EP2639071B1 - Appareil d'éjection de liquide et procédé de commande pour tête à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Appareil d'éjection de liquide et procédé de commande pour tête à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2639071B1
EP2639071B1 EP13159425.1A EP13159425A EP2639071B1 EP 2639071 B1 EP2639071 B1 EP 2639071B1 EP 13159425 A EP13159425 A EP 13159425A EP 2639071 B1 EP2639071 B1 EP 2639071B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ejection
drive voltage
liquid
ink
nozzles
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP13159425.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2639071A1 (fr
Inventor
Ryuji Tsukamoto
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Fujifilm Corp
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Fujifilm Corp
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Publication of EP2639071A1 publication Critical patent/EP2639071A1/fr
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Publication of EP2639071B1 publication Critical patent/EP2639071B1/fr
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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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
    • B41J2/155—Arrangement thereof for line printing
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04581—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04588—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits using a specific waveform
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04596—Non-ejecting pulses
    • 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
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14201—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
    • B41J2/14233—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm
    • 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
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/1433—Structure of nozzle plates

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and an inkjet head drive method, and more particularly to drive technology for avoiding ejection abnormalities due to nozzle blockages in an inkjet head.
  • An inkjet recording apparatus which forms a color image on a recording medium by ejecting color ink from an inkjet head is commonly used as a general image forming apparatus, see for instance US-A-2010/0066787 .
  • An inkjet recording apparatus ejects very fine ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles provided in an inkjet head.
  • an ink ejection surface of an inkjet head (a nozzle surface in which nozzle openings are formed) is covered with a cap when printing has been completed. Furthermore, the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-137252 below is known as technology for preventing ink blockages in the nozzles.
  • Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-137252 discloses technology which prevents blockages caused by a film of ink formed in the vicinity of the nozzle openings when not printing, by applying a portion of a drive signal to piezoelectric elements belonging to nozzle openings which are not ejecting ink droplets, so as to cause the meniscus in the nozzle openings to vibrate.
  • the ink (solvent) in the vicinity of the nozzles which has increased in viscosity due to the evaporation of the solvent is churned, and increase in the viscosity of the ink in the vicinity of the nozzles is prevented, thereby preventing ejection abnormalities due to blockages of the nozzles.
  • nozzle maintenance such as dummy ejection (spitting) or suctioning, or the like, at a position where no recording medium is present.
  • the present invention was devised in view of these circumstances, an object thereof being to provide a liquid ejection apparatus and an inkjet head drive method whereby ejection abnormalities caused by increase in the viscosity of ink inside nozzles are prevented.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage which does not cause ejection of liquid from a nozzle is supplied to the pressurization device, so as to cause liquid inside the nozzle to vibrate and to overflow out onto the liquid ejection surface, as well as causing a flowing movement of liquid which covers the liquid ejection surface, whereby increase in the viscosity of the liquid due to drying is suppressed.
  • Fig. 1 is an external perspective drawing of an inkjet recording apparatus (a liquid ejection apparatus) relating to a embodiment of the present invention.
  • This inkjet recording apparatus 10 is a wide-format printer which forms a color image on the recording medium 12 by using dryable ink.
  • a wide-format printer is an apparatus which is suitable for recording a wide image formation range, such as for large posters or commercial wall advertisements, or the like.
  • a printer corresponding to a medium having a size of super A3 or greater is called "wide-format".
  • ink which includes a volatile solvent, such as water or alcohol, and from which a component evaporate off in air is called a “dryable ink (dryable liquid)".
  • dryable ink dryable liquid
  • the dryable ink may be simply called “ink”.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 10 includes an apparatus main body 20 and a stand 22 which supports the apparatus main body 20.
  • the apparatus main body 20 includes a drop-on-demand type of inkjet head 24 which ejects ink toward a recording medium (medium) 12, a platen 26 which supports the recording medium 12, and a guide mechanism 28 and a carriage 30 which form a head movement device (scanning device).
  • the guide mechanism 28 is disposed so as to extend above the platen 26, following a scanning direction (hereinafter, this direction may be called a main scanning direction or Y direction) which is parallel to the medium supporting surface of the platen 26 and which is perpendicular to the conveyance direction (hereinafter, this direction may be called a sub-scanning direction or X direction) of the recording medium 12.
  • the carriage 30 is supported so as to be able to perform reciprocal movement in the Y direction along a guide mechanism 28.
  • the inkjet head 24 disposed on the carriage 30 move in unison with (together with) the carriage 30 along the guide mechanism 28.
  • the reciprocal movement direction (Y direction) of the carriage 30 may be called the "main scanning direction” and the conveyance direction (X direction) of the recording medium 12 corresponds to the "sub-scanning direction”.
  • Various media may be used for the recording medium 12, without any restrictions on the material, such as paper, unwoven cloth, vinyl chloride, compound chemical fibers, polyethylene, polyester, tarpaulin, or the like, or whether the medium is permeable or non-permeable.
  • the recording medium 12 is supplied in a rolled state (see Fig. 2 ) from the rear surface of the apparatus, and after printing, the medium is rolled onto a take-up roller on the front side of the apparatus (not shown in Fig. 1 and reference numeral 44 in Fig. 2 ).
  • Ink droplets are ejected from the inkjet head 24 onto the recording medium 12 which is conveyed on the platen 26.
  • the installation section 38 of an ink cartridge 36 is provided on the left-side front face of the apparatus main body 20 when the apparatus is viewed from the front.
  • the ink cartridge 36 is an replaceable ink supply source (ink tank).
  • the ink cartridge 36 is provided so as to correspond to respective inks which are used in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment.
  • the respective ink cartridges 36 of each color are respectively connected to the inkjet head 24 by ink supply channels (not illustrated) which are formed independently.
  • the ink cartridges 36 are replaced when the amount of remaining ink of the respective colors has become low.
