JP2006264275A - Waste liquid treatment method for liquid injection device, and liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste liquid treatment method for a liquid injection device which can inhibit the liquid consumption and effectively utilize a waste liquid spacing in a waste liquid tank, and to provide a liquid injection apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 11 comprises a recording head 20 which injects the ink comprising a solid composition and a solvent from a nozzle to a paper P. In a belt 73 of a belt conveyor 70 prepared in a waste liquid tank 25 of the printer 11, a molding recess 73a is formed which receives the ink taken out from the nozzle of the recording head 20 as a waste liquid, evaporates the solvent in this ink and carries out the molding and solidification of the solid composition in this ink. Moreover, a solid storage container 102 is provided which stores a solid 100 which is molded and solidified in the molding recess 73a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste liquid processing method and a liquid ejecting apparatus for a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid as droplets using a liquid ejecting head, such as an ink jet recording apparatus, a display manufacturing apparatus, an electrode forming apparatus, or a biochip manufacturing apparatus. .

  Conventionally, as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid onto a target, there is an ink jet printer that ejects ink droplets onto paper to print an image or the like. In this type of printer, a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed on the recording head, and the nozzles are always filled with ink for ejection.

  In the ink jet printer, when printing is suspended, the ink solvent present in the nozzles may volatilize, and the ink may become clogged due to thickening or solidification of the ink or adhesion of dust. In addition, bubbles may enter from the opening of the nozzle, leading to printing defects such as missing dots. Therefore, the ink jet printer includes a cap that seals the nozzle forming surface of the recording head, and a suction pump that is connected to the cap and applies a negative pressure to the cap. In addition to the time of printing, a cleaning operation for driving the suction pump connected to the cap covering the recording head to forcibly discharge the thickened ink or solidified ink in the nozzle of the recording head to the waste liquid tank is performed. Has been done. By this cleaning, the ink that has not been thickened or solidified is discharged into the waste liquid tank together with the thickened ink or solidified ink.

  By the way, from the recent trend of emphasizing the durability and light emitting properties of ink, pigment inks that are superior in durability and light emitting properties to dye inks are used. The pigment ink has pigment particles dispersed in an ink solvent, and has high volatility and is easily solidified as compared with a dye ink.

  Therefore, when the ink sucked from the nozzle is pigment ink, the waste liquid ink sucked and discharged to the waste liquid tank (including thickened ink and solidified ink as well as non-thickened and solidified ink) is solidified. May end up. For this reason, the absorbent material accommodated in the waste liquid tank is clogged, and the ink is hardly absorbed. In addition, as cleaning is performed, solidified ink gradually accumulates at the portion where the waste liquid ink is discharged in the waste liquid tank, and, for example, the suctioned waste liquid ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank by being connected to a suction pump. In some cases, the discharge port of the suction tube is blocked.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses that the waste liquid ink accumulated in the waste liquid tank is melted by newly forcibly ejecting the ink sucked by the suction pump. In Patent Document 1, waste ink is absorbed by an absorbent material disposed in a waste liquid tank.
JP 2004-174766 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, in order to remove the accumulated ink, it is necessary to newly suck ink from the liquid ejecting head with a suction pump, and thus there is a problem that ink consumption increases. Further, in Patent Document 1, since it is absorbed by the absorbent material, there is a problem that it is bulky because the absorbent material enters. Further, the waste ink does not penetrate the entire absorbent material, and the waste liquid space in the waste liquid tank is used effectively. There was a problem that could not be done.

  In the above description, a printer is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not applicable to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid as droplets using another liquid ejecting head such as a display manufacturing apparatus, an electrode forming apparatus, or a biochip manufacturing apparatus. A similar problem arises when the solid component in the waste liquid discharged in the waste liquid tank accumulates due to evaporation of the solvent in the waste liquid during use.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a waste liquid treatment method for a liquid ejecting apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing liquid consumption and effectively utilizing a waste liquid space in a waste liquid tank.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a waste liquid treatment method for a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid including a solid component and a solvent from a nozzle to a target. The gist of the present invention is a waste liquid treatment method for a liquid ejecting apparatus, characterized by evaporating a solvent in a liquid discharged as a waste liquid, and molding and solidifying the solid component, and then discarding the solid component.

  According to the present invention, the solidified ink does not accumulate at the ink discharge portion by being discarded after being molded and solidified. In addition, compared to the prior art that required disposal of both the waste liquid and the absorbent material impregnated with the waste liquid, no absorbent material is required and the disposal process including the absorbent material is eliminated. it can. As a result, waste disposal can be performed easily, and no waste liquid absorber is required, so the waste liquid space in the waste liquid tank can be effectively used as a space for other members. There is an effect that can be utilized. Moreover, the malfunction resulting from the clogging of the absorbent material is eliminated.

