear encoder sensor 4
The ink mist attached to the reflection mirror cover 4a and the optical lens 4b is removed by sliding on the cleaning member 8 and bringing the reflection mirror cover 4a, the optical lens 4b, and the cleaning member 8 into contact with each other.

As described above, the linear encoder sensor 4
Is slid on the cleaning member 8 for a certain time, and then the drive motor is driven by a certain current, and the carriage 2 is moved in the direction of the base point A.
Is moved. When the carriage 2 reaches the reference point A, the arithmetic unit again performs the reference position determination for pulse counting.

The timing for performing the cleaning operation of the linear encoder sensor 4 by the cleaning member 8 as described above is as follows.
A sensor for detecting contamination of the linear encoder sensor 4 may be separately provided, and the detection may be performed every time the contamination of the linear encoder sensor 4 is detected. Further, each time recording on a predetermined number of recording media is completed, every time a predetermined time elapses, each time recording of a predetermined amount of recording data on a recording medium is completed, or when a predetermined amount of print data Various timings may be set, such as every time printing, when a predetermined amount of ink is consumed, when an abnormality is found in the output signal of the encoder, each time the power is turned on, or each time the power is turned off.

As an abnormality of the output signal of the encoder, it is conceivable that the output level of the signal output from the linear encoder sensor 4 becomes lower than a predetermined value. When the linear encoder sensor 4 outputs signals of two or more phases, the phase of each phase signal output by the linear encoder sensor 4 is shifted by a predetermined value or more, or the linear encoder sensor 4 outputs a signal. It is conceivable that the amplitude value of the signal becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Further, the carriage 2 may run away and collide with the side surface of the main body chassis 6, and an abnormal load may be applied to the drive motor 13 to cause a failure. As a cause of the runaway of the carriage 2, dirt on the linear encoder sensor 4 can be considered. Therefore, when the torque of the drive motor 13 becomes a predetermined value or more, the cleaning operation of the linear encoder sensor 4 is performed by the cleaning member 8. You may do so.

In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the origin D
After the number of pulses has been counted, the cleaning operation described above is performed.However, a separate position sensor for the carriage other than the linear encoder is provided, and the cleaning operation is started based on the position information from the position sensor. You may.

The cleaning member 8 includes a linear encoder 5
The cleaning member 8 may be fixed on the linear encoder scale by providing a concave portion on the surface of the linear encoder scale and fitting the cleaning member into the concave portion.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, and differs in the structure of the cleaning member attached to the linear encoder scale. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a peripheral portion of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment where the cleaning member of the linear encoder scale is attached. In the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the cleaning member 8 is a member adhered to both surfaces of the linear encoder scale 5. However, in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the cleaning member 21 is passed through the end of the linear encoder scale 20. Through holes are provided. Further, the cleaning member 21 is provided with through holes at both ends thereof for allowing the leaf spring 9 to pass therethrough. When the leaf spring 9 fixes the linear encoder scale 20, the cleaning member 31 is passed through the through-hole of the linear encoder scale 20 in advance. The cleaning member 21 is bent such that the through holes overlap. The leaf spring 9 is a linear encoder scale 3
The cleaning member 21 is also fixed together with the linear encoder scale 30 by penetrating the through hole of the cleaning member 31 together with the zero through hole.

As described above, in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment, the cleaning member is provided on the front and back of the linear encoder scale.
In order to fix the cleaning member on the linear encoder scale, an adhesive or a double-sided tape was required, whereas in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, only one cleaning member was required. Since there is no need to attach a cleaning member to the linear encoder scale, no adhesive or double-sided tape is required. By doing the above,
Since the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the disassembly of the apparatus and the replacement of the cleaning member are easy, the recycling of the parts is also facilitated.

In the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the cleaning member 21 having an integrated front and back is fixed to the linear encoder scale 20 by using the leaf spring 9 for fixing one end of the linear encoder scale 20. A configuration may be used in which a through hole is provided at an end of the scale 20, a cleaning member is press-fitted into the hole, and the cleaning member is fixed so that the cleaning member is exposed on both surfaces of the linear encoder scale 20.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The wood recording apparatus of the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, but differs in the structure of the cleaning member attached to the linear encoder scale. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a peripheral portion of a cleaning member attached to the linear encoder scale 30 of the present embodiment. The cleaning member 31 has a hollow square hole so that the cleaning member 31 can be mounted on the linear encoder scale 30. Further, the cleaning member 31 has a through hole for allowing the leaf spring 9 to penetrate when the cleaning member 31 is attached to the end of the linear encoder scale 30. When the leaf spring 9 fixes the linear encoder scale 30, the cleaning member 31 is attached to the linear encoder scale 30 in advance, and the leaf spring 9 is attached to the cleaning member 31 together with the through hole of the linear encoder scale 30.
The cleaning member 31 is fixed on the linear encoder scale 30 by also passing through the through hole provided in.

In the recording apparatus of this embodiment, the cleaning member 31 is fixed by the leaf spring 9, but the cleaning member 31 may be fixed by irregularities on the surface of the encoder scale 30.

