JP2005041085A - Image formation device, ink refilling mechanism part, driving control program, and recording medium with program stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device which can stabilize the performance of the device by resuming an ink refilling operation when a power supply is turned on in the case where a replacement operation for a detachable ink cartridge is carried out at the time of cutting the power supply. <P>SOLUTION: The image formation device has the detachable ink cartridge and a sub tank loaded therein. The image formation device is equipped with a means for detecting an attachment detachment state of the ink cartridge, a means for storing attachment detachment information of the ink cartridge at the time when the power supply is cut, and a means for carrying out the ink refilling operation from the ink cartridge to the sub tank in the case where the ink cartridge not attached at the cutting time is attached when the power supply is turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an ink supply mechanism, a drive control program, and a recording medium storing the program, and more particularly to an ink supply control technique when a removable ink cartridge is mounted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with an inkjet recording mechanism have relatively low noise during printing, and small dots are formed and printed at high density. It is widespread not only for business operators but also for offices or business use.
[0003]
An image forming apparatus equipped with such an ink jet recording mechanism is generally provided with a paper feeding means for main-scanning a recording head mounted on a carriage and sub-scanning a recording medium. Printing is performed on the recording medium by ejecting the droplets.
A recording head capable of ejecting, for example, black (Bk), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) inks is mounted on the carriage. By changing the discharge ratio, full-color printing is possible.
[0004]
On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an inkjet recording mechanism provided for office use or business use, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity ink cartridge in order to cope with a large amount of printing. For example, a recording apparatus of a type that is loaded into a mounting apparatus (cartridge holder) arranged on the apparatus main body side is provided.
[0005]
A sub tank is arranged on the carriage on which the recording head is mounted, ink is supplied from each ink cartridge to each sub tank via an ink supply tube, and ink is supplied from each sub tank to each recording head. Is configured to supply.
[0006]
However, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an easily detachable ink cartridge, the ink cartridge side has no remaining ink amount or a new mechanism for identifying whether or not it is new, and the power is cut off when the ink cartridge is removed. In general, when the power is turned on again, even if an ink cartridge is mounted, it cannot be detected.
[0007]
In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228867 proposes an image forming apparatus that fills a recording head with ink and enables printing even when the power supply is turned off without completing the ink cartridge replacement operation.
[0008]
The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 stores whether or not an ink cartridge is mounted and whether or not post-processing is completed along with replacement, and causes the ink cartridge to be replaced when an instruction to replace the ink cartridge is issued. If the power supply is cut off during the ink cartridge replacement operation, the replacement operation can be resumed based on the stored data when the power is turned on next time to complete the replacement operation.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-202892
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique of the above-mentioned patent document 1 is triggered by the replacement of the ink cartridge when the user presses an ink cartridge replacement command switch provided on the operation panel, thereby starting the ink cartridge replacement processing sequence. Since the ink cartridge replacement process sequence does not start automatically when the power is turned off and the various cartridges are stored, the ink cartridge replacement command switch is forgotten to be pressed. There was a problem that the state could not be recovered.
[0011]
On the other hand, whether or not the ink cartridge has been replaced is determined by attaching and detaching the ink cartridge, and in the mechanism that replenishes ink from the ink cartridge to the sub tank, even if the ink cartridge is attached or detached while the power is off, Ink supply from the ink cartridge to the sub tank was not performed, and ink supply appropriate for the user could not be performed.
[0012]
Even if it can be detected that the ink cartridge has been removed while the power is turned on, it cannot be recognized that the ink cartridge has been removed if the power is turned off. Furthermore, there is a problem that even if the ink cartridge is mounted before the power is turned on, it cannot be recognized that the ink cartridge has been replaced.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink cartridge sub tank, the ink cartridge is removed before the power is turned off, and the ink cartridge is mounted while the power is turned off. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an ink replenishment mechanism, a drive control program, and a recording medium storing a program that can reliably complete the ink replenishment operation and stabilize the performance of the apparatus when the power is turned on. With the goal.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention mounts a detachable ink cartridge and a sub tank, and prints on a recording medium by performing main scanning of the print head and sub scanning of the recording medium. In the image forming apparatus, means for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the sub tank via an ink supply path, means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, and attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge when the power is turned off. Means for storing information in a non-volatile memory, and when the power is turned on, the drop-out information of the ink cartridge is stored in the non-volatile memory, and when the ink cartridge is currently installed, the ink cartridge removes the sub tank. And means for resuming the ink replenishment operation.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, means for detecting the machine state of the own apparatus and means for storing the machine state in a nonvolatile memory when the power is turned off. The restarting means stores the ink cartridge drop-off information in the non-volatile memory when the power is turned on, and the machine state stored in the non-volatile memory when the ink cartridge is currently installed. In response to this, the ink supply operation is resumed.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the mechanical state stored in the nonvolatile memory is an ink near end state or an ink end state, The ink supply operation is resumed.