  In the present invention, the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head as the waste liquid evaporates the solvent to solidify the solid component and eliminate the solvent. For this reason, when the amount of the waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head is the same as the conventional amount, it can be discarded in a smaller amount compared to the conventional technology in which the absorbent is absorbed and discarded.

In the present invention, since the waste liquid is solidified and the solvent is evaporated, only the solidified solid can be reprocessed.
According to the present invention, in a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid including a solid component and a solvent from a nozzle to a target, the liquid ejected from the nozzle of the liquid ejecting head is received. A liquid jet comprising: a molding unit configured to evaporate a solvent in the liquid to mold and solidify a solid component in the liquid; and a storage unit configured to store the solid material molded and solidified by the molding unit. The gist of the apparatus is as follows.

If comprised in this way, the effect of the invention of the said method is realizable as a liquid ejecting apparatus.
Further, the apparatus includes a suction pump that forcibly discharges the liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle of the liquid jet head to perform cleaning, and the molding unit receives and forms the liquid discharged from the suction pump. It is preferable to solidify.

If comprised in this way, what was forcibly discharged | emitted from the nozzle of the liquid jet head can be made into a waste liquid, and the solid component of this waste liquid can be obtained as a solid substance.
Furthermore, in the above apparatus, it is preferable that the molding unit is a molding recess that stores the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head.

If comprised in this way, a solid substance can be shape | molded by a shaping | molding recessed part.
Furthermore, in the said apparatus, it is preferable that the said shaping | molding recessed part is formed in the cross-sectional hemispherical shape.

If comprised in this way, since a solid substance will be formed in a hemispherical shape, it will become easy to roll, and it can roll and move to a storage means.
Further, in the above apparatus, it is preferable that the storage port of the storage means is provided with an introduction part for introducing the solid matter, and the introduction part has a sloped portion whose opening becomes smaller toward the storage port. .

If comprised in this way, a solid substance can be easily introduce | transduced into the storage port of a storage means by an introducing | transducing part, and when an apparatus is turned upside down, a solid substance will become difficult to come out outside from a storage port.
Further, in the above apparatus, it is preferable that the molding means is deformable, and the solid body is detached from the molding means by deformation.

If comprised in this way, it can be made to detach | leave reliably, without leaving a solid substance from a shaping | molding means.
In the above apparatus, it is preferable that the apparatus includes a transport unit that transports the solid material formed and solidified by the molding unit toward the storage unit.

  If comprised in this way, the solid substance which the shaping | molding means shape | molded and solidified can be conveyed to a storage means by a conveyance means, and malfunctions, such as obstruct | occluding the discharge port of a suction tube by the accumulation of ink in an ink discharge part, can be prevented.

  Further, it is preferable that the apparatus includes a counting unit that counts a parameter related to the maintenance unit of the liquid ejecting head, and a first driving unit that drives the transport unit according to a count number of the counting unit.

  If comprised in this way, the liquid which is a waste liquid can be stored by the shaping | molding means by the amount corresponding to the count number of a count means. On the other hand, the time until the predetermined count number is reached can be used as the time required for solidification of the solid component by evaporating the solvent of the waste liquid already stored in the forming means.

  Further, in the above apparatus, the conveying means is provided movably between a first position where the supply of the liquid as the waste liquid is received and a second position where the solid matter derived from the supplied liquid is discharged. The conveying member is provided with the forming means, and the conveying member is moved from the first position to the second position in accordance with the count number of the counting means, and then returned to the first position. It is preferable to include a second driving means for driving as described above.

  If comprised in this way, the liquid which is a waste liquid can be stored to the shaping | molding means provided in the conveyance member by an amount corresponding to the count number of the count means. On the other hand, the time until the predetermined count number is reached can be used as the time required for solidification of the solid component by evaporating the solvent of the waste liquid already stored in the forming means. When the predetermined count number is reached, the solidified solid matter can be discharged to the storage means.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the apparatus includes guide means provided with a slope for guiding the solid matter below the transport means.
If comprised in this way, it will become possible for a guidance | induction means to guide a solid substance below a slope on a slope.

Further, in the above apparatus, it is preferable that the conveying means is provided with a heating means for promoting evaporation of a solvent contained in the waste liquid in order to promote solidification of the waste liquid.
If comprised in this way, evaporation of a solvent can be accelerated | stimulated and it can prevent discarding and accumulating in the state which is not shape-solidified.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a printer 11 as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to this embodiment includes a frame 12, a guide member 14, a carriage 15, a recording head 20 as a liquid ejecting head, an ink cartridge 21, a platen 23, and a waste liquid. A tank 25 and a head cleaning mechanism 27 are provided.

