JP2006027058A - Absorption body, liquid jet device and notification method of replacement time of absorption body therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an absorption body capable of preventing an inner section of a device from being contaminated, a liquid jet device, and a notification method of replacement time of the absorption body in the liquid jet device. <P>SOLUTION: Upon starting a printing operation of a printer, a CPU reads the number of times F of flushing stored in a memory 43 (step S1). In the way of the printing operation, the flushing operation is periodically carried out (step S2). After the flushing operation is carried out, the CPU updates the number of times F of flushing stored in the memory 43 according to the flushing operation (step S3). Next, the CPU determines whether or not the number of times F is not less than forty thousands (step S4). When the number of times F is not less than forty thousands, the CPU assumes that absorption performance of the absorption bodies at right and left sides of a platen is degraded to be in a state near the end of life (YES in step S4). The CPU lights on a notification lamp to inform a user of the replacement time of the absorption bodies (step S5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an absorber, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and an absorber replacement timing notification method for the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus is widely known as one of liquid ejecting apparatuses. In this ink jet recording apparatus, recording is performed by ejecting ink as a liquid from a nozzle of a recording head as a liquid ejecting head and forming dots on a recording medium.

  Usually, in such an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to keep the state of the nozzle so that ink can be suitably ejected, the ink is ejected from the nozzle and the thickened ink adhered in the nozzle is forcibly discharged, so-called A flushing operation was performed. The ink discharged by the flushing operation is absorbed by the absorber provided in the non-printing area in the ink jet recording apparatus.

  Incidentally, in recent years, pigment ink has attracted attention as an ink having high expressive power. This pigment ink was formed by dispersing a pigment in an ink solvent. Various ink jet recording apparatuses having such pigment inks have been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes an absorber 100 made of a material such as sponge. A carriage 102 is inserted and supported by a guide member 101 provided in parallel with the absorber 100. The carriage 102 is loaded with black, magenta, cyan, and yellow ink cartridges 103 to 106, and each ink cartridge 103 to 106 applies ink to each nozzle 108 of the recording head 107 provided in the carriage 102. Supply. Of these, the ink cartridges 104 to 106 are the ink cartridges 104a to 106a that store the dark pigment ink, and the ink cartridges 104b to 106b that store the light pigment ink having a pigment concentration less than half that of the dark pigment ink. It is configured.

In the flushing operation, the ink jet recording apparatus moves the carriage 102 to the first flushing position P1 to eject ink, and then moves the carriage 102 to the second flushing position P2 to empty the ink. It was discharging. As a result, the light pigment ink is landed on the dark pigment ink landed on the absorber 100, and the dry solidification of the dark pigment ink landed first is suppressed by being dissolved by the ink solvent of the light pigment ink.
JP 2003-191502 A

  However, generally, the ink solvent of the pigment ink has high volatility, and the pigment ink is easy to dry. For this reason, even in the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, there is a limit in improving the absorption capacity of the absorber 100 by suppressing the drying of the pigment ink landed on the absorber 100. As described above, when the absorption capacity of the absorber 100 is lowered, the pigment ink that has landed on the absorber 100 and dried and deposited on the absorber 100 at the time of flushing rebounds and causes ink jetting. There is a risk of contaminating the inside of the recording apparatus.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an absorber, a liquid ejecting apparatus, and an absorber replacement timing notification method for the liquid ejecting apparatus that prevent contamination in the apparatus. It is in.

  According to the absorber ejecting time notification method of the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the absorber that absorbs the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head provided in the main body frame so as to face the liquid ejecting head is provided. The method of notifying the replacement timing of the absorber of the liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the number of idle ejections of the liquid ejecting head is counted, and the counted number of idle ejections is compared with a limit number of times exceeding the preset absorption capacity of the absorber. When the limit number of times is exceeded, the time for replacement of the absorber is notified.

  According to this, when the number of idle ejections of the liquid ejecting head exceeds the limit number, the replacement time of the absorber is notified. Thus, by replacing the absorber in accordance with the notification of the replacement time, it is possible to suppress the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame at the time of idling due to a decrease in the absorption capacity of the absorber. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be prevented.

The number of idle ejections in the absorber replacement timing notification method of the liquid ejecting apparatus is equal to the first correction coefficient provided for the ejection duration of the liquid ejecting head or the ejection pause duration of the liquid ejecting head. Corrected with at least one of the second correction coefficients provided for the
The corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new number of idle discharges.

  According to this, the number of idle discharges is corrected by at least one of the first correction coefficient and the second correction coefficient, and compared with the limit number of times as a new idle discharge number. Then, when the number of idle discharges exceeds the limit number, the time for replacing the absorber is notified.

  Therefore, for example, when the first correction coefficient is set to correct by increasing the number of idle discharges as the injection duration time is short, and to correct by increasing the number of idle discharges as the injection duration time is long, When the injection duration time is short, the number of idle ejections is corrected by being greatly increased by the first correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be exceeded quickly. Accordingly, when it is expected that the injection duration time is short and the absorbent body is dried and the absorption capacity is lowered, the replacement time can be notified early.

  On the contrary, when the injection duration time is long, the number of idle ejections is corrected by increasing it by the first correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be exceeded later. Accordingly, when it is expected that the injection duration is long, the absorber does not dry, and the absorption capacity is maintained, the replacement time can be notified late.

  Further, for example, the second correction coefficient is set so as to be corrected by increasing the number of idle discharges smaller as the injection pause duration is shorter, and is corrected by increasing the number of idle ejections larger as the injection pause duration is longer. In this case, when the injection pause duration is long, the number of idle discharges is corrected by being greatly increased by the second correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be quickly exceeded. This makes it possible to notify the replacement time earlier when it is expected that the duration of the injection suspension will be long and the absorber is dried and the absorption capacity is reduced. On the other hand, when the injection pause duration is short, the number of discharges is corrected by increasing it by the second correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be exceeded later. As a result, if it is expected that the injection duration is short and the absorber does not dry and the absorption capacity is maintained, the replacement time can be notified later.

In other words, since it is possible to notify the exact replacement time based on the state of the absorption capacity of the absorbent body, by replacing the absorbent body at this replacement time, the idle discharge caused by the decrease in the absorbent capacity of the absorbent body. In this case, the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame can be further suppressed. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be further prevented. Furthermore, since it can replace | exchange based on the state of the absorption capability of an absorber and the frequency | count of replacement | exchange of an absorber can be reduced, the cost reduction of a liquid ejecting apparatus is realizable.

  The number of idle ejections in the absorber replacement timing notification method of the liquid ejecting apparatus is set for each of the plurality of liquids based on the properties of the plurality of liquids ejected from the nozzles of the liquid ejecting head. The third correction coefficient is corrected, and the corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new number of idle ejections.

According to this, the number of idle discharges is corrected by the third correction coefficient, and is compared with the limit number as the new number of idle ejections.
Therefore, for example, the third correction coefficient is corrected by increasing the number of empty ejections for a liquid that is easy to dry, and increasing it for a liquid that is difficult to dry. In the case of setting to do so, when a liquid that is easy to dry is discharged by empty discharge, the number of empty discharges is corrected by being greatly increased by the third correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be quickly exceeded. On the other hand, when a liquid that is difficult to dry is discharged by empty discharge, the number of empty discharges is corrected by increasing by the third correction coefficient, so that the limit number can be exceeded later. As a result, when it is predicted that the liquid that is easy to dry is discharged in an empty manner and the liquid dries quickly and the absorption capacity of the absorber is reduced, the time for replacing the absorber can be notified early. . In addition, when it is expected that liquid that is difficult to dry due to empty discharge is discharged, and the absorbent body is moist and the absorbent capacity is maintained, the replacement time of the absorbent body can be notified late.

  In other words, it is possible to notify the exact replacement time based on the state of the absorption capacity of the absorber. By replacing the absorber at this replacement time, the idle discharge caused by the lowering of the absorption capacity of the absorber can be achieved. In this case, it is possible to suppress the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be further prevented. Furthermore, since it can replace | exchange based on the state of the absorption capability of an absorber and the frequency | count of replacement | exchange of an absorber can be reduced, the cost reduction of a liquid ejecting apparatus is realizable.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus according to the aspect of the invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus provided with an absorber that absorbs the liquid ejected from the plurality of nozzles of the liquid ejecting head, and is a count detection unit that counts the number of times the liquid ejecting head is ejected. First storage means for storing the number of idle discharges exceeding the absorption capacity of the absorber as a limit number, notification means for notifying the replacement timing of the absorber, and the number of idle discharges counted by the count detection means Control means for comparing the limit times stored in the first storage means and causing the notification means to perform a notification operation when the number of idling discharges exceeds the limit number of times.