[0017]
Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the resuming unit is configured such that when the mechanical state stored in the nonvolatile memory is an ink system failure, The supply operation is resumed.
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an ink replenishing mechanism in an image forming apparatus, which mounts a detachable ink cartridge and a sub tank, and prints on a sheet by performing main scanning of a print head and sub scanning of a recording medium. A means for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the sub-tank via an ink supply path, a means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, and attachment / detachment information of the ink cartridge when the power is turned off. Means for storing in the non-volatile memory, and when the power is turned on, the ink cartridge drop-off information is stored in the non-volatile memory, and when the ink cartridge is currently installed, ink is transferred from the ink cartridge to the sub tank. And means for resuming the replenishment operation
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer equipped with a detachable ink cartridge and a sub tank, and performing control for printing on the recording medium by performing main scanning of the print head and sub scanning of the recording medium. A drive control program for an image forming apparatus having the ink cartridge attachment / detachment information stored in the non-volatile memory when the computer is turned on when the power is turned off, and the ink cartridge is currently installed If it is, the ink supply operation from the ink cartridge to the sub tank is resumed.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program according to the sixth aspect is recorded.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording mechanism showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of a mechanism portion of the image forming apparatus.
[0022]
The image forming apparatus includes a carriage that is movable in the main scanning direction inside the apparatus main body 1 and includes a recording head that includes an inkjet head mounted on the carriage, an ink cartridge that supplies ink to the recording head, and the like. A mechanism 2 or the like is housed, and a sheet feeding cassette (or a sheet feeding tray) 4 capable of stacking a large number of sheets 3 from the front side can be removably mounted on the lower part of the apparatus body 1. Further, the manual feed tray 5 for manually feeding the paper 3 can be opened, the paper 3 fed from the paper feed cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 5 is taken in, and a required image is obtained by the printing mechanism section 2. Is printed, and then discharged onto a discharge tray 6 mounted on the rear side.
[0023]
Further, the printing mechanism section 2 holds the carriage 13 slidably in the main scanning direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) with the main guide rod 11 horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates. A recording head 14 comprising an inkjet head having nozzles for discharging ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk) is mounted with the ink droplet discharge direction facing downward. Each sub tank 12 for supplying ink of each color to the recording head 14 is mounted on the upper side of the carriage 13.
Each sub tank 12 is connected to each replaceable ink cartridge (ink tank) 15 via an ink supply tube 16 and receives ink supplied from the ink cartridge 15.
[0024]
The carriage 13 is slidably fitted to the main guide rod 11 on the rear side (downstream side in the paper conveyance direction). In order to move and scan the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction, a timing belt 20 is stretched between a driving pulley 18 and a driven pulley 19 that are rotationally driven by a main scanning motor 17. It is fixed to.
[0025]
The recording head 14 may be one in which a plurality of heads that eject ink droplets of each color are arranged in the main scanning direction, or one that has a nozzle that ejects ink droplets of each color. But you can. Further, the ink jet head used as the recording head 14 is a piezo type that pressurizes ink through a diaphragm that forms a liquid chamber (ink flow path) wall surface with an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element, or a heating resistor. Bubble type that generates bubbles by film boiling or pressurizes ink, or pressurizes ink by displacing the diaphragm with an electrostatic force between the diaphragm that forms the wall surface of the ink flow path and the electrode facing it An electrostatic type or the like can be used, but in this embodiment, an electrostatic type ink jet head is used.