  The frame 12 covers the entire apparatus of the printer 11. The guide member 14 is constructed along the longitudinal direction of the frame 12. The carriage 15 is inserted and supported so as to be movable with respect to the guide member 14. The carriage 15 is connected to a carriage motor 29 via a timing belt 28, and is reciprocated along the direction along the guide member 14, that is, along the main scanning direction X, by driving the carriage motor 29.

  The recording head 20 is mounted on the lower part of the carriage 15, and a plurality of nozzles (not shown) are formed on the lower surface thereof. The ink cartridge 21 is mounted on the upper part of the carriage 15, and when a piezoelectric element (not shown) is driven in the recording head 20, ink as a liquid is supplied from the ink cartridge 21 to the recording head 20, and recording is performed. An ink droplet as a liquid is ejected from a nozzle (not shown) of the head 20. The ink is composed of a solvent and a solid component made of a pigment or the like.

  The platen 23 is a support base that supports the paper P as a target. The platen 23 is installed so as to be parallel to the guide member 14 with respect to the frame 12, and faces the recording head 20. On the platen 23, the paper P is fed along the sub-scanning direction Y (see FIG. 1) by a paper feed mechanism (not shown), and the paper P is recorded on the platen 23 by the recording. It comes to face the head 20.

  Then, when the recording element 20 of the carriage 15 is reciprocated along the guide member 14 within the region facing the paper P, and the piezoelectric element is driven based on the print data, the recording head 20 transfers the paper. Ink droplets are ejected to P and printing is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the waste liquid tank 25 is formed in a box shape whose upper surface is open. The waste liquid tank 25 is provided in such a size and position that the upper opening of the waste liquid tank 25 can encompass the entire projected portion when the platen 23 is projected downward.

  The position where the recording head 20 faces the right end of the platen 23 is hereinafter referred to as a cap open position. Further, in the waste liquid tank 25, as shown in FIG. 2, one end portion of a suction tube 33 connected to a suction pump 34 described later is located on the right side wall. From the discharge port 33 a provided at one end of the suction tube 33, the ink sucked by the suction pump 34 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 25 when the recording head 20 is cleaned.

  A head cleaning mechanism 27 is provided in a non-printing area (that is, home position) provided on the right side of the frame 12 in FIG. The head cleaning mechanism 27 includes a cap member 32 for sealing the nozzle opening of the recording head 20 during non-printing, a suction tube 33, and a suction pump 34 provided in the middle of the suction tube 33. In the cap member 32, a sheet-like ink absorbing material 35 is provided (see FIG. 3). The ink absorbing material 35 receives ink by an operation called flushing ejected from the nozzle regardless of ink ejection for printing so that the ink in the nozzle (not shown) does not thicken, and temporarily holds the ink. . When the nozzle forming surface is sealed by the cap member 32, the humidity in the cap member 32 is kept high, and the ink in the nozzle (not shown) is prevented from drying. The head cleaning mechanism 27 corresponds to maintenance means. The cleaning operation and the flushing operation by the head cleaning mechanism 27 are operations by maintenance means for maintaining the recording head 20 in a normal state.

  A known lifting device (not shown) for moving the cap member 32 in the vertical direction is provided below the cap member 32. The cap member 32 is configured to be lifted by an elevating device (not shown) and seal the recording head 20 when the carriage 15 moves to the non-printing area. Further, when cleaning for sucking ink in the recording head 20 is performed, a negative pressure generated by a suction pump 34 connected to the cap member 32 is applied, and the ink in the recording head 20 is sucked.

Below the discharge port 33a at one end of the suction tube 33, a belt conveyor 70 is provided as a conveying means (see FIG. 2).
The belt conveyor 70 includes a roller 71, a roller 72, and an endless belt 73. The belt 73 has elasticity and is wound around the rollers 71 and 72. The rollers 71 and 72 are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the main scanning direction X of the carriage 15 shown in FIG. 2, and the upper belt can be moved in the arrow B direction by the rotation of the rollers 71 and 72. is there. In this case, the arrow B direction corresponds to the transport direction.

  On the surface of the belt 73, a plurality of molding recesses 73a as molding means are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2) so as to have a constant pitch. Each shaping | molding recessed part 73a is formed in the semicircle shape. By discharging ink from the discharge port 33a into the molding recess 73a on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 70, the ink is stored in the molding recess 73a.

