JP2007307749A - Liquid jetting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid jetting apparatus which can simplify a replacement sequence by preventing oozing of ink from nozzles when cartridges are replaced. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid jetting apparatus comprises a recording head 17 with nozzle openings 48 for jetting the ink, ink cartridges 7 and 8 which store the ink supplied to the recording head 17, a sealing means which seals the nozzle openings 48 of the recording head 17, and a controlling means which controls to bring the nozzle openings 48 that communicate with at least the ink cartridges 7 and 8 replaced, into a sealing state by the sealing means when a replacement instruction for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received. Even if a pressurization force is generated at a joining part between the ink cartridges 7 and 8 and the recording head 17 when the new ink cartridges 7 and 8 are attached, the ink can be prevented from oozing from the nozzle openings 48, eliminating the need of the suction operation, wiping operation, flushing ejection, etc. after the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are replaced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus used as an ink jet recording apparatus that forms dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles mainly corresponding to print data, and in particular, liquid from nozzles when replacing a liquid cartridge. The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that can prevent leakage and simplify an exchange sequence.

As liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject liquid as droplets from nozzles, those that target various liquids are known, and among them, an ink jet recording apparatus can be given as a typical example.

Since the ink jet recording apparatus performs printing while ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle openings to form dots on the recording medium, monochrome printing and color printing can be easily performed by using inks having different colors. That is, an ink jet recording apparatus in which a monochrome printing recording head and a color printing recording head are mounted on a carriage has been put into practical use.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to fill the ink flow path in the recording head with ink at the start of use or to prevent clogging of the nozzle opening due to volatilization of the ink solvent, the nozzles of the recording head A suction mechanism for forcibly sucking and discharging ink from the opening is provided. The forcible ink discharge process performed to eliminate clogging of the recording head or to discharge residual bubbles in the recording head is called a cleaning operation. This cleaning operation is executed when printing is resumed after a long pause in the recording apparatus, or when the user recognizes a print quality defect such as fading, and operates the cleaning switch.

In the cleaning operation, the nozzle surface of the recording head is capped by the capping unit, and a negative pressure is applied to the capping unit so that the ink is discharged from the nozzle opening of the recording head and the ink discharged into the capping unit is removed. Suction and send to waste ink tank. Thereafter, a sequence of wiping the nozzle surface of the nozzle plate of the recording head is executed by a wiping means made of an elastic plate such as rubber.

Although such a recording device can print text and color graphics with a single unit, it is necessary to manage a recording head for color printing that is rarely used for users with extremely low frequency of color printing. Is inconvenient.

In order to solve such problems, an ink jet recording apparatus has been proposed in which an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording head are integrated to form a head unit, and a head unit suitable for print data is attached to and detached from a carriage. . According to such a configuration, desired printing can be performed by exchanging the head unit suitable for the printing purpose, and the unused head unit is accommodated in the sealed case or the like, so that maintenance of the unit is not required. be able to. However, when the ink in the cartridge runs out, the cartridge has to be replaced together with the ink jet recording head, and there is a problem that printing costs are increased.

In order to solve such problems, a frame having an ink cartridge storage chamber is attached to the carriage, and an ink jet recording head is fixed at a position facing the platen so that the ink cartridge can be replaced. Has been disclosed (Patent Document 1 below).
JP-A-10-202914

However, in the above recording apparatus, since the ink cartridge is exchanged without capping, when a new ink cartridge is installed, a pressure is generated at the joint between the ink cartridge and the recording head, and the nozzle is discharged from the nozzle. The ink oozes out, destroys the ink meniscus at the nozzle opening and cannot normally eject the ink, or is pulled by the ink attached to the edge of the nozzle opening and cannot eject the ink straight. For this reason, when the ink cartridge is replaced, it is necessary to perform a cleaning operation and a wiping operation in order to recover the meniscus.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of an ink cartridge replacement sequence in the conventional recording apparatus.

First, when the ink end sign is displayed, the user presses a replacement switch provided in the apparatus and inputs a replacement command (S41). When an exchange command is input, the carriage is moved to an exchange position in which a cutout is provided in the outer case so that the ink cartridge can be attached and detached (S42), and an ink cartridge exchange process is performed by the user (S43). The exchange position is usually provided between the home position where the capping device exists and the printing area. By exchanging the ink cartridge, a pressure is generated at the joint between the ink cartridge and the recording head, and the ink oozes out from the nozzle. At this time, pressure is generated at the joint between the ink cartridge and the recording head, the ink oozes out from the nozzle and the meniscus of the nozzle opening is destroyed and cannot be ejected normally, or is pulled by the ink attached to the edge of the nozzle opening. Ink may not be ejected straight.

