CN1861402A - Method for cleaning liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer includes a recording head having a nozzle through which ink is ejected onto a paper sheet and a waste tank in which the ink is retained as waste liquid after having been drained from the recording head. A deposit of the waste liquid is formed in the waste tank. The printer has a suction pump used for forcibly drawing and draining the ink from the nozzle. The suction pump functions also as a gas blasting device that blasts gas to the deposit in the waste tank for blowing off the deposit. This suppresses the amount of the ink consumed in maintenance of the printer.

Description

The clean method of liquid injection apparatus and liquid injection apparatus

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of inkjet printing formula tape deck, display manufacturing apparatus, electrode and form device, perhaps biochip making equipment etc. is from the clean method and the liquid injection apparatus of the liquid injection apparatus of jet head liquid ejection liquid drop.

Background technology

In the past, have to the ink-jet printer of paper injection ink droplet with print image as liquid injection apparatus to the target atomizing of liquids.This printer setup have the record head of a plurality of nozzles that can spray ink droplet, these nozzles often are in the state that printing ink is full of.

In the occasion that stops to print, because the volatilization of printing ink solvent in the nozzle, become tackify and solidifying of printing ink, dust is attached on the printing ink in the nozzle, and therefore, this ink-jet printer has just produced the problem of spray nozzle clogging.And, because bubble sneaks into the printing ink from the peristome of nozzle, so just cause producing the bad phenomenon of printing such as ink dot omission.Therefore, cap (cap) and suction pump are set in ink-jet printer, wherein, the nozzle that described cap is used for the seal record head forms face, and described suction pump is connected with described cap and is used for described cap is applied negative pressure.So, beyond printing time, carry out following clean operation, that is, drive the suction pump that is connected with the cap that covers record head, and tackify printing ink in the nozzle of record head and cured printing ink are forced to be discharged to exhausted bath box.By this clean operation, with described tackify printing ink and cured printing ink and do not have tackify and the printing ink of curing is discharged to exhausted bath box.

Recently, because the ink durability of attention and luminiferous tendency, useful life longevity and the good pigment ink of photism geometric ratio dye ink are arranged.Pigment particles scatter in printing ink solvent, and pigment ink is easier to solidify than the volatility height of dye ink.

Thereby when the printing ink from nozzle suction was pigment ink, suction and the useless China ink (comprise tackify printing ink and cured printing ink and do not have tackify and the printing ink of curing) of discharging to exhausted bath box condensed.For this reason, along with the carrying out of cleaning, the printing ink that solidifies has been piled up at the position that useless China ink is discharged in exhausted bath box inchmeal.For example, be connected with suction pump and will bad phenomenon such as obturation take place in the exit of exhausted bath box inner opening to the suction tube of the useless China ink of exhausted bath box guiding suction.

The spy opens the 2004-174766 communique and discloses by force to spray the new printing ink with the suction pump suction in exhausted bath box, makes the interior useless China ink of piling up of exhausted bath box dissolve.

In addition, open in the 2004-167945 communique, use the removal device and the band conveying device that constitute by gear and removal plate to remove the spent ink of piling up in the exhausted bath box the spy.

But the spy opens in the 2004-174766 communique, reaches printing ink in order to remove to pile up, because must be with suction pump from the new printing ink of record head suction, ink consumption increases, and this just causes cost to uprise.And, open in the 2004-167945 communique under the disclosed situation about removal device etc. being assemblied in the exhausted bath box the spy, the installing space of removal device etc. increases, the exhausted bath box maximization that becomes, simultaneously owing to removal device etc. must be assemblied in the exhausted bath box, it is complicated that structure becomes.

Though above enumerated ink-jet printer, in other liquid injection apparatus of use jet head liquids ejection liquid drops such as display manufacturing apparatus, electrode formation device or above-mentioned biochip making equipment, also produced above-mentioned same unfavorable condition.

Summary of the invention

The clean method and the liquid injection apparatus that the purpose of this invention is to provide the liquid injection apparatus that can suppress to maximize when a kind of cost reduces.

For achieving the above object, a kind of mode of the present invention provides a kind of clean method of liquid injection apparatus.Described liquid injection apparatus is provided with jet head liquid and exhausted bath box, and wherein, described jet head liquid has the nozzle to the target atomizing of liquids, and described exhausted bath box is used to store the waste liquid liquid of discharging from described jet head liquid.Pile up the deposit that comes by waste liquid in the described exhausted bath box.Described clean method is by driving the device of blow gas, to the described deposit blow gas in described exhausted bath box, thereby dispels this deposit.

In other patterns of the present invention, provide liquid injection apparatus.This liquid injection apparatus is provided with jet head liquid and exhausted bath box, and wherein, this jet head liquid has the nozzle to the target atomizing of liquids, and described exhausted bath box is used to store the liquid waste liquid from described liquid injection apparatus ejection.Described liquid injection apparatus is provided with the gas blowing out device, and this gas blowing out device is used for to the deposit blow gas that is deposited in described exhausted bath box, so that it is dispelled.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the stereogram of the printer of first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the orthogonal view of the printer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is the orthogonal view of the printer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is the sectional view that schematically shows cleaning mechanism.

Fig. 5 is the side view of lowering or hoisting gear.

Fig. 6 is the side view of lowering or hoisting gear;

Fig. 7 is the block diagram of the loop structure of the printer in the presentation graphs 1.

Fig. 8 is the flow chart of the cleaning order in expression first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is the orthogonal view of the printer of second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is the block diagram of the loop structure of the printer in the presentation graphs 9.

Figure 11 is the flow chart of the cleaning order in expression second embodiment.

Figure 12 is the orthogonal view of the printer of the 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 is the part orthogonal view of the printer of the 4th embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is the part orthogonal view of the printer of the 5th embodiment of the present invention.

The specific embodiment

Below with reference to accompanying drawings 1～8, the first specific embodiment of the present invention is described.

As depicted in figs. 1 and 2, the printer 11 as the present embodiment liquid injection apparatus is provided with framework 12, guiding parts 14, balladeur train 15, the record head 20 as jet head liquid, print cartridge 21, platen roller 23, exhausted bath box 25, a cleaning mechanism 27.