  The amount of ink used for head cleaning per time is a constant amount, and the volume of the molding recess 73a is the total amount of ink ejected when head cleaning is performed a predetermined number of times. It is assumed that the volume can be stored. In the present embodiment, for example, the molding recess 73a can store the amount of ink used when the head cleaning is performed three times, but is not limited to this number of times. That is, the predetermined number of times K may be a number of times so that the total amount of ink used when the predetermined number of times of cleaning is within the volume of the molding recess 73a.

  The belt conveyor 70 rotates the conveyor motor 62 (see FIG. 3) by a predetermined angle each time the number of cleaning times reaches a predetermined number of times, and the belt 73 moves by the pitch until the vertical of the discharge port 33a. The molding recess 73a located at the lower position is retracted. The belt conveyor 70 is configured such that another adjacent molding recess 73a is positioned vertically below the discharge port 33a and faces the discharge port 33a. As a result, the belt conveyor 70 can receive the ink discharged from the discharge port 33a by the molding recess 73a that does not store ink each time the number of cleaning times reaches a predetermined number.

  Further, the distance from the vertically lower position of the discharge port 33a to the roller 71 located closer to the center of the waste liquid tank 25 reaches the roller 71 after the molding concave portion 73a storing the ink is retreated from the vertical lower position. By the time, the solvent of the stored ink is evaporated, and the distance is sufficient to obtain sufficient time for the solid component to solidify.

  That is, the molding recess 73a that has retreated from the vertical lower position of the discharge port 33a needs to move by a plurality of pitches as shown in FIG. 2 until it reaches the roller 71. A predetermined number of cleanings need to be performed. Therefore, the molding recess 73a that has retreated from the position below the discharge port 33a takes time until it reaches the roller 71. However, during this time, the ink stored in the molding recess 73a contains solid components due to evaporation of the solvent. The time is sufficient to dry and solidify. As a result, the molding recess 73a can mold the solid material 100 having the semicircular curved surface shape of the molding recess 73a.

  Further, in the belt 73, when the molding recess 73a that has reached the roller 71 rotates around the roller 71, the solid material 100 can be released and dropped downward by its elastic deformation. Thereby, the state with the solid substance 100 adhering to the shaping | molding recessed part 73a can be prevented. Below the roller 71, a solid material storage container 102 as a storage means is placed in the waste liquid tank 25, and is released through a receiving port 104 as a storage port opened at the upper center. The solid material 100 can be stored. The receiving port 104 has an introduction part. The introduction portion is formed in a funnel shape having a slope portion so that the released solid material 100 can be easily received without leaking to the outside. That is, the slope portion has a wide side for releasing the solid material 100 and a narrow shape on the solid material container 102 side. Even if the printer 11 is turned upside down from the state of FIG. The solid matter 100 in the solid matter storage container 102 has a shape that is difficult to come out to the outside. In addition, the bottom surface inside the solid container 102 is also formed in a conical shape having a portion located below the receiving port 104 as a vertex and a slope inclined downward from the vertex. As a result, the solid material 100 that has entered from the receiving port 104 moves downward from the top of the bottom and accumulates, and does not accumulate and accumulate below the receiving port 104. In addition, it is desirable that the molding recess 73a is semispherical so that the solid material 100 can easily move on the slope.

  The slope provided in the opening of the receiving port 104 and the slope provided on the bottom inside the solid container 102 correspond to the slope for guiding the solid provided below the conveying means. In addition, the receiving port 104 and the bottom surface inside the solid matter container 102 correspond to guiding means, respectively.

(Control circuit 40)
Next, the control circuit 40 of the printer 11 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The print control unit 50 generates bitmap data as droplet ejection data based on print data from the printer host computer. Based on this data, a drive signal is generated by the head drive unit 51 and ink is ejected from the recording head 20.

  The cleaning control unit 60 serving as a control unit receives a cleaning execution command from a cleaning (CL) command detection unit 63 that has received an ON operation signal of a cleaning command switch SW disposed on an operation panel or the like (not shown) of the printer 11. Perform the cleaning operation. In this case, the cleaning control unit 60 receives a sequence control signal from the cleaning sequence control unit 69 that takes in a cleaning sequence program from a host computer (not shown), and controls the paper feed motor 30 via the pump drive unit 65.

  That is, the cleaning control unit 60 controls the suction pump 34 via the pump driving unit 65 and the paper feed motor 30. The pump drive unit 65 is a circuit that drives the paper feed motor 30. The paper feed motor 30 rotates by a predetermined angle according to the pulse signal output from the pump drive unit 65. On the other hand, the cleaning sequence control unit 69 is configured so that a control signal is also sent to the carriage motor control unit 59, whereby the carriage motor 29 is driven and controlled. Further, the cleaning control unit 60 drives the belt conveyor 70 by controlling the rotation of the roller 71 of the belt conveyor 70 via the conveyor motor control unit 61 and the conveyor motor 62.

