EP0670223B1 - Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode - Google Patents

Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0670223B1
EP0670223B1 EP95200807A EP95200807A EP0670223B1 EP 0670223 B1 EP0670223 B1 EP 0670223B1 EP 95200807 A EP95200807 A EP 95200807A EP 95200807 A EP95200807 A EP 95200807A EP 0670223 B1 EP0670223 B1 EP 0670223B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
discharge port
discharge
recovery
thermal energy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95200807A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0670223A3 (fr
EP0670223A2 (fr
Inventor
Norifumi C/O Canon K.K. Koitabashi
Hitoshi C/O Canon K.K. Sugimoto
Hiroshi C/O Canon K.K. Tajika
Miyuki C/O Canon K.K. Matsubara
Atsushi C/O Canon K.K. Arai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0670223A2 publication Critical patent/EP0670223A2/fr
Publication of EP0670223A3 publication Critical patent/EP0670223A3/fr
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Publication of EP0670223B1 publication Critical patent/EP0670223B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16523—Waste ink transport from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a recovery method for an ink jet recording head and a recording head or an integral ink tank type recording head applicable to a printer, a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus or the like generally used as a business machine, and to a recording apparatus using a recording head removably mountable on the apparatus body.
  • a heat energy recording system utilizing film boiling is especially excellent as compared with a system utilizing a piezo-electric element, and has been put into practice as a system excellent as compared with other recording by heat energy such as light energy.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus a construction which is not seen in other recording apparatuses, i.e., means for refreshing the interior of liquid paths or bringing the discharge port forming surface into a good condition, for example, a so-called discharge recovery system for a recording head.
  • discharge recovery systems of various constructions, and as first to be mentioned as one for refreshing the interior of liquid paths, there is a system which drives a discharge energy generating element during the other time than recording to cause a predetermined ink receiving medium to effect ink discharge (called also preliminary discharge or idle discharge).
  • a wiping member for contacting with the discharge port forming surface and the two are moved relative to each other to thereby wipe off ink droplets, dust or the like adhering to the neighborhood of the discharge ports.
  • JP-A-63-295268 describes a recovery method for an ink jet recorder wherein, to remove bubbles, dust or the like, the ink jet head is capped, a suction force is applied to the ink discharge ports and at the same time the ink discharge elements are driven so as forcibly to eject ink from the head.
  • a method of effecting a recovery operation on an ink jet recording head having at least one discharge port for discharging ink and a corresponding thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy to cause ink to be ejected from the discharge port comprising effecting a recovery operation by applying a suction force to the discharge port while the discharge port is capped by capping means and by driving the thermal energy generating means to eject ink forcibly from the discharge port, characterised by selecting one of a first mode and a second mode for the recovery operation using selecting means and by applying the suction force to the discharge port while the discharge port is capped by said capping means without driving the thermal energy generating means when the first mode is selected using the selecting means and by applying the suction force to the discharge port while the discharge port is capped by said capping means and also driving the thermal energy generating means to eject ink forcibly from the discharge port when the second mode is selected using the selecting means.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus for recording using an ink jet recording head having at least one discharge port for discharging ink and a corresponding thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy to cause ink to be ejected from the discharge port, the apparatus comprising:
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a unitary recording head-ink tank type cartridge used in an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figures 2A and 2B are a front view and a side cross-sectional view, respectively, showing an example of the construction of the recording head.
  • Figures 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, showing the surroundings of the carriage of the apparatus of the present embodiment in which the cartridge shown in Figure 1 is mounted.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus according to the present embodiment for schematically showing a recovery system unit which is the essential portion of the apparatus.
  • Figures 6 and 7 are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing an example of the detailed construction of the recovery system unit.
  • Figure 8 is a front view for illustrating the detailed construction and operation of a cap unit disposed on the recovery system unit.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the manner of wiping by a blade moved up and down by a blade lifting mechanism.
  • FIGS 10A and 10B illustrate the manner of cleaning for the blade.
  • FIGS 11 and 12 illustrate the recovery using period of the present invention.
  • Figure 13 illustrates the operation of an ink suction mechanism adopted in the present embodiment.
  • Figures 14A - 14D illustrate the carriage position during the recovery process in the present embodiment.
  • Figures 15A - 15E illustrate the relation between the operative positions of the ink suction mechanism of Figure 13 and the carriage of Figure 14 during the execution of the sequence in the present embodiment.
  • Figure 16 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of a control system according to the present embodiment.
  • Figure 17 is a flow chart schematically showing an example of the recording operation procedure by the control system shown in Figure 16.
  • Figures 18A - 18E are flow charts showing examples of the detailed procedures of the initial process, the recording preparation process, the recovery process during recording, the recording termination process and the great recovery process, respectively, by the control system shown in Figure 16.
  • Figure 19 illustrates the state of a bubble present in a head chip.
  • Figure 20 illustrates the effect of the present embodiment.
  • Figures 21A, 21B and 21C are timing charts showing the driving condition during the great recovery process in respective embodiments of the present invention.
  • Figure 22 shows the main flow chart of the present invention.
  • FIG 1 shows an example of the construction of a cartridge C which can be carried on the carriage (which will be described later with reference to Figure 3) of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the cartridge C according to the present embodiment has above it an ink tank portion 80 having an ink absorbing member (sponge) therein and has below it a recording head 86, and further, a head side connector 85 for receiving a signal or the like for driving the recording head 86 and effecting the outputting of the detection of the amount of remaining ink is provided in juxtaposed relationship with the ink tank portion 80. Accordingly, when this cartridge C is loaded onto the carriage to be described, the height H thereof can be minimized. Also, by making the thickness W of the cartridge in the scanning direction small, it is possible to construct the carriage small when the cartridge C is disposed as will be described later with reference to Figure 2.
  • the reference numeral 83 designates a connector cover formed integrally with the outer wall of the tank to prevent the inadvertent contact with the connector 85.
  • the reference numeral 81 denotes a positioning portion formed with dash surfaces 81a and 81b in two directions. By providing a sufficient distance between these positioning surfaces and a positioning dash surface provided on the recording head 86, the reliable fixed positioning of the recording head becomes possible with the aid of the pressing against an inclined surface 84 by a push pin which will be described later.
  • the reference numeral 82 designates a knob for use when the cartridge C is to be mounted or dismounted with respect to a loading portion.
  • the reference character 82a denotes an atmosphere communication hole formed in the knob 82 to communicate the interior of the ink tank portion 80 with the atmosphere.
  • the reference character 82a designates a cut-away portion, and the reference character 83b denotes a guide. Both of these provide a guide when loading the cartridge C onto the loading portion.
  • the recording head 86 has a plurality of discharge ports opening into the bottom surface side as viewed in Figure 1, and discharge energy generating elements generating energy available for ink discharge are disposed in a liquid path portion communicating with the discharge ports.
  • discharge energy generating elements may suitably be heat energy generating elements because the high integration of the discharge ports or liquid paths is possible.
  • Figures 2A and 2B are a front view and a side sectional view, respectively, of the recording head 86 as it is seen from ahead in the discharge direction.
  • the reference numeral 101 designates the base plate of the recording head 86 which is formed of aluminum.
  • a substrate (heater board) 102 formed of Si or the like is adhesively secured onto the base plate 101.
  • an electro-thermal conversion member (not shown) as an heat energy generating element and a diode or the like as a functional element for driving this electro-thermal conversion member.
  • the reference numeral 103 denotes an orifice plate (discharge port forming member) which is formed integrally with a top plate 103A formed with a groove for forming an ink liquid chamber.
  • discharge ports in this orifice port 103 can be accurately accomplished, for example, by the application of an excimer laser beam or the photoetching process, whereby a highly accurate shape can be obtained over a plurality of discharge ports.