The integral body of framework 12 override printers 11.Guiding parts 14 is along the longitudinal direction setting of framework 12.Guiding parts 14 inserts and passes balladeur train 15, and balladeur train 15 is supported movably with respect to guiding parts 14.Balladeur train 15 is connected with carriage motor 29 by means of synchronous belt 28, and the direction along guiding parts 14 promptly moves back and forth along main scanning direction X by means of the driving of carriage motor 29.

Record head 20 carries in the bottom of described balladeur train 15, and as shown in Figure 4, (below be also referred to as " nozzle formation face ") formed a plurality of (being 4) nozzle 20a in Fig. 4 below this record head 20.Print cartridge 21 carries on the top of balladeur train 15, and the printing ink that the piezoelectric element (not shown) that utilization is provided with in record head 20 drives as liquid supplies to record head from print cartridge 21, thereby from nozzle 20a ejection ink droplet.

Platen roller 23 is support platforms of supporting as the paper P of target.And platen roller 23 is provided with guiding parts 14 abreast with respect to described framework 12, and relative with record head 20.And platen roller 23 is provided with the through hole 23a that connects along above-below direction in right-hand end shown in Figure 2.And, utilize not shown paper advance mechanism, paper P is transported to platen roller 23 along the sub scanning direction Y (with reference to figure 1) with main scanning direction X quadrature, paper P is on this platen roller 23 and relative with record head 20.

And described record head 20 moves back and forth along guiding parts 14 in the zone relative with paper P on one side, when based on printed data driving described piezoelectric element from paper P relative record head 20 spray ink droplets on one side, begin to print.

As shown in Figure 2, exhausted bath box 25 forms the box-shaped of top opening.Therefore, design the size and the position of this exhausted bath box 25 like this, that is, described platen roller 23 below when forming projection, the upper opening of exhausted bath box 25 can comprise its whole projection section.Be provided with stacked a plurality of waste liquids in this exhausted bath box 25 and absorb material 31 by forming such as the porous matter raw material of papery.

And the right part at the exhausted bath box 25 of Fig. 2 goes out flushing liquor receiving portion 37 in the position zoning relative with the through hole 23a of platen roller 23.Thereby when washing, record head 20 can be by means of the through hole 23a of platen roller 23 to flushing liquor acceptance division 37 ink jets.When record head 20 is positioned at the opposed facing position of through hole 23a, is called record head 20 (balladeur train 15) hereinafter and is in the cap open position.Shown in Fig. 2～4, flushing liquor acceptance division 37 is positioned at the position at the place, an end of the suction tube (path) 33 that is connected with aftermentioned suction pump 34.Therefore, utilize suction pump 34 to discharge the printing ink waste liquid to the flushing liquor acceptance division 37 of exhausted bath box 25.And flushing liquor acceptance division 37 absorbs material 31 adjacency with waste liquid.Therefore, the printing ink of flushing liquor acceptance division 37 (waste liquid) absorbs material 31 absorptions from the part that contacts with waste liquid absorption material 31 by waste liquid.

Further, in printer 11, so-called flushing is meant by to record head 20 outputs and the irrelevant driving signal of printing, makes the action of drops out from nozzles 20a ejection.

(cleaning mechanism 27)

Then, will be with reference to figure 4 a narration cleaning mechanism 27.

27 designs of cleaning mechanism are in the right-hand end shown in Figure 2 of printer 11, promptly non-printing zone (resting position just).Cleaning mechanism 27 is provided with pressing device 32, suction tube 33 and as the suction pump 34 that is located at the gas blowing out device midway of suction tube 33.The lowering or hoisting gear 70 (with reference to figure 5 and Fig. 6) that pressing device 32 comprises cap 35 and is used to make cap 35 to move up and down.

Now be described in detail lowering or hoisting gear 70.As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, on the framework F of pressing device 32, support slider 71 slidably, supporting cap 35 on this slider 71.Forming a pair of slotted hole 71a (side slotted hole 71a just is shown) that extends along about horizontal direction on the bottom of slider 71 in Fig. 5 and 6.Arm 74 can be installed on the framework F with rotating freely, and the free end of this arm 74 is disposing a pair of trunnion axis 76, and this trunnion axis 76 inserts in the two slotted hole 71a with can move freely.Its result makes that with respect to the circular-arc movement locus of framework F slider 71 is stretched out by means of arm 74.That is, but slider 71 is supported on that framework F goes up and free lifting.

The both sides of (Fig. 5 and 6 right-hand end) have formed a pair of pilot pin 71b (side only is shown among the figure) in an end of slider 71.This inserts framework F to pilot pin 71b and goes up a pair of guide groove 77 (only illustrating among the figure) that forms.Guide groove 77 comprises the low 77a of troops under one's command of the portion at one end of designing, the horizontally extending high 77b of troops under one's command and will hang down the 77a of troops under one's command and the interconnective rake 77c of the high 77b of troops under one's command (with reference to figure 6) in the other end.

Slider 71 is provided with the junction surface 72 that upwards prolongs, and opens between slider 71 and the framework F simultaneously and is establishing elastomeric element 73 (with reference to figure 6).Be accompanied by this balladeur train 15 to right-hand moving shown in Figure 5 under junction surface 72 and state that the junction surface 15a of balladeur train 15 engages, as shown in Figure 6, the elastic force of slider 71 opposing elastomeric elements 73 also moves to the upper right side under the state of being supported by trunnion axis 76.And, if between the junction surface 15a of the junction surface 72 of slider 71 and balladeur train 15 in conjunction with removing, then as shown in Figure 5, slider 71 is moving below left under the state of being supported by trunnion axis 76 by means of the restoring force of elastomeric element 73.By the lowering or hoisting gear 70 that constitutes like this, cap 35 can move up and down, i.e. lifting freedom.