  The counter 64 counts the number of cleanings. In this embodiment, the number of cleanings is the number of times that a cleaning execution command has been issued. When the counter 64 counts the predetermined number of times K, the conveyor motor 62 is rotated to move the belt 73 of the belt conveyor 70 by the pitch, and the next molding recess 73a is directly below the discharge port 33a. It is positioned at the position facing the discharge port 33a and can receive ink discharged from the discharge port 33a. The counter 64 corresponds to counting means. The conveyor motor 62 corresponds to the first drive means.

Next, the cleaning sequence of the recording head 20 performed in the printer configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
The cleaning sequence described below is mainly performed by the cleaning sequence control unit 69 to the cleaning control unit 60, the carriage motor control unit 59, etc. based on the control program stored in the cleaning sequence control unit 69 shown in FIG. It is executed by supplying a control signal to it. Various data can be transmitted and received between the cleaning control unit 60 and the cleaning sequence control unit 69.

When the user turns on the cleaning command switch SW, a cleaning execution command is sent from the cleaning command detection unit 63 to the cleaning control unit 60.
(S10)
When the cleaning control unit 60 receives the cleaning execution command, in step (hereinafter, step is simply denoted by S) 10, the cleaning sequence control unit 69 sends a control signal to the carriage motor control unit 59 so that the carriage 15 moves to the home position. The carriage motor 29 is driven and controlled so as to be positioned at the position. Hereinafter, the position where the carriage 15 is located at the home position is referred to as a cap closing position of the recording head 20. When the recording head 20 moves to the cap closed position in this manner, an elevating device (not shown) raises the cap member 32 and fits with the recording head 20 to seal the opening of the nozzle (not shown).

(S20)
In S20, the pump drive unit 65, which has received a command from the cleaning control unit 60, drives the paper feed motor 30 for a predetermined time and rotates the suction pump 34 in the pump suction direction to set a predetermined operation time. Perform suction operation. As a result, the internal space in the cap member 32 is sucked to a negative pressure, and ink is sucked and discharged from the recording head 20 into the cap member 32.

(S30)
In subsequent S30, the cleaning sequence control unit 69 sends a control signal to the carriage motor control unit 59, and drives and controls the carriage motor 29 so that the recording head 20 is positioned at the cap open position. Here, the cap open position is a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 where the recording head 20 does not face the paper P. Hereinafter, this position is referred to as a cap open position.

  By this movement of the recording head 20 to the cap open position, the elevating device (not shown) lowers the cap member 32 and separates it from the recording head 20, and the nozzle (not shown) of the recording head 20 by the cap member 32. Unseal the opening.

(S40)
In S <b> 40, the pump drive unit 65 that has received a command from the cleaning control unit 60 drives the paper feed motor 30 to rotate the suction pump 34 in the pump suction direction, and the idle suction operation is set in advance. Let the minutes do. As a result, the ink absorbed by the ink absorbing material 35 in the cap member 32 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 25 from the discharge port 33a of the suction tube 33 via the suction pump 34. The suction pump 34 at this time is rotated at the same speed as S20.

(S50)
Subsequently, in S <b> 50, a control signal is given from the carriage motor control unit 59 to the carriage motor 29, and the recording head 20 moves to the cap closed position by driving the carriage motor 29. As the recording head 20 moves to the cap closed position, an elevating device (not shown) raises the cap member 32 and fits the recording head 20 to seal the opening of a nozzle (not shown). As a result, the nozzle forming surface of the recording head 20 is sealed by the cap member 32, and the cleaning operation is completed in this state.

(S60)
In S60, the count of the counter 64 is incremented by one.
(S70)
In S <b> 70, the cleaning control unit 60 determines whether or not the number of cleanings n counted by the counter 64 has reached a predetermined number of times K set in advance. If the predetermined number of times K has not been reached, the cleaning control unit 60 determines “NO” here, and ends this flowchart. Further, when the number of times of cleaning n has reached the predetermined number of times K, the cleaning control unit 60 determines “YES” here, and proceeds to S80.

(S80)
In S80, the cleaning control unit 60 outputs a control signal to the conveyor motor control unit 61 and controls the rotation of the conveyor motor 62. By this rotation control, the conveyor motor 62 (see FIG. 3) is rotated by a predetermined angle, the belt 73 is moved by the pitch, and the molding concave portion 73a that has been located at the position vertically below the discharge port 33a is withdrawn. . Then, another adjacent molding recess 73a is positioned vertically below the discharge port 33a and faces the discharge port 33a. As a result, every time the number of cleanings n reaches the predetermined number K, the belt conveyor 70 arranges the molding recess 73a that does not store ink at a position where ink discharged from the discharge port 33a can be received.