[0026]
On the other hand, in order to convey the paper 3 set in the paper feed cassette 4 to the lower side of the recording head 14, the paper feed roller 21 and the friction pad 22 for separating and feeding the paper 3 from the paper feed cassette 4 and the paper 3 are guided. The guide member 23 that performs the above operation, the transport roller 24 that transports the fed paper 3 in an inverted manner, the transport roller 25 that is pressed against the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24, and the feed angle of the paper 3 from the transport roller 24 are defined. A tip roller 26 is provided. The transport roller 24 is rotationally driven by a sub-scanning motor 27 through a gear train.
[0027]
An electrostatic conveyance belt 29 is provided to guide the sheet 3 fed from the conveyance roller 24 on the lower side of the recording head 14 corresponding to the movement range of the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction. The electrostatic conveyance belt 29 serves to attract the sheet 3 conveyed by being charged by the charger 30 and keep the sheet surface and the head surface in parallel. A paper discharge roller 33 for sending the paper 3 to the paper discharge tray 6 is disposed on the downstream side of the electrostatic conveyance belt 29 in the paper conveyance direction.
[0028]
Further, a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 for maintaining and recovering the reliability of the recording head 14 is disposed on the right end side in the moving direction of the carriage 13. The carriage 13 is moved to the reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 side during printing standby, and the recording head 14 is capped by a capping means or the like.
[0029]
Next, an example of a cross-sectional view of the position of the carriage constituting the printing mechanism portion of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the front will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is an explanatory diagram in which the carriage is in the capping state, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which the carriage is in the printing state.
[0030]
In FIG. 3, two recording heads 14-1 and 14-2 are mounted on the carriage 13, and the recording heads 14-2 and 14-1 have two nozzle rows 53 and 54 and nozzle rows 55 and 56, respectively. The ink is ejected from each nozzle row.
When the carriage 13 is in the capping position, the recording head 14-2 is covered with the suction / cap 51, and the recording head 14-1 is covered with the cap 52, moisturizing the head surface, and clogging of ink in the nozzle row occurs. Protected to be difficult.
[0031]
A paper detection sensor 57 is installed on the left side when viewed from the front of the carriage 13. The paper detection sensor 57 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of paper from the reflection of light.
The electrostatic conveyance belt 29 serves to convey the paper 3 while maintaining the flatness of the paper 3 by attracting the paper 3 by static electricity.
[0032]
Next, in FIG. 4, when the carriage 13 moves from the capping position in the main scanning direction, the ink ejected from each nozzle row 53, 54, 55, 56 adheres to the paper 3 and an image is formed on the paper. . At this carriage position, the paper detection sensor 57 detects the presence of paper. Further, when the carriage 13 moves from the capping position, the suction / cap 51 and the cap 52 are lowered from the cap position, and the movement of the carriage becomes free.
[0033]
Next, an example of the mounted state of the ink cartridge of this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a mounted state of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state where the ink cartridge is detached.
Ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 represent black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges, respectively, and each ink cartridge includes switches 101, 102, 103, and 104. When the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 are mounted on the apparatus, the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are pressed. For example, when the black cartridge 15-1 is removed, the switch 101 is opened to detect that the black ink cartridge has been removed (see FIG. 6).
[0034]
Next, means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0035]
One end of the switch 101 is connected to Vcc (power supply) via a resistor R1. Vcc is set to, for example, 5V or 3.3V.
The other end of the switch 101 is connected to GND via a resistor R2 and also serves as an output of an ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit (ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit) via a driver element 110.
The output signal of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit is obtained as a voltage output of a constant level of, for example, about 2.5 V when the switch 101 is pressed (closed), and the ground level voltage when the switch 101 is opened. Obtained as output.
The switches 102, 103, and 104 have the same circuit configuration. In this circuit configuration, since the output signals indicating the pressed / released states of the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are independent of each other, the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 are attached and detached. Can be detected independently.
[0036]
Further, in the circuit configuration of FIG. 8, the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are connected in series, and one end thereof is connected to Vcc through the resistor R1, and the other end is connected to GND through the resistor R2. In addition to being connected, it becomes an output of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit via the driver element 110.
In this circuit configuration, when all of the switches 101, 102, 103, 104 are pressed (closed), the output signal of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit is obtained as a voltage output of a constant level of about 2.5V, for example. When any one of the switches 101, 102, 103, 104 is opened, it is obtained as a ground level voltage output.