That is to say, in case balladeur train 15 moves to non-printing zone shown in Figure 6 (promptly, resting position home position), then lowering or hoisting gear 70 drives cap 35 risings, thus, this cap 35 contacts with following (the nozzle formation face) of record head 20, with the opening sealing (sealing state of cap 35) of nozzle 20a.And, printing ink in suction record head 20 is with when carrying out clean operation, under the state of cap 35 with the nozzle formation face sealing of record head 20, in this cap 35, apply negative pressure by means of the suction pump 34 that is connected with cap 35, thus the printing ink in the suction record head 20.The exhausted bath box 25 of the below of the printing ink that is sucked in being arranged on framework 12 is discharged.In addition, this moment, so-called cleaning was meant that the printing ink of tackify in the nozzle 20a of record head 20 and the printing ink of curing are forced to be discharged in the exhausted bath box 25 well, was known as that record head cleans and nozzle cleaning.

The nozzle of seal record shown in Figure 4 20 forms the cap 35 and the suction pump 34 of face.Cap 35 comprises cap retainer 35a and seal 35b, and wherein, seal 35b is located at the upper end open edge of cap retainer 35a, and makes four arm of angle shaped as frame shapes by flexible materials such as elastomers.Outlet 35c is formed on the bottom surface of cap retainer 35a, and an end of suction tube 33 is connected on this outlet 35c.The other end of suction tube 33 is connected with exhausted bath box 25, and suction pump 34 is provided between outlet 35c and the exhausted bath box 25.Suction tube 33 is formed by flexible materials such as elastomers.The open-ended formation ejiction opening 33a of the suction tube 33 that is connected with exhausted bath box 25.

Cap 35 rises by means of lowering or hoisting gear 70, in a single day seal 35b contacts with the nozzle formation face of record head 20, and nozzle forms face and just roughly becomes sealing state with the space that cap 35 is impaled.In case under this state, drive suction pump 34, just aspirate the air that exists this space in and printing ink etc., the generation negative pressure, thus described negative pressure is imposed on nozzle 20a.Therefore, the formed outlet 35c from the bottom surface of cap retainer 35a of the printing ink in the nozzle 20a discharges.

And, in cap retainer 35a, being provided with the absorption of inks material 35d of sheet, this absorption of inks material 35d receives from the printing ink of nozzle 20a ejection and the temporary transient printing ink that keeps.So, when forming face, highly kept the humidity in the cap 35 and prevented the ink setting that nozzle 20a is interior with cap 35 sealed-in nozzles.

Be arranged on suction tube 33 suction pump 34 midway and be fixed on the described framework 12 (with reference to figure 2), and have pump bracket 36a, pump impeller 36b and roller 36e, 36f, wherein, described roller 36e, 36f can go up the roller support slot 36c, the 36d that form along pump impeller 36b and move.Suction tube 33 is around the periphery of pump impeller 36b, and the peripheral part that pump bracket 36a is keeping suction tube 33 and limiting this suction tube 33 simultaneously is along expansion radially outward.Each roller support slot 36c, 36d do circular-arc extension from radially inner side to radial outside.

Pump impeller 36b drives rotation by paper pushing motor 30 (with reference to figure 7).Pump impeller 36b (is being clockwise direction in Fig. 4 when square rotates, below be called the pump pumping direction), each roller 36e, 36f move along the roller support slot 36c of correspondence, the outboard end radially of 36c, Yi Bian Yi Bian push suction tube 33 successively and be rotated.After, this squeezed state is called the pump engagement.

Thereby, when suction pump 34 is aspirated, than the more internal pressure reduction of the suction tube 33 of upstream side of suction pump 34.So, because sealed-in nozzles form face cap 35 inside air and printing ink moves by means of the rotation of pump impeller 36b and gently discharge to exhausted bath box 25, the pressure in the cap 35 reduce lentamente.

And if pump impeller 36b rotates along reversible direction (being counterclockwise among Fig. 4), then each roller 36e, 36f move in the radially inner side end of corresponding roller support slot 36c, 36d.Its result, each roller 36e, 36f just become the release conditions that just contact with each suction tube 33 a little.Its result, the internal pressure of suction pump 34 becomes atmospheric pressure.

(control loop 40)

Secondly, narrate the control loop of printer with reference to the block diagram of figure 7.

The printed data that printing control unit 50 is sent based on the master computer from printer generates the data bitmap as liquid ejection data.So, the driving signal that printing control unit 50 is produced based on this data bitmap by a drive division 51, and from record head 20 ejection printing ink.

Cleaning control part 60 as controlling organization is carried out cleaning action according to the cleaning fill order of sending from cleaning (CL) command detection portion 63, wherein, this cleaning command detection portion 63 is used to receive the attended operation signal of the cleaning command switch SW on the (not shown)s such as guidance panel that are configured in printer 11.In this case, cleaning sequential control portion 69 obtains the cleaning sequential programme from the master computer (not shown), and cleaning control part 60 receives the sequential control signals from cleaning sequential control portion 69, and controls paper pushing motor 30 by means of pump drive division 65.That is to say that cleaning control part 60 is controlled suction pump 34 by means of pump drive division 65 and paper pushing motor 30.Pump drive division 65 is the loops that drive paper pushing motor 30.The pulse signal that paper pushing motor 30 sends according to pump drive division 65 rotates given angle.For this reason, suction pump 34 is rotated according to the corresponding rotary speed of frequency with the input pulse signal that comes self-pumping drive division 65.And along with the duration of the input signal of self-pumping drive division 65, total number of revolutions of suction pump 34 is variable.

On the other hand, cleaning sequential control portion 69 sends control signal to carriage motor control part 59, to drive carriage motor 29.

Timer 66 instrumentations are from last time cleaning the time elapsed time T1 of institute (that is to say the standing time of not cleaning).That is, timer 66 picks up counting during from each cleaning executive termination, calculates the time before the fill order of input cleaning next time.Temperature sensor 67 is located in the exhausted bath box 25, and detects the environment temperature around the flushing liquor acceptance division 37, and this detecting signal is outputed to cleaning control part 60.Humidity sensor 68 is located in the exhausted bath box 25, and detects the ambient humidity around the flushing liquor acceptance division 37, and this detecting signal is outputed to cleaning control part 60.

Next, will be introduced in proper order according to the cleaning of flow chart shown in Figure 8 record head 20 in the printer of above-mentioned formation.