  • This orifice plate 103 is also used to prevent the deflection of the discharge direction which occurs due to the difference in wettability between a plurality of different materials when these materials are exposed on the discharge port forming surface.
  • the reference numeral 104 designates a filter provided in an ink supply port leading from a chip tank 105 to a common liquid chamber 106.
  • the filter 104 removes the impurities of the ink and dust flowing as indicated by an arrow in the figure.
  • the ink which has passed through the filter 104 flows into the common liquid chamber 106, and is supplied to each of a plurality of liquid paths 107 communicating with this liquid chamber, in conformity with the discharge of the ink.
  • the reference numeral 109 denotes a keep (retaining) member for holding down the orifice plate 103 by its resilient force or the like and bringing it into intimate contact with the surface of openings (here, particularly the end surface of the heater board 102).
  • SUS stainless steel
  • ink is supplied from the ink tank portion 80 made integral with the recording head 86 to the chip tank 105, whereafter the ink flows as indicated by arrow.
  • the ink first passes through the filter 104, whereby dust or impurities in the ink are removed, and the ink passes to the common liquid chamber 106 and is directed therefrom to the liquid paths 107.
  • the electro-thermal conversion members disposed in the liquid paths 107 are driven to thereby create a bubble in the ink, and by a change in the state of this bubble, the ink is discharged through the discharge ports 108.
  • Figures 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, showing an example of the construction of the surroundings of the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus on which the cartridge C shown in Figure 1 is mountable. These figures show an example in which four cartridges C1, C2, C3 and C4 (containing therein inks of different colors, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and black) are positioned and loaded on the carriage 2.
  • push pins 10 are in engagement with a connection holder 40 as a holding member, and are biased leftwardly as viewed in Figure 3 by springs 10a (springs A - D).
  • the connector holder 40 as a holding member is engaged with links 21 (link I and link II) through shafts 20 (shaft I and shaft II), and is movable to the left as viewed in Figure 4 in accordance with the rotational movement (in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction) of an operating lever 7 engaged with the links 21, and is moved to the right to release pressing and enable the interchange of the cartridges, and on the other hand, is moved to the left to thereby receive the cartridges loaded.
  • the holder 40 will come forward and the pins 10 will come into engagement with the cartridges C, which will thus be loaded onto the loading portion.
  • the tip ends 10b of the push pins 10 bear against the dash surfaces 1d, respectively, of the four cartridges C, and press the cartridges.
  • the outer peripheral surfaces 10c of the push pins 10 are designed to bear against the dash surface 2S of the carriage 2 and independently receive thrust forces created in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the pins.
  • the holding member 40 receives only the reaction forces of the springs 10a (springs A - D) and is not acted on by the thrust forces and therefore, even when a plurality of cartridges are to be released at a time, a release lever 7 may be operated by a small operating force to thereby make the mounting and dismounting operations possible.
  • the body connector 6 Since the body connector 6 is coupled to the head connector 85 with a force stronger than the force of the tension spring 41, the body connector 6 is liberated from the connector holder 40. That is, the engagement between the two is released. Accordingly, during the fitting (coupling) of the body connector 6 to the head connector 85, the body connector 6 is in a separated state relative to the connector holder 40 and thus, the cartridges C are positioned relative to the carriage 2 by only the pressing forces of the push pins 10 and the accurate positioning of the recording head 86 relative to the carriage 2 is ensured.
  • the lever 7 is rotated counter-clockwise from its upright position to its horizontal position (the position of Figure 3).
  • the engagement shaft 6a is in engagement with the head connector 85 with a strong force
  • the side of the large-diametered portion of the engagement hole 40a strikes against the engagement shaft 6a as the connector holder 40 moves rightwardly, and said side separates (liberates) the body connector 6 from the head connector 8 while pushing the engagement shaft 6a toward the inmost part as viewed in Figure 3.
  • the push pins 10 also move with the connector holder 40 and thus, becomes separate from the recording head 86.
  • the reference numeral 11 designates a scanning rail extending in the main scanning direction of the carriage 2 and slidably supporting the carriage 2, the reference character 11a denotes a bearing, the reference numeral 51 designates a flexible cable for giving and receiving various signals between it and the cartridges C through a connector, and the reference numeral 52 denotes a belt for transmitting a driving force for reciprocally moving the carriage 2.
  • the reference numerals 17, 18 and 15, 16 designate pairs of rollers disposed before and behind the recording position by the recording head 86 to nip and convey a recording medium therebetween, and the reference numeral 50 denotes a platen for regulating the recording surface of the recording medium flat.
  • Figure 4 schematically shows a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying apparatus or a facsimile apparatus to which the above-described construction is applied.
  • the recording apparatus body 1000 has a cover 1101 whose operated side is openable and closable.
  • this cover 1101 is opened about the rotational center axis thereof, the interior of the body is opened.
  • the lever 7 indicated by a solid line in Figure 4 shows a position in which the cartridge shown in Figure 1 is mountable, and in this position, the lever 7 precludes the movement of the cover 1101 to its closed position.
  • the cartridges indicated by broken lines show ones being mounted, and the cartridges indicated by solid lines are in predetermined positions wherein they are positioned for recording in the apparatus body.
  • the reference numeral 1102 designates a flexible sheet in an electric wiring portion
  • the reference numeral 12 denotes a rail which cooperates with the rail 11 to support and guide the carriage 2.
  • the connector holder 40 is shown as being in a state in which after the cartridges have been mounted, the lever 7 is brought into its broken-line position and the fixing of the cartridges to the carriage has been completed.
  • the reference numerals 20 and 202 designate shafts on both sides with respect to the direction of movement of the connector holder 40 relative to the carriage.
  • the shafts 20 and 202 are juxtaposed at positions whereat their positional levels are the same.
  • These shafts are of a cylindrical shape movable in two elliptical holes having their central major axes on a straight line on both sides of the carriage.
  • the shafts 20 and 202 correspond to the lever 7 indicated by a solid line in the positions indicated by solid lines.
  • the shafts 20 and 202 are provided outside the connector body and are disposed above and near the push pins 10 for positioning the recording head, and this leads to the improved positional accuracy of the push pins 10 for positioning the recording head. It is also possible to provide shafts similar to the shafts 20 and 202 in the connector body, stabilize the parallel movement of the connector body and moreover provide a degree of freedom in the longitudinal direction and the left to right direction corresponding to the gap thereof with respect to a side plate after the connection of the connector. In the present embodiment, it is preferable that a slot for the shaft 202 be made such that after the connector body is connector-connected, the shaft 202 is not fixed in the longitudinal direction but the positioning of the push pins 10 for positioning the recording head becomes dominant only over the shaft 20.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view for schematically illustrating the disposition region and construction of the recovery system unit, and in the present embodiment, the recovery system unit is disposed on the home position side.
  • the reference numeral 300 designates cap units provided correspondingly to a plurality of cartridges C each having a recording head 86.
  • the cap units 300 are slidable in the left to right direction as indicated in Figure 14 with the movement of the carriage 2 and are movable in a vertical direction. When the carriage 2 is in the home position, the cap units join with the recording heads 86 to cap the latter.
  • the reference numerals 401 and 402 denote first and second blades as wiping members, and the reference numeral 403 designates a blade cleaner formed, for example, of an absorbing material to clean the first blade 401.
  • the first blade 401 is held by a blade lifting mechanism driven by the movement of the carriage, whereby the first blade 401 can be set to a position in which it is protruded (lifted) to wipe the exposed surface of an orifice plate 103 of the discharge port forming surfaces of the recording heads 86, and a position in which it is retracted (lowered) so as not to interfere with said exposed surface.
  • each recording head 86 is mounted so that the portion thereof having a width b in Figure 2A lies on the left side as viewed in Figure 5, and design is made such that the wiping by the first blade 401 is effected when the carriage 2 is moved from left to right as viewed in Figure 5.
