JP2002103591A - Ink jet recorder and control method for recovery operation of its recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for recovering the head of an ink jet recorder, and an ink jet recorder, in which head recovery operation (e.g. head cleaning) of appropriate content can be executed at an appropriate timing even when a transition has been made to power saving mode. SOLUTION: At the time of making a transition to power saving mode, a time measuring means (timer) operable in the power saving mode is set with a time up to a next head recovery operation. An interruption signal is delivered when the time measuring means times out and normal operation mode is reset before a specified head recovery operation is executed.

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 such as an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to a method of controlling a print head recovery operation in an ink jet recording apparatus capable of shifting to a power saving mode. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus having the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink discharge type recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer supplies ink stored in an ink supply source such as an ink cartridge to a recording head through an ink supply path, and ink is supplied from nozzles of the recording head. Printing is performed by discharging droplets on recording paper. If the ink ejection operation from the nozzles of the recording head is not performed for a long time, the water will evaporate from the nozzles, increasing the viscosity of the residual ink, or causing air bubbles to enter the nozzles. Therefore, an ink suction mechanism that sucks ink from the nozzles and discharges it to the outside is arranged, and ink is sucked from each nozzle of the print head to clean the print head so that proper printing can always be performed. For example, a process (head recovery process) for recovering the performance of the recording head to a certain degree of accuracy (head recovery process) is performed. Further, since the nozzle forming surface of the recording head faces the recording paper at a very small interval, paper dust, ink, and the like are likely to adhere to the nozzle forming surface. If paper dust, ink, or the like adheres to the nozzle forming surface, the nozzles may be clogged, or ink may adhere to recording paper and become dirty. Therefore, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a wiping mechanism for wiping the foreign matters adhered to the nozzle forming surface by the elastic absorbing plate is arranged, and by wiping the foreign matters adhered to the nozzle forming surface, it is possible to always perform a proper printing operation. Thus, the head recovery process for recovering the recording head is periodically performed. An ink jet recording apparatus provided with such ink suction means and wiping means is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-255361. An ink jet printing apparatus that performs a print head recovery process every time a predetermined time elapses is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-92548. Such a head recovery process is performed every time a predetermined time elapses, before the start of printing, or each time printing of a predetermined print amount ends. In this case, it is not preferable to interrupt the operation during the printing operation and perform the head recovery process. Therefore, the head recovery process is performed before the printing is started or after the printing is completed. However, at a timing immediately before the start of printing, if a predetermined time has elapsed, or if printing of a predetermined printing amount has been completed, head recovery processing is executed first, and after that, The printing operation starts. In this case, there is a problem that the time required to complete the original printing is increased. For example, POS
In the case of a printer or the like, the customer is made to wait, which deteriorates the impression of the customer. Even when printing is performed once after the printing operation is completed, the same problem occurs if the head recovery processing is executed until the printing is resumed. As described above, in order to prevent an adverse effect that the time required from the print command to the end of printing for the head recovery process is lengthened, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-85150 is disclosed.
Has been proposed. In the invention described in this publication, a period in which the printing operation is prioritized for the head recovery process is provided before the time required for the head recovery process is reached, and a print command is not issued for a certain period of time during this period. , It is assumed that a continuous printing operation is not performed, and the head recovery process is executed.

However, in order to prevent the head recovery processing from being performed immediately before printing, the recovery processing timing is adjusted according to various conditions such as the elapsed time since the head recovery processing was last performed and the print amount. Things. for that reason,
The elapse of time is constantly monitored, and the operation of the CPU or the like is stopped when it is not in operation to make it impossible to enter a power saving state in which power consumption is suppressed, or an appropriate head recovery process is executed during the power saving mode. There was a problem that it was not possible.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an ink ejection type recording apparatus has the following features.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of a head recovery processing operation that enables a transition to a power saving mode when not operating.

Another object of the present invention is to execute a print operation immediately without performing a head recovery operation immediately before the start of printing, even when a return from the power saving mode to the normal operation mode due to the transmission of print data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible ink discharge recording apparatus.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of repeated studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors have returned from a power saving mode to a normal operation mode at a predetermined timing and performed a head recovery processing operation. The above-mentioned subject was achieved by comprising. That is, when the transition condition to the power saving mode is satisfied, immediately before the transition, the time until the next recovery processing operation is set in the timekeeping means (timer) that operates even during the power saving mode, and the elapse of the set time Generates a return signal when the timer times out, returns to the normal operation mode from the power saving mode based on the return process started by the return signal, and executes the head recovery process operation.