Below Xu Shu cleaning is to be carried out based on the control program that is stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 shown in Fig. 7 by cleaning sequential control portion 69 in proper order.At this moment, cleaning sequential control portion 69 supplies with control signal to cleaning control part 60 and balladeur train control part 59.And, between cleaning control part 60 and cleaning sequential control portion 69, can receive and dispatch various data.

In case the user carries out attended operation to cleaning command switch SW, cleaning command detection portion 63 just sends the cleaning fill order to cleaning control part 60.

(S10)

In a single day cleaning control part 60 receives the cleaning fill order, in step (hereinafter only represent) 10 with step S, the time T that experiences from last clearing 1 whether greater than fiducial time T0 be based on that the timing of present timer 66 judges.Even fiducial time, T0 was stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 in advance.

In S10, if, cleaning control part 60 greater than T0 fiducial time, elapsed time T1 makes the "Yes" judgement, transfer to S21.And, in S10,, elapsed time T1 makes the "No" judgement if, cleaning control part 69 less than T0 fiducial time, transfer to S11.

And fiducial time, T0 be the useless China ink of discharging in normal temperature (for example 20 ℃) and humidity was in 50～80% the environment because the solvent evaporation in the printing ink and tackify and drying, and the solid state component in the useless China ink is piled up the necessary shortest time.Described value is obtained by test.Therefore,,, therefore can regard solid state component as and pile up greater than fiducial time during T0 at elapsed time T1 because it is very high from the solid state component of record head 20 to the useless China ink that exhausted bath box 25 is discharged the possibility of piling up to take place.

(S11)

In S11, cleaning control part 60 is judged the environment temperature around the temperature sensor 67 detected flushing liquor acceptance divisions 37, and promptly whether detected temperatures K1 is greater than fiducial temperature K0.And the above temperature of fiducial temperature K0 is that useless China ink is easy to solidify and the temperature of tackify, that is to say that described temperature is the very high temperature of possibility that the solid state component in this useless China ink is piled up.Fiducial temperature K0 is obtained by test.The value of this fiducial temperature K0 is stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 in advance.In S11, if, cleaning control part 60 greater than fiducial temperature K0, detected temperatures K1 carries out the "Yes" judgement, transfer to S21.And, in S11,, detected temperatures K1 carries out the "No" judgement if, cleaning control part 60 less than fiducial temperature K0, transfer to S12.

(S12)

In S12, cleaning control part 60 is judged the ambient humidity around the flushing liquor acceptance division 37 that humidity sensors 68 detect, and promptly detects humidity W1 whether below reference humidity W0.And the following humidity of reference humidity W0 is that useless China ink is easy to solidify the humidity with tackify, that is to say, is that the very high humidity of possibility of piling up takes place for solid state component in the useless China ink.Reference humidity W0 is obtained by test.This reference humidity W0 is stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 in advance.In step S12, if detect humidity W1 below reference humidity W0, cleaning control part 60 is made the "Yes" judgement, transfers to S21.And, in S12, surpassing reference humidity W0 if detect humidity W1, cleaning control part 60 is made the "No" judgement, transfers to S13.

Environment temperature among elapsed time among the above-mentioned S10 (being standing time), the S11 and the ambient humidity among the S12 are equivalent to promote the accumulation of the accumulation of useless China ink to promote the factor.In addition, timer 66, temperature sensor 67 and humidity sensor 68 are to detect the detector that like that accumulation promotes the factor.

(S13)

S13 is in order to set as the suction number of revolutions RT of total number of revolutions and the processing that rotary speed SP is carried out.In S13, cleaning control part 60 will aspirate number of revolutions RT and be located at set-point N1, rotary speed SP is located at set-point V1, and transfer to S14.Value N1 and V1 are stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 in advance, and are the values that any judgement of S10～S12 is read when being "No".

(S21)

In S21, in S10, S11 or S12, be judged as under the situation of "Yes", cleaning control part 60 is set and is handled suction number of revolutions RT and rotary speed SP.At S21, cleaning control part 60 will aspirate number of revolutions RT and be located at setting N2, simultaneously rotary speed SP will be located at setting V2, and transfer to S14.Value N2 and V2 are stored in the cleaning sequential control portion 69 in advance.

At this moment, setting value N1 and the magnitude relationship between the N2 of suction number of revolutions RT are N1＜N2.And the setting value V1 of rotary speed SP and the magnitude relationship between the V2 are V1＜V2.For example, in the present embodiment, value N1 is 3 commentaries on classics, and value N2 is 9 commentaries on classics.And value V1 is 0.5rps, and value V2 is 3rps.

In S21, suction number of revolutions RT and rotary speed SP than reason bigger among the S13 are, owing to be judged as in S10, S11 and S12 any and can think under the situation of "Yes" that useless China ink produces and pile up, in S15 described later, need the short time to dispel printing ink, and must under high rotation speed, carry out.Therefore, driving under the situation of suction pump 34 under the rotary speed at a high speed, because driving time is short, because of the noise that driving caused of suction pump 34 finishes at short notice.

And, conversely, S13 than suction number of revolutions RT among the S21 and the little reason of rotary speed SP is, owing to thinking under the situation that in S10, S11 and S12, all is judged as "No" that useless China ink can not produce accumulation, in S15 described later, carry out printing ink and dispel, and can under low rotary speed, carry out with the long time.The noise that the result who drives suction pump 34 under the rotary speed of this low speed produces with regard to the driving that has suppressed because of suction pump 34.

(S14)

After the processing in S13 or S21, in S14, cleaning sequential control portion 69 exports control signals to carriage motor control part 59, and controls carriage motor 29 for record head is configured in the cap open position.Thus, cap 35 leaves from record head 20, and the upstream side that makes suction pump 34 is to atmosphere opening (open state of cap 35).

(S15)

In S15, clean control part 60 control pump drive divisions 65 and export control signals to paper pushing motor 30 from pump drive division 65.Drive paper pushing motor 30 according to this control signal, make suction pump 34 rotate to the suction number of revolutions RT of setting to the pump pumping direction with the rotary speed SP that sets.That is to say that at S15, owing to apply driving force to suction pump 34, flexible aspiration tube 33 becomes the conquassation state, so each roller 36e, 36f in the suction pump 34 are in the pump engagement.

