JP2001239679A - Ink jet recorder and method for recovering ink ejection capacity of recording head thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder in which high print quality can be sustained by discharging bubbles remaining in an ink channel effectively. SOLUTION: When power is turned on, loading state of an ink cartridge in a recorder is confirmed at step S12. The loading states include (1) initial loading, (2) normal replacement of an ink cartridge, and (3) reloading of a used ink cartridge, and one table describing the procedure of recovery operation is referred. Cleaning operation (step S17) or flushing operation (step S19) is executed according to the recovery operation described on that table.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs printing on a recording sheet by ejecting ink droplets toward the recording sheet based on print data, and more particularly to an ink ejection capability of a recording head. The present invention relates to a technique for controlling ink discharge processing performed in a recovery processing operation for recovering ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet recording apparatuses have been used in many types of printing including color printing in recent years, since noise at the time of printing is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density. Such an ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, and a paper feeding unit that moves recording paper relative to the recording head, and records the recording head on a carriage. Recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper while moving in the width direction of the paper.

On the carriage, a recording head capable of discharging black ink and each color ink of yellow, cyan, and magenta is mounted, and by changing not only the text printing with black ink but also the discharge ratio of each ink, Enables full-color printing.

In the ink jet type recording head, the ink pressurized in the pressure generating chamber is ejected from a nozzle as ink droplets onto a recording sheet to perform printing, so that the ink viscosity increases due to the evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle opening. In addition, there is a problem that printing failure occurs due to solidification of the ink, adhesion of dust, and mixing of air bubbles into the ink flow path.

For this purpose, an ink jet recording apparatus of this type includes a capping means for sealing the nozzle opening of the recording head during non-printing, and a nozzle which slides on the nozzle forming surface of the recording head as required. A wiping member for cleaning the forming surface is provided.

The capping means not only functions as a lid for preventing the ink from being dried at the nozzle openings when printing is stopped, but also when the nozzle openings are clogged or bubbles are formed in the ink flow path. In the case of mixing, the nozzle forming surface is sealed by capping means, and a negative pressure from a suction pump can be applied. Thus, the ink can be sucked from the nozzle opening to eliminate clogging due to solidification of the ink in the nozzle opening, and also function as a recovery unit for the ink discharge ability for discharging bubbles from inside the ink flow path.

[0007] Forcible suction and discharge of ink, which is performed to eliminate clogging of the recording head and when bubbles are mixed in the ink flow path, is called a cleaning operation. This is executed when printing is resumed after a long pause, or when the user recognizes that the quality of the recorded image has deteriorated, and operates, for example, a cleaning switch. After that, an operation of wiping the nozzle forming surface with a wiping member made of an elastic material such as rubber is involved.

On the other hand, apart from the above-mentioned cleaning operation, there is also provided a means for recovering ink discharge capability for applying a drive signal unrelated to printing to the recording head and causing ink droplets to be discharged in an idle manner. This process is performed at regular intervals for the purpose of preventing clogging due to thickening of ink at nozzle openings where ink droplets are less likely to be ejected during printing.

The above-described cleaning operation and flushing operation are automatically executed, for example, when the operation power of the recording apparatus is turned on. Whether the cleaning operation or the flushing operation is employed is determined. Are selected based on, for example, the operation table shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 8, the horizontal axis indicates the time (T1) elapsed after the cleaning operation of sucking ink from the recording head by the capping means, and the vertical axis indicates the recording head. The cumulative printing time (T2) in which the printing operation is performed without being capped by the capping means is shown. Then, based on these two parameters, a flushing operation is selected in a region where both times are short. When both times increase, a cleaning operation is performed.

As described above, in the state where the viscosity of the ink is low, the flushing operation can be performed as much as possible to suppress the waste of the ink and to perform the cleaning operation to impose a waiting time on the user. It is considered to reduce.