  • a maintenance unit for the inkjet head 24 is provided on the right-hand side of the apparatus main body 20 as viewed from the front side.
  • This maintenance unit includes a cap for keeping the inkjet head 24 moist when not printing, and a wiping member (blade, web, etc.) for cleaning the nozzle surface (ink ejection surface) of the inkjet head 24.
  • the cap which caps the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 24 is provided with an ink receptacle for receiving ink droplets ejected from the nozzles for the purpose of maintenance.
  • Fig. 2 is an illustrative diagram showing a schematic view of the recording medium conveyance path in the inkjet recording apparatus 10.
  • the platen 26 is formed in an inverted gutter shape and the upper surface thereof is a supporting surface (medium supporting surface) for a recording medium 12.
  • a pair of nip rollers 40 which form a recording medium conveyance device for intermittently conveying the recording medium 12 are provided on the upstream side of the platen 26 in the recording medium conveyance direction (X direction), in the vicinity of the platen 26. These nip rollers 40 move the recording medium 12 in the recording medium conveyance direction over the platen 26.
  • the recording medium 12 which is output from a supply side roll (pay-out supply roll) 42 that constitutes a roll-to-roll type medium conveyance device is conveyed intermittently in the recording medium conveyance direction by the pair of nip rollers 40 which are provided in an inlet opening of the print unit (on the upstream side of the platen 26 in terms of the recording medium conveyance direction).
  • a supply side roll (pay-out supply roll) 42 that constitutes a roll-to-roll type medium conveyance device is conveyed intermittently in the recording medium conveyance direction by the pair of nip rollers 40 which are provided in an inlet opening of the print unit (on the upstream side of the platen 26 in terms of the recording medium conveyance direction).
  • a guide 46 for the recording medium 12 is provided on the downstream side of the print unit in the recording medium conveyance direction.
  • a temperature adjustment unit 50 for adjusting the temperature of the recording medium 12 during printing is provided on the rear surface (an opposite surface to the surface supporting the recording medium 12) of the platen 26 at a position opposing the inkjet head 24.
  • the viscosity, surface tension, and other physical properties, of the ink droplets deposited onto the recording medium 12 assume prescribed values and it is possible to obtain a desired dot diameter.
  • Fig. 3 is a plan diagram showing a composition of a print unit, and depicts an arrangement mode of inkjet heads 24 which are arranged on a carriage 30.
  • Inkjet heads 24K, 24Y, 24M and 24C for ejecting inks of respective colors are provided for each of the ink colors: black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C).
  • the types of ink color (number of colors) and the combination of colors are not limited to those of the present embodiment.
  • inkjet heads for light cyan (LC) and light magenta (LM) are provided, or a mode in which a plurality of inkjet heads are provided for colors having a high use frequency, and so on.
  • the arrangement sequence of the inkjet heads 24K, 24Y, 24M and 24C of the different colors is not limited in particular.
  • an inkjet head comprising nozzles (nozzle rows) of a plurality of colors.
  • the letter indicating the color is omitted and the description refers simply to inkjet head(s) 24.
  • Fig. 4 is a plan diagram showing a further mode of a composition of a print unit.
  • the inkjet heads 24K', 24Y', 24M' and 24C' shown in Fig. 4 are full line heads, having a structure in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged through a length L N exceeding the full width L M of the recording medium 12 in a direction (y direction) perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 12.
  • the nozzle arrangement of the full line inkjet heads may adopt a single row arrangement along the main scanning direction, a staggered two row arrangement, a matrix arrangement in which nozzles are arranged along a row direction following the main scanning direction and an oblique column direction which intersects with the sub-scanning direction, and the like.
  • Fig. 5A is a plan view perspective diagram showing a nozzle arrangement of an inkjet head 24.
  • nozzles 70 are arranged in one row along the recording medium conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction, the X direction shown in Fig. 1 ).
  • the nozzles 70 are connected to pressure chambers (liquid chambers) 72 (indicated by dotted lines) which accommodate ink. As shown in Fig. 5B , it is also possible to adopt a mode in which nozzles 70 are arranged in a two-row staggered arrangement.
  • Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a three-dimensional structure of an inkjet head 24, and depicts a structure corresponding to one channel (one ejection element).
  • the ink ejection method of the inkjet head 24 used in the present embodiment may employ a method which propels ink droplets by deformation of a piezoelectric element (piezo jet method).
  • the nozzles 70 are connected to pressure chambers 72 via nozzle flow channels 71.
  • the nozzles 70 are each constituted by an opening section 70B which is formed in an ink ejection surface 70D (liquid ejection surface) of the nozzle plate 70A and a tapered section 70C having a tapered shape (an approximately round conical shape).
  • the pressure chambers 72 are also connected to a common flow channel 76 via a supply port (supply restrictor) 74.
  • the common flow channel 76 is connected to the respectively corresponding pressure chambers 72 of the nozzles 70 which constitute the nozzle row 61 of one color (see Figs. 5A and 5B ) and supplies ink to the pressure chambers 72.
  • Piezoelectric elements 80 (pressurizing devices) are provided on a diaphragm 78 which constitutes a ceiling surface of the pressure chambers 72, at positions corresponding to the pressure chambers 72 on the surface to the outside of the pressure chambers 72.
  • the piezoelectric elements 80 have a structure in which a piezoelectric body is sandwiched between an upper electrode 82 and a lower electrode 84, and generate a distorting deformation, thereby causing the diaphragm 78 to deform, when a drive voltage is supplied between the upper electrode 82 and the lower electrode 84.
  • the ink ejection surface 70D of the nozzle plate 70A of the inkjet head 24 has lyophilic properties.
  • an "ink ejection surface having lyophilic properties” means that an ink film of about several micrometers is present thereon at all times, regardless of whether or not ink is ejected from the nozzles. In a steady state where ink is not ejected from the nozzles, the ink film on the ink ejection surface is separated from the ink inside the nozzles (a meniscus formed at a position withdrawn from the ink ejection surface).