Accordingly, in this circuit configuration, the attachment / detachment states of the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 cannot be detected independently, and all of them are attached or at least one of them. It is only possible to detect whether one has been removed.
[0037]
Next, means for detecting a state where the ink in the sub tank of the image forming apparatus is full and not full will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 9, the sub tank 12 is a view seen from the front of the apparatus. When the sub tank 12 is filled with the ink 154 nearly full, the light emitted from the light emitting part 151 of the full tank detection sensor (full tank detection part) 150 is absorbed by the ink color and the reflected light is reflected. Since the light is not incident on the light receiving unit 152, the full tank detection sensor 150 detects that the tank is full.
[0038]
In FIG. 10, when the sub tank 12 is not filled with the ink 154 nearly full, the light emitted from the light emitting part 151 of the full tank detection sensor 150 passes through the transparent part 155 of the sub tank, and then the sub tank 12. The light is reflected by the white portion 156 provided on the inner wall and is incident on the light receiving portion 152, and the full tank detection sensor 150 detects that it is not full.
[0039]
Next, an outline of a control unit in this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
[0040]
The control unit includes a CPU unit (controller) 500, a RAM unit 501, an image memory unit 502, a clock unit 503, a parallel I / F unit 504, an operation unit 505, a full detection unit 506, an ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507, a non-volatile unit. Memory section 508, paper feed clutch driver 509, paper feed clutch 510, main scanning motor operation command section 511, main scanning motor driver 512, main scanning motor 513, main scanning encoder section 514, sub scanning motor operation command section 515, sub scanning motor operation command section 515 A scanning motor driver 516, a sub-scanning motor 517, an expansion unit 518, an image mask unit 519, a head I / F unit 520, a head unit 521, an ink supply motor operation command unit 522, an ink supply motor driver 523, an ink supply motor 524, and It consists of an internal bus 525.
[0041]
CPU unit 500, RAM unit 501, image memory unit 502, clock unit 503, parallel I / F unit 504, operation unit 505, nonvolatile memory unit 508, paper feed clutch driver 509, main scanning motor operation command unit 511, sub-scanning The motor operation command unit 515, the expansion unit 518, and the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 are connected to the internal bus 525, and data and control commands are exchanged between these elements via the internal bus 525. Is called.
[0042]
The CPU unit 500 performs various control processes such as overall control of the image forming apparatus and control of each element. By giving commands to the sub-scanning motor operation command unit 515 and the paper feed clutch driver 509, the sub-scanning motor 517 and the paper feed clutch 510 are driven to feed paper from the paper feed cassette 4 and carry it.
[0043]
Further, by giving a command to the main scanning motor operation command section 511, the main scanning motor 513 is driven via the main scanning motor driver 512, and the carriage 13 is moved in the main scanning direction. At this time, the CPU section 500 can know the position of the carriage 13 by reading the output signal of the main scanning encoder section 514 via the main scanning motor operation command section 511.
[0044]
Further, the CPU unit 500 gives a command to the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 to drive the ink supply motor 524 via the ink supply motor driver 523, and from the ink cartridge 15 to the sub tank 12 via the ink supply tube 16. Supply ink to
[0045]
The non-volatile memory unit 508 stores various types of information unique to the image forming apparatus and various management tables, and the contents of these parameters are not lost due to accidental power-off, power-off for safety, or the like. Thus, it is backed up by a battery (not shown).
[0046]
The RAM unit 501 stores a control processing program executed by the CPU unit 500 and various data necessary for executing the control processing program, and constitutes a work area of the CPU unit 500.
[0047]
The image memory unit 502 stores image information to be printed.
The clock unit 503 outputs current time information.
The parallel I / F unit 504 has an interface function with the host side, and exchanges image information from the host side, information indicating a priority mode, and printing mode information indicating a paper type.
The operation unit 505 operates the image forming apparatus, and includes an operation panel including various operation keys and a display unit that displays various information.
[0048]
The ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 includes a cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit that detects cartridge attachment / detachment described above, and sends an output signal of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 to the CPU unit 500.
The full tank detection unit 506 includes the above-described full tank detection sensor 150, and sends the output signal of the full tank detection unit 506 to the CPU unit 500.