Here, rotary speed SP and suction number of revolutions RT are set in S21 under the situation of each value V2, N2, and suction pump 34 has been rotated 9 commentaries on classics during for 3rps in rotary speed.At this moment, suction pump 34 is rotated with the high speed of setting in than S13 of rotary speed SP under the state of atmosphere opening on one side at upstream side, carry out suction action on one side, thus, useless black deposit 100 (with reference to figure 3) blow out air from the flushing liquor acceptance division 37 of ejiction opening 33a in exhausted bath box 25 of suction tube 33 piled up dispels deposit 100.And, deposit 100 be when flushing from the printing ink of record head 20 by through hole 23a ejection and the useless China ink of discharging, and because of the evaporation of the solvent in this printing ink, printing ink tackify be solidified to form from the ejiction opening 33a of suction tube 33.

And in this case, suction pump 34 is more than the suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S13, and promptly being made as 9 changes.Therefore, rotational time be 3 seconds (=N2/V2), this than the rotational time of deriving by rotary speed of setting and number of revolutions among the S13 6 seconds (=N1/V1) to lack.Thus, driving under the situation of suction pump 34 with high rotary speed, because driving time is short, the noise that causes because of the driving of suction pump 34 finishes at short notice.

On the other hand, each value of setting rotary speed SP and suction number of revolutions RT at S13 is under the situation of V1, N1, and suction pump has rotated 3 with the rotary speed of 0.5rps to be changeed.At this moment, suction pump 34 is in state towards atmosphere opening because of its upstream side, with the rotary speed low rotary speed than S21 set be rotated on one side, carry out suction action on one side.Thus, useless black deposit 100 blow out air from the flushing liquor acceptance division 37 of ejiction opening 33a in being deposited in exhausted bath box 25 of suction tube 33, thus deposit 100 is eliminated.

And, in this case, the number of revolutions of suction pump 34 to lack than the suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S21, promptly 3 numbers of revolutions are rotated.Therefore, rotational time be 6 seconds (=N1/V1), this rotational time of deriving than the rotary speed of setting at S21 and number of revolutions 3 wonderful (=N2/V2) to grow.Thus, the result who drives suction pump 34 with the rotary speed of low speed has suppressed to produce noise because of the driving of suction pump 34.

(S16)

After the step of S15, in S16, cleaning sequential control portion 69 is to cleaning motor control part 59 output control signals, and moves and control carriage motor 29 to resting position in order to order about balladeur train 15.Below the resting position of balladeur train 15 is called the cap closing position of balladeur train 15 (record head 20).In case record head 20 moves to the cap closing position, lowering or hoisting gear 70 drives cap 35 and rises so that it is close to record head 20, utilizes the opening sealing of cap 35 with nozzle 20a thus.

(S17)

At S17, reception drives paper pushing motors 30 from the pump drive division 65 of the instruction that cleaning control part 60 sends, and makes suction pump 34 carry out suction action rotatably towards pumping direction.Its result produces negative pressure in the space in cap 35, and printing ink aspirates discharge from the nozzle 20a of record head 20 in cap 35.At this moment suction pump 34 is done rotation at a high speed with the rotary speed identical with the rotary speed of setting at S21.And total number of revolutions of suction pump 34 is at this moment lacked than the suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S21, and more than the suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S13.In the present embodiment, total number of revolutions of this suction action is set at 5 changes.Therefore, rotational time become 1.67 seconds (=5 change/3rps), this is shorter than the rotational time based on suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S21 and rotary speed SP.That is to say, shorter in the suction action time of implementation of S17.

(S18)

Then at S18, cleaning sequential control portion 69 exports control signals to cleaning motor control part 59, and controls carriage motor 29 for making record head 20 move to the cap closing position.Because the cap closing position towards this record head 20 moves, lowering or hoisting gear 70 descends cap 35 so that it leaves from record head 20, has removed the sealing by the opening of 35 couples of nozzle 20a of cap thus.

(S19)

At S19, the pump drive division 65 that receives instruction from cleaning control part 60 drives paper pushing motor 30, and makes suction pump 34 carry out the sky suction action rotatably towards pumping direction.Its result, the printing ink in the cap 35 is discharged towards exhausted bath box 25 from the ejiction opening 33a of suction tube 33.At this moment, suction pump 34 is done rotation at a high speed with the speed identical with the rotary speed of setting at S21.And at this moment, total number of revolutions of suction pump 34 is more than the suction number of revolutions RT that sets at S21.In the empty suction action of present embodiment, total number of revolutions is set to 15 changes, therefore, rotational time become 5 seconds (=15 change/3rps).

(S20)

Then,, send control signal to carriage motor 29,, record head 20 is moved towards the cap closing position by driving carriage motor 29 from carriage motor control part 59 at S20.By means of moving of the cap closing position of record head 20, lowering or hoisting gear 70 lifts cap 35, closely contact with record head 20, is sealed by the opening of cap 35 with nozzle 20a.Its result, the nozzle of record head 20 forms face by cap 35 sealings, and cleaning action stops in this state.

In first embodiment of the present invention,, in flushing liquor acceptance division 37, produce the deposit 100 that forms by useless China ink from last time cleaning under the situation of the elapsed time T1 of institute greater than T0 fiducial time.And detected temperatures K1 produces the deposit 100 that is formed by useless China ink greater than under the situation of fiducial temperature K0 and under the situation of detection humidity W1 less than reference humidity W0.Therefore, under the situation that produces such deposit 100, suction action is being carried out in suction pump 34 under the state of atmosphere opening, and the atmosphere that blows out from ejiction opening 33a dispels deposit 100.

And, in the present embodiment, in S17, carrying out before the suction action of nozzle 20a suction printing ink, in S15, at the upstream side of suction pump 34 under the state of atmosphere opening, owing to utilize air that deposit 100 is dispelled, existence needn't surpass the effect of using printing ink in vain with needing.That is to say, unlike the prior art,, can be controlled to be the quantity of ink of safeguarding and using, can reduce cost owing to not having to adopt the printing ink of discharging from record head 20 for removing deposit 100.Further, the isolated plant of removing deposit 100 needn't be assembled, and the maximization of device and complicated can be avoided.