When the ink cartridge replacement is completed, the user again presses the replacement switch provided in the apparatus and inputs a command to start the post-replacement process (S44). When the post-replacement processing start command is input, the carriage is moved to the home position (S45), the nozzle surface of the recording head is capped with the cap member (S46), and the suction pump is driven to generate a negative pressure in the cap member. Ink is introduced into the recording head (S47). At this time, at least the ink in the flow path of the recording head must be discharged, so that the ink must be discharged wastefully every time the cartridge is replaced.

When the suction operation is completed, the capping is released and the cap is opened (S48), and the suction pump is driven again to discharge the ink accumulated in the cap member by idle suction (S49). Thereafter, the nozzle surface is wiped with a wiper member (S50), and flushing discharge is performed (S5).
1) Capping is performed again (S52), and the process ends.

As described above, when the ink cartridge is replaced, a cleaning operation is required to recover the meniscus, and the ink is discharged wastefully.
An operation such as flushing discharge has to be performed, and a sequence with many processing operations is performed, and the replacement work also takes time.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a liquid ejecting apparatus that can prevent ink from bleeding from a nozzle during replacement of a liquid cartridge and simplify a cartridge replacement sequence. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes an ejecting head having a nozzle that ejects liquid, a liquid cartridge that stores liquid to be supplied to the ejecting head, and a seal that seals the nozzle of the ejecting head. And a control means for controlling the nozzle of the ejection head communicating with at least the liquid cartridge to be exchanged by the sealing means when the liquid cartridge exchange command is received. And

That is, according to the present invention, when the liquid cartridge replacement command is received, the nozzle of the ejection head is sealed by the sealing means, so that when the new liquid cartridge is mounted, the connection between the liquid cartridge and the ejection head is performed. Even if pressure is generated in the portion, there is no space outside the nozzle or a closed space, and the liquid does not ooze out from the nozzle.
For this reason, it is not necessary to perform a liquid suction operation for recovering the meniscus of the broken nozzle due to the liquid oozing out from the nozzle after the replacement of the liquid cartridge. Operations such as wiping after suction and flushing discharge become unnecessary, and the cartridge replacement sequence can be simplified and the time required for replacement can be shortened.

In the present invention, the sealing unit includes a cap member for capping the nozzle surface of the ejection head, and the control unit is configured to seal the nozzle by capping the nozzle surface with the cap member. Since the nozzle is sealed by a cap member used during a suction operation or when the apparatus is stopped, the facility of the apparatus is effectively used and the facility efficiency is good.

In the present invention, the sealing means further includes a closing mechanism that closes a communication path that allows the space in the cap member to communicate with the outside, and the control means caps the nozzle surface with the cap member, When the nozzle is sealed by closing the communication path with the closing mechanism, the cap capped by the communication path is completely sealed, so that the joint with the ejection head is attached when the liquid cartridge is installed. Since it opposes the pressure applied to the part, it is possible to prevent the liquid from bleeding from the nozzle.

In the present invention, the communication path is a flow path of a pump that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member capped with the nozzle surface, and the control means seals the nozzle by closing the flow path of the pump. In the state, since the nozzle is sealed by controlling the pump, the equipment efficiency is improved by effectively using the equipment of the apparatus.

In the present invention, the control means closes the tube necessary for an apparatus including the cap member and the pump when the tube connecting the cap member and the pump is closed to seal the nozzle. Since the nozzle is sealed by this, the equipment efficiency is improved by effectively using the equipment of the apparatus.

In the present invention, the communication path is formed by a flexible tube of a tube pump that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member capped with the nozzle surface.
The tube pump rotates a rotating body on which a roller member is supported, and rolls the roller member along the inner periphery of the tube arranged in a curved shape to generate a negative pressure. The roller member Is supported by the rotating body so that the pressing force to the tube is released by reversing the rotating body,
When the control means rotates the rotating body forward and stops the rotating body in a state where the roller member presses the tube, the tube is closed to make the nozzle sealed.
Since the sealed state of the nozzle is formed using the structure of the tube pump, the equipment efficiency is improved by effectively using the equipment of the apparatus.