[0049]
The decompression unit 518 decompresses the image information read from the image memory unit 502 from the compressed state, and further performs a process for determining whether or not to mask the image information with the image mask unit 519, via the head I / F unit 520. The paper is sent to the head unit 521 and printed on the paper 3.
Here, the expansion unit 518, the image mask unit 519, and the head I / F unit 520 are prepared for each nozzle row, and the data of each nozzle row can be processed in parallel. The head I / F unit 520 receives an output signal from the main scanning encoder unit 514, and sends image information to the head unit 521 in synchronization with the main scanning position of the carriage 13. Further, the CPU unit 500 can mask the output image at an arbitrary timing by giving a command to the image mask unit 519.
[0050]
<Embodiment 1>
In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, operations at power-off and power-on will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) Processing when power is turned off.
First, the power-off process procedure in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When a power-off trigger occurs due to power-off (OFF) by a user operation or detection of the image forming apparatus itself (YES in step S100), the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 detects attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge. Information is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 (step S101).
Further, information determined during operation of the device and information indicating the state of the device are stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 (step S102).
[0051]
Here, the mechanical state of the image forming apparatus is, for example,
・ JAM status,
・ Failure state (In the case of ink system failure, it means a state in which a sub tank or maintenance / recovery mechanism failure is detected),
Ink near end, ink end state (Ink near end is empty in the ink cartridge, but there is a certain amount of ink remaining in the sub tank and printing is possible, and ink in the ink cartridge is in the ink end. (This means that the ink remaining in the sub tank is empty and cannot be printed because it is empty.)
There is.
[0052]
When information is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508, a power-off sequence is executed, the power of the image forming apparatus is shut off, and the process is terminated (step S103).
[0053]
(2) Processing at power-on.
Next, a processing procedure for restarting the ink supply operation when the power is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0054]
When the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus acquires ink cartridge mounting information stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 (step S200).
It is checked whether there is an ink cartridge that is not attached when the power is turned off. If there is an ink cartridge that is not attached (YES in step S201), the CPU unit 500 restarts the ink supply operation when the ink cartridge is replaced. Gives an instruction to the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 to drive the ink supply motor 524 via the ink supply motor driver 523 and fill the ink from the ink cartridge 15 to the sub tank 12 via the ink supply tube 16. It supplies until it becomes (step S202).
[0055]
On the other hand, when there is no unattached ink cartridge when the power is turned off (NO in step S201), the printer enters a standby state in order to receive a print request from the host without restarting the ink supply operation.
[0056]
<Embodiment 2>
In Embodiment 1 described above, there is a problem in that an ink supply operation is performed when an ink cartridge that has been detected to be dropped when the power is turned off is not yet attached when the power is turned on. A processing procedure for avoiding this inconvenience and restarting the ink supply operation when the power is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0057]
When the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus acquires ink cartridge mounting information stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 (step S210).
It is checked whether there is an ink cartridge that has not been installed when the power is turned off. If there is an ink cartridge that has not been installed (YES in step S211), it is determined whether the ink cartridge that has not been installed is installed. The attachment / detachment detection unit 507 checks (step S212).
[0058]
When an ink cartridge that has not been installed is installed (YES in step 212), the CPU unit 500 gives a command to the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 in order to resume the ink supply operation when replacing the ink cartridge. Thus, the ink supply motor 524 is driven via the ink supply motor driver 523, and the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 15 to the sub tank 12 via the ink supply tube 16 until the ink is full (step S213).
[0059]
On the other hand, when there is no unmounted ink cartridge at the time of power-off (NO in step S221), or when an ink cartridge is not yet mounted (NO in step S222), the host side is not restarted without resuming the ink supply operation. In order to receive a print request from the printer.
[0060]
<Embodiment 3>
In the first and second embodiments described above, even if the ink cartridge is removed when the power is turned off, the cartridge is simply removed by mistake and the amount of ink in the ink cartridge does not need to be replenished. Even when there is a remaining amount of ink, there is an inconvenience that the ink supply operation is resumed.
A processing procedure for avoiding this inconvenience and restarting the ink supply operation when the power is turned on will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0061]
When the power is turned on, the image forming apparatus acquires ink cartridge mounting information stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 (step S220).