[0012]

By the way, in a recording apparatus for consumer use, for example, each ink cartridge filled with black ink and color ink can be detachably mounted on a carriage on which a recording head is mounted from above. It is configured as follows. In this case, each cartridge is mounted so as to be inserted into a hollow ink supply needle (hereinafter also referred to as a hollow needle) arranged upward in a part of the carriage, and the ink is supplied to the recording head via the hollow needle. Is configured to be supplied.

With such a configuration, when the ink cartridge is replaced, for example, when the ink cartridge is inserted into the hollow needle, there is a problem that air bubbles enter the hollow needle and the air bubbles cause printing trouble. I have. FIG. 9 schematically shows the state, which is a cross-sectional view of a part of a recording head mounted on a carriage.

A head case 2 constituting the recording head 20
A nozzle plate 20b constituting a nozzle forming surface of the recording head 20 is arranged on the lower side surface of the recording head 20, and a plurality of nozzle openings 20c are formed in the nozzle plate 20b. Also, an actuator 20d of a piezoelectric vibrator corresponding to each nozzle opening 20c is provided in the head case 20.
a. An ink communication passage 20e is formed in the head case 20a from the nozzle opening 20c and the actuator 20d to the upper part.

On the upper surface of the head case 20a, a hollow needle 21 is arranged in an upright state. Each ink communication flow path 20e formed in the head case 20a is provided with an ink flow path in each hollow needle 21. It is connected to the road. An ink introduction hole 21 a is formed at the top of each hollow needle 21, and ink from an ink cartridge (not shown) inserted into the hollow needle 21 is supplied to the ink introduction hole 21 a.
a, and is supplied to the nozzle opening 20c side of the recording head via the ink communication flow path 20e. A filter member 22 for removing dust and the like is disposed in the ink flow path between each of the hollow needles 21 and the head case 20a.

According to the above-described structure, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the bubble A enters the ink flow path,
For example, a phenomenon of staying in a state of sticking in the hollow needle 21 occurs. In addition, some of the air bubbles
In some cases, the ink may also remain in a part of the ink communication flow path 20e formed in a.

The incorporation of bubbles into the ink flow path described above
In addition to the occurrence of normal replacement of the ink cartridge, for example, at the time of initial filling when ink is first introduced into the recording apparatus, air in the ink flow path is not completely discharged and remains as a bubble in a state of being sled and remaining. A phenomenon also occurs. Also, when an operation such as removing the ink cartridge in use and reloading the cartridge is performed, bubbles are similarly mixed. In particular, at the time of the above-described initial filling and when the ink cartridge is reloaded, the degree of air bubble mixing is significantly increased.

In order to cope with such a phenomenon that air bubbles are mixed into the ink flow path, when ink is introduced into the recording apparatus for the first time, or when the ink cartridge is replaced, the negative pressure from the suction pump is applied. So-called initial filling cleaning, which sucks ink from the nozzle opening,
Alternatively, it is configured to perform exchange cleaning or the like. However, even if such a cleaning operation is performed, it is not easy to fundamentally remove the air bubbles that remain in the ink flow path, particularly, the hollow needle 21 on the upstream side of the filter member 22.

As shown in FIG. 9, if the time elapses with the air bubbles A remaining in the ink flow path, the degree of deaeration of the ink in the ink cartridge also decreases. It has a problem that it grows gradually in the channel. FIG. 10 schematically shows an example of such a case. When the bubble A grows in this way, it becomes impossible to discharge ink from the nozzle opening corresponding to the ink flow path, resulting in a printing failure.

Further, in the current printing apparatus, after the above-described initial filling cleaning or replacement cleaning is performed once, the printing head is periodically executed to discharge the thickened ink in the printing head, as shown in FIG. Since only the timer cleaning operation shown is adopted, there is always a cause of print failure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is configured to execute an optimum cleaning operation in accordance with a cartridge loading mode when an ink cartridge is loaded. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of guaranteeing high print quality and a method for recovering ink ejection capability of a recording head in the apparatus.