  According to this, when the number of idle discharges counted by the coefficient unit is equal to or greater than the limit number stored in the first storage unit, the control unit causes the notification unit to notify the replacement timing of the absorber. Therefore, by replacing the absorber in accordance with the notification of the replacement time, it is possible to suppress the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame during the idle discharge due to the decrease in the absorption capacity of the absorber. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be prevented.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus includes at least a first correction coefficient provided for the ejection duration time of the liquid ejecting head or a second correction coefficient provided for the ejection suspension duration time of the liquid ejecting head. Second storage means for storing either one is provided, and the control means sets the number of idle ejections to be compared with the limit number of times as at least one of the first correction coefficient and the second correction coefficient. Correction is performed, and the corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new number of idle ejections.

  According to this, when the number of idle discharges corrected by at least one of the first correction coefficient and the second correction coefficient is equal to or greater than the limit number, the control means notifies the notification means of the replacement time of the absorber. Make the notification work.

  Therefore, for example, when the first correction coefficient is set to correct by increasing the number of idle discharges as the injection duration time is short, and to correct by increasing the number of idle discharges as the injection duration time is long, When the injection duration time is short, the control means corrects the number of idle ejections by greatly increasing the first correction coefficient. As a result, the number of idle discharges quickly exceeds the limit number, so the control means can notify the notification means if the injection duration time is short and the absorption body is expected to dry and the absorption capacity is reduced. Can be announced early.

  On the other hand, when the injection duration time is long, the control means corrects the number of idle discharges by increasing it by the first correction coefficient. As a result, the number of idle discharges is late and exceeds the limit number, so the control means absorbs the notification means when the injection duration is long and the absorber is expected to be wet and the absorption capacity is maintained. It is possible to notify the body replacement time late.

  In addition, when the second correction coefficient is set to be corrected by increasing the number of idle discharges smaller as the injection pause duration is shorter, and increasing and correcting as the injection pause duration is longer, the control means When the pause duration is short, the number of idle ejections is corrected by increasing it by the second correction coefficient. As a result, since the number of idle discharges is late and exceeds the limit number of times, the control means, when the injection pause duration is short and the absorber is moist and the absorption capacity is maintained, the notification means The exchange time can be announced late.

  On the other hand, when the injection pause duration is long, the control means corrects the number of idle discharges by greatly increasing the second correction coefficient. As a result, the number of idle discharges quickly exceeds the limit number, so that the control means notifies when the injection pause duration is long and the absorber is expected to be dry and the absorption capacity is reduced. Can be notified early of the time to replace the absorber.

  That is, the control means can notify the notification means of the exact replacement time based on the state of the absorption capacity of the absorber. Thereby, by exchanging the absorber at this replacement time, it is possible to further suppress the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame at the time of idling due to a decrease in the absorption capacity of the absorber. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be further prevented. Furthermore, in the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention, the replacement can be performed based on the state of the absorption capacity of the absorber, and the number of replacements of the absorber can be reduced, so that the cost can be reduced.

  Third liquid storage means for storing a third correction coefficient indicating ease of drying for each liquid ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles of the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the control means includes the limit number of times The number of idle discharges to be compared is corrected with the third correction coefficient, and the corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new idle discharge number.

According to this, the control unit corrects the number of idle discharges with the third correction coefficient, and compares it with the limit number as the new number of idle discharges.
Therefore, for example, when the third correction coefficient is set so as to be corrected by increasing the number of empty discharges as the ejected liquid is easy to dry, and correcting it by increasing it as it is difficult to dry, the control means When a liquid that is easy to dry is discharged by empty discharge, the number of empty discharges is greatly increased by the third correction coefficient for correction. As a result, the number of idle discharges can quickly exceed the limit number.

On the other hand, when a liquid that is difficult to dry by empty discharge is discharged, the control means determines the number of empty discharges,
Since the correction is made by increasing it by the third correction coefficient, the number of idle ejections can be delayed and exceed the limit number. In this way, when it is expected that the liquid that is easy to dry is discharged and the liquid dries quickly and the absorption capacity of the absorber is reduced, the control means informs the notification means of the replacement timing of the absorber. Can be announced early.

  In addition, when liquid that is difficult to dry is discharged by empty discharge, and the absorbent body is moist and the absorption capacity is maintained, the control means can notify the notification means of the replacement time of the absorbent body later.

  That is, the control means can notify the notification means of the exact replacement time based on the state of the absorption capacity of the absorber, so that the absorption capacity of the absorber can be improved by replacing the absorber at this replacement time. It is possible to suppress the splashing of the liquid that occurs in the main body frame during the idle discharge, which is caused by the decrease in the above. As a result, contamination in the main body frame can be further prevented. Furthermore, since it can replace | exchange based on the state of the absorption capability of an absorber and the frequency | count of replacement | exchange of an absorber can be reduced, the cost reduction of a liquid ejecting apparatus is realizable.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus including an absorber that receives and absorbs differently discharged liquids from a plurality of nozzles in different regions, and the absorber includes the received liquid. According to the properties of the respective regions, the separation distances to the corresponding nozzles of the respective regions are made different for the respective regions that receive the respective liquids.

  According to this, for example, the absorber absorbs the liquid that is difficult to dry by increasing the separation distance from the nozzle in the region that absorbs the liquid that is easy to dry, corresponding to the ease of drying of the liquid as the property of the liquid to be received. The region to be formed is formed so as to reduce the separation distance from the nozzle. In this case, even when the liquid is dried and deposited on the absorber, the height when deposited by the respective separation distances of each region is uniform, so the absorber can be used uniformly. it can. For this reason, since the frequency | count of replacement | exchange of an absorber can be reduced, the liquid ejecting apparatus of this invention can implement | achieve cost reduction.

  The liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention is a liquid ejecting apparatus including an absorber that receives and absorbs liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different regions, and the absorber includes the liquid to be received. Depending on the nature, the absorption capacity of each region receiving each liquid was varied.

  According to this, for example, as the property of the liquid to be received, the area corresponding to the ease of drying of the liquid, the area that absorbs liquid that is easy to dry has higher absorption capacity and the area that absorbs liquid that is difficult to dry. It is formed so that the absorption capacity is low. Thereby, each area | region of an absorber can absorb a liquid uniformly, without being influenced by the ease of drying of a liquid, respectively. In addition, by reducing the absorption capacity of the region that absorbs liquid that is difficult to dry, it is possible to take time for the absorption of this liquid, and it is possible to moisten other regions to suppress drying and maintain the absorption capability. As a result, the liquid can be prevented from drying and accumulating at the absorber, so that the rebound of the liquid due to idle ejection can be suppressed and contamination within the main body frame can be prevented. Furthermore, the liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention can maintain the absorption capacity of the absorber by suppressing the drying of the absorber, and can extend the replacement time. As a result, the liquid ejecting apparatus can realize cost reduction.

  The absorber of the present invention is configured to receive and absorb liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different regions, respectively, in accordance with the properties of the liquid to be received. Different thicknesses were used.

  According to this, for example, the absorber is made to correspond to the ease of drying of the liquid as the property of the liquid to be received, and the region that absorbs the liquid that is easy to dry is thinner and the region that absorbs the liquid that is hard to dry has the absorption capacity It is formed to be thick. Thereby, each area | region of an absorber can absorb a liquid uniformly, without being influenced by the ease of drying of a liquid, respectively. Further, by changing the thickness of the absorber in this way, the contact area with the liquid to be absorbed can be increased and the absorption can be promoted, so that the liquid is prevented from drying and depositing in the absorber. be able to. As a result, the absorption capacity of the absorber can be maintained, and the replacement time can be lengthened, so that cost reduction can be realized.

  The absorber according to the present invention is a material for receiving and absorbing liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different regions, and in accordance with the properties of the liquids to be received, the material of each region receiving the liquids Made a difference.