It is checked whether there is an ink cartridge that has not been installed when the power is turned off. If there is an ink cartridge that has not been installed (YES in step S221), it is determined whether the ink cartridge that has not been installed is installed. The attachment / detachment detection unit 507 checks (step S222).
[0062]
If an unmounted ink cartridge is mounted (YES in step 222), the machine state of the device stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508 is acquired (step S223).
It is determined whether or not to resume the ink supply operation according to the acquired machine state of the apparatus when the power is turned off (step S224).
The determination as to whether or not the ink supply operation can be restarted is as follows.
(1) When the ink state before the power is turned off is ink near end or ink end, ink replenishment operation is performed.
(2) If the state of the apparatus before turning off the power is a failure state of the ink system, ink replenishment operation is performed. This is executed because it is not known what the state of the ink in the sub tank is due to the repair / recovery of the ink system failure.
(3) If the ink state before turning off the power is neither the ink near end nor the ink end, and if the ink system is in a fault state, the ink supply operation is performed.
[0063]
When restarting the ink supply operation (YES in step S224), the CPU unit 500 gives a command to the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 to restart the ink supply operation at the time of ink cartridge replacement. The ink supply motor 524 is driven via the supply motor driver 523, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 15 to the sub tank 12 via the ink supply tube 16 until it is full (step S225).
[0064]
On the other hand, when the power is turned off, there is no unmounted ink cartridge (NO in step S221), or no ink cartridge is yet mounted (NO in step S222), or the ink replenishment operation restart condition is satisfied. If not (NO in step S224), the printer enters a standby state in order to receive a print request from the host without restarting the ink supply operation.
[0065]
With the above configuration, when the power is turned off, the presence or absence of the ink cartridge and the machine state of the apparatus are stored, and when the power is turned on again, the ink replenishment operation is restarted based on the stored data. It can be surely completed and the performance of the device can be stabilized.
[0066]
In addition, the power is turned off with the ink cartridge removed, and the replenishment operation is resumed simply by mounting the ink cartridge before and after the power is turned on. Thereafter, the ink replenishment operation is performed without requiring a complicated operation. Therefore, the operability and productivity of the apparatus can be greatly improved.
[0067]
In addition, the ink cartridge can be removed and installed without being aware of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment timing, so that the ink end state does not occur during printing of the paper, and printing is not interrupted in the middle of the page. It is possible to prevent a decrease in printing quality due to a wasteful output of paper or a difference in ink discharge amount, and it is possible to reduce running costs and greatly improve the reliability of the apparatus.
[0068]
According to the present invention, the functions of the image forming apparatus or the ink replenishment mechanism unit according to the above-described embodiment are programmed, written in advance in a recording medium such as a ROM, and the ROM is mounted on the image forming apparatus for execution. Needless to say, the object of the present invention is achieved.
In this case, the state read from the ROM and executed realizes the functions according to the above-described embodiment, and the program and the ROM storing the program also constitute the present invention.
[0069]
Note that a program for realizing the functions of the image forming apparatus or the ink supply mechanism unit according to the above-described embodiment is a semiconductor medium (for example, ROM, non-volatile memory), an optical medium (for example, DVD, MO, MD, etc.). CD, etc.), magnetic media (for example, magnetic tape, flexible disk, etc.), etc.
Alternatively, the above-described program stored in the storage device via a communication network such as the Internet may be directly supplied from the server computer.
[0070]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and corrections can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the power is turned off, the presence or absence of the ink cartridge and the machine state of the apparatus are stored, and when the power is turned on again, the ink supply operation is resumed based on the stored data. Ink replenishment operation can be completed reliably and the performance of the apparatus can be stabilized.
[0072]
Ink cartridges can be removed and installed without being aware of the timing of ink cartridge insertion / removal, and it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of printing being interrupted in the middle of a page and printing being interrupted. It is possible to solve the problem that the printing quality is deteriorated due to the wasteful output or the difference in the ink discharge amount.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus viewed from a lateral side.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in which a carriage is positioned in a capping state.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which a carriage is positioned in a printing state.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounted state of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is detached.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a means for detecting the mounting state of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a means for detecting the mounting state of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when ink in a sub tank is detected to be full.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when detecting a state where the ink in the sub tank is not full.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a power-off process procedure;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for resuming an ink supply operation (first embodiment).