  • the exposed surface of the orifice plate 103 is wiped only from a narrow portion (a portion of width a) defined by the location at which the discharge ports shown in Figure 2A are disposed toward a wide portion (a portion of width b).
  • the second blade 402 is fixed at a position for wiping the discharge port forming surfaces of the recording heads 86 which are not wiped by the first blade, i.e., the surface of the keep member 109 lying on the opposite side portions of the exposed surface of the orifice plate in Figure 2A.
  • the reference numeral 500 denotes a pump unit communicating with the cap units 300.
  • the pump unit 500 is used to create negative pressure during the suction process or the like carried out with the cap units 300 joined to the recording heads 86.
  • Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of the detailed construction of the recovery system unit.
  • the cap unit 300 has caps 302 which are in intimate contact with the discharge ports of the recording heads 86, holders 303 supporting the caps, absorbing members 306 for receiving the ink during the idle discharge process and the suction process, suction tubes 304 for sucking the received ink, and a connection tube 305 communicating with the pump unit 500.
  • caps 302 which are in intimate contact with the discharge ports of the recording heads 86, holders 303 supporting the caps, absorbing members 306 for receiving the ink during the idle discharge process and the suction process, suction tubes 304 for sucking the received ink, and a connection tube 305 communicating with the pump unit 500.
  • the same number of (in the present embodiment, four) such cap units 300 as the cartridges C are provided at locations corresponding to the cartridges C and are supported by a cap holder 330.
  • the reference numerals 332 and 334 designate pins projecting from the cap holder 330 and engaging with cam slots (not shown) formed in a fixed recovery system base 350 to guide the cap holder 330 in the left to right direction and vertical direction as viewed in Figure 6.
  • the reference numeral 342 in Figure 6 denotes an engagement portion rising from the cap holder 330 and engaged with the carriage 2 at a position leftward from the start position.
  • the cap holder 330 is moved by the engagement portion 342 against the biasing force of a spring 360.
  • the cap holder 330 is displaced leftwardly and upwardly. Accordingly, the caps 302 come into intimate contact with the surroundings of the discharge ports of the recording heads 86 to thereby accomplish capping.
  • the position of the carriage 2 in which this capping is done is the home position.
  • the cap 302 is formed of an elastic material, and comprises a fixed portion 302a joined to the holder 303, and an edge portion 302c for stretching a tubular structure 302b over the fixed portion 302a, the portions 302a and 302c being molded as a unit.
  • the cap 302 can be formed of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or butyl rubber.
  • the thickness t of the edge portion 302c may preferably be greater than 0.4 mm and less than 1 mm.
  • the tubular structure 302b of the cap 302 has elasticity in the direction in which the discharge port sealing means bears against the discharge port forming surface, and this elasticity is utilized to achieve the equalization of the cap to the discharge port forming surface.
  • the bearing of the cap unit 300 against the discharge port forming surface is accomplished by the movement of the cap holder 330 relative to the recovery system base 350. If at this time, the rear end side of the connection tube 304 is opened to the atmosphere and said bearing is effected, the interior of the cap will be held at the atmospheric pressure and the ink meniscus in the discharge ports will not retract even if the space in the cap decreases.
  • a lifting mechanism for the first blade 401 will now be described.
  • the reference numeral 410 designates a vertically movable blade holder, on the upper portion of which the first blade 401 is mounted by a mounting means 411.
  • the reference numeral 412 denotes a holder returning spring for biasing the blade holder 410 to its lowered position.
  • the reference numeral 430 designates a lock lever pivotally movable about a pin 414 projectedly provided on the blade holder 410 and engageable with the upper surface portion of a stopper 432 to thereby lock the blade holder 410 in its elevated position.
  • the lock lever 430 is biased upwardly as viewed in Figure 7 by a spring 434. Also, in the state shown in Figure 7, the lock lever 430 is engaged with a portion projectedly provided on the blade holder 410 and is held in the position shown.
  • the reference numeral 440 denotes a release lever pivotally movable about a pin 418 projected from the blade holder 410 to release the locking state of the lock lever 430 in the elevated position of the blade holder 410.
  • the release lever 440 releases said locking by moving upwardly of the pin 418. That is, a pin 442 engageable with the lock lever 430 is studded on the release lever 440, and when the release lever 440 pivots counter-clockwise about the pin 418 as viewed in Figure 7, the pin 442 pivotably moves the lock lever 430 about the pin 414, thereby releasing the engagement between the lock lever 430 and the upper surface portion of the stopper 432.
  • These mechanisms are for elevating the blade holder 410 by a driving force from a cam (not shown) operated with the movement of the carriage 2, and are not of restrictive construction to the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the details when the blade 401 effects wiping.
  • wiping is effected only from the portion in which the width from the discharge ports to the level difference portion is small to the portion in which said width is great. That is, wiping is effected in the direction in which the arrangement of the discharge ports is biased on the orifice plate 103. By doing so, a clean discharge port surface is represented by wiping and it becomes possible to keep a good discharge condition even if the neighborhood of the discharge ports is wet or dust or the like adheres to the discharge port surface.
  • the first blade is appropriately moved up and down as described above, whereby wiping is effected from the portion in which the distance to the level difference portion is small to the portion in which said distance is great, and even in the worst case, the ink and dust do not come to the discharge ports 108 and therefore, it becomes possible to maintain a stable discharge condition without affecting the discharge ports.
  • the wiping direction is prescribed as shown in Figure 9 and therefore, if no consideration is paid to the wiping speed, i.e., the movement speed of the carriage 2, there may arise a problem in the follow-up property with respect to the unevenness of the discharge port forming surface, due to various factors (such as modulus of elasticity, etc.) determined by the material, shape, etc. of the blade 401. That is, there may occur the inconvenience that the first blade 401 cannot follow up the level difference portion and when this restitutes, the first blade has already skipped over the discharge ports 108. So, in the present embodiment, those factors are taken into consideration so that during wiping, the carriage 2 may be moved at a lower speed than during the ordinary scanning to thereby ensure the neighborhood of the discharge ports to be reliably wiped.
  • the wiping speed i.e., the movement speed of the carriage 2
  • Figure 10 illustrates the manner of cleaning by the blade 401.
  • the blade 401 As described above, with the sliding of the cap unit 300, the blade 401 is elevated, whereafter wiping is effected with the rightward movement of the carriage 2. At this time, in the present embodiment, the ink wiped off and received by the blade 401 flows only along the surface of the blade 401 and does not drip into the apparatus.
  • the blade 401 is lowered when the carriage 2 moves from right.
  • the blade cleaner 403 even if mounted on the cap unit 300, is in contact with the blade 401 because the cap unit 300 has already returned to its original position. Accordingly, with the lowering of the blade 401, any ink or the like adhering to the surface thereof is received by the cleaner 403 in the form of an absorbing member and thus, is reliably wiped off by the blade 401.
  • the pump unit 500 will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.
  • the reference numeral 502 designates the regulation surface of the recovery system base provided in the form of a semicylindrical surface. Tubes 304 constructed as flexible members are caused to creep on at least the regulation surface 502.
  • the reference numeral 510 denotes a pressing roller which rotates about a pump shaft 504 while urging the tube 304 against the regulation surface 502. The pressing roller 510 rotates while pressing the tubes 304 in the direction of arrow, thereby creating negative pressure in the space leading to the cap unit 300 and effecting ink suction from the discharge ports.
  • the reference numeral 520 designates a guide roller for rotating the pressing roller 510.
  • the guide roller 520 is supported on the pump shaft 504.
  • the reference numeral 522 denotes a holder for mounting the shaft 512 of the pressing roller 510 on the guide roller 520.