  • an "ink ejection surface having lyophobic properties" is an ink ejection surface which is always dry and free from the presence of an ink film, regardless of whether or not ink is ejected from the nozzles.
  • an ink ejection surface having lyophobic properties With an ink ejection surface having lyophobic properties, the meniscus is kept at the same position inside the nozzle and withdrawn from the ink ejection surface, and therefore ejection deflection is not liable to occur and the ejected ink has good linearity.
  • the angle of contact of the ink with respect to the ink ejection surface 70D having lyophilic properties is no more than 40°, which is a value exceeding the angle of contact of the ink inside the nozzle 70 (in the tapered section 70C, for example).
  • a concrete example of lyophilic treatment of the ink ejection surface 70D may involve forming an oxide film through oxidization processing of the ink ejection surface 70D or forming a metal film by sputtering, or the like.
  • a liquid layer made of ink (an ink layer) 88 is formed on the ink ejection surface 70D, and the ink ejection surface 70D is used in a state of being covered with ink.
  • the ink covering the ink ejection surface 70D and the ink inside the nozzles 70 is separated.
  • ink mist By providing an ink ejection surface 70D having lyophilic properties of this kind, it is possible to obtain the following beneficial effects. Firstly, if the ink ejection surface 70D has lyophobic properties, ink mist accumulates, giving rise to ejection failures and deflection. On the other hand, if the ink ejection surface 70D has lyophilic properties, the ink mist is absorbed into the ink layer on the ink ejection surface 70D and therefore deflection or ejection failure due to the ink mist does not occur.
  • ink mist does not accumulate, then there is little change in the ejection characteristics over time. More specifically, compared to an inkjet head having an ink ejection surface with lyophobic properties, deflection of ejection is large, but there is little change in ejection characteristics over time.
  • the nozzle plate since the maintenance of the nozzle plate can be performed easily, in other words, wet wiping is possible by means of the ink layer on the ink ejection surface 70D, then the nozzle plate has strong durability against wiping.
  • Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the principal composition of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. As shown in Fig. 7 , the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is provided with a control apparatus 102 as a control device.
  • control apparatus 102 it is possible to use, for example, a computer equipped with a central processing unit (CPU), or the like.
  • the control apparatus 102 functions as a control apparatus for controlling the whole of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 in accordance with a prescribed program, as well as functioning as a calculation apparatus for performing respective calculations.
  • the control apparatus 102 includes a recording medium conveyance control unit 104, a carriage drive control unit 106, an image processing unit 110, and an ejection control unit 112. These respective units are achieved by a hardware circuit or software, or a combination of these.
  • the recording medium conveyance control unit 104 controls the conveyance drive unit 114 for conveying the recording medium 12 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • the conveyance drive unit 114 comprises a drive motor which drives the nip rollers 40 shown in Fig. 2 , and a drive circuit thereof.
  • the recording medium 12 which is conveyed on the platen 26 (see Fig. 1 ) is conveyed intermittently in the sub-scanning direction, in accordance with a reciprocal scanning action (printing pass action) in the main scanning direction performed by the inkjet head 24.
  • the carriage drive control unit 106 shown in Fig. 7 controls the main scanning drive unit 116 for moving the carriage 30 (see Fig. 1 ) in the main scanning direction.
  • the main scanning drive unit 116 includes a drive motor which is connected to a movement mechanism of the carriage 30, and a control circuit thereof.
  • An input apparatus 120 such as an operating panel, and a display apparatus 122, are connected to the control apparatus 102.
  • the input apparatus 120 is a device by which manually performed external operating signals are input to the control apparatus 102, and may employ various formats, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or operating buttons, or the like.
  • the display apparatus 122 may employ various formats, such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a CRT, or the like.
  • An operator is able to select an image formation mode (synonymous with an "image formation format"), input print conditions, and input and edit additional conditions, and the like, by operating the input apparatus 120, and is able to confirm the input details and various information such as search results, via the display on the display apparatus 122.
  • an information storage unit 124 which stores various information and an image input interface (I/F) 126 for acquiring image data for printing are provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 10. It is possible to employ a serial interface or a parallel interface for the image input interface. It is also possible to install a buffer memory (not illustrated) for achieving high-speed communications.
  • the image data input via the image input interface 126 is converted into data for printing (dot data) by the image processing unit 110.
  • the dot data is generated by subjecting the multiple-tone image data to color conversion processing and half-tone processing.
  • the color conversion processing is processing for converting image data represented by an sRGB system, for instance (for example, 8-bit RGB image data of respective colors of RGB) into image data of the respective colors of ink used by the inkjet recording apparatus 10.
  • a half-toning process is processing for converting the color data of the respective colors generated by the color conversion processing into dot data of respective colors by error diffusion, a threshold value matrix, or the like.
  • the device carrying out the half-toning process may employ commonly known methods of various kinds, such as an error diffusion method, a dithering method, a threshold value matrix method, a density pattern method, and the like.
  • the half-toning process generally converts tonal image data having M values (M ⁇ 3) into tonal image data having N values (N ⁇ M).
  • the image data is converted into dot image data having 2 values (dot on / dot off), but in a half-toning process, it is also possible to perform quantization in multiple values which correspond to different types of dot size (for example, three types of dot: a large dot, a medium dot and a small dot).
  • the binary or multiple-value image data (dot data) obtained in this way is used for driving (on) or not driving (off) the respective nozzles, or in the case of multiple-value image data, is used as ink ejection data (droplet ejection control data) for controlling the droplet volume (dot size).
  • the ejection control unit 112 generates an ejection control signal for the head drive circuit 128 (drive voltage supply device) on the basis of dot data generated in the image processing unit 110. Furthermore, the ejection control unit 112 comprises a drive waveform generation unit (not illustrated).