[0022]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings in accordance with print data to form an image on a recording medium. What is claimed is: 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head for printing; and a recovery operation processing unit for restoring an ink ejection capability of the recording head, wherein the recovery operation processing unit supplies ink to the recording head. Depending on the loading form of the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded,
One of a plurality of recovery operation modes set in advance is selected, and a process of recovering the ink ejection capability of the print head is executed in accordance with the selected recovery operation mode.

In this case, as the recovery processing of the ink discharge capability performed by the recovery operation processing means, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is sealed by the capping means, and the negative pressure from the suction pump is applied to the recording head to recover the ink. A cleaning operation for sucking ink or a flushing operation for applying a drive signal irrelevant to printing to the recording head to discharge ink droplets idle is performed.

It is preferable that at least two types of ink suction operations, namely a normal suction operation and a strong suction operation, are prepared as the ink suction operation based on the application of the negative pressure from the suction pump.

Preferably, when the ink cartridge is loaded in the recording apparatus, the cartridge may be loaded in at least an initial state in which the recording apparatus is initially filled with ink, a normal replacement of the ink cartridge, and a reloading of the used ink cartridge. It is configured to be identified.

Preferably, in the case where the ink cartridge is loaded in a recording apparatus, the recovery operation mode selected according to a loading mode of the cartridge is performed after a cleaning operation for sucking ink from a recording head by the capping means. , And the accumulated printing time during which the printing operation is performed without the recording head being capped by the capping means.

The process of restoring the ink discharge capability of the print head, which is performed by the recovery operation processing means, is controlled so as to be executed at least when the operating power of the printing apparatus is turned on.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for restoring the ink ejection capability of a recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus, which prints an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from nozzle openings in accordance with print data. What is claimed is: 1. An ink ejection capability restoration method for a recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head; and a recovery operation processing unit for restoring the ink ejection capability of the recording head, wherein the ink cartridge supplies ink to the recording head. A loading mode determining step for determining the loading mode of the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded, and one of a plurality of preset recovery operation modes based on the loading mode of the cartridge determined in the loading mode determining step. Selecting a recovery operation mode to be selected; Accordance selected a recovery operation mode by the mode selection step is adapted to sequentially perform a recovery processing step of performing the recovery process of the ink discharge ability of the recording head.

In this case, preferably, the recovery operation mode selecting step includes the step of reading one of a plurality of recovery operation tables in which recovery operation procedures are described based on the cartridge loading mode determined in the loading mode determination step. In the selection, the recovery processing step reads the selected recovery operation table and executes the recovery processing of the ink discharge capability of the recording head.

In each of the recovery operation tables, preferably, the elapsed time after the cleaning operation of sucking the ink from the recording head by the capping unit and the printing operation without the recording head being capped by the capping unit are performed. In the recovery processing step, according to the recovery operation procedure read from one recovery operation table, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head is sealed by the capping means, and the accumulated printing time is set by the suction pump. A cleaning operation of applying a negative pressure to the recording head to suck ink from the recording head, or a flushing operation of applying a drive signal irrelevant to printing to the recording head to discharge ink droplets idle. You.

According to the ink jet type recording apparatus adopting the above-described method for recovering the ink discharge capability of the recording head, the cartridge loading mode when the recording apparatus is loaded with an ink cartridge, that is, the initial filling of the recording apparatus with ink for the first time. One of a plurality of preset recovery operation modes is selected according to the normal replacement of the ink cartridge, the reloading of the used ink cartridge, and the like. If the cartridge is loaded, the selected recovery operation mode is selected. It operates so that the recovery operation mode is repeatedly executed.

Therefore, in the case of the initial filling in which the degree of residual air bubbles is remarkable, and the case where the cartridge is reloaded, a strong suction operation having a high air bubble discharging effect is employed. This improves the effect of discharging bubbles in the ink flow path and suppresses the occurrence of printing defects. In addition, when the degree of residual air bubbles is small, such as after the normal replacement of the cartridge, the normal suction operation is employed, which works to suppress waste of ink in the cartridge.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage.
Is configured to be reciprocated in the axial direction of the platen 5 by being guided by a guide member 4 via a timing belt 3 that reciprocates by driving the carriage motor 2.