A method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink discharge type recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is described below.
(a) a step of executing a recovery processing operation based on a predetermined condition; and (b) a normal operation after setting a time until the next recovery processing operation in a timer based on a predetermined power saving mode switching condition. (C) transitioning from the power saving mode to the power saving mode.
A step of returning from the power saving mode to the normal operation mode when the time set by the timer has elapsed, and executing a print head recovery processing operation.

Thus, even during the transition to the power saving mode, the time until the next recovery processing operation is measured, and when the time has elapsed, the operation returns to the normal operation mode and the head recovery processing operation is executed. , Even in power saving mode,
The recovery processing operation necessary to maintain the function of the recording head and the printing accuracy at a constant quality is reliably performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus, wherein a predetermined condition for executing the recovery operation in the step (a) is a condition in which the previous recovery operation is performed. It is set according to the elapsed time from the processing operation, the print amount of the recording head, and the non-printing time. Since the time until the next recovery processing operation and the next recovery processing operation to be executed are set according to the elapsed time from the previous recovery processing operation, the print amount of the recording head, and the non-printing time, the actual operation is performed. An appropriate recovery processing operation can be performed according to the situation.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus includes the step of: Is determined in accordance with predetermined conditions including the print amount, the non-printing time, and the elapsed time from the previous recovery processing operation. According to this aspect,
Even in the power saving mode, the recovery processing operation is performed at appropriate time intervals as in the normal operation mode.

It is also possible that a predetermined head recovery processing operation is always executed immediately before shifting to the power saving mode, so that a fixed time interval is always set in the timer means. It is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recording head recovery operation of an ink discharge type recording apparatus, wherein the step (a) comprises the steps of: A non-printing time, a step of selecting a recovery processing operation to be executed next according to a predetermined condition including an elapsed time from the previous recovery processing operation, and a step of executing the selected recovery processing operation. It is characterized by having. In the recovery processing operation, not only the time interval of the processing of the operation but also the contents thereof change depending on the operation state of the recording head.
For example, when the ink is not ejected from the nozzles for a long time, it is highly possible that the viscosity of the ink is increased. Therefore, it is preferable to suck the ink with a strong suction force or to suck the ink for a long time. In some cases, it is preferable to wipe off the ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface with a wiping means such as a wiper.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a print head of an ink-jet type printing apparatus, wherein the step (C) returns to the normal operation mode when the time-out means has timed out. And a step of returning to the normal operation mode when the return signal is received. The print amount of the recording head, the non-printing time, and the previous recovery processing are selected from among a plurality of types of recovery processing operations. Selecting a recovery processing operation to be executed next based on a predetermined condition including an elapsed time from the operation. This makes it possible to execute an appropriate recovery processing operation even when returning from the power saving mode.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink discharge type recording apparatus, which returns to a normal operation mode during a power saving mode and before a timer expires. When a condition occurs, the method further includes a step of returning to the normal operation mode from the power saving mode and clearing the timer. In this case, since the time until the next recovery processing operation has not elapsed, the recovery processing operation is not performed, and the processing according to the return condition is performed. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink discharge type recording apparatus, wherein the recovery operation includes a step of forcibly sucking ink from nozzles of the recording head and discharging the ink to the outside. It is characterized by including. It has been made clear that forced suction of ink is included in at least the recovery processing operation. Here, the strength of the suction and the suction time can be appropriately determined according to the situation to be performed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus, wherein the recovery operation is further performed on a nozzle forming surface of the recording head on which the nozzle is formed. And a step of wiping foreign matter adhering to the surface. This wipes off the high viscosity ink adhering to the nozzle forming surface,
Printing accuracy can be improved.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head of an ink-jet recording apparatus, which records a program including the steps of the method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head as described above. It is a computer-readable recording medium. Recent recording apparatuses can be controlled by a combination of predetermined electronic components such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM and a printing mechanism. Therefore, by programming and recording these steps, it is easy to change the control process, add new functions, and the like.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention comprises a recording head for performing printing by discharging ink droplets from nozzles, and a recording head for maintaining the printing performance of the recording head at a constant accuracy. A recovery operation processing unit for performing a predetermined head recovery processing operation for recovering the function of the head; and a power-saving mode based on a first condition for suppressing power consumption of the recording apparatus; Power saving control means for controlling to return to the normal operation mode from the power saving mode based on the time saving means for setting the start time of the next recovery processing operation by the power saving control means when transitioning to the power saving mode Returning means for controlling to return from the power saving mode to the normal operation mode when a time-up signal is received from the timing means during the power saving mode; and Ri, when the return to the normal operation mode, characterized in that it comprises a head recovery processing control means for controlling said head processing operation unit to implement said predetermined head recovery processing operation. By setting the timing of the start time of the next recovery processing operation in the timekeeping means operable even in the power saving mode, when the timing comes, the operation returns to the normal operation mode and the predetermined recovery processing operation is performed. By doing so, it is possible to achieve both the recovery processing operation and the transition to the power saving mode.

