An ink jet printer includes a carriage having a recording head for jetting
ultraviolet curable ink and an ultraviolet irradiating device for curing
an ink jetted on the recording medium with irradiation of ultraviolet
rays such that an image is formed by scanning the carriage; and a
maintenance unit for performing maintenance on the recording head at
predetermined timing. It also includes a control section for controlling
the maintenance unit so as to be converted to a masking state which
becomes a head maintenance disabling state when an image is formed, and
for controlling the maintenance unit so as to be converted to a
non-masking state which becomes a head maintenance enabling state after
securing a non-irradiating state in which the ultraviolet rays are not
irradiated on the maintenance unit, by a function provided by a unit
other than the maintenance unit when the head maintenance is performed.