  • the reference numeral 524 designates a partition wall as a guide provided integrally with the guide roller 520 to suppress the tubes 304 and separate them from one another.
  • the reference numeral 526 denotes a position cam made integral with the guide roller 520 to receive the transmission of a driving force for rotating the guide roller 520.
  • the reference numeral 528 designates a pump driving gear having a gear meshing with a gear 15A provided on the shaft of a recording medium conveying (sub-scanning) roller 15 and a gear provided integrally with a position cam 526. That is, in the present embodiment, the driving force for pump driving (the rotation of the pressing roller) is received from the roller 15.
  • the reference numeral 530 denotes a leaf switch as detection means provided to recognize the roller position.
  • the leaf switch 530 is switched by a cam 532 rotating about the pump shaft 504 with the guide roller 520.
  • K ⁇ - M ⁇ are the set positions of the pressing roller 510. Also, in Figure 13, it is to be understood that the counter-clockwise direction (the direction in which suction is effected) is "+" and the clockwise direction is "-".
  • the position K ⁇ is a state in which the pressing roller 510 is not crushing the tube 304, and in this state, the interior of the cap or the ink suction system is in communication with the atmosphere even during capping.
  • the positions L ⁇ and M ⁇ are positions in which the pressing roller 510 is stopped after it has rotated in the + direction while crushing the tube 304 along the regulation surface 502, and in these set positions, the tube 304 is crushed and therefore, during capping, the interior of the cap or the suction system is hermetically sealed with respect to the atmosphere.
  • the present embodiment there are two forms of recovery process by ink suction.
  • One form is that effected by the operation of suitable operation means such as a switch or effected automatically as when the ink discharge condition does not become good after a relatively long-period downtime of the apparatus or even by mere idle discharge, wiping or other recovery process.
  • suitable operation means such as a switch or effected automatically as when the ink discharge condition does not become good after a relatively long-period downtime of the apparatus or even by mere idle discharge, wiping or other recovery process.
  • a great suction force is made to act on the discharge ports in the cap, that is, the flow speed of the ink is increased, thereby suddenly discharging the ink.
  • an idle discharge operation is executed (this is called great recovery or recovery using period).
  • the other form is that effected to better the discharge condition by refreshing or cooling immediately after a predetermined amount of recording operation.
  • the temperature of the ink becomes high to some degree and therefore the viscosity of the ink becomes small at this time and the ink is relatively easy to be discharged and therefore, a suction force smaller than that during the great recovery is made to act on the ink to effect the discharge of the ink (which will hereinafter be referred to as small recovery).
  • the pressing roller 510 rotated in the + direction is set at the positions L ⁇ and M ⁇ and held thereat for a predetermined time.
  • the acting suction force and the amount of suction are determined by an increase in the content volume of the ink suction system, i.e., the content volume corresponding to the length from a position in which the pressing roller 510 rotated in the + direction begins to crush the tubes 304 to the stopped position and therefore, when the pressing roller 510 is stopped at the position M ⁇ , the suction force becomes smaller than when the pressing roller is stopped at the position L ⁇ .
  • the ink is sucked out more slowly from the discharge ports during the small recovery than during the great recovery.
  • the state of the ink flow becomes stable and minute bubbles or the like which may be present inside the discharge ports, i.e., such minute bubbles or the like that cannot be removed due to the creation of turbulence or eddy when the suction force is great and the state of the ink flow is not stable, can also be reliably eliminated. Also, at this time, the amount of ink sucked becomes smaller and therefore, it never happens that the ink is consumed more than necessary.
  • the pressing roller can be set at the position L ⁇ also during the small recovery and the time for which the pressing roller is stopped thereat can be made smaller than during the great recovery. Also, if it is intended to ensure chiefly the removal of minute bubbles or the like, the rotational speed of the pressing roller 510 may be decreased during the small recovery so that ink suction may be effected slowly. Further, in this case, if the stopped position is determined appropriately, a reduction in the amount of ink consumed can also be achieved.
  • the means for forcibly discharging the ink use may be made of other form of suction pump or means for effecting forced discharge by pressing the ink supply system leading to the discharge ports, but the use of the pump unit 500 as in the present embodiment will make the above-described control or regulation easy to accomplish.
  • a ⁇ - D ⁇ are positions when the head positioned most adjacent to the recording area is the reference.
  • Figure 14A shows the reversing position during wiping. Further, in the present embodiment, this position is defined as a position set when capping is effected or when the blade 401 is elevated. In the present embodiment, the operation for capping or the operation for protruding the blade is performed with the movement of the carriage 2 and therefore, it is necessary that a force greater than a certain degree be transmitted from the carriage 2. So, if the carriage 2 is set at the appropriate position A ⁇ and is moved from this position to thereby utilize the inertia thereof, a driving force sufficient to drive the above-described mechanism will be obtained without bringing about the bulkiness of a motor which is the drive source of the carriage 2 and an increase in the driving electric power.
  • the position B ⁇ in Figure 14B shows the start position which is the start position of the recording operation and the reversing position during the recording operation.
  • the respective heads 86 become opposed to the respective caps 300, but the cap holder 330 and the blade holder 410 are not yet driven and accordingly, the caps 300 are separate from the heads 86 and the blade 401 is not yet elevated. Idle discharge is effected in this position.
  • the position ⁇ indicated in Figure 14C is a position at which the upward movement of the blade holder 410 is started. The blade holder passes this position or is set at this position when capping is effected or when wiping is effected.
  • the position D ⁇ in Figure 14D is a position at which capping is effected with the cap holder 330 elevated, and in this position, the great recovery or the small recovery is effected or the standby during the downtime of recording is effected.
  • Figures 15A - 15E show a summary of the operation sequence in the present embodiment.
  • “1” is a column showing the position of the pressing roller 510
  • “2” is a column showing the position of the carriage 2.
  • K ⁇ - M ⁇ are the same as the roller positions shown in Figure 13
  • a ⁇ - D ⁇ are the same as the carriage positions shown in Figures 14A - 14D.
  • Figure 15A shows the initial process time after the closing of the power switch, and in this process, the initialization of the positions of the pressing roller and the carriage is effected.
  • Figure 15B shows the state when a command for the starting of recording is given as by the depression of a copy button, and after this, the feeding of the recording medium by a cassette or by manual supply is effected.
  • Figure 15C shows the process during wiping or idle dishcarge effected at suitable timing (for example, each recording scan of 5 - 10 lines) during the recording process.
  • Figure 15D shows the recording termination process including the small recovery process carried out immediately after the termination of a predetermined amount of recording (in the present embodiment, recording of one page onto the recording medium).
  • Figure 15E shows the process during the great recovery.
  • Figure 16 shows an example of the construction of the control system of the present embodiment.
  • the reference numeral 800 designates a controller which forms the main control portion and which has a CPU 801, for example, in the form of a microcomputer for executing the procedure shown in Figures 17 and 18, an ROM 803 storing therein a program corresponding to that procedure and other fixed data, and an RAM 805 provided with an area for developing image data and an area for work.
  • the reference numeral 810 denotes a host device which forms a supply source of image data (the host device may be a reader unit, i.e., the means 212 of Figure 6 or the like). Between this host device and the controller, image data and other command and status signals, etc. are transmitted and received through an interface (I/F) 812.
  • I/F interface
  • the reference numeral 820 designates switches for receiving the command input by the operator, including a power switch 822, a copy switch 824 for commanding the start of recording (copying) and a great recovery switch 826 for commanding the start of the great recovery.
  • the reference numeral 830 denotes sensors for detecting the state of the apparatus, such as a sensor 832 for detecting the positions of the carriage 2 such as the home position and the start position, and a sensor 834 including the leaf switch 530 and used to detect the position of the pump.