In the ink ejection type recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the head recovery processing control means may include, during the normal operation mode, the print amount of the recording head, the non-printing time, and the time from the previous recovery processing operation. The content of the predetermined recovery processing operation and the time until the next recovery processing operation are executed are determined according to the predetermined element including the elapsed time, and the predetermined head recovery processing operation based on the determination is performed at each time interval based on the determination. The recovery operation processing unit is controlled to execute According to this aspect, even in the normal operation mode and the power saving mode, it is possible to execute the recovery processing operation of appropriate contents at an appropriate timing.

In the ink jet recording apparatus according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the time until the next recovery processing operation set in the timer means includes the print amount of the recording head, the non-printing time, and the previous recovery processing operation. It is determined by the head recovery processing control means in accordance with a predetermined factor including an elapsed time from the time. According to this aspect, even in the power saving mode, the recovery processing operation can be executed at an appropriate timing.

Further, a predetermined head recovery process is always executed immediately before shifting to the power saving mode,
It is also possible to configure the timer so that a constant time interval is always set. An ink ejection type recording apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the recovery processing operation mechanism includes an ink suction mechanism for forcibly sucking ink from the nozzles of the print head and discharging the ink to the outside. .
It has been clarified that the head recovery processing operation mechanism includes at least a forced ink suction mechanism.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ink discharge type recording apparatus, the recovery processing operation mechanism further includes a head for wiping foreign matter adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the recording head where the nozzles are formed. A wiping mechanism is provided. Further, it is clarified that a head wiping mechanism is included.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the opposite side. As shown in these drawings, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes 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 a scanning direction indicated by an arrow A. 4 and an ink supply mechanism 10 for supplying ink to the recording head 3. Recording head 3
Has a rectangular nozzle forming surface 32 on which a plurality of nozzles 31 for discharging ink are formed. The nozzle forming surface 32 is exposed from a rectangular opening 30 formed in the carriage 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving mechanism 4 for moving the carriage 2 includes a guide shaft 45 and a driving pulley 43.
And a timing belt 41 stretched between the driven pulleys 44 and a carriage motor 42 for rotating and driving the drive pulley 43. 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 timing belt 41 is rotated by the carriage motor 42, the carriage 2 moves in the scanning direction A along the guide shaft 45. In this manner, the ink supplied from the ink supply mechanism 10 is ejected from the nozzles 31 of the recording head 3 while moving the carriage 2 in the scanning direction A. The recording paper 14 is conveyed to a position facing the nozzle forming surface 32, and printing is performed on the surface of the recording paper 14 by the ejected ink droplets. The ink supply mechanism 10 includes an ink cartridge 7 detachably mounted on an ink cartridge mounting portion 13 formed on the apparatus main body 12 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 and a pressure attenuator 9 mounted on the carriage 2.
And an ink supply pipe 81 connected between the ink cartridge 7 and the pressure attenuator 9. The ink cartridge 7 includes a flexible ink bag 7 inside a hard case 71.
2 is stored. An ink supply needle 82 attached to one end of an ink supply tube 81 is connected to an ink outlet 73 formed in the ink bag 72. The other end 83 of the ink supply tube 81
Is connected to the pressure attenuator 9. The pressure attenuator 9
The leading end of the ink outflow path 96 is connected to the recording head 3. Accordingly, the ink stored in the ink bag 72 of the ink cartridge 7 is supplied to the pressure attenuator 9 via the ink supply tube 81, and is sent to the recording head 3 therefrom. In this way, the ink supplied to the recording head 3 is ejected from the ink nozzle 31. Here, a head maintenance unit 5 is disposed at a position facing the home position of the carriage 2 indicated by the arrow C. The head maintenance unit 5 includes a head wiping mechanism 52 and an ink suction mechanism 55 as a head recovery mechanism for performing a recovery process of the recording head 3. (Ink Suction Mechanism) When the print head 3 moves to the home position C, the ink suction mechanism 55
And a cap 56 that covers the nozzle forming surface 32.
The cap 56 is at a position retracted to the unit case 50 while the carriage 2 is moving in the recording area B. When the carriage 2 moves to the home position C, the cap 56 is switched to a position protruding forward from the unit case 50, and the nozzle formation surface 3 of the recording head 3 is moved.
2 is covered. The pressure inside the cap 56 is reduced by a pump 57 operated by a motor 51 attached to the unit case 50. Therefore, the cap 5
By operating the pump 57 with the nozzle 6 covered on the nozzle forming surface 32, an ink suction process (recovery process) for sucking and discharging ink from the nozzles 31 can be performed.
As a result, bubbles inside the recording head 3 and ink with increased viscosity can be removed, so that the state of the ink inside the recording head 3 can be restored to an appropriate state.