In the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the cleaning member 31 that can be attached to the conventional printing apparatus can be used to remove dirt such as ink mist adhering to the linear encoder sensor 4 even in the conventional linear encoder. it can.

In the recording apparatus of the above-described three embodiments, the cleaning members 8, 21, 31 are not limited to the absorbing members that absorb the ink, but are elastic members that can remove the ink mist to which the ink mist adheres. May be.

[0043]

As described above, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, by providing the cleaning member on the surface of the scale of the linear encoder, even if a high-precision optical linear encoder is used, the conventional configuration can be greatly improved. The dirt such as ink mist adhering to the linear encoder sensor can be removed at a low cost without changing the linear encoder, and the durability of the linear encoder can be improved.

Further, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning member is fixed to the scale by using a leaf spring for fixing the scale of the linear encoder to the main body, and the cleaning member is exposed on both surfaces of the linear encoder. Since the cleaning member is attached to the linear encoder scale, there is no need for an adhesive or a double-sided tape, and only one cleaning member is required. Replacement can be easily performed, and parts can be easily recycled.

Further, in the recording apparatus of the present invention, by using a cleaning member that can be mounted on the conventional linear encoder, dirt such as ink mist adhering to the linear encoder sensor can be removed without processing the conventional linear encoder. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a carriage position at the time of setting a base position for performing pulse counting of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a carriage position during printing of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the linear encoder showing a carriage position at the time of determining a base position for performing a cleaning operation of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a carriage position during cleaning of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the linear encoder during printing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the linear encoder during cleaning according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view around a cleaning member of a linear encoder scale according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the periphery of a linear encoder scale according to a third embodiment of the present invention where a cleaning member is attached.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a conventional recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 recording head 2 carriage 3 carriage substrate 4 linear encoder sensor 5, 20, 30, 55 linear encoder scale 6 main body chassis 7 guide shaft 8, 21, 31 cleaning member 9 leaf spring 10 screw 11 timing belt 12 idle pulley 13 drive motor A , B, C, D, E Base point

Claims (20)

[Claims] A recording head for recording on a recording medium; a carriage on which the recording head is mounted and reciprocating; a scale stretched in a moving direction of the carriage; and the carriage based on the scale. A linear encoder having a sensor for detecting the amount of movement of the carriage, a drive motor for driving the carriage, and control means for controlling the position and speed of the carriage based on the amount of movement of the carriage obtained from the sensor. In the recording apparatus, for detecting a movement amount of the recording range and the scale in a recording range in which a recording head performs recording on the recording medium, of the scale surface corresponding to the movement range of the carriage. Cleaning members are provided on both sides of the scale surface corresponding to a range other than the range obtained by adding the range sandwiched between the reference points. It said control means recording apparatus characterized the sensor be slid onto the cleaning member when the at least one predetermined condition is satisfied. 2. The control unit moves the carriage in a direction of a predetermined reference position when the predetermined condition is satisfied. When the carriage reaches the predetermined reference position, the control unit detects the sensor. The position and speed control of the drive motor based on the amount of movement of the carriage obtained from the above are temporarily stopped, and the carriage is moved in a predetermined direction in a direction in which the cleaning member is mounted by driving the drive motor with a constant current. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is moved at a speed and slides the sensor over the cleaning member for a predetermined time. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is provided on a surface of the scale, and the cleaning member is fixed on the scale of the linear encoder by being fitted into the concave portion. 4. A first through hole and a second through hole are provided at one end of the scale, and the cleaning member having a third through hole at both ends is inserted into the first through hole. Thereafter, the cleaning member is folded so that the third through hole overlaps with the second through hole, and a leaf spring for fixing the scale penetrates the second through hole and the third through hole. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is fixed together with the scale. 5. The scale according to claim 1, wherein a through-hole is provided on a surface of the scale, and the cleaning member is fixed to the scale by being fitted into the through-hole.
The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member has a hollow square hole, and is mounted on the scale by fitting the scale into the hollow square hole. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that dirt on the sensor is detected by another sensor that detects dirt on the sensor. . 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that a torque of the drive motor is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that at least one abnormality is detected in an output signal of a sensor of the linear encoder. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one of the abnormalities is that an output level of a sensor of the linear encoder falls below a predetermined value. 11. The recording according to claim 9, wherein one of the abnormalities is that a phase of any one of the signals output from the sensors of the linear encoder is shifted by a predetermined value or more. apparatus. 12. One of the abnormalities is that the amplitude value of any one of the signals of each phase output by the sensor of the linear encoder becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that recording of a predetermined number of recording media is completed. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that a predetermined time elapses.
The recording device according to the item. 15. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that recording of a predetermined amount of recording data is completed. 16. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that a predetermined amount of ink is consumed. 17. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that a power supply of the apparatus is turned on. 18. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the predetermined conditions is that a power supply of the apparatus is turned off. 19. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an elastic member. 20. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is an absorbing member.