  • the reference numeral 840 designates a head driver for driving the discharge energy generating elements (in the present embodiment, the electro-thermal conversion members) of the recording heads 86 in conformity with recording data or the like.
  • the reference numeral 850 denotes a main scan motor for moving the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction (the left to right direction in Figure 7), and the reference numeral 852 designates a driver for the main scan motor.
  • the reference numeral 860 denotes a sub-scan motor which is used to convey (sub-scan) the recording medium and in the present embodiment, drives the pressing roller 510 through the roller 15.
  • the reference numeral 854 designates a driver for the sub-scan motor.
  • the reference numeral 870 denotes a suction pump such as the aforedescribed tube pump, the driving of which is governed by a motor driver 853.
  • Figure 17 is a schematic flow chart of the recording process procedure according to the present embodiment.
  • a command signal for the starting of recording such as a signal for the operation of the copy switch 824, or a command from the host device 810, or a paper feeding signal during the so-called manual paper supply, is waited for.
  • a recording preparation process is carried out at a step SB.
  • a step S3 the recording of a predetermined number of lines (in the present embodiment, plural lines of 5-10) is effected, and at a step S5, whether the recording of one page has been terminated is judged. If the judgment is negative, the recovery process during recording of a step SC is carried out, that is, one recovery process is carried out each time the recording of a predetermined number of lines is terminated, and if the judgment is affirmative, a record termination process is carried out at a step SD, whereafter shift is made to the step S1.
  • the setting of the carriage 2 to the home position (the position D ⁇ ) is effected at a step SA1.
  • the pressing roller 510 is set at the position L ⁇ (which will hereinafter be also called the roller's home position).
  • the movement thereof is utilized to drive the cap holder 330 and the blade holder 510 and therefore, the carriage 2 is set at a suitable position in which the carriage does not overlap with the recovery system unit (for example, the position A ⁇ in Figure 16) to obtain an appropriate inertia force so that an approach run may be effected.
  • the recording heads 86 are capped and the space in the caps becomes hermetically sealed. Also, at this time, the blade 401 protrudes and has passed the position for being locked (the position ⁇ in Figure 14) and therefore, the blade 401 is in its elevated position (this operation is similar also in the following). If the carriage 2 and the roller 510 are in their respective home positions, the present step may be skipped.
  • a step SA3 the carriage 2 is moved toward the position A ⁇ , whereby the wiping of the discharge port forming surface is effected.
  • the blade 401 has already protruded by the setting of the carriage 2 to the home position.
  • the movement at this time is effected at a speed lower than that during the ordinary recording scan, i.e., a speed at which the blade 401 follows the level difference to effect reliable wiping.
  • step SA5 the pressing roller 510 is rotated to the position K ⁇ , and at a step SA7, the carriage 2 is set at the start position (the position B in Figure 14), and idle discharge is effected at this position. That is, idle discharge is effected after wiping. This is similar also in the ensuing process, and in the present embodiment, idle discharge is effected without fail after wiping.
  • the carriage comes into engagement with the release lever, and in order to operate this, the blade 401 is lowered as previously described.
  • the idle discharge is effected to prevent color mixture or the like which may occur by one blade wiping a plurality of recording heads, and in the present embodiment, in order to accomplish this more effectively, idle discharge is more deliberately effected for the recording heads wiped later or the recording heads corresponding to ink having high brightness of color (such as yellow) because color mixture is readily conspicuous in such recording heads. That is, for those recording heads which are readily susceptible to color mixture, the time for which the idle discharge process is carried out is lengthened or the frequency of discharge is increased.
  • the driving frequency for the electro-thermal conversion members is made lower (e.g. 14 ) during idle discharge than during ordinary recording. This is because it has been confirmed that a lower driving frequency results in less wetness of the discharge port forming surface by the ink. Further, in effecting idle discharge, the group of discharge ports is divided into blocks for each predetermined number (e.g. 8) so that the electro-thermal conversion members may be successively driven in each block. It has also been confirmed that this makes it difficult for wetness to occur. These modes are similar also in idle discharge effected in the following.
  • the width, voltage, shape, etc. of the driving pulse may be changed instead of or simultaneously with changing the driving frequency, and the manner of driving may be suitably determined.
  • the carriage 2 and the roller 510 are set at their respective home positions.
  • the carriage 2 is first set at its home position to thereby effect capping, but at this time, at a step SA5, the roller 510 is set at the position K for communication with the atmosphere and therefore, positive pressure does not act in the caps even by a change in the volume in the caps during capping and accordingly, it never happens that air comes into the discharge ports.
  • the roller 510 is rotated in the - direction in Figure 13 (if rotated in the + direction, the roller will absorb the ink and this is not preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of ink consumed) and is set at the position L ⁇ .
  • step S1 When the starting of recording is commanded (step S1), the preparation process is carried out as shown in Figure 18(B) before shift is made to the recording operation (step S3).
  • step SB1 wiping similar to the step SA3 is effected (the present procedure is carried out after the setting to the home position at a step SA9 and therefore, the blade 401 is already in its elevated position and accordingly, wiping is effected by the movement of the carriage to the position A ⁇ ).
  • step SA7 the carriage 2 is set at the start position and idle discharge is effected.
  • the subsequent recording operation is performed always from this position B ⁇ .
  • step SC1 the carriage 2 is first moved to the position ⁇ and the blade holder 410 is driven to protrude the blade 401. Thereafter, as at the steps SB1 and SB3, wiping (step SC3) and the setting to the start position and idle discharge (step SC5) are executed. If the present procedure is executed while the conveying process of the recording medium is carried out, the throughput of recording will not be greatly reduced.
  • step SD1 When the recording of one page is terminated and the recording medium for that page is discharged, the pressing roller 510 is subsequently set at the position K ⁇ as shown in Figure 18(D) (step SD1). In this state, at a step SD3, the carriage 2 is set at the home position and capping is effected.
  • a step SD5 the small recovery operation is performed.
  • the pressing roller is first set at the position M ⁇ and is held in this position for a predetermined time (e.g. 0.1 second), and ink suction is effected.
  • steps SD7, SD9, SD11 and SD13 processes similar to the steps SA3, SA5, SA7 and SA9 are carried out, and the apparatus holds the next recording start command with the recording heads being capped.
  • steps SE5, SE7, SE9 and SE11 processes similar to the steps SA3, SA5, SA7 and SA9 of Figure 18(A) are carried out, thus terminating the present procedure.
  • predetermined driving data for idle discharge can be set in the driver 840 and this driver can be started at suitable timing.
  • Figure 19 shows a state in which, in the head chips, dissolved gases are deposited in the ink by the apparatus being left as it is or residual bubbles or the like during the discharge gather to form many foams.
  • the discharge energy generating elements such as the electro-thermal conversion elements 112 are driven to perform the discharge operation for recording
  • the ink is supplied from the liquid chamber 106 into the liquid paths 107 which have effected discharge and therefore, the flowage of the ink takes place in the common liquid chamber 106.
  • negative pressure is created and therefore, bubbles gather in the liquid paths to hinder the supply of the ink to the liquid paths. Accordingly, discharge becomes unstable and slippage or non-discharge occurs. In an extreme case, bubbles may stick to the rear ends of the liquid paths to completely shut off the supply of the ink into the liquid paths, thus causing non-discharge.
  • Figure 20 shows the size of bubbles and the rate of bubbles which could not removed even by suction but remained.
  • the diameter of the liquid paths in the recording head at this time was 40 ⁇ m, and a multinozzle head having sixty-four discharge ports was used.
  • the maximum negative pressure created by the suction pump is -0.5 atm.
