JP2000238295A - Ink jet recording apparatus and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose an ink jet recording apparatus which can inform a user of an appropriate pump replacement time. SOLUTION: A cleaning indicate means 117 and an idle sucking indicate means 118 in a driving control apparatus 110 judges the necessity for executing cleaning and idle sucking from outputs of a timer 115 which counts an interval time from a precedent cleaning and a flushing counter 116 which counts the number of flushings. If it is necessary, the indicate means order to execute cleaning and idle sucking. Every time the cleaning and idle sucking is carried out, a pump operation counter 121 counts the number of points set for each operation. A comparator 122 compares the counted value with a table of a ROM 114 and makes a display part of a control panel display a message for urging to replace pumps when the counted value exceeds the table value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having a head recovery processing function of recovering the recording head by performing an ink suction process for discharging thickened ink and residual bubbles from the recording head to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus supplies ink to a recording head from an ink cartridge via an ink flow path such as an ink supply tube, and discharges ink from an ink nozzle formed in the recording head onto recording paper. To form a record.

If the ink is not ejected from the ink nozzles of the recording head for a long period of time, the viscosity of the ink remaining therein will increase, making it difficult or impossible to eject appropriate ink droplets. In addition, when bubbles enter the ink nozzles or the ink flow path, the remaining bubbles are ejected instead of the ink droplets at the time of ejecting the ink droplets. Connect.

[0004] In order to avoid such adverse effects, the ink jet recording apparatus is generally provided with a pump for periodically sucking an ink nozzle to discharge thickened ink, residual air bubbles, foreign matter and the like to the outside. ing. When the pump is durably deteriorated, the above-mentioned adverse effects cannot be avoided, leading to deterioration of print quality. However, conventionally, the pump is generally not replaced.

[0005]

The user has recognized that replacing the head can extend the life of the entire apparatus. However, even if the head is replaced, if a pump that has been durably deteriorated is used, it is possible to secure a desired ink suction amount and a desired ink flow rate even if the ink is suctioned due to wear of the pump components. It becomes difficult. That is, the thickened ink in the ink flow path of the pump,
There is a problem that the ability to discharge the residual air bubbles, foreign matter, and the like is reduced, and the printing failure due to the above-mentioned problem is not recovered. In addition, durability can cause damage to the pump components without the user's knowledge, resulting in ink leakage,
There is a problem that the ink may damage the recording apparatus main body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of notifying a user of an appropriate pump replacement time.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is exchangeably mounted on a recording head having an ink nozzle for discharging ink droplets and an apparatus main body. In an ink jet recording apparatus having a pump for sucking ink and a pump control means for controlling an ink suction operation of the pump, a counter for counting the number of times of operation of the pump and a time for pump replacement according to the value of the counter are indicated. Output means for outputting a signal.

According to the above configuration, since the number of times of use of the pump can be monitored at all times, poor print recovery failure and ink leakage due to durable damage to pump components can be prevented without the user noticing. It has the effect that it can be done.

A comparison means for comparing a reference value obtained from the durability performance of the pump with the value of the counter;
The output means may output a signal indicating a pump replacement time when the value of the counter reaches the reference value. If an informing means for informing the pump replacement time when the value of the counter reaches the reference value is provided, the user can be notified of an appropriate pump replacement time.

When the pump control means performs the ink suction operation of the pump in a mode in which the amount of suction differs depending on the condition of the recording apparatus, the number of points is set in advance for each mode of the ink suction operation. If the number of points corresponding to each ink suction operation is counted as the number of times of operation of the pump, the number of times of operation of the pump can be rationally counted, so that a more accurate determination of the pump replacement time can be made. It has the effect of.

Further, the apparatus may further comprise a detecting means for detecting the replacement of the pump, and an initializing means for initializing the value of the counter based on an output from the detecting means. still,
The pump may be a tube-type pump. In this case, by monitoring the durability of the tube, it is possible to prevent ink leakage due to the breakage of the tube.