Hereinafter will be with reference to figure 9～11 narrations second embodiment.Wherein, adopt identical Reference numeral for the formation identical, and omit its narration, stress difference with first embodiment.

In second embodiment, omitted timer 66, temperature sensor 67 and humidity sensor 68, as an alternative, shown in Figure 9, be provided as the height sensor 80 of height sensor on the nozzle formation face of record head 20, other formation is identical with first embodiment.

Height sensor 80 has illuminating part 81 and light accepting part 82, when record head 20 is in cap open position (position shown in the two point chain-dotted line of Fig. 9), the light that sends from illuminating part 81 is received by light accepting part 82, just detect from height sensor 80 to deposit 100 the summit apart from M.Therefore, as shown in figure 10, height sensor 80 sends signal to cleaning control part 60, this signal indication according to distance M the height H 1 (H1=Hs-M) of fixed deposit 100.The height H 1 of deposit 100 be inner bottom surface from exhausted bath box 25 to the distance the summit of deposit 100, describedly obtain by deducting apart from M from the inner bottom surface of exhausted bath box 25 to the distance H s the height sensor 80.

Figure 11 is the flow chart of the cleaning order of the record head 20 in the printer 11 of second embodiment, and wherein abridged S10 replaces with S22 to S12, and first embodiment among this and Fig. 8 is different.

In S22, cleaning control part 60 decision height sensors 80 to the height H 1 of the deposit 100 of input whether more than altitude datum H0.

And the above height of altitude datum H0 is meant the height that the deposit 100 of exhausted bath box stops up ejiction opening 33a.The value of altitude datum H0 pre-deposits in the cleaning sequential control portion 69.At S22, if, then cleaning control part 60 greater than altitude datum H0, height H 1 makes the "Yes" judgement, transfer to S21.And, at S22,, height H 1 makes the "No" judgement if, then cleaning control part 60 less than altitude datum H0, transfer to S13.

Other steps shown in Figure 11 are identical with first embodiment of Fig. 8, will omit its narration.

In second embodiment, decide the rotary speed of suction pump 34 and total number of revolutions of suction pump 34 according to the height H 1 (being corresponding accumulation degree) of deposit 100.Under the situation of height greater than altitude datum H0 of deposit 100, only drive suction pump 34 with high speed and relatively shorter time.And, under the situation of height less than altitude datum H0 of deposit 100,, and reduced the noise that produces because of driving with driven at low speed suction pump 34.

Hereinafter will narrate the 3rd embodiment with reference to Figure 12.Wherein, adopt identical Reference numeral for the formation identical, and omit its narration, stress difference with first embodiment.

In the 3rd embodiment, the part (gas passage) of the suction tube 33 in the downstream of suction pump 34 is provided with the switch valve V by cleaning control part 60 open and close controlling.When record head 20 was in cap open position and suction pump 34 and begins to rotate for deposit 100 is dispelled, this switch valve V closed, and is after this, open when suction pump 34 only rotates to the time point of number of revolutions of regulation.

That is to say that in the printer 11 of the 3rd embodiment, the cleaning of the record head 20 order cleaning order with first embodiment shown in Figure 8 basically is identical, only different with first embodiment aspect the switch of the switch valve V control processing in S15.Below, the contents processing of the S15 in the 3rd embodiment is described.

So, at S15, cleaning control part 60 made switch valve V close before control pump drive division 65.Then, after this, by control pump drive division 65 and drive paper pushing motor 30, the rotary speed SP that sets with S13 and S21 rotates suction pump 34.At this moment, the number of revolutions of suction pump 34 is set at the suction number of revolutions RT that S13 or S21 set and adds regulation number of revolutions (for example, suction number of revolutions RT is identical with number of revolutions).

Along with the rotation of suction pump 34, the air pressure that is positioned at the suction pump 33 of switch valve V upstream side increases.For corresponding with more and more higher air pressure, cleaning control part 60 is only opened switch valve V in the moment of the number of revolutions that begins to rotate to regulation from this rotation in suction pump 34.Its result, after this, because suction pump 34 on and on is rotated with suction number of revolutions RT, switch valve V open and simultaneously with pressure-air downstream side carry, from this pressure-air of the ejiction opening 33a ejection of suction tube 33 deposit 100 is forced to dispel.

For this reason, in the 3rd embodiment, under the switch valve V in the downstream that will be arranged on suction pump 34 closing state, begin to rotate suction pump 34 after, in the moment that the air pressure of the suction tube 33 that is positioned at switch valve V upstream side increases, this switch valve V opens.For this reason, by means of the pressure-air that the ejiction opening 33a from suction tube 33 sprays, deposit 100 is forced to dispel.

Next, will narrate the 4th embodiment with reference to Figure 13.Wherein, adopt identical Reference numeral for the formation identical, and omit its narration, stress difference with first embodiment.

In the 4th embodiment, on the part (gas passage) of the suction tube 33 in suction pump 34 downstreams, be provided with the first switch valve V1 and the second switch valve V2 that carry out open and close controlling by cleaning control part 60.The first switch valve V1 is positioned at the downstream of second switch valve V2.And, being provided with branched pipe (branch's stream) 45 between the first switch valve V1 and the second switch valve V2 from suction tube 33 bifurcateds, balancing gate pit 46 communicates with suction tube 33 inside.Thus, be provided with the 3rd switch valve V3 that carries out open and close controlling by means of cleaning control part 60 in the centre of this branched pipe 45.

At first, be positioned at cap enable possition and suction pump 34 for deposit 100 is dispelled the initial stage that begins to rotate at record head 20, the first switch valve V1 closes, and second switch valve V2 and second switch valve V3 open simultaneously.And, after this, only having rotated the moment of regulation number of revolutions in suction pump 34, second switch valve V2 closes, and the first switch valve V1 and the 3rd switch valve V3 open.