  • bubbles larger than the diameter of the liquid paths are difficult to remove, but bubbles larger than a certain degree of size are easy to remove. That is, bubbles smaller than the diameter of the liquid paths can of course be removed, and it is considered that even bubbles larger than the diameter of the liquid paths, if they become larger than a certain degree of size, are deformed and go into the liquid paths and such bubbles communicate with the atmosphere through the liquid paths, whereby the ink fills the liquid paths again.
  • the remain rate of bubbles can be decreased by increasing the negative pressure of the pump (-0.5 atm ⁇ -0.6 atm), but a great effect cannot be expected from doing so, and it is not desirable from the viewpoint of making the pump construction compact.
  • the electro-thermal conversion members 112 as the means for creating bubbles during discharge are driven and therefore, the temperature of the ink in each liquid path rises to reduce the viscosity of the ink and reduce the surface tension of the ink and thus, the flow path resistance power in the liquid paths become smaller and the removal of bubbles becomes easier. This is particularly effective because the viscosity increase when the head has been left as it is for a long time has considerably progressed.
  • the frequency in other words, the interval of bubbling
  • the interval of bubbling is the time during which the retraction of meniscus is maximum
  • bubbles formed from the electro-thermal conversion elements (heaters for discharge) and the meniscus will be united and the rear end of the meniscus will become sharp.
  • the above-mentioned ink fall is expedited.
  • the ink in the inner part of the discharge ports of the head chip become null even if the ink fall occurs, and almost all of the ink corresponding thereto returns into the tank. Consequently, the ink hardly leaves the head and thus, the ink is not wasted.
  • suction is effected after the ink in the inner part of the discharge ports becomes substantially null.
  • the suction capacity of the pump is set such that the interior of the head chip is filled with ink and the suction of a further surplus amount can be accomplished.
  • an external heater is driven or a discharge heater is driven so that such a degree of heat that will not cause discharge may be generated therein, thereby raising the temperature of the ink in the liquid paths and reducing the viscosity and surface tension of the ink.
  • a discharge heater is driven so that such a degree of heat that will not cause discharge may be generated therein, thereby raising the temperature of the ink in the liquid paths and reducing the viscosity and surface tension of the ink.
  • the present invention is applied to a method of causing ink fall as in the second embodiment, the surface tension of the ink is reduced and therefore the meniscus force at the fore ends of the liquid paths weakens and further, the refill frequency is reduced by the reduction in the surface tension and thus, it becomes possible to cause ink fall effectively without making the discharge interval smaller than the shortest discharge interval of the body (which corresponds to a case where so-called solid printing is effected).
  • liquid paths to be driven are limited to particular ones (for example, the liquid paths on the opposite sides of a plurality of liquid paths are driven and conversely the central area is (not driven). That is, if the ink is discharged from all liquid paths, it will become difficult for bubbles to be deformed because each bubble is subjected to a force from the plurality of liquid paths, whereas in the fourth embodiment, negative pressure is made to act concentratively from predetermined liquid paths, whereby the degree of deformation of bubbles can be enhanced.
  • the start timings of suction and discharge are not made completely simultaneous with each other but are more or less staggered relative to each other. That is, design is made such that the maximum generated pressure during suction and the maximum negative pressure during discharge take place at the same time. This is because the maximum negative pressure during discharge takes place when formed bubbles disappear, and takes place substantially simultaneously with discharge, while the maximum generated pressure by the pump is delayed by a time for which the roller or the like of the pump is moved. That is, it is better that the suction operation is effected more or less earlier than discharge. Thereby, the removal rate of bubbles can be greatly enhanced.
  • idle suction may be effected simultaneously with suction, and the great recovery process may be suitably divided into two kinds, i.e., a kind in which suction alone is effected and a kind in which suction and idle discharge are used at a time.
  • the pump for causing a suction force to act may be not only in the form using a tube and a rollers as described above, but also in a form comprising a cylinder and a piston. Further, the pump may be not only one which sucks the ink from the discharge ports and effects forced discharge, but also one which pressurizes the ink supply system.
  • Figure 22 illustrates the flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as a recovery mode, without sticking to the above-described preferred forms of the apparatus construction.
  • the recovery state of the present invention becomes more preferable if a greater quantity of ink can be uniformly discharged from each discharge port of the head per unit time.
  • the recovery mode ST1 is adopted as a flow chart or as ordinary main suction recovery by a signal from a selection key.
  • the heating step ST2 for the ink in the head is a carried out in accordance with a recovery mode command.
  • This step ST2 may preferably raise the temperature of the interior of the common liquid chamber, but may raise the temperature of only the interior of the liquid paths of the head. More preferably, this step may raise the temperatures of both.
  • Well-known means such as an external heater or a heater in the liquid chamber can be adopted for the heating of the common liquid chamber.
  • the heating of the liquid paths can be accomplished simply by supplying an electrical signal so as to effect the aforedescribed preheating if the discharge energy generating elements are heat generating elements for forming bubbles.
  • the discharge energy generating elements are electro-mechanical conversion elements
  • heating may be done by the utilization of a heater capable of heating each or all of the liquid paths, or light energy or the like.
  • the driving step ST3 for the elements for discharging the ink is carried out substantially simultaneously with the step of driving the suction means (and/or pressure means).
  • the uniformization of the ink suction force acting or respective ones of a plurality of liquid paths and discharge ports can be achieved and also the recovery efficiency can be improved.
  • carrying out the steps ST3 and ST4 substantially at a time includes all that can achieve a generally uniform suction action and a recovery effect excellent as a whole within a relatively short time without making the recovery pump device bulky as in the conventional suction recovery.
  • the above-described embodiments reduce the inertia force of the ink and improve the initial ink discharge condition and therefore can solve the problems peculiar to the prior art.
  • FIG 11 is a graph in which the abscissa represents time T and above is shown the pressure P (static pressure) in the ordinate showing the variation in pressure during the forced discharge period and below is shown the pulse voltage V in the ordinate during the element driving period.
  • PMAX is the maximum pressure during the forced discharge period and is produced at a time T4. This can be mentioned, for example, as the maximum pressure produced in one stroke of the pump.
  • P2 indicates a pressure value which is 50% of the maximum pressure PMAX
  • P1 indicates a pressure value which is 30% of the maximum pressure PMAX.
  • the times when these pressures P1 and P2 are exhibited are T2 and T3 in succession.
  • the pressures P1 and P2 are produced during the pressure rise and during the pressure fall, and the time when the pressure P1 is produced is a time T5.
  • a time T1 is the time when the pressure is produced, and a time T6 is the time when the pressure disappears.
  • T0 is the time when a start signal for the recovery mode is received.
  • a plurality of pulses PUL of the voltage V P for recovery are input during a time T3 to a time T4. Respective ones of these pulses are input to all discharge energy generating elements of the recording head substantially at a time.
  • at least one element driving pulse is supplied during the forced ink discharge period from a point of time whereat the pressure is 50% of the maximum pressure PMAX at static pressure until the pressure becomes the maximum pressure PMAX.
  • the element driving pulses PUL are input during the increase in the pressure P, but an increase in the recovery force which means an increase in gross pressure can be achieved by imparting the element driving pulses during the fall of the pressure P. From this point of view, it is preferable to impart said pulses until the time T5 when pressure P1 is reached, preferably during the period until the time T6 when the pressure P is present.
  • the pressure P for forced discharge decreases and therefore, in some cases, a slight amount of ink which has been brought to the vicinity of the discharge ports by slight pressure may remain on the discharge port forming surface and thus, it is preferable to continue to supply the element driving pulses PUL still for a predetermined period after the time T6 when the pressure P disappears, i.e., until the time T7, and more improve the state of each ink path by a sudden discharge force.
  • the sequence in which the great recovery i.e., the recovery mode having the above-described recovery using period, is executed, whereafter the discharge port forming surface is cleaned and thereafter idle discharge is effected is preferable for the following reason.