  Here, the distance from the vertical lower position of the discharge port 33a to the roller 71 positioned closer to the center of the waste liquid tank 25 is such that the molding recess 73a storing ink from the vertical lower position moves away from the roller 71. By this time, a sufficient time is obtained for the solvent of the stored ink to evaporate and the solid component to solidify.

  For this reason, the ink in the molding recess 73a that has reached the roller 71 of the belt conveyor 70 is solidified to form the solid material 100. Then, since the solid material 100 in the molding recess 73 a that has reached the roller 71 moves from the upper surface to the lower surface of the belt 73, the solid material 100 is discarded into the solid material container 102 via the receiving port 104. .

  As a result, the printer 11 does not need to newly suck ink from the liquid ejecting head with the suction pump in order to remove the ink accumulated in the vicinity of the ejection port 33a unlike the conventional case, and thus consumes ink wastefully. There is nothing to do.

(S90)
In S90, the cleaning control unit 60 resets the count of the counter 64 to 0 and ends this flowchart.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, an absorbent material is required as compared with the conventional technique in which both the ink (waste liquid ink) and the absorbent material impregnated with the ink (waste liquid ink) need to be disposed of. do not do. In addition, the disposal process including the absorbent material can be eliminated. As a result, the disposal process can be easily performed, and the ink (waste liquid ink) absorbing material is not required, so that the unnecessary portion of the absorbing material can be utilized for the space for other members, and the like in the waste liquid tank 25. The waste liquid space can be used effectively.

  In the first embodiment, the ink discharged from the recording head 20 evaporates the solvent to solidify the solid components and eliminates the solvent. Therefore, when the amount of waste liquid is the same, the ink is absorbed by the absorbent material. Compared to the conventional technology that disposes of waste, there is an effect that it can be disposed of in a small amount.

  In the first embodiment, the solid material 100 formed and solidified by the molding concave portion 73a can be transported to the solid material storage container 102 by the belt conveyor 70, and the trouble of storing the solid material 100 in the solid material storage container 102 is reduced. It can be omitted.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, what is forcibly discharged from the nozzles of the recording head 20 can be used as waste liquid, and the solid component of this waste liquid can be obtained as the solid material 100.
In the first embodiment, a counter 64 that counts the number of cleanings of the recording head 20 is provided, and whenever the count number of the counter 64 reaches a predetermined number K, the conveyor motor 62 drives the conveyor motor 62 in the arrow B direction. I was prepared to. As a result, the ink that is the waste liquid can be stored in one molding recess 73 a provided in the belt conveyor 70 until the number of cleanings of the recording head 20 reaches the predetermined number K. On the other hand, the time until the number of cleanings (the number of cleanings) reaches the predetermined number K can be used as the time required for solidification of the solid component by evaporating the solvent of the ink already stored in the molding recess 73a.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6A and 6B. In addition, about the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected, the description is abbreviate | omitted, and it demonstrates centering on a different location.

  In the second embodiment, instead of the belt conveyor 70, a tray 80 serving as a conveying means and a conveying member, a tray reversing mechanism 82, and a guide member 85 are provided. As shown in FIG. 6A, the tray reversing mechanism 82 includes a motor 83 as second driving means capable of forward and reverse reversal. The motor 83 is supported in the waste liquid tank 25. Further, the output shaft 83a of the motor 83 is disposed horizontally and supports the tray 80. The tray 80 is made of an elastic synthetic resin or metal, and a molding recess 80a is formed on the upper surface thereof in a semispherical cross section.

  Corresponding to the molding recess 80a, a heating device 86 as heating means is disposed in the tray 80. The heating device 86 promotes the evaporation of the solvent of the ink stored in the molding recess 80a, so that the solid component of the ink is solidified quickly.