  • the drive waveform generation unit is a device which generates a voltage waveform of a drive voltage for driving the ejection energy generation elements (in the present embodiment, piezo elements) which correspond to the respective nozzles of the inkjet head 24.
  • the drive waveform data is stored previously in the information storage unit 124 and drive waveform data to be used is output as and when required.
  • the drive waveform output from the drive waveform generation unit is supplied to the head drive circuit 128.
  • the signal output from the drive waveform generation unit may be digital waveform data or an analog voltage signal.
  • Ink is ejected from the corresponding nozzles by applying a common drive voltage to the ejection energy generation devices of the inkjet head 24 via the head drive circuit 128 and switching the switching elements (not illustrated) which are connected to the individual electrodes of the energy generating elements on and off in accordance with the ejection timings of the respective nozzles.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 10 shown in the present embodiment has an ejection frequency of 15 kHz, and can selectively eject droplet volumes of three types, 10 picoliter, 20 picoliter and 30 picoliter, by changing the drive waveform.
  • the information storage unit 124 stores resolution settings information corresponding to the image formation mode, the number of passes (number of scanning repetitions), and feed amount information required to control the sub-scanning feed amount, and the like.
  • An encoder 130 is attached to the drive motor of the main scanning drive unit 116 and the drive motor of the conveyance drive unit 114, and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of rotation and the speed of rotation of the drive motor, this pulse signal being supplied to the control apparatus 102.
  • the position of the carriage 30 and the position of the recording medium 12 are ascertained on the basis of the pulse signal output from the encoder 130.
  • a sensor 132 is installed on the carriage 30, and the width of the recording medium 12 is ascertained on the basis of a sensor signal obtained from the sensor 132.
  • the composition shown in Fig. 7 can be suitably modified, added or deleted.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 10 shown in this embodiment employs multi-pass image formation control, and the print resolution (recording resolution) can be varied by changing the number of printing passes.
  • the print resolution recording resolution
  • three image formation modes are used: high-productivity mode, standard mode, high-quality mode, and the print resolution is different in each respective mode. It is possible to select the image formation mode in accordance with the print objective and application.
  • high-productivity mode printing is carried out at a resolution of 600 dots per inch (main scanning direction) by 400 dots per inch (sub-scanning direction).
  • a resolution of 600 dots per inch is achieved by two passes (two scanning actions) in the main scanning direction. In the first scanning action (the outward movement of the carriage 30), dots are formed at a resolution of 300 dots per inch.
  • dots are formed so as to be interpolated at 300 dots per inch between the dots formed by the first scanning action (outward movement), and a resolution of 600 dots per inch is obtained in the main scanning direction.
  • the nozzle pitch is 100 dots per inch in the sub-scanning direction, and dots are formed at a resolution of 100 dots per inch in the sub-scanning direction by one main scanning action (one pass). Consequently, a resolution of 400 dots per inch is achieved by performing interpolated printing so as to cover the spaces in the nozzle pitch, by four-pass printing (four scanning actions).
  • the main scanning speed of the carriage 30 in high-productivity mode is 1270 millimeters per second.
  • printing is carried out at a resolution of 600 dots per inch by 800 dots per inch, and this 600 dots per inch by 800 dots per inch resolution is achieved by means of two-pass printing in the main scanning direction and eight-pass printing in the sub-scanning direction.
  • printing is carried out at a resolution of 1200 dots per inch by 1200 dots per inch, and this 1200 dots per inch by 1200 dots per inch resolution is achieved by means of four passes in the main scanning direction and twelve passes in the sub-scanning direction.
  • the image formation conditions for singling are determined respectively for different resolution settings. More specifically, since image formation by singling is carried out by dividing the width of the ejection nozzle row (nozzle row length L w ) of the inkjet head by the number of passes (number of scanning repetitions), then the swath width varies with the nozzle row width L w of the inkjet head and the number of passes in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction (the number of interlaced divisions).
  • the relationship between the number of passes and the swath width in singling image formation when using a FUJIFILM Dimatix QS-10 head is as shown in Table 1 below.
  • the envisaged swath width is a value obtained by dividing the width of the nozzle row L w used by the product of the number of passes in the main scanning direction and the number of passes in the sub-scanning direction.
  • Table 1 Used nozzle row width (mm) 64.8 64.8 64.8 64.8 Number of main passes 1 1 2 2 Number of sub passes 2 4 2 4 Swath width (mm) 32.4 16.2 16.2 8.1
  • Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a more detailed composition of a control system illustrated in Fig. 7 and depicts a composition in which one of an ejection waveform or non-ejection waveform is set for each nozzle 70.
  • the information storage unit 124 includes an ejection waveform storage unit 125A in which an ejection waveform is stored, and a non-ejection waveform storage unit 125B in which a non-ejection waveform is stored.
  • the ejection waveform and the non-ejection waveform are generated previously by the drive waveform generation unit (not illustrated).
  • the waveform setting unit 140 shown in Fig. 8 generates a waveform setting signal for each nozzle 70 which sets the nozzle either as an ejection nozzle which is used to eject ink, or as a non-ejecting nozzle which is not used to eject ink, on the basis of the image data, at each ejection timing.
  • the waveform setting signal is sent to the head drive circuit 128.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage generated on the basis of a non-ejection waveform is applied to non-ejecting nozzles, and an ejection drive voltage generated on the basis of the ejection waveform is applied to ejecting nozzles.
  • Figs. 9A and 9B are illustrative diagrams showing a schematic view of the behavior of ink during supply of a non-ejection drive voltage (indicated by reference numerals 200 and 210 in Figs. 12A and 12B ).