According to a control method of an ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head provided with ink nozzles for discharging ink droplets, and a pump which sucks ink and which is exchangeably mounted on the apparatus main body. In the control method of the recording apparatus, the number of times of operation of the pump is counted, the number of times of operation is compared with a preset reference value, and when the number of times of operation has reached the reference value, a notification for prompting pump replacement is performed. It is characterized by the following.

In this case, the ink suction operation of the pump is performed in a mode in which the amount of suction differs depending on the state of the recording apparatus, and the number of points is set in advance for each mode of the ink suction operation. In this case, the number of points corresponding to the ink suction may be counted as the number of times of operation of the pump.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of a main part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the side opposite to FIG. . As shown in these drawings, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 has a recording head 3 for discharging ink droplets, a carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted, and a moving mechanism for moving the carriage 2 in the main inspection direction indicated by an arrow A. 4 and an ink supply mechanism 10 for supplying ink to the recording head 3.

A rectangular opening is formed in the carriage 2, and a rectangular nozzle forming surface 3 of the recording head 3 is formed therefrom.
2 is exposed. The nozzle formation surface 32 is formed with two nozzle rows in which many ink nozzles 31 are linearly arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, a moving mechanism 4 for moving the carriage 2 includes a guide shaft 45 extending in the main scanning direction A.
A timing belt 41 spanned between the driving pulley 43 and the driven pulley 44;
Is provided with a carriage motor 42 for rotationally driving the. The lower surface of the carriage 2 is slidably supported on the guide shaft 45 and is connected to the timing belt 41. Therefore, when the carriage motor 42 is driven, the carriage 2 moves in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 45.

The recording paper 14 extends along a position facing the nozzle forming surface 32 of the recording head mounted on the carriage 2.
Is transported in the sub-scanning direction, and the ink nozzles 3 are moved while the carriage 2 on which the recording head 3 is mounted is moved in the main scanning direction.
1 to eject ink droplets onto the surface of the recording paper 14. Thus, desired recording is formed on the surface of the recording paper 14.

(Structure of Ink Suction Mechanism) As shown in FIG. 2, a head maintenance unit 5 is arranged at a position facing the head home position C outside the recording area B of the recording head 3. The head maintenance unit 5 includes an ink suction mechanism 6 for sucking thickened ink and residual air bubbles from the ink nozzles 31 of the recording head 3 and discharging the ink to the outside.

The ink suction mechanism 6 has a cap 62 that covers the nozzle forming surface 32 of the recording head 3 when the recording head 3 moves to the home position C. The cap 62 is retracted into the unit case by using the movement of the carriage 2 or by using the driving force of the motor 52 attached to the unit case 50 of the head maintenance unit 5, and protrudes from the position. The recording head 3 is retracted into the unit case 50 while the recording head 3 is in the recording area B. The cap 62 has a valve 100. The opening and closing of the valve 100 is performed by using the movement of the carriage 2 or by using the driving force of a motor 52 attached to the unit case 50 of the head maintenance unit 5.

When the recording head 3 is at the head home position C
Is reached, the cap 62 is switched to a position protruding from the unit case 50 to cover the nozzle forming surface 32 of the recording head 3 as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. Further, the valve 100 is in a closed state. At this time, the internal space closed by the nozzle forming surface 32 and the cap 62 is depressurized by the pump 61 operated by the motor 52. Therefore, when the pump 61 is operated in a state where the cap 62 is covered on the nozzle forming surface 32, the ink is sucked from the ink nozzle 31 to the outside.

(Explanation of idle suction operation) After the ink suction operation by the ink suction mechanism 6 has been performed, the interior space of the nozzle forming surface 32 and the cap 62 is filled with ink. The cap 62 to the nozzle forming surface 3
When released from 2, ink will leak out of the cap. In addition, in order to prevent missing dots during printing of the recording head 3 and secure good printing, the recording head 3 performs flushing (printing preliminary ejection operation) at the position of the home position C. Since the flushing ink is held in the cap 62, the flushing ink amount is
If the volume exceeds the limit, ink leakage occurs. Therefore, the ink suction mechanism 6 has an idle suction operation for sucking only the ink in the cap as a means for avoiding ink leakage from the cap due to the above.