An ink jet recording head, which will be described later, is mounted on a side of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 6 as a recording medium disposed on the lower side of the carriage 1, and a black ink for supplying ink to the recording head is disposed above the ink jet recording head. An ink cartridge 7 and a color ink cartridge 8 are removably mounted.

In the drawing, reference numeral 9 denotes a capping means disposed at a home position outside the printing area. Below the capping means 9, a suction pump 10 for applying a negative pressure to the capping means 9 is provided. Are located.

The capping means 9 not only functions as a lid for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head to prevent drying of the nozzle openings during the idle period of the recording apparatus, but also functions as an ink receiver during a flushing operation. Further, by applying a negative pressure from the suction pump 10 to the recording head,
It also has a function as a cleaning means for sucking and discharging ink from the recording head.

A wiping member 11 made of an elastic material such as rubber in the shape of a strip is disposed in the vicinity of the printing area side of the capping means 9, and slidably contacts the nozzle forming surface of the recording head as necessary. In addition, it is configured such that dust such as paper dust and ink or the like attached to the nozzle forming surface can be wiped and cleaned.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a recording head mounted on the carriage 1 and an ink cartridge mounted thereon. The configuration of the recording head 20 has already been described with reference to FIG. 9. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the respective components of the recording head 20 shown in FIG. 2 and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ink supply needle 21 at the left end in FIG.
This is for supplying black ink, and the black ink cartridge 7 can be mounted from above on the ink supply needle 21. Most of the upper part of the black ink cartridge 7 is formed as an ink storage chamber 7a.
a contains a porous member 7b,
The ink is stored in a state where b is impregnated with the black ink.

An opening 7c is formed in the lower portion of the ink storage chamber 7a, and a rubber sealing member 7d is fitted in the opening 7c. A film member 7e is attached to the lower end of the opening 7c, and is sealed so that the ink solvent inside does not volatilize during storage of the cartridge.

When the cartridge 7 is pushed from above as shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply needle 21 breaks through the film member 7e, and the rubber seal member 7d attached to the cartridge 7 is broken. Are joined to the periphery of the ink supply needle 21, and the cartridge 7 is set in the loaded state. Then, the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 7 to the recording head side through the ink outlet hole 21a formed at the tip of the ink supply needle 21.

On the other hand, the color ink cartridge 8 includes
As shown in FIG. 2, ink storage chambers for individually storing the cyan, magenta, and yellow color inks are formed in order from the left, and these are integrally formed. The respective structures are the same as those of the black ink cartridge 7 described above. Therefore, the detailed description of each configuration is omitted.

Also in this color ink cartridge 8, in the state shown in FIG. 2, when it is pushed in from the upper part, the remaining three ink supply needles 21 established on the head case 20a of the recording head are used to change the mounted state. Then, each color ink is supplied to the recording head.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a control circuit constituting the recovery operation processing means mounted on the recording apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to the parts described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG.
A black ink cartridge 7 and a color ink cartridge 8 are removably mounted on the carriage 1, and each ink is supplied to the recording head 20 from each of the cartridges 7, 8. The carriage 1 is configured to be reciprocated by the driving of the carriage motor 2. Further, the suction pump 10 is connected to the capping means 9, and the discharge side of the suction pump 10 is connected to the waste liquid tank 30. It is connected to the.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 40 denotes print control means, which generates bitmap data based on print data from a host computer.
A function is provided in which a driving signal is generated by the head driving unit 41 based on this data, and ink is ejected from the recording head 20 mounted on the carriage 1. The head driving unit 41 includes a driving signal based on print data,
It is also configured to receive a flushing command signal from the flushing control means 42 and output a drive signal for a flushing operation to the recording head 20.