  • Fig. 9A shows a flow of ink on the ink ejection surface 70D
  • Fig. 9B shows a flow of ink from the interior of a nozzle 70 to the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage having the same voltage and the same frequency is supplied to the piezoelectric elements 80 (see Fig. 6 ) corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 70 which are arranged in one row, then the meniscuses in the nozzles 70 corresponding to the piezoelectric elements 80 are vibrated and ink also overflows out from the nozzles 70 onto the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • the ink on the ink ejection surface 70D is moved in the direction of the edges of the ink ejection surface from the nozzles 70. As shown in Figs. 9A and 9B , the flow of ink from the nozzles 70 towards the edges of the ink ejection surface 70D is indicated by the arrows labeled with reference symbols 88A.
  • the ink overflows from the nozzle 70 in a radiating fashion, but the ink that has overflowed from each nozzle 70 collides with ink that has overflowed from adjacent nozzles 70, and consequently, a flow of ink is produced from the nozzle 70 towards the edges of the ink ejection surface 70D in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the nozzles 70.
  • Figs. 10A and 10B are illustrative diagrams showing a schematic view of the behavior of ink after halting the supply of a non-ejection drive voltage.
  • Fig. 10A shows a flow of ink on the ink ejection surface 70D
  • Fig. 10B shows a flow of ink from the interior of a nozzle 70 to the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • the ink on the ink ejection surface 70D moves from the edges of the ink ejection surface 70D towards the centers of the nozzles 70.
  • the flow of ink from the edges of the ink ejection surface 70D towards the nozzles 70 is indicated by the arrows labeled with reference symbols 88B.
  • the piezoelectric elements 80 to which a non-ejection drive voltage is supplied do not cause ejection of ink from the corresponding nozzles 70, but rather pressurize the corresponding pressure chambers 72 so as to cause ink to seep out from the nozzles 70 onto the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • the supply of the non-ejection drive voltage is halted, the deformation of the piezoelectric elements 80 is restored, and the ink which has seeped out onto the ink ejection surface 70D is recovered inside the nozzles 70.
  • the ink ejection surface 70D does not have prescribed lyophilic properties with respect to the ink used, then even if a non-ejection drive voltage is applied to non-ejecting nozzles, ink does not overflow from these non-ejecting nozzles, and it is not possible to form a flow of ink on the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • Fig. 11 is an illustrative diagram of the beneficial effects of an inkjet recording apparatus (inkjet head drive method) relating to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the rate of occurrence of ejection failure nozzles with respect to the elapsed time (minutes) from the last ejection timing.
  • the solid line labeled with reference numeral 90 in Fig. 11 is the evaluation result obtained when a flowing movement of the ink is generated on the ink ejection surface 70D by applying a non-ejection drive voltage to the non-ejecting nozzles
  • the dotted line labeled with reference numeral 92 in Fig. 11 is the evaluation result obtained when a non-ejection drive voltage is not applied to the non-ejecting nozzles.
  • the occurrence rate of ejection failure nozzles is no more than several per cent, even when five minutes have elapsed from the last ejection timing.
  • the non-ejection drive voltage is not applied, all of the nozzles suffer ejection failure when four minutes have elapsed from the last ejection timing.
  • the conditions of the evaluation experiment which yielded the results shown in Fig. 11 are indicated below.
  • the total number of nozzles in the inkjet head is 256 nozzles, and a non-ejection drive voltage is applied to all of the nozzles.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage 200 shown in Fig. 12A and a non-ejection drive voltage 210 shown in Fig. 12B are used as the non-ejection drive voltage.
  • the non-ejection drive voltage 200 shown in Fig. 12A has a trapezoid shape including: a rising section 202 which rises from a reference potential (zero volts) to a maximum voltage, a maximum voltage section (fixed voltage section) 204, and a falling section 206 which falls from a maximum voltage to a reference voltage.
  • the maximum amplitude (potential difference) of the non-ejection drive voltage 200 is 25 V (approximately 36% of the ejection drive voltage (70 V)), and the time from the start timing of the rising section 202 to the start timing of the falling section 206 is 5 microseconds.
  • the non-ejection drive voltage (group) 210 shown in Fig. 12B includes the non-ejection drive voltage 200 shown in Fig. 12A generated continuously at a prescribed cycle apart, this cycle being approximately 66.7 microseconds. Converted to a frequency, this cycle is 15 kHz, which coincides with the ejection frequency (the frequency of the ejection drive voltage).
  • the non-ejection drive voltage 210 shown in Fig. 12B is a mode in which one non-ejection drive voltage 200 is contained in one ejection cycle. In other words, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of ejection failure nozzles, provided that at least one non-ejection drive voltage 200 is supplied in each ejection cycle.
  • the non-ejection drive voltage 200 shown in Fig. 12A and the non-ejection drive voltage 210 shown in Fig. 12B are no more than examples, and it is also possible to cause the ink to seep out onto the ink ejection surface 70D from the nozzles 70 without ejecting ink from the nozzles 70 (and without separating the ink from the ink inside the nozzles 70).
  • the non-ejection drive voltage 200 is a drive voltage which is applied to the piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to nozzles 70 when the ink inside the nozzles 70 is to be caused to seep out onto the ink ejection surface 70D without ink being ejected from the nozzles 70; for example, the non-ejection drive voltage has an amplitude of no less than 10 per cent and no more than 50 per cent of the amplitude of the ejection drive voltage.
  • the ink inside the nozzles 70 is caused to vibrate, and is also caused to overflow onto the ink ejection surface 70D, by setting the amplitude of the non-ejection drive voltage to no less than 10 per cent of the amplitude of the ejection drive voltage.
  • the ink is prevented from being ejected mistakenly from the nozzles 70.
  • the frequency of the non-ejection drive voltage 210 is specified in such a manner that the volume of ink which is caused to overflow from the non-ejecting nozzles coincides with the volume of ink which is sucked into (recovered into) the nozzles 70 by halting (terminating supply of) the non-ejection drive voltage 200.
  • Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of control in a method of driving an inkjet head relating to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • step S10 When the driving of the inkjet head 24 is started (step S10), all of the nozzles are set to be either ejecting nozzles or non-ejecting nozzles, on the basis of the image data (step S12).
  • the nozzles which are set to be non-ejecting nozzles in step S12 are set to receive a non-ejection waveform (step S14), and the frequency of this non-ejection waveform (non-ejection drive voltage) is established (step S16). It is also possible to adopt a mode in which the frequency setting of the non-ejection drive voltage is omitted and the frequency of the non-ejection drive voltage is set to a prescribed value.
  • step S18 The supply of a non-ejection drive voltage to the piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to the non-ejecting nozzles is started (step S18), and subsequently the supply of the non-ejection drive voltage is halted (step S20).
  • step S22 It is then monitored whether or not a prescribed time has elapsed from the halting of the supply of the non-ejection drive voltage (the time until the ink that has seeped out onto the ink ejection surface 70D is recovered inside the nozzles 70) (step S22).
  • step S22 If it is judged in step S22 that the prescribed time has not elapsed (No verdict), then monitoring of the elapsed time from the halting of supply of the non-ejection drive voltage is continued, and if it is judged that the prescribed time has elapsed (Yes verdict), then the procedure advances to step S24.
  • step S24 it is judged whether or not there is data for the next ejection timing, and if there is data for the next ejection timing (No verdict), then the procedure advances to step S12 and the steps from step S12 are repeated. On the other hand, if there is no data for the next ejection timing (Yes verdict at step S24), then the driving of the inkjet head is halted (step S32).
  • step S12 the nozzles which have been set as ejection nozzles (No verdict) are set to receive an ejection waveform (step S26), an ejection drive voltage is supplied to the piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to these nozzles (step S28), and when the supply of this ejection drive voltage is ended (step S30), the procedure advances to step S24.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage is used for at least one portion of the non-ejecting nozzles at all times during printing (during image formation based on image data), and therefore the occurrence of ejection failure nozzles during printing is prevented reliably.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage is supplied to piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to non-ejecting nozzles so as to cause ink to seep out onto the ink ejection surface 70D from the non-ejecting nozzles and to cause the ink to move on the ink ejection surface 70D, whereby a large volume of ink can be moved between the inside of the nozzles 70 and the ink ejection surface 70D, and the occurrence of ejection abnormality nozzles due to increase in the viscosity of the ink inside the nozzles 70 can be prevented.
  • a mode is described in which a non-ejection drive voltage is supplied to all of the piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to non-ejecting nozzles, but it is possible to adopt another mode in which a non-ejection drive voltage is supplied selectively to the piezoelectric elements 80 corresponding to a portion of the non-ejecting nozzles, provided that a flowing movement of the ink sufficient to avoid curing of ink on the ink ejection surface 70D is produced.
  • Fig. 14 is an illustrative diagram of an inkjet head drive method employed in an inkjet recording apparatus relating to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the inkjet head drive method shown in the present embodiment changes the frequency of the non-ejection drive voltage (group) in a portion of the non-ejecting nozzles, and makes the flow of ink on the ink ejection surface 70D faster compared to a case where a non-ejection drive voltage group having the same frequency is used for all of the non-ejecting nozzles, thereby preventing curing of the ink in the vicinity of the nozzles 70, in particular.
  • a flow of ink is generated along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 70 (a flow of ink from the side of the nozzle group 73A to which the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage is applied towards the side of the nozzle group 73B to which the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage is applied).
  • a flow of ink is generated along the arrangement direction of the nozzles 70 (a flow of ink from the side of the nozzle group 73B to which the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage is applied towards the side of the nozzle group 73A to which the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage is applied).
  • the nozzle group 73A in the upper half of Fig. 14 may also include ejecting nozzles, and the nozzle group 73B in the lower half of Fig. 14 may also include ejecting nozzles.
  • the nozzles to which the non-ejection drive voltage is applied are selected from all or a portion of the non-ejecting nozzles, excluding the ejecting nozzles, in the nozzle group 73A and the nozzle group 73B, and a high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage (having a frequency of 30 kHz, which is two times the ejection frequency, for example) is applied to one of the nozzle group 73A and the nozzle group 73B, while a low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage (having a frequency of 3 kHz, which is one-fifth of the ejection frequency, for example) is applied to the other of the nozzle group 73A and the nozzle group 73B.
  • Fig. 15 is an illustrative diagram of the beneficial effects of an inkjet head drive method relating to the second embodiment, and shows the rate of occurrence of ejection failure nozzles with respect to the elapsed time (minutes) from the last ejection timing.
  • the solid line labeled with reference numeral 94 in Fig. 15 indicates the evaluation results when the drive method described in the present embodiment is applied, and the dotted line labeled with the reference numeral 92 in Fig. 15 indicates the evaluation results when a non-ejection drive voltage is not applied to the non-ejecting nozzles.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage is not applied to the non-ejecting nozzles.
  • Figs. 16A and 16B are waveform diagrams showing one example of a high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A and a low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B
  • Fig. 16A shows a high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A
  • Fig. 16B shows a low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B.
  • the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A shown in Fig. 16A has a frequency of 30 kHz (two times the frequency of the ejection drive voltage), and the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B shown in Fig. 16B has a frequency of 15 kHz (the same frequency as the ejection drive voltage). Furthermore, the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A has a frequency of two times the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B.
  • the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage should have a frequency no less than one half of the maximum ejection frequency. Furthermore, the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage should have a frequency which is less than the frequency of the high-frequency non-ejection waveform and no more than one half of the maximum ejection frequency.
  • Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing a composition of a control system in an inkjet recording apparatus relating to a second embodiment.
  • parts which are the same as or similar to Fig. 8 are labeled with the same reference numerals and further explanation thereof is omitted here.