  According to this, for example, the absorber is a porous member having a larger number of pores in a region that absorbs a liquid that is easy to dry, corresponding to the ease of drying of the liquid as the property of the liquid to be received, and the liquid that is difficult to dry It forms so that it may become a porous member with few pores, so that the area | region which absorbs. Thereby, each area | region of an absorber can absorb a liquid uniformly, without being influenced by the ease of drying of a liquid, respectively.

  In addition, by making the region that absorbs difficult-to-dry liquids into porous members with few pores, the absorption capacity can be lowered and time can be taken to absorb this liquid, and other regions can be moistened and dried. Can be suppressed and the absorption capacity can be maintained. As a result, it is possible to suppress the liquid from being dried and accumulated in the absorber, and thus it is possible to suppress the splashing of the liquid caused by the idle ejection. Furthermore, the absorber of this invention can maintain the absorption capacity of an absorber by suppressing drying of an absorber, and can lengthen the replacement time. As a result, cost reduction can be realized.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) as a liquid ejecting apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an outline of the printer of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the platen of the printer. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the platen.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 1 as a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped frame 2 as a main body frame. A platen 3 is disposed in the frame 2 in the longitudinal direction. The platen 3 is a support for supporting the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is fed onto the platen 3 by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). A waste ink tank 4 for storing used ink is connected below the platen 3.

A guide member 5 is installed in the frame 2 so as to be parallel to the platen 3. A carriage 6 that can move along the guide member 5 is inserted into and supported by the guide member 5. The frame 2 is provided with a driving pulley 7a and a driven pulley 7b, and a carriage motor 8 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is connected to the driving pulley 7a. A timing belt 9 is hung on the driving pulley 7 a and the driven pulley 7 b, and the carriage 6 is drivingly connected to the carriage motor 8 via the timing belt 9. The carriage 6 is driven by the carriage motor 8 via the timing belt 9 so that it is guided by the guide member 5 and reciprocates parallel to the platen 3 (main scanning direction).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 6 is provided with a recording head 10 as a liquid ejecting head. The recording head 10 has a nozzle forming surface 10a facing the platen 3, and the nozzle forming surface 10a includes a plurality of nozzles N1 to N8 provided corresponding to the type of ink to be ejected. Two nozzle rows are provided.

  The carriage 6 is detachably loaded with first to eighth ink cartridges 11 to 18. In the first to seventh ink cartridges 11 to 17, yellow YL, magenta M, cyan CY, matte black MB, photo black PB, red R, and blue B, which are color inks as liquids, are respectively stored in storage chambers (not shown). Reserved. Each ink of the first to seventh ink cartridges 11 to 17 is a pigment ink, and is formed by dissolving a pigment in an ink solvent. The eighth ink cartridge 18 stores a clear CR of reactive ink as a liquid in a storage chamber (not shown). Each ink is supplied from the first to eighth ink cartridges 11 to 18 to the recording head 10. Each ink is pressurized by a piezoelectric element (not shown) provided in the recording head 10 and ejected from the corresponding nozzle array of nozzles N1 to N8. That is, yellow YL is discharged from the nozzle N1, and magenta M is discharged from the nozzle N2. Cyan CY is discharged from the nozzle N3, and mat black MB is discharged from the nozzle N4. Photo black PB is discharged from the nozzle N5, and red R is discharged from the nozzle N6. Further, blue B is discharged from the nozzle N7, and clear CR is discharged from the nozzle N8.

  In the printer 1 configured as described above, the carriage 6 is reciprocated along the guide member 5 during printing, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10 to be applied to the recording paper P. Dots are formed to print an image or the like. The clear CR of the eighth ink cartridge 18 is ejected from the nozzle N8 before or after each color ink is ejected, and is mixed with each color ink on the recording paper P, thereby aggregating. Thus, a reaction such as solidification is caused to improve the color development of each color ink and to protect a printed image or the like.

  In the printer 1, the carriage 6 is moved to the non-printing area on the back left side shown in FIG. 1 to perform a flushing operation in which ink droplets are simultaneously ejected idle from the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10. In the printer 1, the non-printing area for performing the flushing operation is a flushing area, and the position of the carriage 6 at that time is the flushing position. Further, in the printer 1, an area for printing by ejecting ink droplets while moving the carriage 6 on the recording sheet P fed to the central platen 3 shown in FIG. 1 is set as a printing area. Further, in the printer 1, the right non-printing area shown in FIG. 1 is an area for retracting the carriage 6 during non-printing. In this non-printing area, a wiping member 19 for wiping the nozzle forming surface 10a of the recording head 10 of the carriage 6 retracted and a cap member 20 for sealing the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10 during non-printing are provided. ing.

Next, the configuration of the platen 3 described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 3 includes a main body case 21 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the main body case 21, a first accommodating portion 22 is recessed at the left end portion shown in FIG. 2, which is located in the flushing region of the carriage 6 when disposed in the frame 2. The first housing part 22 is open on the upper surface 21 a side of the main body case 21, and is divided into a right housing part 22 a and a left housing part 22 b by a wall part 23. The right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b accommodate a right absorbent body 25 and a left absorbent body 26 as absorbent bodies made of a porous material such as sponge, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the left absorbent body 26 receives and absorbs the inks of the first to fourth ink cartridges 11 to 14 that are idly ejected from the nozzles N1 to N4 by the flushing operation. . The right absorber 25 receives and absorbs the inks of the fifth to eighth ink cartridges 15 to 18 that are ejected from the nozzles N5 to N8.

  On the other hand, the lower surface 21b of the main body case 21 is provided with a first derivation port 27 that communicates with the right accommodation part 22a and a second derivation port 28 that communicates with the left accommodation part 22b. The first and second outlet ports 27 and 28 are each connected to the waste ink tank 4. Accordingly, after the flushing operation, each ink of the first to fourth ink cartridges 11 to 14 discharged idly from the nozzles N1 to N4 of the recording head 10 is received by the left absorber 26, and then the first outlet port 27 is set. Through the waste ink tank 4. Further, each of the inks of the fifth to eighth ink cartridges 15 to 18 that are idly ejected from the nozzles N5 to N8 is received by the right absorber 25 and then discharged to the waste ink tank 4 through the second outlet port 28. Is done.

  On the other hand, in the main body case 21, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped second storage portion 29 is recessed along the longitudinal direction of the main body case 21 so as to be adjacent to the first storage portion 22. The second housing portion 29 is positioned in the printing area when the main body case 21 is disposed in the frame 2. A plurality of first guide members 30 project from the bottom surface of the second housing portion 29 and are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the platen 3. A plurality of second guide members 31 having substantially the same shape as the first guide member 30 are formed at both front and rear end portions located in the printing region of the upper surface 21 a of the main body case 21, and the same longitudinal direction as the first guide member 30. It is juxtaposed in the direction.

  Further, the second absorber 29 accommodates the central absorber 32. The central absorbent body 32 is made of a porous body such as sponge, and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same size as the second housing portion 29. The central absorbent body 32 is formed with a cut at a position corresponding to the first guide member 30. When the central absorbent body 32 is housed in the second housing portion 29, the first guide member 30 is cut into the central absorbent body 32. It is arrange | positioned in the state penetrated by.

  As a result, the recording paper P fed onto the platen 3 during printing is supported by the first and second guide members 30 and 31, and is fed while sliding on the upper surfaces of the first and second guide members 30 and 31. The At this time, when so-called borderless printing is performed with no margin, the ink ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 slightly outside the edge of the recording paper P (front side shown in FIG. 2) is caused by the central absorber 32. It is received and absorbed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface 21 b of the main body case 21 is provided with a third outlet port 33 that penetrates the bottom surface of the second housing portion 29. The third outlet port 33 is connected to the waste ink tank 4 so that the second container 29 and the waste ink tank 4 communicate with each other via the third outlet port 33. Accordingly, each ink of the first to eighth ink cartridges 11 to 18 ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10 by borderless printing is received by the central absorber 32 and then passed through the third outlet port 33. Through the waste ink tank 4.

In the printer 1 having the platen 3 configured as described above, when the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 decreases, that is, when the lifetime approaches, this is notified by the notification lamp L provided on the frame 2. It is like that. Specifically, the notification lamp L is normally turned off, but is turned on when the life of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 of the platen 3 is approaching, so as to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26. It has become.

Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 of this embodiment will be described.
The printer 1 includes a printer engine 41 as shown in FIG. The printer engine 41 includes a CPU 42 (central processing unit) as a control means and count detection means for controlling the printer 1, a memory 43 as first and second storage means, and an input / output circuit 44. The CPU 42 is electrically connected to the carriage motor 8, the piezoelectric element (not shown) of the recording head 10, and a notification lamp L as notification means via an input / output circuit 44. Then, the CPU 42 outputs a first drive current Ia for driving and controlling the carriage motor 8 to the carriage motor 8 via the input / output circuit 44, or causes the notification lamp L to turn on the notification lamp L. A drive current Ib is output. Further, the CPU 42 outputs a drive voltage V for driving and controlling the piezoelectric element to the piezoelectric element of the recording head 10 via the input / output circuit 44.

  The CPU 42 controls the movement of the carriage 6 by driving and controlling the carriage motor 8 in accordance with a control program stored in the memory 43 so as to move the carriage 6 to any of the flushing position, the printing area, and the non-printing area. . Further, the CPU 42 controls the piezoelectric elements of the recording head 10 to discharge the inks of the first to eighth ink cartridges 11 to 18 from the nozzles N1 to N8, respectively. Further, the CPU 42 turns on or off the notification lamp L by outputting the second drive current Ib or stopping the output.

  Specifically, the CPU 42 causes the printer 1 to execute a printing operation, and periodically executes a flushing operation during the printing operation. When the CPU 42 causes the printer 1 to execute a printing operation, the carriage motor 8 outputs and drives the first driving current Ia to reciprocate the carriage 6 within the printing area. Further, by outputting a driving voltage V to the piezoelectric element of the recording head 10, ink is ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 onto the recording paper P fed onto the platen 3, and printing is performed. Further, when the CPU 42 causes the printer 1 to perform a flushing operation, the first drive current Ia is output to the carriage motor 8 to move the carriage 6 in the printing area to the flushing position, and then the piezoelectric element of the recording head 10 is applied. Drive voltage V is output. Thus, ink is ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 to the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 of the platen 3, respectively. Further, the CPU 42 stores the number of times of the flushing operation in the memory 43 as “flushing number of times F” each time. The CPU 42 estimates the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 based on the number of times F of flushing, and detects the lifetime of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26. When the life is reached, the second driving current Ib is output to the notification lamp L and turned on to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26.

  Note that the timing for performing the regular flushing operation in the present embodiment is based on the printing time or the like so that the nozzles N1 to N8 can be kept in a suitable state, and is determined and set in advance by experiments or the like. .

Next, the operation of the CPU 42 of the printer 1 described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 42.
When the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 42 of the printer 1 responds to this by supplying the first drive current Ia and the drive voltage V to the piezoelectric elements of the carriage motor 8 and the recording head 10, and the input / output circuit 44. The printing operation is started for each of them.

  When the CPU 42 starts the printing operation of the printer 1, the CPU 42 reads out the flushing number F stored in advance in the memory 43 (step S1). Then, a flushing operation is periodically executed during the printing operation (step S2).

Next, when executing the flushing operation, the CPU 42 updates the flushing frequency F stored in the memory 43 based on the flushing operation (step S3).
Next, the CPU 42 determines whether or not the flushing frequency F is 40000 times or more (step S4). When the flushing frequency F is 40000 times or more, the CPU 42 estimates that the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 stored in the first storage unit 22 is reduced and the life is approaching (in step S4). YES) Then, the CPU 42 outputs the second drive current Ib via the input / output circuit 44 and turns on the notification lamp L to notify the lifetime of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 (step S5). Thereafter, the CPU 42 stops the output of the drive voltage V, stops the ink ejection of the recording head 10, and outputs the first drive current Ia to the carriage motor 8 to move the carriage 6 to the non-printing area and perform the printing operation. To prepare for the replacement of the platen 3.

  Further, when the CPU 42 determines that the flushing frequency F is less than 40000 (NO in step S4), the CPU 42 estimates that the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is maintained, and does not light the notification lamp L. In addition, the flushing operation is periodically executed during the printing operation of the printer 1 (step S2).

  In step S4 described above, the determination condition is that the flushing frequency F is 40000 times or more, which is such that the ink bounces due to the flushing in the frame 2 does not occur. , 26 is the limit number for estimating that the absorption capacity is reduced and the life is approaching. The limit number is obtained and set in advance by experiments or the like based on the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26.

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment mentioned above, there exist the following effects.
(1) In the present embodiment, the notification lamp L is lit to notify the printer 1 of the replacement time (life) of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 that absorbs ink that is idlely ejected by the flushing operation of the recording head 10. It was configured as follows. Thus, when the notification lamp L is lit, the user can remove the platen 3 from the frame 2 and replace the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 with new ones. As a result, the ink bounce due to the flushing operation caused by the decrease in the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be suppressed, so that the contamination in the frame 2 can be prevented.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the CPU 42 is configured to determine the flushing frequency F with reference to 40,000 times or more preset as the limit frequency. As a result, the CPU 42 can accurately estimate the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 based on the limit number of times, so that the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be determined via the notification lamp L. Can be informed accurately.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, portions that are different from the above-described first embodiment will be described, and the same portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  Compared with the first embodiment, the printer 1 of the present embodiment further includes the right and left absorbers 25 of the platen 3 based on the printing time and the printing stop time of the printer 1 in addition to the flushing frequency F. , 26 is notified.

  Specifically, when the power switch (not shown) of the printer 1 is turned on, the CPU 42 of the printer engine 41 according to the present embodiment performs the first drive current Ia and the drive voltage as described above according to the control program stored in the memory 43. V is output via the input / output circuit 44 to execute the printing operation. Then, the time during which this printing operation is executed is timed (not shown) built in the printer engine 41 and stored in the memory 43 as “printing time” and updated as needed. Further, when the power switch is turned off, the CPU 42 of the printer engine 41 resets the printing time stored in the memory 43 and then stops outputting the first driving current Ia and the driving voltage V and stops the printer 1. To do. Further, the CPU 42 is configured so that the timer measures the stop time when the printer 1 is stopped and stores it in the memory 43 as “print stop time”.

  Then, the CPU 42 refers to the map data stored in the memory 43 based on the “printing stop time” stored in advance during execution of the printing operation of the printer 1 and the “printing time” updated as needed. The second drive current Ib is output via the input / output circuit 44 to light the notification lamp L.

Next, map data stored in the memory 43 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the map data 50 and 51 includes information on the first time coefficient X and the second time coefficient Y corresponding to the printing time of the printer 1. The first time coefficient X and the second time coefficient Y are coefficients for correcting the flushing frequency F stored in the memory 43.

  Specifically, as described above, in the printer 1, the flushing operation is periodically performed during the printing operation. For this reason, the number of times of flushing changes depending on the length of the printing time. Therefore, when the printing time, that is, the ejection duration time is short, the number of times of flushing is small, and it is expected that the respective inks are dried by the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 and the absorption capacity is lowered.

  Further, even when each ink is dried in this way, when the printing time, that is, the ejection duration time is long, the flushing frequency is large, and the dried inks are redissolved to dissolve the right and left absorbers 25 and 26. Absorption capacity is expected to be maintained.

  In other words, the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to change depending on the length of the printing time. Therefore, the update of the flushing frequency F for comparison with the limit frequency is also corrected according to the printing time. There is a need to.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, in order to accurately correct the number F of flushing, based on the absorption capability of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26, which varies depending on the printing time, through experiments or the like in advance, a reference for the length of printing time is short. The value was set to 200 seconds, and the first time coefficient X was set as the first correction coefficient corresponding to this reference value. When the printing time is short and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to be lowered, that is, when the printing time is less than 200 seconds, the first time coefficient X is “2”. Set. In addition, when the printing time is long and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to be maintained, that is, when the printing time is 200 seconds or more, this value is set to “1”. .

  The first time coefficient X thus set is referred to by the CPU 42 when the flushing frequency F is updated, and is multiplied by the flushing frequency F (F = F × X + 1).