Reference numeral 43 denotes cleaning control means.
The cleaning control means 43 receives a control signal from the cleaning command detecting means 44 or the recovery operation selecting means 45, controls the pump driving means 46, and
0 is provided. A control signal when printing is performed is supplied from the print control unit 40 to the cumulative print timer 47, and a reset signal is also supplied from the cleaning control unit 43 to the cumulative print timer 47. It is configured to:

Thus, the cumulative print timer 47 operates so that the cumulative print time is reset to zero by the reset signal from the cleaning control means 43 and counts up the cumulative print time by the control output from the print control means 40. That is, the cumulative print timer 47 has a function of measuring the cumulative print time (T2) in which the recording head 20 has been printing without being capped by the capping unit 9.

Further, the cleaning timer 43 and the flushing control unit 42
8 is configured to be supplied with a control signal. The cleaning timer 48 receives the control signal, resets the accumulated time to zero, starts immediately, and acts to count up the elapsed time. That is, the cleaning timer 48 has a function of measuring the elapsed time (T1) after the previous recovery operation processing.

The count-up output (timed output) of the cumulative print timer 47 and the cleaning timer 48 is supplied to the recovery operation selecting means 45. Recovery operation selecting means 45
Refers to one of the later-described recovery operation tables constructed in the ROM 49 based on the clock outputs of the timers 47 and 48, and performs control to execute the recovery operation mode described in the recovery operation table. Is done.

From the recovery operation selecting means 45, the flushing control means 42 for executing one of the recovery operation means,
Alternatively, a control signal can be sent to the cleaning control means 43 which executes another one of the recovery operation means, and based on the recovery operation means selected by the recovery operation selection means 45, flushing control or Cleaning control is performed. Also, the recovery operation selecting means 4
5, the control signal can be sent to the carriage motor control means 50, whereby the carriage 1 moves to the home position and the capping means 9 seals the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 20. Acts as follows.

Reference numeral 51 in FIG. 3 denotes a cleaning command switch disposed on an operation panel or the like of the apparatus. To perform a manual cleaning operation.

Next, the recovery operation of the ink ejection capability of the recording head performed by the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 and the respective recovery operation tables shown in FIGS. Will be explained. First, FIG. 4 shows a recovery processing operation performed when the operation power is turned on (ON) to the recording apparatus. When the operation power is turned on to the recording apparatus, in step S11,
The initialization operation of the recording device is performed. In this initialization operation, for example, it is determined whether the ink supply path is initially filled with ink, or the black ink cartridge 7 and the color ink cartridge 8
A determination process is performed to determine whether or not is loaded.

When the initialization operation is completed, the status of the ink cartridge is checked in step S12. This status check is performed when the ink cartridge is loaded in the recording apparatus, that is, the initial state of the recording apparatus when ink is firstly filled, the ink cartridge is normally replaced, and the used ink cartridge is reloaded. The cartridge is identified based on whether it is in the state (cartridge loading mode determination step).

Then, if the initial filling is selected, the process proceeds to step S 13, where the recovery operation selecting means 45 refers to the first recovery operation table constructed in the ROM 49. If the ink cartridge is normally replaced, is selected, and step S
The process proceeds to 14, and the recovery operation selecting means 45 refers to the second recovery operation table constructed in the ROM 49. further,
If the used ink cartridge has been reloaded, the selection is made, and the process proceeds to step S15, where the recovery operation selecting means 45 refers to the third recovery operation table constructed in the ROM 49 (recovery operation mode). Selection step).

FIGS. 5 to 7 show images of the first to third recovery operation tables described above. In each of the first to third recovery operation tables, the time elapsed after the cleaning operation of sucking ink from the recording head by the capping means, that is, the time measured by the CL timer 48 (T1) is plotted on the horizontal axis. The matrix configuration is such that the vertical axis represents the cumulative printing time during which the head performs a printing operation without being capped by the capping means, that is, the time (T2) measured by the cumulative printing timer 47. A flushing operation area and a cleaning operation area are defined using the two time periods as parameters.

The first recovery operation table shown in FIG.
Based on the two parameters, a flushing operation is configured to be selected in an area where both timing times are short, and an instruction to execute strong cleaning is generated when both timing times increase. Has been built.