That is to say, in the printer 11 of the 4th embodiment, the cleaning order of record head 20 is basic identical with the cleaning order of first embodiment shown in Figure 8, and is just different with first embodiment aspect the content that the control of the switch of each first～the 3rd switch valve V1, V2, V3 is handled in S15.Below, narrate the contents processing of the S15 of the 4th embodiment.

In S15, cleaning control part 60 each first～the 3rd switch valve V1 of open and close controlling, V2, V3 before control pump drive division 65.That is to say, close the first switch valve V1 on the one hand, and second switch valve V2 and the 3rd switch valve V3 are opened.And, under this state, by control pump drive division 65 and drive paper pushing motor 30, with S13 or S21 set rotary speed SP rotate suction pump 34.At this moment, the number of revolutions of suction pump 34 be set at the suction number of revolutions RT that sets with S13 or S21 add decided number of revolutions (for example, number of revolutions is identical with suction number of revolutions RT).

Along with the rotation of suction pump 34, by branched pipe 45 input air in balancing gate pit 46, air-accumulating is in this balancing gate pit 46 and pressure increases from suction tube 33.Corresponding with air pressure more and more higher in this balancing gate pit 46, cleaning control part 60 begins to the time point that has rotated the number of revolutions of setting previously (suction number of revolutions RT+ regulation number of revolutions) from its rotation in suction pump 34, V2 closes with the second switch valve, simultaneously the first switch valve V1 and the 3rd switch valve V3 is opened.Its result, the pressure-air of accumulating in the balancing gate pit 46 is carried towards the downstream of suction tube 33 from branched pipe 45 when the first switch valve V1 opens, and this pressure-air is forced to dispel from the ejiction opening 33a ejection of suction tube 33 and with deposit 100.

Thus, in the 4th embodiment,,, the air in the balancing gate pit 46 that makes the downstream that is located at suction pump 34 accumulates air for becoming high pressure by the switch control of switch valve V1, V2, V3, simultaneously, the pressure-air in this balancing gate pit 46 sprays together from the ejiction opening 33a of suction tube 33.Wherein, at pressure-air when ejiction opening 33a sprays, because second switch valve V2 closes, even cap 35 can not aspirate printing ink with the nozzle formation face sealing of record head 20 in the nozzle 20a of record head 20.On the one hand, can not dispel deposit and from ejiction opening 33a when exhausted bath box 25 is discharged useless China ink, under the state that the 3rd switch valve V3 closes and the first switch valve V1 and second switch valve V2 open, drive suction pump 34.

Next, will narrate the 5th embodiment with reference to Figure 14.Wherein, adopt identical Reference numeral for the formation identical, and omit its narration, stress difference with first embodiment.

In the 5th embodiment, except suction pump 34, be located at the bottom of framework 12 by the special-purpose air pump 47 of the blow out air that cleans control part 60 driving controls.The air discharge pipe 48 of extending from this air pump 47 imports exhausted bath box 25 inside.And the pressure-air that blows out from air discharge pipe 48 along with the driving of air pump 47 is forced the deposit in the exhausted bath box 25 to dispel.And, though not shown, in the record head 20 of present embodiment, be provided with the height sensor of in second embodiment, narrating 80 (with reference to figure 9).

Under the situation of height H 1 greater than altitude datum H0 of the deposit 100 of height sensor 80 input, cleaning control part 60 drives air pump 47 deposit is dispelled.In this case, by driving and the irrelevant air pump 47 of the driving condition of suction pump 34, can at random deposit 100 be dispelled.

Wherein, the invention is not restricted to described embodiment, also can carry out following variation.

In the flow chart of Fig. 8, keep a kind of processing at least in 3 kinds of processing of S10, S11, S12, also can omit other processing.

In described first to the 5th embodiment, though by means of the air that blows out from suction pump 34 or air pump 47 deposit 100 is dispelled, the gas blowing out device needn't be defined as suction pump 34 or air pump 47.For example, can in framework 12, dispose the gas tank that has been full of gases at high pressure (air), also deposit 100 can be dispelled by means of the high pressure gas that blows out from this gas tank.If so, also may blow out air from gas tank than pump high pressure.And gas tank is configured to the shape same with print cartridge 21 like this, when dispelling deposit 100, can exchange with the print cartridge 21 that carrying on the balladeur train 15.

In described the 5th embodiment, air pump 47 can be that the user can use hand-driven pump (for example, syringe pump).That is to say that the height H 1 that detects deposit 100 at height sensor 80 is higher than under the situation of altitude datum H0, its aim is to user report, and the user can come the manual operation pump according to this information.

By supplying with forced air to the print cartridge 21 of the diverse location that is installed in balladeur train 15 from force (forcing) pump, under the situation of the printer that from this print cartridge 21 the printing ink forced feed is broken away from the print cartridge pattern by the inking pipe to the what is called of record head 20, but also double as gas blowing out device of this force (forcing) pump.

In the suction action of S17 in Fig. 8 and Figure 11, though the rotary speed of suction pump 34 is identical with the rotary speed SP that sets at S21, also can be different with the rotary speed SP that sets at S21.For example, the also comparable rotary speed SP that sets at S21 of the rotary speed of the suction action of S17 is slow.In other words, the rotary speed SP that sets at S21 is than the rotary speed height of the suction action of S17.

Thus, with than nozzle cleaning the time (this suction action) more high-speed driving suction pump 34 can effectively deposit 100 be dispelled.

When having appended the height sensor 80 that constitutes second embodiment in the first embodiment, in the flow chart of Fig. 8, can be before S10, between S10 and the S11, between S11 and the S12 or insert S22 in the flow chart among Figure 11 between S12 and the S13.

In the 3rd embodiment, in switch valve V closing state, suction pump 34 continues to rotate to the number of times of defined, up to needing the regular hour transferring to this suction action.For this reason, at S15, the processing of open and close controlling switch valve V also can be selected according to the accumulation degree of deposit 100.That is to say, suction pump 34 the rotary speed SP of S15 and suction number of revolutions RT for the situation of those values that can set in S13 institute under the random state of conduct unlatching switch valve V.On the one hand, the occasion that the possibility of piling up at deposit is high, rotary speed SP that is to say in the suction pump 34 of S15 and suction number of revolutions RT be S21 under the situation of the value that can set, switch valve V is carried out open and close controlling.And, in the 3rd embodiment, further appended under the situation of structure of height sensor 80 of second embodiment, as long as under the situation of height H 1 greater than altitude datum H0 of the deposit 100 of this height sensor 80 inputs, just can be in S15 switch gauge tap valve V.