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for resuming an ink supply operation (second embodiment).
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for resuming an ink supply operation (third embodiment).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body, 2 ... Printing mechanism part, 3 ... Paper, 4 ... Paper feed cassette, 5 ... Manual feed tray, 6 ... Discharge tray, 11 ... Main guide rod, 12 ... Sub tank, 13 ... Carriage, 14 ... Recording head , 15 ... ink cartridge, 16 ... ink supply tube, 17 ... main scanning motor, 18 ... driving pulley, 19 ... driven pulley, 20 ... timing belt, 21 ... paper feed roller, 22 ... friction pad, 23 ... guide member, 24 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Conveyance roller, 25 ... Conveyance roller, 26 ... End roller, 27 ... Sub-scanning motor, 29 ... Electrostatic conveyance belt, 30 ... Charger, 33 ... Discharge roller, 37 ... Reliability maintenance recovery mechanism, 51 ... Suction combined cap 52 ... Cap, 53, 54, 55, 56 ... Nozzle array, 57 ... Paper detection sensor, 101, 102, 103, 104 ... Switch, 110 ... Dry Element 150, full sensor, 151 light emitting part 152 light receiving part 154 ink, 155 transparent part, 156 white part, 500 CPU part, 501 RAM part, 502 image memory part 503 ... Clock unit, 504 ... Parallel I / F unit, 505 ... Operation unit, 506 ... Full tank detection unit, 507 ... Ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit, 508 ... Non-volatile memory unit, 509 ... Paper feed clutch driver, 510 ... Paper feed Clutch, 511 ... main scanning motor operation command section, 512 ... main scanning motor driver, 513 ... main scanning motor, 514 ... main scanning encoder section, 515 ... sub scanning motor operation command section, 516 ... sub scanning motor driver, 517 ... sub scanning motor driver Scanning motor, 518 ... expansion section, 519 ... image mask section, 520 ... head I / F section, 521 ... head section, 522 ... ink supply mode Operation command section, 523 ... ink supply motor driver, 524 ... ink supply motor, 525 ... internal bus.

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that mounts a removable ink cartridge and a sub tank and performs printing on a recording medium by performing main scanning of a print head and sub scanning of the recording medium, the sub tank is configured to perform the above-described operation via an ink supply path. Means for supplying ink to the ink cartridge; means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge; means for storing attachment / detachment information of the ink cartridge in a non-volatile memory when the power is turned off; The cartridge drop-off information is stored in the non-volatile memory, and when the ink cartridge is currently installed, there is provided means for resuming the ink supply operation from the ink cartridge to the sub tank. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for detecting a machine state of the apparatus itself; and means for storing the machine state in a nonvolatile memory when the power is turned off. When the ink cartridge is turned on, the dropout information of the ink cartridge is stored in the nonvolatile memory. When the ink cartridge is currently installed, the ink supply operation is resumed according to the machine state stored in the nonvolatile memory. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the restarting unit restarts the ink supply operation when the machine state stored in the nonvolatile memory is an ink near end state or an ink end state. An image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the restarting unit restarts the ink supply operation when the mechanical state stored in the nonvolatile memory is an ink system failure. Image forming apparatus. Ink supply to the sub-tank in an ink supply mechanism in an image forming apparatus that mounts a detachable ink cartridge and a sub-tank, and prints on a sheet by main-scanning the print head and sub-scanning the recording medium Means for supplying ink from the ink cartridge via a path; means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge; means for storing attachment / detachment information of the ink cartridge in a nonvolatile memory when the power is turned off; Means for restarting ink replenishment operation from the ink cartridge to the sub-tank when the ink cartridge is stored in the non-volatile memory when the ink cartridge is loaded, and the ink cartridge is currently mounted; An ink replenishment mechanism. A drive control program for an image forming apparatus having a computer that is equipped with a removable ink cartridge and a sub tank, and that performs control for printing on a recording medium by performing main scanning of the print head and sub scanning of the recording medium. When the computer is turned on, the ink cartridge attachment / detachment information stored in the non-volatile memory when the power is turned off is in a dropped state, and the ink cartridge is currently installed. A drive control program for controlling the sub-tank to resume the ink replenishment operation. A computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program according to claim 6 is recorded.

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