(Head Wiping Mechanism) As shown in FIG. 2, the head wiping mechanism 52 includes an elastically deformable blade 53 and a blade holding member 5 holding the blade 53.
4 is provided. The blade holding member 54 is moved by a motor 51 attached to the unit case 50 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a gear train arranged in the unit case 50 and retracted into the unit case 50. The state is switched to a state in which the unit case 50 and the state in which the unit case 50 projects. Blade 53 is unit case 50
When the carriage 2 protrudes from the print area B,
When the blade 53 moves to the home position C from
Is in contact with the nozzle forming surface 32, and the ink, paper dust, and the like adhering to the nozzle forming surface 32 are wiped off. (Drive control) As is generally known, a printing operation of the recording head 3 in the ink discharge type recording apparatus 1 such as an ink jet recording apparatus, an operation of a transport mechanism (not shown) of the recording paper 14, and an ink suction mechanism The drive control of the operating parts such as 55 and the head wiping mechanism 52 is performed mainly by various drive control devices 60 mainly configured by a microcomputer (CPU). In such various drive control devices 60, the drive of each part is controlled under the control of the CPU using a work area or the like in the RAM according to a control program stored in the ROM in advance.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the control part is CP
FIG. 4 shows an example in which a head recovery process is executed by a maintenance unit (ink suction mechanism 55, head wiping mechanism 52) for head recovery processing. Indicated by FIG. 4 shows the CPU 61 and the ROM shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the ink ejection type recording apparatus in which a control function block includes a RAM 63 and a RAM 64.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

Unless otherwise specified, the head recovery processing in this embodiment includes an ink suction operation from a nozzle performed by the ink suction mechanism 55 and an ink or paper powder adhering to the nozzle forming surface performed by the head wiping mechanism 52. Wiping operation, or a combination thereof. However, this does not mean that the head recovery processing is limited to these, and it is not possible to include other recovery processing operations known to those skilled in the art as recovery processing operations in the present invention in order to maintain a predetermined printing function. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 3, the various driving mechanisms 59 are R
Control program and ROM 6 stored in OM 63
3 or control data stored in the RAM 64. Normally, a printing operation, paper feeding, and the like are executed according to commands and data received from a host device (not shown) via the interface (I / F) 62.
It is to be noted that an operation such as paper feed or test print can be executed even when a switch (not shown) is pressed.

When the CPU 61 receives a print command, a carriage drive command, a recording paper transport command, and the like, it drives the print drive circuit 23 and the transport control circuit 26 in accordance with the commands, and prints the print head 24, carriage motor 42, The paper transport mechanism 27 is operated.

As described above, in order to maintain the printing state of the recording head at a predetermined level, the head recovery processing drive circuit 20 is driven under a certain condition to drive the ink suction mechanism 21 and the head wiping mechanism 22. To perform a head recovery processing operation.

The return timer 17 (corresponding to the time measuring means of claim 1), the interrupt signal generator 18, and other sensors 65, 66, 67 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

This will be described in more detail using the control unit shown in FIG.

Next, the details of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 15 stores the command and data received from the host device in the reception buffer 63,
In the order stored in the reception buffer 63.
As a result of the data analysis, if it is a print command, the print control unit 36
To the control signal. The print control unit 36 controls the print drive circuit (driver) 2 based on the data received from the host device.
3 is started, and the carriage motor 42 and the recording head 3 are driven. Further, the recording paper transport mechanism 27 is driven via the transport control circuit 26 under the control of the transport control unit by a command from the host device or by pressing a switch (not shown), and the print paper 14 (FIG. 1) is transported. .