  • the great recovery is used for both of the purpose of eliminating the stay of bubbles in the head and the purpose of discharging any cause of clogging out of the discharge ports. At such time, unnecessary matters such as dust and solid matters which have gone out of the discharge parts may remain around the discharge ports.
  • the cleaning step is important to remove these matters effectively, because even if there are minute unnecessary matters which will be slightly returned toward the discharge ports by this cleaning, they can be reliably separated from the discharge port forming surface by the discharge force of idle discharge, without resorting to the great recovery.
  • the inertia force provided by the intimate contact between the ink and the ink path wall or the ink chamber wall, and the loss of energy is great when the pumping force for forced discharge is resorted to as recovery pressure.
  • the element driving pulses supplied from such preceding start of the element driving period until the above-described recovery using period may preferably be constant in period. Further, it will provide a preferred embodiment that in order to obtain a maximum recovery force, the element driving pulses are applied at the time T4 and more specifically, the maximum growth times of bubbles formed by the heat generating elements are made coincident with each other.
  • This embodiment is special one of those embodiments in which a normal recovery mode and the aforedescribed mode for utilizing both recovery are provided as the recovery mode and these are switched and executed. That is, where the ink containing portion has an ink absorbing member therein, the negative pressure fluctuation range often is -30 mmHg to -120 mmHg. Assuming that when the negative pressure is small, e.g. smaller than -50 mmHg, sufficient recovery is attained by only the normal recovery, the above-described great recovery can be effected within only the range of negative pressure of -50 mmHg to -120 mmHg.
  • the flow chart of Figure 12 shows a subroutine in which, as described above, when a predetermined value as the reference is discriminated by a detection mechanism for integration count or remaining amount detection (SM1), the normal recovery SM3 for idle discharge alone or for suction alone is effected for more than the reference value (which assumes an absolute value in the case of negative pressure) and the above-described mode for utilizing both recovery SM2 is selected for the reference value or more.
  • SM1 detection mechanism for integration count or remaining amount detection
  • the present invention has the above-described various embodiments as a plurality of execution processes in the mode for utilizing both recovery, and covers any selective use thereof. Above all, the second embodiment is especially preferable and makes the recovery force greatest.
  • the present invention displays a tremendous effect to a tube pump which will become bulky to produce great pressure, or a recovery mechanism for a plurality of color heads.
  • the present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in the bubble jet type recording head and recording apparatus proposed by Canon Inc., among the ink jet recording systems, because such system can achieve higher density and higher accuracy of recording.
  • the typical construction and principle of this system may preferably be approached by the use of the basic principle disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,723,129 or U.S. Patent No. 4,740,796.
  • This system is also applicable to both of the so-called on-demand type and the so-called continuous type, and particularly in the case of the on-demand type, it is effective because at least one driving signal corresponding to recording information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding nuclear boiling is applied to electro-thermal conversion members disposed correspondingly to sheets or liquid paths retaining liquid (ink) therein, whereby heat energy is generated in the electro-thermal conversion members to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of a recording head with the result that a bubble in the liquid (ink) corresponding at one to one to this driving signal can be formed.
  • this driving signal is made into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble take place appropriately on the spot and therefore, discharge of the liquid (ink) excellent particularly in responsiveness can be accomplished, and this is more preferable.
  • This pulse-shaped driving signal may suitably be one as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,463,359 or U.S. Patent No. 4,345,262. If the conditions described in U.S. Patent No. 4,313,124 which discloses an invention relating to the temperature rise rate of said heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be accomplished.
  • the construction of the recording head besides the combined construction of discharge ports, liquid paths and electro-thermal conversion members as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents (the straight liquid flow paths or the right-angled liquid flow paths), the construction using U.S. Patent No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Patent No. 4,459,600 which disclose a construction in which the heat acting portion is disposed in a crooked area is also covered by the present invention.
  • the present invention is effective for the construction based on Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 59-123670 which discloses a construction in which a slit common to a plurality of electro-thermal conversion members provides the discharge portion of the electro-thermal conversion members or Japanese Laid-Open Patent application No. 59-138461 which discloses a construction in which an opening for absorbing the pressure wave of heat energy is made to correspond to a discharge portion. This is because even if the recording head is in any form, recording can be accomplished reliably and efficiently.
  • the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can effect recording.
  • a recording head may be of a construction in which that length is satisfied by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a construction as a single recording head formed as a unit.
  • the present invention is effective for a case where use is made of a recording head of the serial type as described above which is fixed to an apparatus body, or a recording head of the interchangeable type which is mounted on an apparatus body, whereby the electrical connection thereof to the apparatus body and the supply of ink thereto from the apparatus body become possible.
  • only one head may be provided, for example, correspondingly to ink of single color and besides, a plurality of heads may be provided correspondingly to a plurality of kinds of ink differing in recording color or concentration.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention may take the form of an apparatus used as the image output end of an information processing instrument such as a computer, and in addition, the form of a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further the form of a facsimile apparatus having the signal transmitting and receiving functions.
  • timing drive is carried out so that the forced discharge operation by suction or pressing and the discharge operation by the driving of the discharge energy generating elements may be performed substantially at a time, whereby it becomes possible to simply remove bubbles in the inner part of the discharge ports. Also, it becomes unnecessary that the ability of the forcible recovery means such as a pump for effecting suction or pressing be made great, and this leads to the possibility of making the recording apparatus body compact and low in cost.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Facsimile Heads (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Claims (18)

  1. Procédé pour effectuer une opération de restauration sur une tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre ayant au moins un orifice de décharge pour décharger de l'encre et un moyen de génération d'énergie thermique correspondant pour produire de l'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre par l'orifice de décharge, le procédé comprenant l'accomplissement d'une opération de restauration en appliquant une force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par des moyens d'encapuchonnement, et en attaquant le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre de manière forcée par l'orifice de décharge, caractérisé par la sélection d'un mode parmi un premier mode et un second mode pour l'opération de restauration, en utilisant des moyens de sélection, et par l'application de la force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par les moyens d'encapuchonnement, sans attaquer le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique, lorsque le premier mode est sélectionné en utilisant les moyens de sélection, et en appliquant la force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par les moyens d'encapuchonnement et en attaquant également le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre de manière forcée par l'orifice de décharge, lorsque le second mode est sélectionné en utilisant les moyens de sélection.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre le chauffage de l'encre dans la tête d'enregistrement en réponse au commencement d'une opération de restauration et avant d'effectuer la décharge de l'encre.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2 consistant à effectuer une opération de restauration d'une tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre ayant une pluralité d'orifices de décharge et des moyens de génération d'énergie thermique correspondants pour former des bulles dans l'encre en réponse à des signaux d'attaque.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel dans le second mode l'aspiration est amorcée pendant la croissance de bulles produites par le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique, et elle est commandée de manière que la force d'aspiration maximale agisse pendant la disparition des bulles.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes consistant à effectuer une opération de restauration pour une tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre pour l'enregistrement avec de l'encre fournie par un élément contenant de l'encre à l'intérieur duquel se trouve un élément d'absorption d'encre.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, comprenant l'accomplissement d'une opération de restauration lorsqu'une pression négative de l'élément d'absorption d'encre à une pression statique a une valeur prédéterminée supérieure à une pression initiale.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel on met fin à l'attaque du moyen de génération d'énergie thermique avant la terminaison de la force d'aspiration dans le second mode.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 7, dans lequel on commence l'attaque du moyen de génération d'énergie thermique avant le commencement de la force d'aspiration dans le second mode.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel dans un second mode, l'attaque est effectuée pendant que la force d'aspiration est supérieure à 30% de sa valeur maximale.