The second recovery operation table shown in FIG. 6 is constructed based on two parameters so that the flushing operation is selected in an area where both of the clocking times are small. When both are increased, an instruction to execute the normal cleaning is generated.

Further, the third recovery operation table shown in FIG. 7 shows that the instruction for executing the strong cleaning is given regardless of the time (T1) measured by the CL timer 48 and the time (T2) measured by the cumulative print timer 47. It is built to be generated.

In step S16, the recovery operation selecting means 45 refers to any one of the recovery operation tables selected as described above, and measures the time (T1) measured by the CL timer 48 and the time measured by the cumulative print timer 47. Based on (T2), it is determined whether a cleaning operation is necessary.

As a result, a cleaning operation is required (Y
If it is determined as es), the process proceeds to step S17, where a cleaning operation is performed as a recovery processing step corresponding to the selected processing mode. In this case, step S
In the status check of the ink cartridge in 12, for example, when it is determined that the ink cartridge is initially charged, the strong cleaning shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

In executing the strong cleaning, a control signal is sent from the recovery operation selecting means 45 to the carriage motor control means 50, and the carriage motor 2 is driven based on the control signal, so that the recording head is capped. Made to state. Then, a control signal is sent from the recovery operation selecting unit 45 to the cleaning control unit 43, whereby the pump driving unit 46 drives the suction pump 10 at a high speed, for example, to perform strong cleaning. This can enhance the effect of discharging bubbles remaining in the ink flow path.

If it is determined in step S12 that the ink cartridge has been replaced normally in the status check of the ink cartridge, the normal cleaning shown in FIG. 6 is executed in step S17. This normal cleaning is performed mainly for the purpose of discharging the thickened ink from the recording head. At this time, the pump driving means 46 drives the suction pump 10 at the normal speed, and the thickened ink is discharged from the recording head. Is discharged.

Further, if it is determined in step S12 that the used ink cartridge has been reloaded in the status check of the ink cartridge, in step S17, the strong cleaning shown in FIG. 7 is executed. This strong cleaning is a cleaning operation similar to the strong cleaning shown in FIG. Therefore, the effect of discharging bubbles remaining in the ink flow path can be enhanced.

After the execution of the cleaning operation in step S17, the process proceeds to step S18, where the cleaning timer (T1) is reset to zero.
The operation is started and the elapsed time is counted up again. Further, the cumulative print timer (T2) is reset to zero.

On the other hand, in step S16, the recovery operation selecting means 45 refers to one of the recovery operation tables selected as described above, and measures the time (T1) measured by the CL timer 48 and the time counted by the cumulative print timer 47. If it is determined that the cleaning operation is not necessary (No) based on the time (T2), that is, it is determined that the area is the area of the flushing operation, the process proceeds to step S19, and the flushing of a predetermined number of shots is performed as a recovery processing step. The operation is executed, and the operation of restoring the ink ejection capability of the recording head ends.

[0066]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ink jet recording apparatus employing the method for recovering the ink discharge ability of the recording head according to the present invention, the ink cartridge is loaded according to the loaded form when the ink cartridge is loaded. Thus, one of a plurality of preset recovery operation modes is selected, and the recovery processing of the ink ejection capability of the print head is executed in accordance with the selected recovery operation mode. The recovery operation mode including the cleaning operation and the flushing operation is changed according to the initial filling for filling the ink, the normal replacement of the ink cartridge, the reloading of the used ink cartridge, and the like. This makes it possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can execute an optimal recovery operation according to the amount of bubbles remaining in the ink flow path and can guarantee high print quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording head portion of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and an ink cartridge mounted thereon.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control circuit provided in the recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence of a cleaning operation performed by the control circuit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a table configuration diagram showing a first recovery operation table used in a cleaning operation.

FIG. 6 is a table configuration diagram showing a second recovery operation table.

FIG. 7 is a table configuration diagram showing a third recovery operation table.