Unlike the printing operation or the printing paper transporting operation described above, the head cleaning for maintaining the printing performance of the recording head, that is, the head recovery processing operation is executed autonomously under the control of the recording apparatus 1 itself. You. Such a head recovery processing operation is automatically executed by the head recovery processing control unit 35 under certain conditions. In particular,
The ink suction mechanism 21 can forcibly suction the ink in the nozzles, and the wiping member (wiper) of the head wiping mechanism can wipe the nozzle forming surface 32 (FIG. 2), etc., depending on predetermined conditions. Run at time intervals.

As described above, the timing of the execution of the head recovery processing operation during the normal operation is determined so as not to hinder the execution of the print command.
is important. Therefore, in the above-described prior art, even when a print command or the like does not exist, the control unit 15 and the head recovery processing control unit 35 continue to operate, and the condition of the head recovery processing operation timing is always determined.

In the present invention, when a certain condition such as a case where the non-operating state is continued while the appropriate recording head recovery processing operation is being executed is satisfied, the recording including the control unit 15 and the head recovery processing control unit 35 is performed. A transition is made to a power saving mode in which almost all operations of the main part of the device are stopped, and power consumption can be suppressed.

In order to make this possible, the power saving control unit 16 of the present invention monitors signals from the various sensors 65 to 67, commands from the host device, and the printing status. When a predetermined condition such as the absence of an operation command is satisfied, a return is made to a storage device capable of storing and storing data even during the power saving mode (a device capable of storing and storing data using a backup power supply, such as an SRAM or a register). Necessary items are stored, and a transition signal to the power saving mode is sent to the control unit 15 so as to transition to the power saving mode in which almost all operations of the recording apparatus 1 are stopped. In response to this signal, the control unit 15 stops all the stoppable power supplies and clocks, and shifts to the power saving mode.

In the present invention, at the time of shifting to the power saving mode, the power saving control unit 16 causes the recovery timer 17, which is a time-measuring means (timer) operable even during power saving, to send the next head recovery processing operation. The time is set and the timer starts counting.

After shifting to the power saving mode, the power saving mode is maintained until an interrupt signal from the interrupt signal generator 18 is transmitted to the interrupt processing controller 19. The condition (wake-up condition) for outputting a normal interrupt signal can be freely set by the interrupt signal generator 18, but the normal wake-up condition includes detection of a power failure, depression of a switch, and host device. Preferably, an interrupt signal is generated when a command or the like is received from the device.

In the present invention, an interrupt signal is also generated by the time-out of the recovery timer 17 in addition to the normal wake-up condition. When returning to the various power modes, the time until the next head recovery processing operation is set in the return timer 17 and the timer operation is started.
Means that the timing at which the head recovery processing operation is required has arrived. Therefore, the interrupt signal generating means 18 outputs an interrupt signal to the interrupt control unit 19 to return the recording apparatus 1 to the normal operation mode,
Execute the head recovery processing operation.

In the case of the control means using the CPU 61 as shown in FIG.
By outputting an interrupt signal to one interrupt port, it is possible to return to the normal operation mode. CPU6
When the interrupt signal is received, the control unit 1 executes a predetermined interrupt processing program to transfer control to the head recovery processing control and execute the head recovery operation.

The content of the head recovery processing operation to be executed is determined by the elapsed time from the previous head recovery processing operation,
It is preferable to comprehensively determine and execute the print amount, the non-printing state elapsed time, and the like. For example, when the recovery processing operation is performed in a relatively short time, it may be sufficient to simply discharge the ink droplets from the nozzles several times into the cap, or it may be desirable to forcibly suction the ink droplets. . In the forced suction, it is desirable to change the suction force and the suction time as necessary, and it may be desirable to wipe the nozzle forming surface 32 (FIG. 2) with a wiper and wipe off the adhered ink. What time interval and what kind of head recovery processing is executed can be changed as appropriate according to the type of ink used, the structure of the print head and its related mechanism, the required printing performance, and the like.

In the head recovery processing after returning from the power saving mode, the type of the head recovery processing operation to be performed is stored and retained by the power saving control unit 16 during the power saving mode during the transition to the power saving mode. Or a suitable recovery processing operation may be selected by the head recovery processing control unit after recovery.

FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of the head recovery processing operation in the power saving mode.