The idle suction operation utilizes a valve 100 opening / closing mechanism provided on the cap 62. The movement of the carriage 2 or the motor 5 attached to the unit case 50 of the head maintenance unit 5
By using the second driving force, the valve 100 is opened as shown in FIG. When the pump 61 is operated in that state, air flows into the cap 62 from the opened valve 100, so that the nozzle forming surface 32
And the internal space of the cap 62 is not reduced to the pressure at which the ink is sucked from the ink nozzle 31, and only the ink remaining in the cap 62 can be sucked.

(Structure of Pump) The pump 61 used in this embodiment is a tube type pump, and may have a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-286158 by the present applicant. That is, as shown in FIG.
1 is an arc-shaped guide member 101 and this guide member 1
01 and the ink tube 102 arranged along the inner peripheral surface
And a roller 104 pressing the ink tube 102
And a rotating disk 103 that supports the roller 104. The rotating disk 103 has a shaft 105 of a roller 104.
Are formed in an arc-shaped guide groove 106 for slidably guiding the groove. For example, as shown in FIG.
3 rotates clockwise, the guide groove 1
The roller 104 slides along the line 06 from the side closer to the center of the rotating disk to the side farther from the center, and can rotate while crushing the ink tube 102. When the rotating disk 103 rotates in the opposite direction, the roller 104 starts to rotate again. Move away from 102. In this manner, the ink is sucked by rotating the roller 104 while crushing the ink tube 102. Here, the tube pump performs the ink suction operation and the idle suction operation, and
Cracks are formed. When silicone is used as the material of the ink tube 102, it can withstand up to 600,000 rotations. However, it is known from a durability test that the ink tube 102 is triggered and ink leaks when it exceeds that.

(Pump Drive Control System) The drive control of the pump 61 executed by the drive control device 110 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The drive control device 110 mainly includes a CPU 111, and is connected to the motor 52, an operation panel 113 having a display unit, and a ROM 114 for storing an operation program and the like. Note that a table area in the ROM 114 stores a value of 580,000 in consideration of a margin with respect to the endurance number of the ink tube 102 described above. The CPU 111 operates the pump 61 by executing the operation program.

The operation panel 113 is provided with a manual switch, and the ink suction mechanism 6 can be operated when pressed by a user. Timer 11
Numeral 5 is for counting the elapsed time from the time when the ink suction process is performed by the ink suction mechanism 6. The flushing counter 116 counts the number of flushings of the recording head 3.

The cleaning instruction means 117 is a timer 1
A drive signal is output to the motor 52 in accordance with the elapsed time of 15, and the ink suction mechanism 6 performs the ink suction operation and the idle suction operation. The idle suction instructing means 118 outputs a drive signal to the motor 52 when the value of the flushing counter 116 reaches a predetermined amount, and performs an idle suction operation. The pump monitoring means 119 constantly monitors the energization state between the contact electrode of the connector and the motor contact electrode, and outputs a signal to the initialization means 120 each time it becomes non-conductive. Upon receiving the signal, the initializing means 120 outputs a reset signal to the pump operation number counter 121.

Each time the cleaning instruction means 117 and the idle suction instruction means 118 output a drive signal to the motor 52, the pump operation number counter 121 counts up a predetermined number of points and outputs the content to the comparator 122. It is a counter to do. The comparator 122 compares the value of the counter with the value of the table in the ROM 114, and when a match or the counter value exceeds the table value, the OR circuit 1
23. The OR circuit 123 displays a message on the display unit of the operation panel 113 that prompts the user to replace the pump 61 when there is an output from the comparator 122.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 1.