  • the ejection control unit 112 shown in Fig. 17 includes a frequency setting unit 142 and a switching cycle setting unit 144, in addition to the waveform setting unit 140 shown in Fig. 8 .
  • the frequency setting unit 142 generates a frequency setting signal which represents frequency information for setting the frequency of the non-ejection drive voltage, and sends the frequency setting signal to the head drive circuit 128.
  • the switching cycle setting unit 144 generates a switching cycle signal representing switching cycle information for the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A and the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B, and sends this switching cycle signal to the head drive circuit 128.
  • the head drive circuit 128 sets the frequency of the non-ejection drive voltage for each ejection timing and each nozzle, on the basis of the frequency setting signal, as well as setting a switching cycle for the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage and the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage, for each ejection timing and each nozzle, on the basis of the switching cycle setting signal.
  • Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing a flow of control in a method of driving an inkjet head relating to the second embodiment.
  • parts which are the same as or similar to Fig. 13 are labeled with the same reference numerals and further explanation thereof is omitted here.
  • step S16 in Fig. 13 (frequency setting step) is changed, and step S17 (switching cycle setting step) is added.
  • the frequency setting step (step S16') shown in Fig. 18 sets a high frequency or a low frequency for the nozzles to which the non-ejection drive voltage is applied.
  • the switching cycle step (step S17) sets a cycle at which the low frequency and high frequency are switched.
  • the switching cycle can be set to approximately 1 second to 10 seconds (to 3 seconds, for example), and is specified appropriately on the basis of the drive conditions and environmental conditions of the inkjet head 24, and so on.
  • a low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B is applied to a portion of the nozzles to which the non-ejection drive voltage is applied, and a high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A is applied to the remaining portion of nozzles to which the non-ejection drive voltage is applied, thereby generating a faster flow of ink from the side of the nozzles to which the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210A is applied, towards the side of the nozzles to which the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage 210B is applied, on the ink ejection surface 70D, and thus preventing curing of the ink in the vicinity of the opening sections 70B of the nozzles 70.
  • a mode is described in which all of the nozzles 70 are divided into two regions (nozzle groups 73A and 73B) and non-ejection drive voltages having different frequencies are applied to the respective nozzle groups, but it is also possible to divide all of the nozzles 70 into three or more regions and to apply non-ejection drive voltages having three or more different frequencies to the three or more regions.
  • FIG. 19 is an illustrative diagram of an inkjet head drive method relating to a third embodiment.
  • parts which are the same as or similar to Fig. 14 are labeled with the same reference numerals and further explanation thereof is omitted here.
  • the nozzles to which the non-ejection drive voltage is to be applied are set selectively from among the non-ejecting nozzles, and an ink flow is generated in accordance with the positions where ink drying is more liable to occur on the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • the beneficial effect of preventing curing of the ink on the ink ejection surface 70D is raised by making the ink flow faster in the central portion and the vicinity of the central portion of the nozzles where curing of ink is liable to occur on the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • a non-ejection drive voltage is applied to a nozzle group 73C in a region including a central portion of the ink ejection surface 70D, and a non-ejection drive voltage is not applied to a nozzle group 73D in a region that does not include the central portion of the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • a flow of ink from the side of the nozzle group 73C towards the side of the nozzle group 73D is generated, in other words, a flow of ink from approximately the center of the ink ejection surface 70D towards either end in the lengthwise direction of the inkjet head 24 as indicated by the reference symbols R1, R2, F1 and F2.
  • the inkjet head drive method shown in Fig. 19 it is possible to effectively prevent curing of ink in a position where drying of the ink is liable to occur, such as the central portion and vicinity of the central portion of the ink ejection surface 70D.
  • the inkjet head drive method relating to the third embodiment can also be combined with the inkjet drive method relating to the second embodiment, which was described previously.
  • a composition can be adopted in which a faster flow of ink is generated from the central portion of the ink ejection surface 70D towards the respective end portions by applying a high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage to the nozzle group 73C in the central portion shown in Fig. 19 and applying a low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage to the nozzle group 73D in the respective end portions, and the high-frequency non-ejection drive voltage and the low-frequency non-ejection drive voltage are switched at a prescribed switching timing.
  • Fig. 20 is an illustrative diagram of the beneficial effects of an inkjet head drive method relating to the third embodiment. As indicated by the solid line labeled with reference numeral 96 in Fig. 20 , according to the inkjet head drive method relating to the third embodiment, the occurrence of ejection failure nozzles is prevented effectively.
  • the curve labeled with reference numeral 92 in Fig. 20 indicates a case where the non-ejection drive voltage is not applied to the non-ejecting nozzles, and here, all of the nozzles have suffered ejection failure by the time that four minutes have elapsed from the last ejection timing.
  • an inkjet recording apparatus which forms a color image on a recording medium using color inks is illustrated, but the scope of application of the present invention covers liquid ejection apparatuses which eject liquid onto a medium by an inkjet method.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10), comprenant :
    une tête à jet d'encre (24 ; 24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K) équipée de : une plaque de buses (70A), dans laquelle une ouverture (70B) d'une buse (70) éjectant un liquide séchable ayant un composant qui est volatil dans de l'air, sur un support (12), est formée, et qui a une surface d'éjection de liquide (70D) affichant des propriétés lyophiles en ce qui concerne le liquide ; et un dispositif de pressurisation qui pressurise du liquide à l'intérieur d'une chambre de liquide (72) reliée à la buse (70), la tête à jet d'encre étant utilisée dans un état où la surface d'éjection de liquide (70D) est couverte par le liquide ; et
    un dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) qui fournit une tension de pilotage de non-éjection (200, 210) qui ne provoque pas d'éjection de liquide vers un dispositif de pressurisation (80) correspondant à une buse de non-éjection, qui n'est pas utilisée pour éjecter du liquide, dans lequel
    la tension de pilotage de non-éjection (200, 210) est fournie au dispositif de pressurisation (80) correspondant à la buse de non-éjection par le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) de façon à amener le liquide à l'intérieur de la buse de non-éjection à vibrer et à également déborder sur la surface d'éjection de liquide (70D), aussi bien qu'à amener le liquide couvrant la surface d'éjection de liquide à être soumis à un mouvement d'écoulement.
