Method and apparatus for detecting a media touch of a print head

In a printer having a print head moveable relative to a recording medium the recording medium and the print head may touch each other, thereby possibly damaging the print head, the recording medium or both. In order to prevent further damage, it is advantageous to detect such a medium touch as soon as possible. In a method for detecting a medium touch, an available feedback signal relating to the print head, e.g. originating from a carriage on which the print head is mounted, is employed to derive therefrom whether a medium touch has occurred such that a dedicated medium touch or crash sensor may be omitted. In a first embodiment the method employs a malfunctioning nozzle signal to determine a change in a number of malfunctioning nozzles to detect a medium touch. In a second embodiment the method employs a print head position signal determine a position error and derive from the position error whether a medium touch has occurred, or not.