When printing is completed and a predetermined condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied, the time until the next recovery processing is set in the recovery timer 17 by the power saving control unit 16 (). When the set time has elapsed, the timer 17 times out, and the interrupt signal generator 18 outputs an interrupt signal for recovery processing to the interrupt processing control unit 19. As a result, the recording apparatus 1 returns to the normal operation mode, and performs a predetermined head recovery processing operation (A).

If the power saving mode condition is satisfied even after the first recovery processing operation, the time until the next head recovery processing is set in the recovery timer 17 again (), and the same operation is repeated. Then, the second head recovery processing operation is executed (B). If the condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied even after the second head recovery process, a predetermined time is set in the recovery timer 17 again, and the process shifts to the power saving mode. This time, since a print request is issued before the timer 17 times out (), the timer 17 is cleared () by a normal interrupt and returns to the normal operation mode, and the requested printing is executed. According to the present invention, even in the power saving mode, the necessary head recovery processing operation has been performed regularly, so even if there is a sudden print request, the head recovery processing operation is not performed before printing. The requested printing can be executed immediately.

When the condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied again after the requested printing is completed, the predetermined time is again set to the timer 1.
7 and the head recovery processing operation is executed when the timer 17 times out (C).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the setting operation for the recovery processing operation when shifting to the power saving mode.
When the condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied, the timing and content of the next recovery operation are calculated by the head recovery processing control unit 35 at the request of the power saving control unit 16 (S1).
00). The contents of the next recovery processing operation are stored in a storage device (not shown) capable of holding and storing the data (S101).
Is set (S102). Thereafter, execution of processing necessary for transition to the power saving mode, for example, setting of predetermined data to be used when returning to the normal operation mode, disconnection of power and clock, and the like are executed (S103), and the power saving mode is executed. Move to

The contents of the next recovery processing may be selected by the head recovery processing control unit 35 when the operation returns from the power saving mode to the normal operation mode. In this case, it is not necessary to store the contents of the next head recovery process (S101).

The operation of the head recovery process in the power saving mode will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recovery processing operation by an interrupt processing due to the time-up of the timer 17.

Upon receiving the interrupt signal from the interrupt signal generator 18, the interrupt processing control means 19 checks whether or not the interrupt is due to the time-up of the return timer 17 (S11).
0). If it is not an interrupt by the timer 17 (S11
0; No), the return timer 17 is stopped (S115), and then a normal interrupt processing routine control operation (not shown) such as a print request is executed. In the case of the timer 17 interrupt (S
110; Yes), since this is an interrupt for the head recovery processing operation, the content of the recovery processing operation stored in the storage device that can be stored at the time of the power saving transition is read. When the content of the recovery processing operation is not stored, the head recovery processing control device 35 selects an appropriate recovery processing operation.
In this case, it is preferable that the non-printing time measurement timer 38, the print amount counter 39, and the recovery processing timer be operable even in the power saving mode.

Reading the contents of the head recovery processing operation (S
111) or when a recovery processing operation by the head recovery processing control unit is selected, the selected recovery processing operation is executed (S112). Since the time required for the recovery processing operation differs depending on the contents, the processing waits for the end of the processing (S113). When the head recovery processing is completed (S11
3; Yes), it is confirmed at this stage whether or not the condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied (S114). If the condition for shifting to the power saving mode is satisfied (S114;
Yes), the mode is again shifted to the power saving mode according to the flow of the flowchart of FIG. If the condition for the power saving mode is not satisfied (S114; No), the control right is passed for other operation processing, and a necessary operation is executed in the normal operation mode.

In the above description of the embodiment, the mode in which the time until the next recovery processing operation is calculated at the time of shifting to the power saving mode and the timer 17 is set has been described. However, it is also possible to perform a predetermined head recovery processing operation immediately before shifting to the power saving mode, so that a fixed time interval is always set in the timer.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, when shifting to the power saving mode, the time until the next head recovery processing operation is set in the timer means operable even in the power saving mode. By returning to the normal operation mode when the set time has elapsed and performing a predetermined recovery processing operation, it is possible to shift to the power consumption mode while maintaining the print function of the head constant. became.