  On the side surface of the tray 80 opposite to the motor 83, a protrusion 81 protrudes in parallel with the output shaft 83a. A guide wall 84 is erected in the waste liquid tank 25. The protrusion 81 is engaged in a guide groove 84 a that is formed through the guide wall 84. The guide groove 84a is formed in a substantially semicircular arc shape as shown in FIG. When the motor 83 is driven to rotate forward and backward, the tray 80 can be turned upside down in a range of approximately 180 degrees. In FIG. 6B, the position indicated by the solid line of the protrusion 81 is a position (see FIG. 5) in which the molding concave portion 80a of the tray 80 faces upward, that is, the molding concave portion 80a faces the discharge port 33a. The first position for receiving ink from the ejection port 33a. In FIG. 6B, the position indicated by the two-dot chain line of the protrusion 81 is a position where the molding concave portion 80a of the tray 80 faces downward, that is, the molding concave portion 80a does not face the discharge port 33a and is supplied. It is the 2nd position which discharges solid matter 100 derived from received ink. In the second position, the protrusion 81 is in contact with one upper end portion of the guide groove 84a as shown in FIG. 6B.

  Therefore, after the protrusion 81 is positioned at the second position and comes into contact with one upper end portion of the guide groove 84 a and stops, when the motor 83 is further rotated, the protrusion 81 contacts the one upper end of the guide wall 84. A twist is added to the tray 80 because it cannot move while in contact. As a result, it is possible to drop the solid material 100 formed in the molding recess 80a by being deformed by the molding recess 80a while being separated from the molding recess 80a.

  A guide member 85 is provided in the tray 80. The guide member 85 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and has a slope 85 a whose upper end is a high portion positioned below the tray 80 and whose lower end is a low portion disposed corresponding to the receiving port 104. I have. The entire lower end portion of the guide member 85 is engaged with the receiving port 104. The lower end portion of the guide member 85 is an introduction portion 85 b that introduces the solid material 100 into the receiving port 104. Therefore, it is possible to roll the solid material 100 that has fallen from the molding recess 80 a by the inclined surface 85 a and guide it into the solid material container 102 through the receiving port 104. The guide member 85 corresponds to guiding means.

  FIG. 7 shows a control circuit 40 according to the second embodiment, which is different from the first embodiment in that a tray motor control unit 67 and a motor 83 are provided instead of the conveyor motor control unit 61 and the conveyor motor 62, respectively. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The cleaning control unit 60 rotates the tray 80 upside down by controlling the rotation of the motor 83 via the tray motor control unit 67.

  Now, the operation of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that S80A is processed instead of S80. It should be noted that the predetermined number K in S70 may be any number such that the total amount of ink used when the predetermined number of times of cleaning is within the volume of the molding recess 70a.

  In S80A, the cleaning control unit 60 counts a predetermined time with a timer (not shown), and then outputs a control signal to the tray motor control unit 67 to control the motor 83 in forward and reverse rotation. That is, in the cleaning control unit 60, first, the motor 83 (see FIG. 7) is first rotated approximately 180 degrees by forward rotation control, and the tray 80 located at the first position is moved to the second position facing downward. Position. Then, after the protrusion 81 is positioned at the second position and comes into contact with one upper end portion of the guide groove 84 a and stops, the cleaning control unit 60 further rotates the motor 83 in the forward direction to twist the tray 80. As a result, the molding recess 80a is deformed and the solid material 100 made in the molding recess 80a is separated from the molding recess 80a and falls. Thereafter, the cleaning control unit 60 causes the motor 83 (see FIG. 7) to first reversely rotate approximately 180 degrees by reverse rotation control, thereby returning the tray 80 to the first position facing upward.

  In the second embodiment, the predetermined time measured by a timer (not shown) is necessary for forming and solidifying a solid component by evaporating the solvent of the ink ejected from the ejection port 33a before entering S80A. It's time. This time can be obtained in advance by a test or the like, and is set in a control program stored in the cleaning sequence control unit 69 shown in FIG.

  Thus, every time the number of cleanings n reaches the predetermined number K, the tray 80 drops the molded solid body 100 onto the guide member 85, and then the emptied molding recess 80a is discharged from the discharge port 33a. The ink returns to the first position where the ink can be received.

On the other hand, the solid substance 100 that has fallen on the slope 85 a is guided to the slope 85 a and discarded into the solid container 102 through the receiving port 104.
As a result, also in the second embodiment, the printer 11 does not need to newly suck ink from the liquid ejecting head with the suction pump in order to remove the ink accumulated in the vicinity of the ejection port 33a unlike the conventional case. Therefore, ink is not wasted.

  In the second embodiment, ink can be stored in the molding recess 80 a provided in the tray 80 until the number of cleanings of the recording head 20 reaches the predetermined number K. On the other hand, the time until the rotation of the cleaning reaches the predetermined number of times K can be applied to the time required for the solid component to solidify by evaporating the solvent of the ink already stored in the molding recess 80a. Then, after the number of cleanings reaches a predetermined number K, the solidified solid 100 can be discharged into the solid storage container 102.