FIG. 8 is a table configuration diagram showing an example of a recovery operation table employed in a cleaning operation performed when an operation power supply is turned on in a conventional recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a recording head portion showing a state in which bubbles stay in an ink flow path.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the recording head showing a state in which bubbles have further grown in the configuration shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 carriage 2 carriage motor 6 recording paper (recording medium) 7 black ink cartridge 8 color ink cartridge 9 capping means 10 suction pump 11 wiping member 20 recording head 20a head case 20b nozzle plate (nozzle forming surface) 20c nozzle opening 21 ink supply needle Reference Signs List 40 printing control means 41 head driving means 42 flushing control means 43 cleaning control means 44 cleaning command detecting means 45 recovery operation selecting means 46 pump driving means 47 cumulative print timer 48 cleaning timer 49 ROM 50 carriage motor control means A residual air bubble

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording head that prints an image on a recording medium by discharging ink droplets from nozzle openings according to print data, and a recovery operation processing unit that recovers the ink discharge capability of the recording head. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: a recovery operation processing unit configured to perform a plurality of recovery operation modes set in advance according to a cartridge loading mode when an ink cartridge that supplies ink to the recording head is loaded. An ink jet recording apparatus configured to select one of them and execute a process of restoring the ink discharge capability of the recording head in accordance with the selected recovery operation mode. 2. The process of recovering ink ejection capability performed by the recovery operation processing unit includes sealing a nozzle forming surface of a recording head by a capping unit and applying a negative pressure from a suction pump to the ink from the recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning operation of sucking ink, or a flushing operation of applying a drive signal irrelevant to printing to the recording head to discharge ink droplets idle. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least two types of ink suction operations based on application of a negative pressure from the suction pump are provided: a normal suction operation and a strong suction operation. 4. A cartridge loading mode when the ink cartridge is loaded into a recording apparatus is identified by at least initial filling when the recording apparatus is first filled with ink, normal replacement of the ink cartridge, and reloading of the used ink cartridge. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is configured as described above. 5. The recovery operation mode selected according to a cartridge loading mode when the ink cartridge is loaded in a recording apparatus, the recovery operation mode being performed after a cleaning operation of sucking ink from a recording head by the capping unit. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the time and the accumulated printing time in which the recording head performs a printing operation without being capped by the capping means are respectively set as parameters. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery operation of the print head performed by the recovery operation processing unit is performed at least when the operation power of the printing apparatus is turned on. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 7. An ink jet recording head that prints an image on a recording medium by discharging ink droplets from nozzle openings according to print data, and a recovery operation processing unit that recovers the ink discharging capability of the recording head. A method for restoring an ink ejection capability of a recording head in an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a loading mode determining step of determining a loading mode of a cartridge when an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head is loaded; A recovery operation mode selection step of selecting one of a plurality of preset recovery operation modes based on the cartridge loading mode determined in the mode determination step; and a recovery mode selected in the recovery operation mode selection step. According to the operation mode, the ink discharge capability of the recording head And a recovery processing step for performing a force recovery processing. 8. The recovery operation mode selecting step selects one of a plurality of recovery operation tables in which a recovery operation procedure is described based on the cartridge loading mode determined in the loading mode determination step. 8. The ink ejection capability recovery process for a print head in an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recovery process step reads a selected recovery operation table and executes a process for recovering the ink ejection capability of the print head. Method. 9. Each of the recovery operation tables includes:
The elapsed time after the cleaning operation of sucking the ink from the recording head by the capping unit and the accumulated printing time of the recording head performing the printing operation without being capped by the capping unit are constructed as parameters, and in the recovery processing step, A cleaning operation for sealing the nozzle forming surface of the recording head by capping means and applying a negative pressure from the suction pump to suck ink from the recording head in accordance with the recovery operation procedure read from one recovery operation table. ,
9. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a driving signal irrelevant to printing is applied to said recording head to perform a flushing operation for causing the ink droplets to be ejected idly. Ability recovery processing method.