Image forming method and apparatus with interlocking inkjet printing operations

1. An image forming apparatus having a carriage with a recording head having a nozzle for ejecting an ink, comprising:

a capping member configured to cover the nozzle of the recording head;

a locking member configured to lock the carriage at a predetermined position;

an interlocking mechanism configured to perform at least one of locking and unlocking the carriage with the locking member according to a corresponding one of an operation of contacting the nozzle with the capping member and an operation of separating the capping member from the nozzle;

a cap holder configured to hold the capping member, the cap holder comprising a first engaging member configured to engage with the locking member; and

a biasing member configured to bias the locking member in a direction which causes the carriage to be locked at the predetermined position, wherein

the locking member comprises a second engaging member configured to engage with the first engaging member in a direction which causes the carriage to be unlocked from the predetermined position, and

the first engaging member is disengaged from the second engaging member while the capping member covers the nozzle of the recording head.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a regulating member configured to regulate an amount of movement of the locking member with respect to the carriage.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the locking member is held by a holding member, and

the regulating member is mounted on a side surface of the holding member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the regulating member is formed on a side surface of the locking member.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member is configured to engage with the locking member in one of a first direction which causes the carriage to be locked at the predetermined position and a second direction which causes the carriage to be unlocked from the predetermined position.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carriage is configured to block the locking member from locking the carriage if the carriage is not at the predetermined position and the locking member is configured to prevent the capping member from contacting the nozzle if the carriage is not locked at the predetermined position.

7. The image fanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first engaging member includes an engagement surface for engaging the locking member, the engagement surface being oriented generally orthogonally to the nozzle contacting direction.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is configured to lock the carriage before the capping member contacts the nozzle.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking member is configured to unlock the carriage after the capping member is separated from the nozzle.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member is formed on a side surface of the cap holder, the side surface of the cap holder being oriented generally parallel to a nozzle contacting direction.

11. An image forming apparatus having a carriage with a recording head having a nozzle for ejecting an ink, comprising:

capping means for covering the nozzle of the recording head;

locking means for locking the carriage at a predetermined position; and

interlocking means for performing at least one of locking and unlocking the carriage with the locking means according to a corresponding one of an operation of contacting the nozzle with the capping means and an operation of separating the capping means from the nozzle; and

a cap holder configured to hold the capping means, the cap holder comprising a first engaging member configured to engage with the locking means, wherein

the locking means comprises a second engaging member configured to engage with the first engaging member in a direction which causes the carriage to be unlocked from the predetermined position, and

the first engaging member is disengaged from the second engaging member while the capping means covers the nozzle of the recording head.

12. A method for interlocking printing operations, comprising:

mounting a first engaging member on a cap holder to perform locking and unlocking a carriage;

mounting a second engaging member on a locking member to perform contacting and separating a nozzle;

engaging the first engaging member with the second engaging member;

disengaging the first engaging member from the second engaging member while a capping member held by the cap holder covers the nozzle of the recording head; and

performing one of locking and unlocking the carriage according to one of contacting and separating the nozzle.