  In the second embodiment, the molding recess 80a is formed in a semispherical cross section, so that the solid storage container 102 is formed in a semispherical shape, so that it is easy to roll and is directed toward the solid storage container 102. Can be rolled and moved.

  In the second embodiment, below the tray 80, there is a slope 85a on which the solid material 100 can be guided toward the receiving port 104 of the solid material storage container 102, specifically, the solid material 100 can roll or slide. A guide member 85 is provided. As a result, it is possible to roll the solid material 100 with respect to the solid material container 102 and to slide it down.

In the second embodiment, since the heating device 86 is provided, the evaporation of the solvent of the ink stored in the molding recess 80a can be promoted.
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, You may change as follows.

  In the second embodiment, the solid body 100 solidified from the molding recess 80a is dropped by twisting, but the solid body 100 may be dropped from the tray by tilting the tray.

In the first embodiment, a heating device that heats the belt 73 may be provided, and evaporation of the solvent of the waste ink may be promoted by this heating device.
In each of the above embodiments, the motor is driven each time the number of cleanings n reaches the predetermined number K, but it may be a parameter of other maintenance means. For example, when there are a plurality of cleanings with different ink suction amounts, the cumulative value of the suction amounts may be counted, and the motor may be driven when a predetermined suction amount that does not overflow from the molding recess is reached. In addition to the suction amount, the ink amount by flushing may be accumulated. These suction amounts and ink amounts correspond to parameters.

  In each of the above embodiments, as a liquid ejecting apparatus, a printer 11 (a printing apparatus such as a fax machine, a copier, or the like) that ejects ink as a liquid onto a paper P as a target via a recording head 20 as a liquid ejecting head. Included). This may be embodied in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid. For example, as a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects another liquid, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL display, and a surface emitting display, or a living body used for biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects organic matter or a sample ejecting apparatus as a precision pipette. Of course, liquids other than ink may be used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer according to the first embodiment. Similarly, a sectional view of the printer. The block diagram which showed the control circuit of the printer. flowchart. Sectional drawing of the printer of 2nd Embodiment. (A) is explanatory drawing of the tray inversion mechanism 82, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the protrusion 81 and the guide wall 84. FIG. The block diagram which showed the control circuit of the printer of 2nd Embodiment. flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Printer (liquid ejecting apparatus), 20 ... Recording head (liquid ejecting head), 25 ... Waste liquid tank, 27 ... Head cleaning mechanism (maintenance means), 34 ... Suction pump (pump), 62 ... Conveyor motor (1st drive) Means), 64 ... counter (counting means), 70 ... belt conveyor (conveying means), 73a ... molding recess (molding means), 80 ... tray (conveying means, conveying member), 80a ... molding recess (molding means), 83 ... Motor (second driving means), 85 ... guide member (guidance means), 86 ... heating device (heating means), 102 ... solids container (housing means), 104 ... receiving port (housing port, guiding means)

Claims (12)

In a waste liquid treatment method for a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid containing a solid component and a solvent from a nozzle to a target.
A waste liquid treatment method for a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: evaporating a solvent in a liquid discharged as a waste liquid from the liquid ejecting head to form and solidify the solid component and then discarding the solid component. In a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid including a solid component and a solvent from a nozzle to a target.
A molding means for receiving a liquid discharged as a waste liquid from the nozzle of the liquid jet head and evaporating a solvent in the liquid to mold and solidify a solid component in the liquid;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising storage means for storing a solid material molded and solidified by the molding means. A suction pump for cleaning by forcibly discharging the liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle of the liquid jet head;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit receives and solidifies the liquid discharged from the suction pump.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit is a forming concave portion that stores the liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting head.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the molding recess is formed in a semispherical cross section.   The storage port of the storage means is provided with an introduction portion for introducing the solid matter, and the introduction portion has a slope portion whose opening becomes smaller toward the storage port. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 5.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit is deformable, and is deformed to separate the solid matter from the forming unit.   8. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a transport unit configured to transport the solid material formed and solidified by the molding unit toward the storage unit. 9. Counting means for counting parameters relating to maintenance means of the liquid jet head;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a first driving unit that drives the transport unit according to a count number of the counting unit. The transport means is a transport member provided movably between a first position for receiving a supply of liquid as the waste liquid and a second position for discharging a solid derived from the supplied liquid,
The conveying member is provided with the molding means,
In accordance with the count number of the counting means, the conveying member is moved from the first position to the second position, and then is driven to return to the first position. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9.   11. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a guide unit provided with a slope for guiding the solid matter below the transport unit.   The liquid according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the transport means is provided with a heating means for promoting evaporation of a solvent contained in the waste liquid in order to promote solidification of the waste liquid. Injection device.

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