JP2001199087A - Ink jet recording apparatus and method for recovering discharge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a method for recovering discharge wherein a sucking process is executed automatically when an ink tank is replaced, while it is not executed when operations for opening and closing a cover are conducted for other purposes than the replacement of the ink tank. SOLUTION: Ink replacement completion switches 7 and 8 which are depressed by a user at the time point of completion of the replacement of the ink tank are provided at portions appearing when the cover is opened, and further a cover sensor 3 detecting opening and closure of the cover is provided there. After the cover sensor 3 detects the opened state of the cover, the depression of the ink replacement completion switches 7 and 8 is detected, and when the cover sensor 3 detects the closed state of the cover thereafter, a discharge recovering process is executed automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ejection recovery method for the apparatus.

The present invention relates to a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile having a communication system, and a printer for recording on a recording medium such as paper, thread, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, and the like. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus such as a word processor having the above, and an industrial recording apparatus combined with various processing apparatuses. Here, “recording” in the present invention means not only giving an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to a recording medium, but also giving an image having no meaning such as a pattern. Is what you do.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ink jet recording is performed by scanning a recording head having a plurality of nozzles (discharge ports) along a recording medium, discharging ink from the nozzles as droplets, and landing the droplets on the recording medium. Recording devices have become widespread.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus,
Normally, an ejection recovery process such as so-called preliminary ejection or suction recovery is performed before the start of printing or when the ink tank or the print head is replaced. This ejection recovery process is performed to remove foreign substances such as relatively large bubbles mixed in the thickened ink near the nozzles and the ink in the recording head, and to obtain a good ejection state. In particular, when the ink tank is replaced, a relatively strong suction recovery or a preliminary ejection is often performed in order to make the ejection state of the recording head after the exchange good from the first ejection.

The operation of replacing an ink tank in an ink jet recording apparatus is usually performed by opening a cover for replacing the ink tank. In other words, when the user opens this cover to replace the ink tank, for example, the recording head equipped with the ink tank automatically moves to the ink tank replacement position, and the user removes the old ink tank and installs a new one to replace the cover. When is closed, the suction process is automatically executed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a routine of a conventional process for opening and closing the cover.

First, it is determined whether image data to be recorded is transmitted from the host computer (step 4).
1). If it has been transmitted, a command analysis process is executed to perform a recording operation (step 49). On the other hand, when the cover is not transmitted, the recording operation standby state is set, and it is detected whether the cover is open or closed by a sensor switch provided so as to interlock with the opening and closing of the cover (step 42). It is determined whether or not there is (Step 43).
If it is determined that the cover has been opened, the recording head is moved to the ink tank replacement position (step 44). Further, the sensor detects whether the cover is open or closed (step 45), and determines whether the cover is closed (step 46). If it is determined that the cover has been closed, the recording head is moved to the home position provided with the suction mechanism (step 47), and a suction recovery process is executed (step 48).

As described above, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, when the sensor detects the opening / closing operation of the cover, the apparatus itself judges that the ink tank has been replaced, and automatically performs the suction recovery processing. There are not many things.

[0009]

However, the user opens the cover not only to replace the ink tank, but also to check the status of printing during the printing operation or to check the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank. When you want to
It is also used for other purposes. Even in the case where the cover is opened and closed for a purpose other than replacing the ink tank, suction recovery processing is often performed automatically in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus, so that ink is wasted. Would be.

[0010] There is a similar problem when the recording head is replaced. In other words, the user opens the cover not only for replacing the print head, but also when, for example, wanting to check the printing status during the printing operation or when checking the ink adhesion status on the discharge port surface of the print head, etc. It is also used for other purposes. Even in the case where the cover is opened and closed for a purpose other than the purpose of replacing the recording head, ink recovery is often performed automatically in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, so that the ink is wastefully consumed. Would be.