Referring to the flow charts of FIGS. 6 and 7, when the apparatus is powered on, S1
It is confirmed whether or not there is a request for cleaning. Here, the cleaning is an operation including an ink suction operation from the head and an idle suction operation for discharging ink in the cap. The required cleaning is performed by the timer 115 that measures the interval time from the previous cleaning, and the timer cleaning that is required when the interval time is determined to be 20 hours or more, or the manual switch on the operation panel 113 is operated by the user. There is manual cleaning required by pressing. In S2, cleaning is selected and executed according to the cleaning conditions shown in FIG. After the cleaning is completed, the timer 115 is reset in S3. Here, the timer 115
A plurality of cleaning ink suction operations are performed, and the ink suction operations having different ink suction amounts are operated according to the length of the interval time from the previous cleaning. The reason is that if the ink stays in the head and the ink supply path for a long time, the physical properties of the ink change due to an increase in the viscosity of the ink and gas permeation from the air, which adversely affects the print quality.
A plurality of ink suction operations are set according to the length of the interval time from the previous cleaning. Further, in the case of the above-described tube-type pump structure, since the number of rotations of the roller 104 is set differently in a plurality of ink suction operations, the repetitive load applied to the ink tube 102 in the ink suction operation is different. Therefore, the number of points according to the type of ink suction operation and the idle suction operation is set. For example, when the timer 115 determines that the cleaning interval time is 96 hours or more and less than 168 hours, cleaning 4 is performed. The number of rotations of the roller 104 is 12 as the ink suction operation, which is the number of rotations set to obtain the discharge amount of the thickened ink in the head, and the idle suction which is the operation of discharging the ink in the cap. In operation, the roller 104 rotates 20 times. Therefore,
Assuming that the number of points is 32, the number of points is added to the pump operation number counter 121 in S4, and the next
The comparator 122 determines whether the value of the counter is equal to or greater than the value in the table in the ROM 114. If the counter value is equal to or greater than the value in the table, that is, if the pump has been driven 580,000 times, a process of displaying a message prompting replacement of the pump 61 on the display unit of the operation panel 113 is performed in S6. ,
Return to C.

Subsequently, if there is no cleaning request in S1, the process proceeds to the printing operation in S7, where it is confirmed whether or not there is a flushing request. Before the printing of the recording head 3 or during the operation, the viscosity of the unused ink nozzles 31 increases, which causes a printing failure. Therefore, flushing is required at regular time intervals. If it is determined in S8 that a flushing request has been made by a timer (not shown) that measures the elapsed time from the previous flushing, the recording head 3 moves to the home position C and enters the cap according to the elapsed time. Perform flushing of the ink amount. Subsequently, the flow shifts to S9, where the flushing counter 116
The number of flushing is counted up by. And S1
If the value of the flushing counter matches or exceeds the flushing specified value at 0, the idle suction operation of S11 is performed. The number of points of the idle suction operation is set to 3.9, and every time the idle suction operation is performed, the point number is added to the pump operation counter 121 in S4. The flushing counter 116 is reset at S12.

In FIG. 6, after returning to C, S1
3, using the pump monitoring means 119 to
By checking the continuity state of the pump 61, it is determined whether or not the pump 61 has been replaced. That is, it is determined that the pump 61 has been replaced when the conduction state of the motor 52 once becomes non-conduction and then returns to the conduction state again. When the pump 61 has been replaced, if a message prompting the replacement of the pump 61 is displayed in S14, the message is deleted, and
15 initializes the pump operation number counter 121 with the initialization means 1
Reset by 20.

With the above configuration and operation, in the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment, the durability of the pump components can be monitored based on the number of times of operation of the pump, and the user can be notified of an appropriate pump replacement time. Therefore, the life of the pump is extended without the user's knowledge, and it is possible to prevent deterioration of printing quality and ink leakage due to damage to pump components.

The present invention is not limited to the above.

In the above embodiment, the value of the pump operation counter is compared with the table in the ROM by the comparing means, and the user is notified of the pump replacement time based on the output. An output corresponding to the value of the counter, for example, a numerical value, a symbol, or the like may be displayed on the display panel so that the user can constantly monitor the number of times of pump operation. At this time, if an output value that is a guide of the pump replacement time is specified in the apparatus main body, the user can also determine the pump replacement time by comparing the output value displayed on the display panel.

