SERVICE STATION MECHANISM FOR PRINTER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive mechanism of thermal ink jet printer in which a variety of speed control required for the wiping operation of a print head can be carried out. SOLUTION: The service station mechanism for printer comprises nozzles for ejecting ink in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of a carriage, and two motors for sheet feed and carriage. These motors supply the drive gear train of a service station with power individually or in coordination. The drive gear train is coupled with a cleaning mechanism of pen, e.g. a wiper blade or a pen cap mechanism. The wiper blade moves above the pen in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of a carriage. When the gear is used, the pen is cleaned by means of the wiper simultaneously with sheet feed utilizing the same motor. With regard to the cap function, the cap is shifted to a predetermined position when the pen enters a rest position.