One of the objects of the present invention is to perform a recovery process reliably when the cover is opened and the ink tank or recording head is replaced, and the cover is opened and closed for any purpose other than replacement of the ink tank or recording head. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ejection recovery method capable of reducing wasteful ink consumption by not performing a recovery process when the recovery processing is performed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch as an input means for inputting information relating to recovery inside the cover, so that a user turns on the switch by mistake and shifts to recovery processing, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ejection recovery method which can avoid a situation in which the ink is wasted.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided:
In an inkjet recording apparatus, a recovery unit that performs a recovery process of an ejection port that performs recording by discharging ink, an openable cover that covers a recording unit related to recording, and a detection that detects whether the cover is in an open state or a closed state Means, a switch provided at a portion which is covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed state, and which can be turned on when the cover is in the open state, and wherein the detecting means detects the open state of the cover, and the switch is turned on. And control means for controlling execution of the recovery processing of the discharge port by the recovery means.

According to another aspect, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a recovery unit for performing a recovery process of an ejection port for performing printing by discharging ink, an openable cover for covering a printing unit related to printing, and an instruction regarding the recovery unit. And a switch provided at a portion that can be turned on when the cover is open and is covered by the cover when the cover is in the closed state.

In the ejection recovery method, a step of detecting an open state of an openable and closable cover for covering a recording unit relating to recording, wherein the cover is covered by the cover when the cover is closed, and turned on when the cover is open. Turning on a switch provided at a position where the cover can be opened, and detecting the open state of the cover, and recovering the ejection opening for ejecting ink and performing recording when the switch is turned on when the switch is turned on. And a control step of controlling the execution of the processing.

According to the above configuration, when the cover is opened and closed, the recovery process is executed when the user replaces the ink tank or the recording head, and the recovery process is not executed when the user does not replace the ink tank or the print head. Accordingly, the recovery process can be executed only when necessary, and it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of ink. In addition, since the time for performing unnecessary recovery processing can be eliminated, the recording work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, even if the user opens the cover for the purpose of checking the recording state during recording, the recording operation does not stop, so that the user does not feel uneasy.

In addition, by providing a switch inside the cover as input means for inputting information relating to recovery, the user erroneously turns on the switch and shifts to recovery processing, and wastefully consumes ink. Can be avoided.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printer as an ink jet recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The printer 1 includes a cover 2 for replacing the ink tanks 5, 6 or the recording head 4a in a part of a main body cover forming a housing. The cover 2 is provided so that one side in the longitudinal direction is pivotally supported by the outer frame body and can be opened and closed.

When the cover 2 is opened, the recording head 4a
In addition, it is possible to observe the movement of the carriage 4 on which the ink tanks 5 and 6 are mounted and the recording state accompanying the movement.
That is, the carriage 4 on which the recording head 4a is mounted is slidably provided on the shaft 13 within a range where the cover 2 can be opened and observed. At the time of recording, the carriage 4 scans and moves along the shaft 13, and at the time of this movement, the recording head ejects ink as droplets onto a recording medium such as recording paper facing the recording head, thereby recording characters, images, and the like. The carriage 4 can be moved by a driving force of a carriage motor (not shown) transmitted via a belt (not shown) or the like.

The recording medium is conveyed by the rotation of a conveying roller so as to face the recording head 4a, and each time the recording head 4a mounted on the carriage 4 completes one scan, the recording medium is orthogonal to the scanning direction of the carriage 4 by a predetermined amount. Transported in the direction of In this manner, by repeating the scanning of the recording head 4a and the conveyance of the recording medium by a predetermined amount, recording is performed on the entire recording medium.

The recording head 4a is detachably mounted on the carriage 4, and is replaceable like an ink tank described later. The recording head 4a has a nozzle surface (discharge port surface) provided with a plurality of nozzles (discharge ports), and is mounted on the carriage 4 such that the nozzle surface faces the recording medium.

On the carriage 4, a black ink tank 5 and a color ink tank (cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are stored in separate chambers and integrally formed) 6 are detachably mounted and mounted. The corresponding recording heads mounted on the carriage 4 and the ink tanks 5 and 6 communicate with each other via an ink supply path (not shown), whereby the ink corresponding to each ink path of each recording head is connected. Is supplied. A nozzle heater 54 (FIG. 3), which is an electrothermal converter, is provided in the ink path of each recording head. When the ink is ejected, the nozzle heater generates heat, thereby generating bubbles in the ink, and generating pressure of the bubbles. As a result, ink is ejected as droplets. In addition,
In the present embodiment, ink is ejected by the bubble jet (registered trademark) method. However, the present invention is not limited to this ejection method, and for example, a method of ejecting ink using a piezoelectric element may be used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a cover portion of the printer.