  10. Appareil d'enregistrement à jets d'encre pour l'enregistrement par l'utilisation d'une tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre ayant au moins un orifice de décharge (103) pour décharger de l'encre et un moyen de génération d'énergie thermique correspondant pour produire de l'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre par l'orifice de décharge, l'appareil comprenant :
    des moyens d'encapuchonnement (300) pour encapuchonner l'au moins un orifice de décharge;
    des moyens de restauration (870, 840) pour effectuer une opération de restauration pour permettre un fonctionnement correct de la tête d'enregistrement en appliquant une force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par les moyens d'encapuchonnement (300), et en attaquant le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre de manière forcée par l'orifice de décharge,
       caractérisé par des moyens de sélection (826) pour sélectionner un mode parmi un premier mode et un second mode pour une opération de restauration, et par des moyens de commande (800) pour faire en sorte que les moyens de restauration accomplissent une opération de restauration en appliquant la force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par les moyens d'encapuchonnement, sans attaquer le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique, lorsque le premier mode est sélectionné, et pour faire en sorte que les moyens de restauration accomplissent une opération de restauration en appliquant la force d'aspiration à l'orifice de décharge pendant que l'orifice de décharge est encapuchonné par les moyens d'encapuchonnement et également en attaquant le moyen de génération d'énergie thermique pour éjecter de l'encre de manière forcée par l'orifice de décharge lorsque le second mode est sélectionné.
  11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, comprenant en outre une tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre (86) ayant un moyen de génération d'énergie thermique pour générer de l'énergie thermique de façon à former des bulles dans l'encre, et dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour faire en sorte que les moyens de restauration commencent l'aspiration pendant la croissance d'une bulle et sont adaptés pour produire une force d'aspiration maximale pendant la disparition de cette bulle.
  12. Appareil selon la revendication 10 ou 11, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour faire en sorte que l'encre soit chauffée avant une opération de restauration.
  13. Appareil selon la revendication 10, 11 ou 12, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour fixer la fréquence d'attaque du moyen de génération d'énergie thermique à une valeur supérieure à la fréquence de remplissage limite de l'encre dans une opération de restauration.
  14. Appareil selon la revendication 10, 11, 12 ou 13, dans lequel la tête d'enregistrement à jets d'encre est conçue pour être alimentée avec de l'encre provenant d'un élément contenant de l'encre à l'intérieur duquel se trouve un élément d'absorption d'encre.
  15. Appareil selon la revendication 14, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour commander une opération de restauration de façon qu'une pression négative de l'élément d'absorption d'encre à une pression statique ait une valeur prédéterminée supérieure à une pression initiale.
  16. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 15, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour faire cesser l'attaque du moyen de génération d'énergie thermique avant la terminaison de l'aspiration dans le second mode.
  17. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 16, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour commencer l'attaque avant le début de l'aspiration dans le second mode.
  18. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 17, dans lequel les moyens de commande (800) sont conçus pour faire en sorte, dans le second mode, que l'attaque soit effectuée pendant que la force d'aspiration est supérieure à 30% de sa valeur maximale.
EP95200807A 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode Expired - Lifetime EP0670223B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP9540690 1990-04-11
JP95406/90 1990-04-11
JP9540690 1990-04-11
EP91303184A EP0452119B1 (fr) 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91303184A Division EP0452119B1 (fr) 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode
EP91303184.5 Division 1991-04-10

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0670223A2 EP0670223A2 (fr) 1995-09-06
EP0670223A3 EP0670223A3 (fr) 1996-05-08
EP0670223B1 true EP0670223B1 (fr) 2000-07-12

Family

ID=14136793

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91303184A Expired - Lifetime EP0452119B1 (fr) 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode
EP95200807A Expired - Lifetime EP0670223B1 (fr) 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91303184A Expired - Lifetime EP0452119B1 (fr) 1990-04-11 1991-04-10 Méthode de régénération à décharge pour une tête à jet d'encre et dispositif pour l'application de cette méthode

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0452119B1 (fr)
KR (1) KR960005182B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1062515C (fr)
AT (2) ATE194552T1 (fr)
AU (2) AU7434291A (fr)
CA (1) CA2040120C (fr)
DE (2) DE69117559T2 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69328942T2 (de) * 1992-02-10 2000-11-30 Canon K.K., Tokio/Tokyo Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung
JP3159225B2 (ja) * 1992-06-26 2001-04-23 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
EP0584960B1 (fr) * 1992-08-26 1997-01-02 Hewlett-Packard Company Calotte d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre ayant une lèvre suspendue
KR970003661B1 (ko) * 1992-09-01 1997-03-20 캐논 가부시끼가이샤 기록 장치
EP0765752B1 (fr) 1993-03-11 1999-08-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre
JP3233175B2 (ja) * 1993-03-11 2001-11-26 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット式記録装置
JP3253766B2 (ja) * 1993-07-06 2002-02-04 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置用回復処理装置
GB2284576B (en) * 1993-12-10 1998-07-08 Seiko Epson Corp Ink jet recording apparatus
US5805180A (en) * 1994-08-26 1998-09-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus which performs suction recovery with a cap and method for same
JPH0957989A (ja) * 1995-08-29 1997-03-04 Oki Data:Kk インクジェット記録装置
JP2878214B2 (ja) * 1996-11-20 1999-04-05 新潟日本電気株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
US6273546B1 (en) 1996-11-29 2001-08-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Capping unit having a decreased load during a peeling operation and ink-jet recording apparatus using the same
US6406123B1 (en) * 1998-09-07 2002-06-18 Seiko Epson Corporation Capping unit for ink jet recording head incorporated in ink jet recording apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
JP2001063102A (ja) 1999-08-24 2001-03-13 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置の吸引回復方法
DE60140066D1 (de) * 2000-08-11 2009-11-12 Canon Finetech Inc Tintenstrahldrucker und reinigungsverfahren für wiederherstellungsverfahren
JP5451103B2 (ja) * 2008-03-25 2014-03-26 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置および記録ヘッドの回復処理方法
CN102858547A (zh) * 2010-05-02 2013-01-02 Xjet有限公司 带有自清洗、防沉积与除烟气装置的打印系统
CN110507173B (zh) * 2018-05-21 2021-04-16 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 烹饪器具及其控制方法、控制装置和计算机可读存储介质
JP7224836B2 (ja) * 2018-10-05 2023-02-20 キヤノン株式会社 記録装置および回復方法

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CA1127227A (fr) 1977-10-03 1982-07-06 Ichiro Endo Procede d'enregistrement a jet liquide et appareil d'enregistrement
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DE3040055A1 (de) 1979-10-23 1981-05-14 Canon K.K., Tokyo Tintenstrahlschreiber
US4558333A (en) 1981-07-09 1985-12-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid jet recording head
JPS59123670A (ja) 1982-12-28 1984-07-17 Canon Inc インクジエツトヘツド
JPS59138461A (ja) 1983-01-28 1984-08-08 Canon Inc 液体噴射記録装置
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7434291A (en) 1991-10-17
EP0452119B1 (fr) 1996-03-06
EP0670223A3 (fr) 1996-05-08
DE69132320T2 (de) 2000-12-14
KR910018183A (ko) 1991-11-30
AU7037094A (en) 1994-10-13
ATE194552T1 (de) 2000-07-15
EP0452119A2 (fr) 1991-10-16
DE69117559T2 (de) 1996-09-05
DE69117559D1 (de) 1996-04-11
EP0670223A2 (fr) 1995-09-06
CN1057428A (zh) 1992-01-01
CA2040120A1 (fr) 1991-10-12
DE69132320D1 (de) 2000-08-17
ATE134932T1 (de) 1996-03-15
EP0452119A3 (en) 1991-12-27
KR960005182B1 (ko) 1996-04-22
CA2040120C (fr) 1996-03-26
AU676924B2 (en) 1997-03-27
CN1062515C (zh) 2001-02-28

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