  Therefore, for example, when the memory 43 stores the flushing frequency F as 1000 times and the printing operation is performed for 500 seconds or more, the CPU 42 performs the first time for the update when the printing time is less than 200 seconds. The coefficient X is set to “2”, and this flushing frequency F is multiplied and updated (F = 1000 × 2 + 1). Further, when executing the next update when the printing time is 200 seconds or more, the CPU 42 sets the first time coefficient X to “1” and multiplies the number of times F by flushing to update (F = 2001 × 1 + 1). . That is, when the printing time is less than 200 seconds and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to decrease, the CPU 42 updates the value of the flushing frequency F so as to increase greatly. When the printing time is 200 seconds or longer and it is predicted that the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be maintained, the value is updated so that the value of the flushing frequency F is increased.

  On the other hand, in the printer 1, the flushing operation is not performed when the power switch is turned off and stopped. For this reason, depending on the length of the printing stop time, the drying conditions of the inks absorbed by the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 are different. Therefore, when the printing stop time, that is, the ejection pause duration time is long, each ink absorbed in the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is dried and solidified, and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is lowered. Is expected to.

  Further, even when each ink is dried as described above, when the printing stop time is short, the dried inks are redissolved by the flushing operation performed after the printer 1 is started, and the right and left absorbers 25. 26 is expected to be maintained.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, as with the first time coefficient X described above, the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 that change according to the print stop time are previously experimentally determined in order to accurately correct the flushing frequency F. Based on the absorption capacity, the long and short reference values of the printing stop time were set to 12 hours and 5 hours, and the second time coefficient Y corresponding to this reference value was set.

  When the print stop time is long and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to be reduced, that is, when the print stop time is 12 hours or more, the second time coefficient Y is set to “2”. Was set. Further, when the printing stop time is slightly long and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to be slightly reduced, that is, the second time when the printing stop time is 5 hours or more and less than 12 hours. The coefficient Y was set to “1”. Further, when it is expected that the printing stop time is short and the absorbing ability of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is maintained, that is, when the printing stop time is less than 5 hours, the second time coefficient Y is set to “0”. .5 ".

  The second time coefficient Y set in this way is referred to by the CPU 42 when the flushing count F is updated, and is multiplied by the flushing count F (F = F × Y + 1).

  Therefore, for example, when the printer 1 stored in the memory 43 with the flushing number F being 1000 times starts printing after stopping printing for 12 hours or more, the CPU 42 sets the flushing number F to be executed during the printing operation. In the update, the second time coefficient Y is set to “2”, and this flushing number F is multiplied and updated (F = 1000 × 2 + 1). When the printing operation is started after the printing is stopped for 5 hours or more and less than 12 hours, the CPU 42 sets the second time coefficient Y to “1” and updates the flushing number F by updating the flushing number F ((1)). F = 1000 × 1 + 1). Furthermore, when the printing operation is started after the printing is stopped for less than 5 hours, the CPU 42 updates the flushing frequency F by setting the second time coefficient Y to “0.5” and multiplying the flushing frequency F (F = 1000 × 0.5 + 1).

That is, the CPU 42 has a print stop time of 12 hours or more and the right and left absorbers 25, 2
When the absorption capacity of 6 is expected to be reduced, the value of the flushing frequency F is greatly increased and updated. When the printing stop time is 5 hours or more and less than 12 hours and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to be slightly lowered, the value of the flushing frequency F is slightly increased and updated. Further, when it is predicted that the print stop time is less than 5 hours and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be maintained, the value of the number of times of flushing is increased and updated.

Next, the operation of the CPU 42 of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 42.
When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 42 of the printer 1 starts a printing operation in response thereto.

  When the printing operation of the printer 1 is started, the CPU 42 reads the flushing number F and the printing stop time stored in advance in the memory 43 (step S11). Then, a flushing operation is periodically executed during the printing operation (step S2).

  Next, when executing the flushing operation, the CPU 42 multiplies the first time coefficient X and the second time coefficient Y by the number F of times of flushing stored in advance in the memory 43, and stores the result in the memory 43 based on this. The flushing count F is updated (F = XYF + 1 in step S13).

  Therefore, for example, when the printer 1 that has been stopped for 12 hours or more causes the printer 1 to execute a printing operation for 200 seconds or more, the CPU 42 sets the first time coefficient X to “1” and the second time coefficient Y to “2”. As a result, the flushing frequency F is multiplied and updated (F = 1 × 2 × F + 1). For example, when the printer 1 that has been stopped for less than 5 hours is caused to execute a printing operation for 200 seconds or more, the first time coefficient X is set to “1”, the second time coefficient Y is set to “0.5”, Multiply and update the number of flushing times F (F = 1 · 0.5 · F + 1). For example, when the printer 1 that has been stopped for less than 5 hours is caused to execute a printing operation for less than 200 seconds, the first time coefficient X is set to “2” and the second time coefficient Y is set to “0.5”. As a result, the flushing frequency F is multiplied and updated (F = 2 · 0.5 · F + 1). For example, when the printer 1 that has been stopped for less than 5 hours is caused to execute a printing operation for 200 seconds or more, the first time coefficient X is set to “1”, the second time coefficient Y is set to “0.5”, Multiply and update the number of flushes F (F = 1 × 0.5 × F + 1).

  That is, when the printing stop time of the printer 1 is long or the printing time is short, the CPU 42 greatly increases the value of the flushing frequency F, corrects and updates it. On the contrary, when the printing stop time of the printer 1 is short or the printing time is long, the CPU 42 increases the value of the flushing frequency F to a small value, corrects it, and updates it.

  Next, the CPU 42 proceeds to the process of step S4 described in the first embodiment, and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbent bodies 25 and 26 housed in the first housing portion 22 is lowered and the life is approaching. When estimated, the second drive current Ib is output via the input / output circuit 44 and the notification lamp L is turned on to notify the replacement timing (life) of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 (step S5).

  When the CPU 42 estimates that the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is maintained (NO in step S4), the notification lamp L is not turned on and the printer 1 continues to be in the middle of the printing operation. The flushing operation is periodically executed (step S2).

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment mentioned above, in addition to the effect of 1st Embodiment, there exist the following effects.
In the present embodiment, the printer 1 causes the notification lamp L to light up and absorb the right and left based on the first time coefficient X corresponding to the printing time, the second time coefficient Y corresponding to the printing stop time, and the flushing frequency F. It was configured to notify the replacement time (life) of the bodies 25 and 26. Further, when the printing stop time of the printer 1 is long or when the printing time is short, the CPU 42 updates the value by increasing the value of the flushing frequency F greatly, and conversely, the printing stop time of the printer 1 is short. Alternatively, when the printing time is long, the value of the flushing frequency F is increased and corrected and updated.

  As a result, the CPU 42 causes the printing stop time of the printer 1 to be long, or the printing time to be short, the number of times of flushing to be small, each ink is dried at the right and left absorbers 25 and 26, and the absorption capacity is reduced. If it is expected, the notification lamp L can be turned on early to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 early.

  Conversely, the CPU 42 has a large number of flushing times when the printing stop time of the printer 1 is short or the printing time is long. As a result, it is expected that the pigment ink dried and deposited on the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is redissolved and the absorbing ability of the right and left absorbers 25 is maintained. In such a case, the notification lamp L can be turned on late to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 later.

  That is, the CPU 42 can estimate the state of the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 based on the printing time and the printing stop time, and can notify an accurate replacement time based on the estimation result. Therefore, by exchanging the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 at the time of replacement, ink rebound caused by the flushing operation can be suppressed, and contamination in the frame 2 can be prevented. Furthermore, by exchanging based on the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26, the number of exchanges can be reduced, and the consumption can be reduced. As a result, the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, portions that differ from the first and second embodiments described above will be described, and the same portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  Unlike the first and second embodiments, the flushing operation of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is performed by individually ejecting ink from the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10 individually. The printer 1 according to the present embodiment replaces the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 of the platen 3 on the basis of the printing time of the printer 1, the printing stop time, and the number of flushes F from the nozzles N1 to N8. Is to inform you.