The switch panel 14, which appears when the cover 2 is opened and forms part of the body cover and extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening, includes a cover sensor 3, a color ink tank replacement completion switch 7, and a black ink A tank replacement completion switch 8 is provided. The cover sensor 3 detects the state by non-contact / contact with the cover 2 according to the opening / closing of the cover 2. In addition, cover 2
The method for detecting the opening / closing of is not limited to this, and any other detection method such as detection by infrared rays may be used.

Each of the color ink tank replacement completion switch 7 and the black ink tank replacement completion switch 8 is a push button switch which can be pressed to notify the user of the replacement to the printer body when the color ink tank is replaced. . These switches 7 and 8 cover 2
Only when the tank is opened, it can be recognized by the user and recognized as being pressed when the tank replacement is completed.

In this embodiment, as will be described later, the suction recovery processing of the recording head is executed only when the user presses the switches 7 and 8, and if the switch is not pressed, the cover is opened for another purpose. It is determined that the routine does not execute the suction recovery process. The details of this processing routine will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel on which various operation switches for operating the printer main body are provided is provided on a side surface of the main body cover. In the present embodiment, a power switch 9 for controlling power on / off of the printer 1 and a selection switch 10 for performing error recovery and other selections and determinations are provided. In addition, near the operation switch, there is a color ink remaining amount warning lamp 11 that lights when the amount of ink remaining in the color ink tank is low, and a black ink that lights when the amount of ink remaining in the black ink tank is low. A remaining amount warning lamp 12 is provided.

The carriage 4 is normally stopped in the recording standby position space 15 shown in FIG. The recording standby position space 15 is provided with a cover so that the user cannot easily touch the carriage 4 and the recording head 4a stopped there, so that the state of the carriage 4 cannot be seen. ing. Note that the recording standby position is also referred to as a “home position”.

The recording head 4a is located at the recording standby position.
Cap 53a (FIG. 3) for sealing the nozzle surface, or a suction pump 53 (FIG. 3) for suctioning and discharging the ink in the nozzle by making the internal space sealed by the cap a negative pressure.
Is provided. When the recording head 4a enters the recording standby position, the nozzle surface is always sealed by the cap, and the ink near the nozzles is protected from drying. Then, if necessary, for example, when the power is turned on or when the ink tank is replaced, the suction pump is operated, and the ink in the nozzles is sucked, thereby executing a suction damage process for removing fixed ink and bubbles.

Normally, when the cover 2 is closed and recording is not being performed, the recording head 4a is stopped in the recording standby position space 15. When the user opens the cover 2 in this state, the recording head 4 moves from the recording standby position space 15 and stops at a predetermined position (ink tank replacement position) of the opening that can be touched by the user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the printer.

The control of the entire printer is performed by the CPU 91. When data such as a recording command and image data is transmitted from the host computer, the data is transmitted to the CPU 91 via the I / F unit 92. The CPU 91 analyzes the transmitted data and transmits a driving command to each driving unit. The drive command drives the carriage motor 51, the transport motor 52, the suction pump 53, and the nozzle heater 54 via the drivers 95, 96, 97.

The operation panel 94 and the switch panel 14
The operation command and the detection result of the cover sensor 3 are also sent to the CPU 9 as needed.
Sent to 1. Further, the CPU 91 reads out a control program stored in the memory 93 as necessary, and performs control according to the program, and conversely, stores data necessary for processing as needed.

In this embodiment, a flag of the ink tank replacement completion switch is provided in the storage area of the memory 93, and the flag is set when the ink tank replacement completion switch is pressed. By setting / resetting the flag, the CPU 91 determines whether or not the ink tank has been replaced.
Is determined, and a drive command is sent to the cap 53a and the suction pump 53 so as to execute the suction process when the replacement is performed.

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a processing routine for replacing an ink tank will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process at the time of ink tank replacement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the printer 1 is turned on (step 20), the CPU switches the ink tank replacement completion switch 7,
The flag set by the switch operation of No. 8 is reset (step 21).