In the above embodiment, the number of times of the pump operation in the ink suction operation and the idle suction operation is counted. However, the present invention is not limited to the operation on the left, and for example, the operation of the wiping mechanism for wiping the head nozzle surface is linked to the pump operation. In this case, by counting the number of times of the pump operation for performing the wiping operation, it is possible to more accurately count the number of times of durability.

In the above embodiment, the reference value of the number of times of endurance of the pump in the table is set to a value having a certain margin with respect to the number of times of endurance of the pump.
The user is notified early. The actual serviceman's decision on when to perform pump replacement work is left to the user.However, a reference value for the actual number of times of pump durability is provided in the above embodiment, and when the value is exceeded. Can forcibly terminate the printer operation. By adding such a function, in the unlikely event that the user continues to use the pump in response to the notification of pump replacement, ink leakage due to damage to pump components that occurs when the actual pump endurance is exceeded, and It is possible to prevent damage to the device itself due to ink leakage.

Further, the pump replacement notification is not limited to the display, but may be notified by an alarm sound or the like. Also, the determination of pump replacement
A dedicated switch may be provided.

In this embodiment, a tube type pump is used. However, the pump type is not limited to this, and can be applied to other types such as a diaphragm pump and a piston pump. According to the performance,
The reference value of the number of times of pump driving can be appropriately changed.

[0040]

As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to inform the user of an appropriate pump replacement time, so that it is possible to prevent ink leakage due to durable pump damage. It has the effect that can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the device shown in FIG.

3A is a cross-sectional view showing a portion cut along the line AA in FIG. 2 (at the time of ink suction). FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a portion cut along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a pump of the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing cleaning conditions of the ink jet recording apparatus and the number of cleaning points.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet recording apparatus 3 Recording head 6 Ink suction mechanism 31 Ink nozzle 52 Motor 61 Pump 62 Cap 110 Drive control device 111 CPU 113 Operation panel 114 ROM 117 Cleaning instruction means 118 Empty suction instruction means 119 Pump monitoring means 120 Initialization means 121 Pump Operation number counter 122 Comparator 123 OR circuit

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C056 EA20 EB25 EB29 EB38 EB44 EC24 EC26 EC28 EC41 EC54 EC57 JA13 JA16 JC08 JC20 JC21 JC23 2C061 AQ05 HJ07 HJ10 HK19 HK23

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording head having an ink nozzle for discharging ink droplets, a pump for sucking ink, which is exchangeably mounted on an apparatus main body, and a pump control for controlling an ink suction operation of the pump. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a counter that counts the number of times the pump is operated; and an output unit that outputs a signal indicating a pump replacement time according to the value of the counter. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising comparison means for comparing a reference value obtained from the endurance performance of the pump with a value of the counter, wherein the output means outputs the value of the counter as the reference value. An ink-jet recording apparatus which outputs a signal indicating a pump replacement time when the number of times has reached. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying a pump replacement time. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump control unit operates in a mode in which a suction amount differs according to a state of the recording apparatus.
The ink suction operation of the pump is performed, the number of points is set in advance for each mode of the ink suction operation, and the number of points corresponding to each ink suction operation is counted as the number of times of operation of the pump. Characteristic inkjet recording device. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit for detecting the replacement of the pump, and initializing a value of the counter based on an output from the detecting unit. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pump is a tube type pump. 7. A method for controlling an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head having an ink nozzle for discharging ink droplets; and a pump for sucking ink, which is exchangeably mounted on the apparatus main body. Counting the number of operations, comparing the number of operations with a preset reference value, and when the number of operations has reached the reference value, performing notification to prompt pump replacement, Control method. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: performing an ink suction operation of the pump in a mode having a different suction amount according to a state of the recording apparatus; and setting a point number in advance for each mode of the ink suction operation; When the ink suction operation is performed, the number of points corresponding to the ink suction operation is counted as the number of times of operation of the pump.