  Specifically, the CPU 42 counts the empty time based on the flushing operation of each of the nozzles N1 to N8 that is periodically performed during the execution of the printing operation of the printer 1 in addition to the timing of the printing time and the printing stop time described above. The flushing frequency F as the number of ejections is stored in the memory 43 as “flushing frequency F1 to F8” and updated as needed. Then, the CPU 42 maps the map data 50 stored in the memory 43 based on the “printing stop time” stored in advance in the memory 43, the “printing time” updated as needed, and the “flushing times F1 to F8”. 51 and the map data 61 (see FIG. 9), the second drive current Ib is output via the input / output circuit 44 to light the notification lamp L.

Next, the map data 61 stored in the memory 43 as the first to third storage means of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the map data 61 includes information on color coefficients H1 to H8 as third correction coefficients corresponding to the respective inks of the first to eighth ink cartridges 11 to 18.

The color coefficients H <b> 1 to H <b> 8 are coefficients for correcting the flushing frequency F stored in the memory 43.
Specifically, as described above, the printer 1 periodically performs the flushing operation during the execution of the printing operation. Each of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is ejected with each ink having different easiness of drying by this flushing operation.

  For this reason, when a large amount of ink that is easy to dry is ejected idle, the ink is dried by the right and left absorbers 25 and 26, and the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to decrease. Is done. Further, even when each ink is dried in this way, when a large amount of ink that is difficult to dry is ejected idle, each dried ink is re-dissolved and the absorbing ability of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is maintained. It is expected that

  In other words, the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is expected to change depending on the ink ejected in the idle state. It is necessary to correct according to.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, in order to accurately correct the flushing frequency F, it is determined in advance based on the absorption capability of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 that varies depending on the ink ejected in advance by experiments or the like. Corresponding color coefficients H1-H8 were set.

  The color coefficient H1 of yellow YL, which is the ink that is most easily dried, is set to “1”, and the color coefficient H2 of magenta M is set to “1”. Based on these color coefficients H1 and H2, the color coefficient H3 of cyan CY, which is the ink that will be easily dried next, was set to “0.9”, and the color coefficient H4 of matte black MB was set to “0.9”. Further, the color coefficient H6 of red R, which is the ink that is easy to dry next, was set to “0.8”, and the color coefficient H8 of clear CR was set to “0.8”. Further, the color coefficient H5 of the photo black PB, which is the ink that is easy to dry next, is set to “0.7”, and the color coefficient H7 of blue B, which is the ink that is the most difficult to dry, is set to “0.5”.

  The color coefficients H1 to H8 set in this way are referred to by the CPU 42 when the flushing times F1 to F8 are updated, and are multiplied by the flushing times F1 to F8 (F1 to F8 = F1). -F8xH1-H8 + 1).

  Therefore, for example, when the flushing frequency F7 is stored as 1000 times in the memory 43, when blue B is ejected from the nozzle N7 by the flushing operation, “0.5” of the color coefficient H7 is set as the flushing frequency F7. Multiply and update (F7 = 1000 × 0.5 + 1). Further, for example, when the flushing number F1 is stored as 500 times in the memory 43, when the yellow YL is ejected from the nozzle N1 by the flushing operation, the flushing number F1 is multiplied by “1” of the color coefficient H1. Update (F1 = 500 × 1 + 1).

  That is, the CPU 42 updates the one-time updated value of the flushing frequency F of the nozzle that has ejected ink that is easy to dry by increasing it more than the updated value of the flushing frequency F of the nozzle that ejects ink that is difficult to dry. ing.

Next, the operation of the CPU 42 of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 42 of the printer engine 41.

When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the printer engine 41 (CPU 42) of the printer 1 starts a printing operation in response thereto.
When the printing operation of the printer 1 is started, the CPU 42 reads out the flushing times F1 to F8 and the printing stop time stored in advance in the memory 43 (step S21). Then, a flushing operation is periodically performed during the printing operation (step S2).

  Next, when executing the flushing operation, the CPU 42 multiplies the flushing times F1 to F8 previously stored in the memory 43 by the color coefficients H1 to H8, the first time coefficient X, and the second time coefficient Y, respectively. The flashing times F1 to F8 stored in the memory 43 are updated based on (F1 to F8 = H1 to H8 × XY × F1 to F8 + 1 in step S23).

  Therefore, for example, when the printer 1 that has been stopped for 12 hours or more performs a printing operation for 200 seconds or more and causes yellow YL ink to be ejected from the nozzle N1, the CPU 42 sets the color coefficient H1 to “1”. The first time coefficient X is set to “1”, the second time coefficient Y is set to “2”, and the number of times of flushing F1 is multiplied and updated (F1 = 1 × 1 × 2 × F1 + 1). Similarly, when the blue B ink is ejected idle from the nozzle N7, the color coefficient H7 is set to “0.5”, the first time coefficient X is set to “1”, and the second time coefficient Y is set to “2”. The number of times F7 is flushed is updated by updating (F7 = 0.5 × 1 × 2 × F7 + 1).

  That is, in this case, the CPU 42 increases and corrects and updates the value of the flushing frequency F1 of the nozzle N1 that ejects ink that is easy to dry, and conversely, the value of the flushing frequency F of the nozzle N7 that ejects ink that is difficult to dry. Increase and decrease to correct and update.

  Next, the CPU 42 determines whether any of the flushing times F1 to F8 is 40000 times or more (step S24). When the CPU 42 determines that any of the flushing times F1 to F8 is 40000 times or more, the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 housed in the first housing portion 22 is reduced and the life is approaching. Estimate (YES in step S24). Based on this determination, the CPU 42 outputs the second drive current Ib via the input / output circuit 44 and turns on the notification lamp L to notify the replacement timing (life) of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 ( Step S5).

Further, when the CPU 42 determines that all of the flushing times F1 to F8 are less than 40000 times (NO in step S24), the CPU 42 estimates that the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 is maintained, and the notification lamp The flashing operation is periodically executed during the printing operation of the printer 1 without turning on L (step S2).
As mentioned above, according to this embodiment mentioned above, in addition to the effect of 1st and 2nd embodiment, there exist the following effects.

  In the present embodiment, the notification lamp L is set on the printer 1 based on the flushing times F1 to F8, the color coefficients H1 to H8, the first time coefficient X corresponding to the printing time, and the second time coefficient Y corresponding to the printing stop time. The lamp is lit to notify the replacement time (life) of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26. Further, the CPU 42 increases and corrects and updates the value of the number of times of flushing the nozzle that ejects ink that is easy to dry. Configured to do.

As a result, the CPU 42 discharges a lot of ink that is easily dried to the right and left absorbers 25 and 26, and the ink is dried by the right and left absorbers 25 and 26. When it is expected that the absorption capacity is reduced, the notification lamp L can be turned on early to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 early. On the other hand, when the CPU 42 is expected to maintain the absorption capability of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 because the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 have a lot of ink that is difficult to dry and are moistened. In this case, the notification lamp L can be turned on late to notify the replacement timing of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 later.

That is, the CPU 42 estimates the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 based on the printing time, the printing stop time, and the type of each ink ejected idle, and more accurate replacement time based on the estimation result. Can be informed. Therefore, by replacing the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 at this replacement time, it is possible to further suppress ink rebound caused by the flushing operation and to further reduce contamination in the frame 2. Furthermore, since the absorption capacity of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be estimated with higher accuracy, the number of replacements of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 can be reduced, and the consumption can be further reduced. As a result, the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced.
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer 1 of the present embodiment is characterized in that the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 of the first embodiment and the absorber having a different configuration are provided. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, portions that are different from the first embodiment will be described, and the same portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the right and left storage portions 22a and 22b of the first storage portion 22 have right and left absorbers that absorb the respective inks that are simultaneously ejected to each of the nozzles N1 to N8 by a flushing operation. Left absorbent bodies 70 and 71 are accommodated, respectively. The left absorber 71 receives and absorbs each ink ejected from the nozzles N1 to N4 of the recording head 10 in the same manner as the left absorber 26 of the first embodiment. The right absorber 70 receives and absorbs each ink ejected from the nozzles N5 to N8 of the recording head 10 in the same manner as the right absorber 25 of the first embodiment. The thicknesses of the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 at the respective positions are set based on the ease of drying of the ink solvent of each ink that is idlely ejected from each of the opposed nozzles N1 to N8.