Waiting in this state, it is determined whether a recording command has been transmitted from the host computer (step 2).
2) If it has been transmitted, a command analysis process is performed (step 34). On the other hand, when there is no recording command from the host computer, the sensor switch 3 detects whether the cover 2 is open or closed (step 23), and when it is determined that the cover is open (step 24), the recording head 4a is recorded. It is moved from the standby position to the ink tank replacement position (step 25). That is, at this point, it is assumed that the user has opened the cover for some purpose.

The user removes the ink tank to be replaced from the recording head 4a stopped at the ink tank replacement position, and installs a new ink tank. Then, when the mounting is completed, one or both of the ink tank replacement completion switches 7 and 8 are pressed. The ink tank replacement completion switch is actuated (step 26), and when the replacement of the ink tank is confirmed (step 27), an ink tank replacement completion flag is set (step 28).

When the user closes the cover 2, the cover sensor 3 detects that the cover is closed (step 29).
It is determined that the cover 2 has been closed (step 30). Then, the recording head 4a is moved to the recording standby position (Step 31). When the recording head moves to the recording standby position, it is determined whether or not the flag of the ink tank replacement completion switch is set (step 3).
2). If the flag is set, it means that the ink tank has been replaced, and the suction recovery process is executed (step 33). When the suction process is completed, the process returns to step 21 to reset the flag.

As described above, only when the ink tank replacement completion switch is pressed, the suction recovery process is performed after the cover is closed, and when the cover is opened for any other purpose, even if the cover is closed, Do not execute suction recovery processing.
Thereby, it is possible to execute only the necessary suction recovery processing at an appropriate timing. Further, it is possible to minimize the amount of ink wasted in unnecessary suction recovery processing.

(Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, the determination as to whether or not to execute the suction recovery process depends on the factor of the time during which the cover is opened, in addition to the presence or absence of an input to the ink tank replacement completion switch. Do it. That is, the present embodiment takes into consideration the factor of the cover opening time in addition to the processing of the first embodiment.

When the cover is opened for replacing the ink tank, a considerable amount of time is required while the cover is open. On the other hand, when the cover is opened for the purpose of, for example, checking the recording state, the open time of the cover is usually very short. It will be. When the cover sensor 3 detects the opening of the cover 2, the CPU 91 starts measuring the elapsed time, and stops measuring the elapsed time when detecting the closing of the cover 2. If the measured elapsed time is equal to or longer than the predetermined value, the ink tank replacement may be performed even if the ink tank replacement completion flag is not set in the first embodiment (that is, even if it is necessary to go to No in step 32 of FIG. 4). Is determined to have been performed, and a routine for executing the suction recovery process is performed.

As described above, by adding the cover opening time factor to the routine, even if the user replaces the ink tank and forgets to press the ink tank replacement completion switch, the necessary suction recovery process is performed. Can be performed reliably.

(Embodiment 3) In the first embodiment, whether or not to execute the suction recovery process is determined based on the presence or absence of the input of the ink tank replacement completion switch. Instead, a switch for inhibiting the suction recovery process is provided. If there is no need to perform suction processing when the cover is opened, depressing this prohibition switch prevents unnecessary suction recovery processing from being executed.

A switch for prohibiting the suction recovery process is provided at a place where the ink tank replacement completion switches 7 and 8 are provided in the first embodiment and which is visible to the user only when the cover is opened. If the user does not need the suction process when opening the cover, the user presses the suction recovery prohibition switch and then closes the cover. In this case, the printer does not execute the suction recovery process even if the cover is closed.

(Embodiment 4) In the first to third embodiments, the suction recovery processing using the cap and the suction pump is executed as the discharge recovery processing. However, in the present embodiment, the suction recovery processing is performed instead of the suction recovery processing or the suction recovery processing. A recovery process by preliminary ejection is performed in parallel with the process. Here, the preliminary ejection is to eject ink irrelevant to recording toward an ink receiver such as a cap.

(Embodiment 5) In the first to fourth embodiments, the replacement of the ink tank is detected, and the recovery process is executed in response to the detection.
The present invention can also be applied when replacing the recording head. That is, instead of the ink tank replacement completion switch, or in addition to the ink tank replacement completion switch, a switch for inputting the print head replacement completion is provided, and the recovery processing is executed in the same manner as in the first to fourth embodiments.