  2. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 1, dans lequel
    la tête à jet d'encre (24 ; 24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K) comprend une pluralité de buses, et
    le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) fournit, à des dispositifs de pressurisation (80) correspondant à une portion des buses de non-éjection, une tension de pilotage de non-éjection ayant une fréquence relativement plus élevée que celle d'une tension de pilotage de non-éjection qui est fournie à des dispositifs de pressurisation (80) correspondant aux autres buses de non-éjection.
  3. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 2, comprenant en outre un dispositif de commutation de fréquence (142) qui met en oeuvre de la commutation entre des dispositifs de pressurisation (80) auxquels la tension de pilotage de non-éjection (210A) ayant une fréquence relativement élevée est fournie par le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) et des dispositifs de pressurisation (80) auxquels la tension de pilotage de non-éjection (210B) ayant une fréquence relativement basse est fournie.
  4. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 3, comprenant en outre un dispositif de réglage de cycle de commutation (144) qui règle un cycle de commutation de la tension de pilotage de non-éjection (210A, 210B) par le dispositif de commutation de fréquence.
  5. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 1, dans lequel
    la tête à jet d'encre (24 ; 24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K) inclut une pluralité de buses, et
    le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) fournit une tension de pilotage de non-éjection seulement à des dispositifs de pressurisation (80) correspondant à une portion d'une pluralité des buses de non-éjection.
  6. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 5, dans lequel le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) comprend un dispositif de commutation d'alimentation qui met en oeuvre de manière sélective de la commutation entre les dispositifs de pressurisation auxquels la tension de pilotage de non-éjection est fournie et les dispositifs de pressurisation (80) auxquels la tension de pilotage de non-éjection n'est pas fournie.
  7. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini à la revendication 6, dans lequel la tension de pilotage de non-éjection est fournie seulement aux dispositifs de pressurisation (80) correspondant aux buses de non-éjection dans une portion centrale de la surface d'éjection de liquide et au voisinage de la portion centrale.
  8. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) fournit une tension de pilotage de non-éjection aux dispositifs de pressurisation (80) correspondant à des buses de non-éjection, pendant de l'éjection de liquide sur la base des données d'éjection.
  9. Appareil d'éjection de liquide (10) tel que défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel le dispositif de fourniture de tension de pilotage (128) fournit une tension de pilotage de non-éjection suivante quand un temps prescrit s'est écoulé après interruption de la fourniture de la tension de pilotage de non-éjection.
  10. Procédé de pilotage pour une tête à jet d'encre (24 ; 24C, 24M, 24Y, 24K) équipée de : une plaque de buses (70A) dans laquelle une ouverture (70B) d'une buse (70) éjectant un liquide séchable ayant un composant qui est volatil dans de l'air, sur un support (12), est formée, et qui a une surface d'éjection de liquide (70D) affichant des propriétés lyophiles en ce qui concerne le liquide ; et un dispositif de pressurisation (80) qui pressurise le liquide à l'intérieur d'une chambre de liquide (72) reliée à la buse (70), la tête à jet d'encre étant utilisée dans un état où la surface d'éjection de liquide est couverte par le liquide,
    le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    fournir une tension de pilotage de non-éjection qui ne provoque pas d'éjection de liquide vers le dispositif de pressurisation (80) correspondant à une buse de non-éjection qui n'est pas utilisée pour éjecter du liquide, et amener le liquide à l'intérieur de la buse de non-éjection à vibrer, et à déborder sur la surface d'éjection de liquide, aussi bien qu'à amener le liquide couvrant la surface d'éjection de liquide (70D) à être soumis à un mouvement d'écoulement.
EP13159425.1A 2012-03-16 2013-03-15 Appareil d'éjection de liquide et procédé de commande pour tête à jet d'encre Not-in-force EP2639071B1 (fr)

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JP6562679B2 (ja) * 2015-03-31 2019-08-21 理想科学工業株式会社 インクジェット印刷装置
CN109774309B (zh) * 2017-11-15 2021-06-08 大连理工大学 液体喷射方法、液体喷射装置及喷墨设备
JP6945067B2 (ja) 2018-04-26 2021-10-06 富士フイルム株式会社 吐出ヘッド駆動装置、吐出ヘッドユニット、液体吐出装置、吐出ヘッド駆動方法、及びプログラム
JP2021146718A (ja) * 2020-03-23 2021-09-27 株式会社リコー 液体吐出装置および方法、プログラム
KR20220012442A (ko) 2020-07-22 2022-02-04 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 잉크젯 프린트 장치 및 이를 이용한 잉크젯 프린트 방법

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JP3374862B2 (ja) 1992-06-12 2003-02-10 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット式記録装置
JP2004306617A (ja) 1995-04-27 2004-11-04 Seiko Epson Corp 印刷装置および印刷方法
JP2000168103A (ja) * 1998-12-10 2000-06-20 Toshiba Tec Corp インクジェットヘッドの駆動方法及び駆動装置
US6353475B1 (en) * 1999-07-12 2002-03-05 Caliper Technologies Corp. Light source power modulation for use with chemical and biochemical analysis
JP4433774B2 (ja) * 2003-11-26 2010-03-17 ソニー株式会社 液体吐出性能維持方法及び液体吐出装置
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JP4671983B2 (ja) * 2007-03-28 2011-04-20 京セラミタ株式会社 画像形成装置、画像形成システム
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CN103302985A (zh) 2013-09-18

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