  Specifically, the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 are formed on the basis of the color coefficients H1 to H8 of the map data 61 shown in FIG. 9 and are nozzles that eject ink having large values of the color coefficients H1 to H8. The position (attachment area) that is opposed is thinner, and the position (attachment area) that is opposed to a nozzle that ejects ink having a smaller value is thicker.

  That is, the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 are thin in the adhesion region facing the nozzle that discharges ink that is easy to dry, and the relative distance (separation distance) from the nozzle forming surface 10a of the recording head 10 is long. . On the other hand, the adhesion region facing the nozzle that ejects ink that is difficult to dry is thick, and the relative distance (separation distance) from the nozzle forming surface 10a of the recording head 10 is short. As a result, discharge areas Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 having different thicknesses are formed in the left absorbent body 26 so as to face the nozzles N1 to N4, respectively. Also, the right absorbent body 25 may be formed with discharge regions Z5, Z6, Z7, and Z8 having different thicknesses so as to face the nozzles N5 to N8, respectively.

  More specifically, the discharge region Z1 of the left absorber 71 that receives yellow YL ink whose color coefficient H1 is “1”, and the discharge region Z2 of the left absorber 71 that receives magenta M ink whose color coefficient H2 is “1”. Are the same thickness.

Further, the discharge region Z3 of the left absorber 71 that receives cyan CY ink having a color coefficient H3 of “0.9” and the left absorber 71 that receives ink of matte black MB having a color coefficient H4 of “0.9”. The discharge region Z4 has the same thickness. Moreover, the thickness of these discharge areas Z3 and Z4 is
It is thicker than the thickness of the ejection regions Z1, Z2.

  Further, the discharge region Z6 of the right absorber 70 that receives red R ink having a color coefficient H6 of “0.8” and the discharge of the right absorber 70 that receives ink of clear CR having a color coefficient H8 of “0.8”. The region Z8 has the same height. In addition, the thickness of the discharge regions Z6 and Z8 is larger than the thickness of the discharge regions Z3 and Z4.

  Furthermore, the thickness of the discharge region Z5 of the right absorber 70 that receives the ink of the photo black PB having the color coefficient H5 of “0.7” is thicker than the thickness of the discharge regions Z6 and Z8. Furthermore, the thickness of the discharge region Z7 of the right absorber 70 that receives the blue B ink having the color coefficient H7 of “0.5” is larger than the thickness of the discharge region Z5.

  In other words, the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 of the right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b are thinner in the ejection region where ink that is easily dried is ejected, and conversely, are thicker in the ejection region where ink that is difficult to dry is ejected. It has become.

  By accommodating the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 configured in this way, the right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b become deeper in the ejection area where ink that is easily dried is ejected, and on the contrary, it is difficult to dry. The discharge area where ink is discharged is shallower.

Next, the operation of the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 of the platen 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the flushing operation of the printer 1 is executed, the left absorbent body 71 causes each of the first to fourth ink cartridges 11 to 14 to be ejected idle from the nozzles N1 to N4 of the recording head 10. After the ink is received in each of the discharge areas Z1 to Z4, each ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 4 via the first outlet port 27. Further, the right absorber 70 receives the inks of the fifth to eighth ink cartridges 15 to 18 that are idlely ejected from the nozzles N5 to N8 in the respective ejection regions Z5 to Z8, The ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 4 through the second outlet port 28.

  At this time, even if each ink is dried and deposited on the right and left absorbers 70 and 71, the thicknesses of the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 correspond to the corresponding nozzles N1 to N8 as described above. As a result, the deposited ink has a uniform height. Furthermore, since the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 are accommodated, the depths of the right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b are deeper in the ejection area where ink that is easily dried and deposited is ejected. As long as the yellow YL and magenta M inks that are likely to overflow do not overflow, the overflow of each deposited ink is suppressed.

  The ink ejected to the ejection region Z2 is absorbed by the side surface of the left absorbent body 26 in the ejection region Z3 adjacent to the ejection region Z2, and rebound is suppressed. Further, the ink ejected to the ejection area Z6 is absorbed by the side surface of the right absorber 25 of the ejection areas Z5 and Z7 adjacent to the ejection area Z6, and the ink ejected to the ejection area Z8 is absorbed into the ejection area Z8. Bounce is suppressed by being absorbed by the side surface of the right absorbent body 25 in the adjacent ejection region Z7.

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment mentioned above, in addition to the effect of 1st Embodiment, there exist the following effects.
In the present embodiment, in the right and left absorbers 70 and 71, the color coefficients H1 to H8, that is, the drying area on which easily dried ink is ejected are thinned according to the color coefficients H1 to H8. The ejection region where ink that is difficult to eject was ejected was formed to be thicker. Then, by accommodating the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 in the right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b, the depth of the right and left accommodating portions 22a and 22b is made deeper in the portion where ink that is easily dried is ejected. On the other hand, a portion where ink that is difficult to dry is ejected is formed shallow.

  Thus, by forming the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 according to the ease of drying for each ink, each ink is dried on the right and left absorbers 70 and 71, and the pigment is deposited. In this case, variation in the height of the pigment to be deposited can be reduced.

  Thus, when the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 are replaced, the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 are replaced in a state where they are uniformly used without being affected by the ease of drying of each ink. As a result, the number of replacements of the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 can be reduced. As a result, the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced.

Furthermore, by forming the ejection regions Z1 to Z8 in this way, the contact area between the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 and the ejected inks increases. Accordingly, the absorption of the respective inks by the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 can be promoted, so that the drying of the respective inks by the right and left absorbers 70 and 71 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the pigment of each ink from being deposited on the right and left absorbers 70 and 71, so that it is possible to suppress the ink from rebounding due to the flushing operation, and to prevent contamination in the frame 2.
(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer 1 of the present embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of absorbers are provided instead of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 of the platen 3 of the first embodiment. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, portions that are different from the first embodiment will be described, and the same portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the left housing portion 22b of the first housing portion 22 has an absorbent body made of a porous material such as a sponge so as to face each of the nozzles N1 to N4 located at the flushing position. The first to fourth absorbers 81 to 84 are accommodated, respectively. Similarly, the right accommodating portion 22a of the first accommodating portion 22 has fifth to eighth absorbent bodies 85 as absorbent bodies composed of a porous body such as a sponge so as to face the nozzles N5 to N8. ~ 88 are accommodated respectively. The first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 receive and absorb the inks ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 all at once by the flushing operation, and then guide them to the first and second outlet ports 27 and 28. It is like that.

  And the 1st-8th absorbers 81-88 have the ease of drying which the number of the pores which comprise the porous body, etc. have for every ink discharged idly from each nozzle N1-N8 which each opposes. It is formed accordingly.

  Specifically, the number of pores is larger in the absorber that is formed based on the color coefficients H1 to H8 of the map data 61 shown in FIG. 9 and is opposed to the nozzle that discharges ink having a large value of the color coefficients H1 to H8. In many cases, the number of pores is smaller in the absorber facing the nozzle that ejects ink having a smaller value. That is, as the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 face the nozzle that discharges ink that is easy to dry, the absorption capacity is high, and conversely, the one that faces the nozzle that discharges ink that is difficult to dry, Absorption capacity is set low.

  Therefore, the first absorber 81 that receives yellow YL ink having a color coefficient H1 of “1” and the second absorber 82 that receives magenta M ink having a color coefficient H2 of “1” have the same number of pores. Have.

  The third absorber 83 that receives cyan CY ink with a color coefficient H3 of “0.9” and the fourth absorber 84 that receives ink of matte black MB with a color coefficient H4 of “0.9” are the same. It has a number of pores. Moreover, the number of pores in the third and fourth absorbers 83 and 84 is smaller than the number of pores in the first and second absorbers 81 and 82.

  Furthermore, the same number of sixth absorbers 86 that receive red R ink with a color coefficient H6 of “0.8” and eighth absorbers 88 that receive ink of clear CR with a color coefficient H8 of “0.8”. Have pores. Moreover, the number of pores in the sixth and eighth absorbers 86 and 88 is smaller than the number of pores in the third and fourth absorbers 83 and 84.

  Further, the number of pores of the fifth absorber 85 that receives the ink of the photo black PB having the color coefficient H5 of “0.7” is smaller than the number of pores of the sixth and eighth absorbers 86 and 88. Yes. Furthermore, the number of pores of the seventh absorber 87 that receives the blue B ink having the color coefficient H7 of “0.5” is smaller than the number of pores of the fifth absorber 85.