[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.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the ink discharge type recording apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a timing chart of a head recovery processing operation in a power saving mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a setting operation for a recovery processing operation when shifting to a power saving mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recovery processing operation by an interrupt processing due to a time-up of a return timer 17;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ink jet recording apparatus 3 recording head 16 power saving control unit 17 return timer 21 ink suction mechanism 22 ink wiping mechanism 35 head recovery processing control unit 31 nozzle 32 nozzle formation surface 52 head wiping mechanism 53 blade 54 blade holding member 55 ink suction mechanism 56 cap 57 pump 59 drive mechanism 60 drive control device

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A method comprising the following steps:
A printhead that has a printhead that performs printing by discharging ink droplets from nozzles, and that performs a printhead recovery process operation to maintain printing performance of the printhead with constant accuracy; Control method of processing operation. (a) a step of performing the recovery processing operation based on a predetermined condition, and (b) based on a predetermined power saving mode switching condition,
After setting the time until the next recovery processing operation in the clock means, a step of transitioning from the normal operation mode to the power saving mode; and (c) when the time set in the clock means has timed out, the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode. Returning to an operation mode and executing the recovery processing operation of the recording head. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition in the step (a) includes a condition set according to a print amount of the recording head, a non-printing time, and an elapsed time from a previous recovery processing operation. A method for controlling a recovery operation of a print head of an ink discharge type printing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The time set in the time counting means in the step (b) is a predetermined condition including a print amount of the recording head, a non-printing time, and an elapsed time from a previous recovery processing operation at the time setting. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recovery operation is performed according to the following. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) is performed according to a predetermined condition including a print amount of the recording head, a non-printing time, and an elapsed time from a previous recovery processing operation. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting a recovery processing operation to be executed next; and performing the selected recovery processing operation. Control method. 5. The step (C) includes: outputting a return signal when the time-measuring unit times out; returning from a power saving mode to a normal operation mode by the return signal; After the recovery, the recovery processing to be executed next is performed based on predetermined conditions including the print amount of the recording head, the non-printing time, and the elapsed time from the previous recovery processing operation, from among the plurality of types of recovery processing operations. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting an operation. 6. Returning from the power saving mode to the normal operation mode when another condition for returning to the normal operation mode occurs during the power saving mode before the time-out of the time-measuring unit has timed out. And a step of clearing the timing means.
3. The method of controlling a print head recovery processing operation according to claim 1. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recovery processing operation includes a step of forcibly sucking ink from the nozzles of the recording head and discharging the ink to the outside. Control method of the recovery processing operation of the recording head. 8. The recovery processing operation according to claim 1, further comprising a step of wiping foreign matter adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the recording head on which the nozzles are formed. 2. The method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head according to claim 1. 9. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program comprising the steps of the method for controlling a recovery operation of a recording head according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising the following elements. A recording head that performs printing by discharging ink droplets from nozzles, in order to maintain the printing performance of the recording head at a certain accuracy,
A recovery operation processing unit for performing a predetermined head recovery processing operation for recovering the function of the recording head; and a power-saving mode based on a first condition for suppressing power consumption of the recording apparatus; Power-saving control means for controlling a return from the power-saving mode to the normal operation mode based on the conditions of: and, when transitioning to the power-saving mode, setting a start time of a next recovery processing operation by the power-saving control means Time-measuring means, and a time-out signal from the time-measuring means during the power-saving mode, upon receiving a time-up signal, a return means for controlling to return to the normal operation mode from the power-saving mode, Head recovery processing control means for controlling the head processing operation unit to perform the predetermined head recovery processing operation when returning to the normal operation mode. 11. The head recovery processing control means, in a normal operation mode, according to predetermined factors including a print amount of the recording head, a non-printing time, and an elapsed time from a previous recovery processing operation. The recovery operation processing unit is determined so as to determine the content of the recovery processing operation and the time until the next recovery processing operation is performed, and to execute a predetermined head recovery processing operation based on the determination at each time interval based on the determination. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recording is performed. 12. The time until the next recovery processing operation set in the timer means is determined according to predetermined factors including the print amount of the recording head, the non-printing time, and the elapsed time from the previous recovery processing operation. 12. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recording apparatus is determined by the head recovery processing control unit. 13. The recovery processing operation mechanism according to claim 10, further comprising an ink suction mechanism for forcibly sucking ink from the nozzles of the recording head and discharging the ink to the outside. Item 8. An ink discharge recording apparatus according to Item 1. 14. The recovery processing mechanism according to claim 10, further comprising a head wiping mechanism for wiping foreign matter adhered to a nozzle forming surface of the recording head on which the nozzles are formed. 14. The ink-jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 13.