Thus, even when the recording head is replaced, only the necessary recovery processing can be executed. If the user opens the cover when the user wants to check the printing status during the printing operation or when the user wants to check the status of ink adhesion to the discharge port surface of the print head, unnecessary recovery processing is not performed, so that there is no waste. The generation of waste ink can be prevented.

The recording head according to the present invention includes:
In addition to the form of a head chip in which ink is supplied from a separate ink tank to the head, the form of a head cartridge in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the head may be used.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the cover is opened and closed, if the user replaces the ink tank or the recording head, the recovery process is executed, and if the user does not replace the ink tank or the recording head. Does not perform recovery processing. Accordingly, the recovery process can be executed only when necessary, and it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of ink. In addition, since the time for performing unnecessary recovery processing can be eliminated, the recording work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore,
Even if the user opens the cover for the purpose of checking the recording state during recording or the like, the recording operation does not stop, so that the user does not feel uneasy.

In addition, by providing a switch inside the cover as input means for inputting information related to recovery, the user turns on the switch by mistake and shifts to recovery processing, and wastes ink. Can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a printer as an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a cover portion of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electric circuit configuration of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing at the time of ink tank replacement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional process at the time of ink tank replacement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Cover 3 Cover sensor 4a Recording head 7, 8 Ink exchange completion switch

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A recovery unit for performing a recovery process of an ejection port for performing printing by discharging ink, an openable / closable cover for covering a printing unit related to printing, and a detection for detecting whether the cover is open or closed. Means, a switch provided at a portion which is covered by the cover when the cover is in a closed state and which can be turned on when the cover is in an open state, and wherein the detecting means detects an open state of the cover, and the switch is turned on. Control means for controlling the execution of the recovery processing of the ejection port by the recovery means. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein said switch is a switch for turning on when said recording means is replaced, and said control means causes said recovery means to execute said recovery processing when said switch is turned on. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: measuring a period during which the cover is in an open state, and if the measured period is equal to or longer than a predetermined value, the control unit performs the recovery processing on the recovery unit even if the switch is not turned on. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:
3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The switch is a switch for inhibiting the recovery process by the recovery unit, and when the switch is turned on, the control unit does not cause the recovery unit to execute the recovery process. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery unit includes a cap that covers the discharge port, and a suction pump that performs suction from the discharge port when the cap covers the discharge port. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recovery means includes an ink receiver for receiving ink irrelevant to recording discharged from said discharge port. . 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes an ink tank for storing ink.
The inkjet recording device according to any one of the above. 8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes a recording head for discharging ink. 9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said switches are provided corresponding to a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting mutually different inks. 10. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for discharging ink from the discharge port. 11. A recovery means for performing a recovery process of an ejection port for performing printing by discharging ink, an openable / closable cover for covering printing means related to printing, and a switch for inputting an instruction regarding the recovery means. And a switch provided at a portion that can be turned on when the cover is closed and covered by the cover when the cover is open. 12. A step of detecting an open state of an openable / closable cover that covers a recording unit related to recording, and provided at a portion that is covered by the cover when the cover is closed and that can be turned on when the cover is open. Turning on the switch when the cover is open, detecting the open state of the cover and, when the switch is turned on, controlling the execution of the recovery process of the discharge port for discharging ink and performing printing. A discharge recovery method. 13. The switch for turning on when the recording means is replaced, and the switch is turned on.
13. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein the recovery process is performed in the control step when the recovery process is performed. 14. A method for measuring a period in which the cover is in an open state, and executing the recovery process even if the switch is not turned on in the control step if the measured period is equal to or longer than a predetermined value. 14. The ejection recovery method according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The switch is a switch for prohibiting the recovery process, and when the switch is turned on,
13. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein the recovery process is not performed in the control step. 16. The discharge recovery according to claim 12, wherein the recovery process is a suction process for performing suction from the discharge port when a cap covers the discharge port. Method. 17. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein the recovery process is a preliminary ejection process for ejecting ink irrelevant to printing from the ejection port. 18. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein said recording means includes an ink tank for storing ink. 19. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein said recording means includes a recording head for discharging ink. 20. The ejection recovery method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of said switches are provided corresponding to a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting mutually different inks.