Next, the effect | action of the 1st-8th absorbers 81-88 of the platen 3 mentioned above is demonstrated according to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the flushing operation of the printer 1 is executed, the first to fourth absorbers 81 to 84 cause the first to fourth inks to be ejected from the nozzles N1 to N4 of the recording head 10. After receiving each ink of the cartridges 11 to 14, each ink is discharged to the waste ink tank 4 through the first outlet port 27. Furthermore, the fifth to eighth absorbers 85 to 88 receive the inks of the fifth to eighth ink cartridges 15 to 18 that are idlely ejected from the nozzles N5 to N8, and then pass through the second outlet port 28. The ink is discharged into the waste ink tank 4.

  And it changed according to the ease of drying of the ink which receives the absorption capability of the 1st-8th absorbers 81-88. Therefore, the inks ejected from the nozzles N1 to N8 of the recording head 10 are uniformly absorbed by the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88, respectively, although their easiness of drying is different.

As mentioned above, according to this embodiment mentioned above, in addition to the effect of 1st Embodiment, there exist the following effects.
In this embodiment, as the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 face the color coefficients H1 to H8, that is, the nozzles that eject easily dried ink, the number of pores is increased and the absorption capacity is increased. Formed. On the other hand, the smaller the number of pores and the lower the absorption capacity, the more opposite the nozzle that ejects ink that is difficult to dry.

As a result, the inks ejected to the nozzles N1 to N8 are different in easiness of drying, but can be absorbed equally by the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88.
That is, when the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 are replaced, the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 are replaced in a state where they are used uniformly without being affected by the degree of drying of each ink. Therefore, the frequency | count of replacement | exchange of the 1st-8th absorbers 81-88 can be reduced.

  In addition, the ink that is difficult to dry the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 is formed so that the number of pores is reduced and the ink is difficult to absorb. Since it can hold to some extent in the right and left accommodating parts 22a and 22b, drying of the 1st-8th absorbers 81-88 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the pigment of each ink from being deposited on the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88, so it is possible to suppress the ink splashing due to the flushing operation and to prevent contamination in the frame 2. Can do.

Further, by suppressing the drying, the absorption capacity of the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 can be maintained, and the replacement time (life) can be extended, so that the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced. .

In addition, embodiment of invention is not limited to said each embodiment, You may change as follows.
In the first to third embodiments, the printer 1 is configured to notify the replacement time (life) of the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 by turning on the notification lamp L. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may change suitably. Therefore, for example, a buzzer may be provided in the frame 2 of the printer 1 so that the replacement time is notified by sounding the buzzer. Further, for example, the replacement time may be displayed on a display as a display unit. At this time, it is desirable to change the configuration of the printer engine 41 as appropriate.

  In the second and third embodiments, the flushing times F and F1 to F8 are multiplied by the first time coefficient X and the second time coefficient Y, respectively, and stored in the memory 43 of the printer engine 41. Instead, only one of the first time coefficient X and the second time coefficient Y may be multiplied and stored.

  In the fourth embodiment, the right and left absorbers 25 and 26 are provided with the discharge areas Z1 to Z8, and the thickness is changed according to the ease of drying of the ink to be received. May be. Therefore, for example, eight absorbers may be provided so as to correspond to the nozzle rows of the nozzles N1 to N8, and the thickness of each absorber may be changed.

  In the fifth embodiment, the absorption capacity of the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88 is set by changing the number of pores, but not limited to this, the absorption capacity is set by changing the pore diameter. May be.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the color inks are stored in the first to seventh ink cartridges 11 to 17 and the reactive ink is stored in the eighth ink cartridge 18. The ink may be changed as appropriate. At this time, it is desirable to appropriately change the configuration of the printer engine 41, the right absorbers 25 and 70, the left absorbers 26 and 71, and the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the liquid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the printer 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid ejecting apparatus may be embodied in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid. For example, as a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting liquids such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL displays, and surface-emitting displays, as a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting bioorganic materials used in biochip manufacturing, and as precision pipettes The sample injection device may be used. At this time, it is desirable to appropriately change the configuration of the printer engine 41, the right absorbers 25 and 70, the left absorbers 26 and 71, and the first to eighth absorbers 81 to 88.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an outline of the printer of the first embodiment. The perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the platen of the printer. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the same platen. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an electrical configuration of the printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the printer. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the map data of the printer of 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the map data of the printer. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the printer. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the map data of the printer of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the printer. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the platen of 4th Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the platen of 5th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the conventional inkjet recording device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer as liquid ejecting apparatus, 2 ... Frame as main body frame, 10 ... Recording head as liquid ejecting head, 25, 70 ... Right absorber as absorber, 26, 71 ... Left absorber as absorber 42 ... CPU as counting detection means and control means, 43 ... memory as first to third storage means, 81-88 ... first to eighth absorbers as absorber, F, F1-F8 ... empty Flushing number as the number of discharges, H1 to H8... Color coefficient as the third correction coefficient, L... Notification lamp as the notification means, N1 to N8... Nozzle, X. Y: Second time coefficient as a second correction coefficient.

Claims (10)

An absorber replacement timing notification method for a liquid ejecting apparatus provided with an absorber for absorbing liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head provided in the main body frame so as to face the liquid ejecting head,
When the number of idle ejections of the liquid ejecting head is counted and the counted number of idle ejections is equal to or greater than the limit number exceeding the preset limit number of absorbers, the replacement time of the absorber The method for notifying the timing of replacement of the absorbent body of the liquid ejecting apparatus, The absorber replacement time notification method for a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1,
The number of idle ejections is at least a first correction coefficient provided for the ejection duration of the liquid ejecting head or a second correction coefficient provided for the ejection pause duration of the liquid ejecting head. Either one is corrected,
The corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new number of idle discharges, and the absorber replacement time notification method of the liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized. In the method of notifying the absorber replacement time of the liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The number of idle ejections is corrected based on the properties of the plurality of liquids ejected from the nozzles of the liquid ejecting head, with a third correction coefficient set for each property of each of the plurality of liquids,
The corrected value is compared with the limit number as a new number of idle discharges, and the absorber replacement time notification method of the liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized. A liquid ejecting apparatus provided with an absorber that absorbs liquid ejected from a plurality of nozzles of a liquid ejecting head,
Counting detection means for counting the number of idle ejections of the liquid jet head;
First storage means for storing the number of idle discharges exceeding the absorption capacity of the absorber as a limit number;
A notification means for notifying the time for replacement of the absorber;
Control for comparing the number of idle discharges counted by the count detection means with the limit number stored in the first storage means, and causing the notification means to perform a notification operation when the number of idle discharges exceeds the limit number. And a liquid ejecting apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4,
At least one of a first correction coefficient provided for the ejection duration of the liquid ejecting head and a second correction coefficient provided for the ejection suspension duration of the liquid ejecting head is stored. Providing a second storage means;
The control unit corrects the number of idle discharges to be compared with the limit number of times by at least one of the first correction coefficient and the second correction coefficient, and sets the corrected value as a new idle discharge number. The liquid ejecting apparatus, which is compared with the limit number. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
Third storage means for storing a third correction coefficient indicating the easiness of drying for each liquid ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles,
The control means corrects the number of idle discharges to be compared with the limit number of times with the third correction coefficient, and compares the corrected value with the limit number of times as a new number of idle discharges. Liquid ejector. A liquid ejecting apparatus including an absorber that receives and absorbs liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different areas, respectively,
The absorber is
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, for each region that receives each liquid, a separation distance to each corresponding nozzle in each region is made different according to a property of the liquid that is received. A liquid ejecting apparatus including an absorber that receives and absorbs liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different areas,
The absorber is
A liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the absorption capacity of each region for receiving each liquid is made different according to the property of the liquid to be received. In the absorber that receives and absorbs liquids with different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different areas,
An absorber characterized in that the thickness of each region for receiving each liquid is made different according to the properties of the liquid to be received. In the absorber that receives and absorbs liquids having different properties discharged from a plurality of nozzles in different areas,
An absorber characterized in that the material of each region for receiving each liquid is made different according to the properties of the liquid to be received.

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