In the 3rd embodiment, when the air pressure of the suction tube 33 that is positioned at switch valve V upstream side increases, the number of times of suction pump 34 rotations need not be identical with the suction number of revolutions RT that S13 or S21 set, as long as if the ejection pressure of air can dispel deposit 100 effectively, then the number of revolutions under this pressure is exactly the number of revolutions that is fit to.

In described each embodiment, narrated as liquid injection apparatus, utilized as the record head 20 of jet head liquid and spray printer 11 (comprising printing equipments such as facsimile machine, duplicator) as the printing ink of liquid to paper P as target.But the present invention also can be specially and adopt the liquid injection apparatus that sprays other liquid except that printing ink.For example, the liquid injection apparatus that sprays other liquid is the liquid injection apparatus that is used to make liquid such as the electrode material of LCD, EL display and face active display and colored materials, is used to spray the biological organic liquid injection apparatus of making biochip and using, the sample injection apparatus of accurate suction tube etc.

Claims (17)

1, a kind of clean method of liquid injection apparatus, described liquid injection apparatus is provided with jet head liquid and exhausted bath box, wherein, described jet head liquid has the nozzle to the target atomizing of liquids, described exhausted bath box will be stored as waste liquid from the liquid that described jet head liquid is discharged, and pile up the deposit that is derived from waste liquid in described exhausted bath box, and described clean method is by the driving gas blowing out device, described deposit blow gas in described exhausted bath box dispels this deposit.

2, clean method as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described gas blowing out device comprises can be from the pump of upstream side intake-gas and side discharge downstream, and described clean method also comprises:

Driving pump under the state in the downstream of the described pump of obturation, thereby the step of intake-gas; With

When the pressure of gas of suction uprises, the downstream of open described pump, thereby to the step of described deposit blow gas.

3, a kind of liquid injection apparatus, it is provided with jet head liquid and exhausted bath box, this jet head liquid has the nozzle to the target atomizing of liquids, described exhausted bath box will be stored as waste liquid from the liquid that described jet head liquid is discharged, in described exhausted bath box, pile up the deposit that is derived from waste liquid, it is characterized in that, also be provided with the gas blowing out device, this gas blowing out device dispels this deposit to the described deposit blow gas in described exhausted bath box.

4, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that, described gas blowing out device comprises suction pump, described suction pump is used to carry out in the described nozzle mandatory pumping liquid and with the nozzle cleaning of its discharge, and this suction pump is for to described deposit blow gas and be driven under the state of atmosphere opening at the upstream side of this suction pump.

5, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, compares when carrying out described nozzle cleaning, and described suction pump is driven with higher speed when described deposit blow gas.

6, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, compares when carrying out described nozzle cleaning, and the number of revolutions of described suction pump is more when described deposit blow gas.

7, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, also possesses cap that is connected with the upstream side of described suction pump and the control part of controlling described suction pump,

Wherein, the sealing state that this cap can seal in the part of the described jet head liquid of described nozzle opening and the upstream side of described suction pump switched between the open state of atmosphere opening, when carrying out described nozzle cleaning, described cap switches to sealing state

When carrying out described nozzle cleaning, described control part began to drive described suction pump under the open state of described cap before described cap switches to described sealing state.

8, injection apparatus as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, described control part makes the actuating speed of described suction pump under the open state of described cap higher than the actuating speed under the sealing state at described cap.

9, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 7, it is characterized in that, described control part changes the actuating speed of described suction pump and at least one in the middle of total number of revolutions according to the size or the accumulation degree that promote to pile up to described exhausted bath box the factor of described deposit.

10, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, also possesses to be used to detect the detector that described accumulation promotes the size or the degree of accumulation of the factor, and described control part is controlled described suction pump according to the testing result of described detector.

11, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described accumulation promotes the factor to comprise the last time and carry out institute's elapsed time behind the nozzle cleaning that described detector comprises the timer in described elapsed time of instrumentation.

12, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described accumulation promotes the factor to comprise described deposit environment temperature on every side, and described detector comprises the temperature sensor that detects described environment temperature.

13, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described accumulation promotes the factor to comprise described deposit ambient humidity on every side, and described detector comprises the humidity sensor that detects described ambient humidity.

14, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described accumulation degree comprises the height of described deposit, and described detector comprises the height sensor of the height that detects described deposit.

15, as each described liquid injection apparatus in the claim 3～14, it is characterized in that, also possess from described gas blowing out device and import the gas flow path of gas, the control part that is located at the switch valve on the described gas flow path and controls described gas blowing out device and described switch valve to described exhausted bath box

Described control part is at described switch valve and begins to drive described gas blowing out device under the closing state, after this, when the gas pressure of the described gas flow path that is positioned at described switch valve upstream side uprises, open described switch valve, to described deposit blow gas.

16, as the described liquid injection apparatus of each claim in the claim 3～14, it is characterized in that also possessing: the gas flow path that imports gas from described gas blowing out device to described exhausted bath box; Be located at first switch valve and second switch valve on the described gas flow path, wherein first switch valve is positioned at second switch valve downstream; And the partially communicating balancing gate pit of the described gas passage between described first switch valve and the described second switch valve; Allow or cut off three switch valve of described balancing gate pit the connection of described gas flow path; And the control part of controlling described gas blowing out device and described first to the 3rd switch valve,

Described control part is closed under the state that the described second and the 3rd switch valve is all opened simultaneously at described first switch valve and is begun to drive described gas blowing out device, after this, when the gas pressure in described balancing gate pit uprises, close described second switch valve, open the described first and the 3rd switch valve simultaneously, to described deposit blow gas.

17, liquid injection apparatus as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, also possesses to be used for forcibly liquid being aspirated the suction pump of discharging in described nozzle, and described gas blowing out device and described suction pump are provided with independently.

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