In the present invention, the control means is based on the phase information of the revolving roller member detected by the phase detection means, and is outside the leak region where the deformation amount due to the pressing of the roller member is insufficient during the normal rotation of the rotating body. In the case where the tube is closed by stopping the roller member in the closed region to make the nozzle sealed, the capped cap becomes a completely sealed space, and it is possible to effectively prevent liquid from seeping out from the nozzle.

In the present invention, the sealing means includes an adhesion member that tightly seals the nozzle surface of the ejection head, and the control means seals the nozzle by bringing the adhesion member into close contact with the nozzle surface. In the case of making a state, when the contact member is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, sealing can be performed with no space outside the nozzle, and pressure is generated at the joint between the liquid cartridge and the ejection head. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent liquid from seeping out from the nozzle.

In the present invention, further comprising a carriage for moving the ejection head in the main scanning direction,
When the control means moves the carriage to a predetermined position when receiving a liquid cartridge replacement command and controls the sealing means to place the nozzles of the ejection head in a sealed state, Since the nozzles are sealed, control in a certain sequence is possible.

In the present invention, when the predetermined position is an exchange position in which the outer case is provided with a window so that the liquid cartridge can be exchanged, the nozzle is sealed at the exchange position. The liquid cartridge can be replaced while maintaining the sealed state.

In the present invention, when the control means moves the carriage to the predetermined position and releases the lock of the cover member of the window provided in the outer case so that the liquid cartridge can be replaced, the cover member The ink cartridge can be prevented from being erroneously replaced by locking.

Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus as a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This recording apparatus includes a case 3 including a case cover 1 that can be opened and closed and a case body 2.
The case main body 2 is configured to accommodate a printing mechanism, which will be described later, and two windows 5 and 6 are formed with a frame 2c sandwiched between the printing area and the non-printing area.

The window 6 formed in the non-printing area can expose the upper surface of only one of the ink cartridges 7 and 8 as a liquid cartridge for storing the liquid to be supplied to the ejection head mounted on the carriage 11. The size and shape of the ink cartridge are selected so that at least a part of the ink cartridge is covered by the case body 2. Further, when the case cover 1 is closed, an operation panel 9 is provided in an exposed area of the case body 2, where a power switch P, an ink cartridge replacement command switch IC, and a head cleaning command switch CC are provided.
In addition, a line feed, a reset switch R, and the like, and ink end indicators BE and CE for black and color ink cartridges are arranged.

  FIG. 2 shows an overview of the printing mechanism described above.

The carriage 11 is connected to a carriage drive motor 13 by a timing belt 12 and is configured to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the platen 15 that is a main scanning direction by being guided by a guide member 14. The carriage 11 has a surface facing the recording paper 16 on the surface.
A recording head 17 as an ejection head having a nozzle for ejecting ink is fixed to a printing area (left side in the figure). The recording head 17 includes the black ink ink cartridge 7 described above.
When ink is supplied from the color ink cartridge 8, ink droplets are ejected onto the recording paper 16 for printing.

The capping unit 19 arranged in the non-printing area has a cap member 51 for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 mounted on a slider, and is connected to a pump unit 23 driven by a motor 22 via a tube member 20 and is negative. It is configured to receive a supply of pressure.

The cap member 51 has a size that can seal the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 17 in one space, and is formed in a cup shape from an elastic material such as rubber, and when not printing, the recording head 17.
The nozzle opening surface is capped, and the ink can be forcibly discharged from the recording head 17 by the negative pressure of the pump unit 23 during the discharge capacity recovery operation. Further, in the vicinity of the capping unit 19, a wiping unit 50 that makes a wiping blade contact the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 17 by power from a driving source (not shown) is disposed.

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the tube pump 10 as a suction pump provided in the pump unit 23.

The tube pump 10 includes a roller member 21 supported by a rotating plate 25 that is a rotating body,
It has a flexible tube member 20 having an annular curved portion, and both ends of the tube member 20 are drawn out in the same direction and bundled in the same plane. The upstream end of the tube member 20 in the suction direction is connected to a cap member 21 that seals the nozzle surface of the recording head 17, and the downstream end in the suction direction is connected to a waste liquid tank 49.

The annular portion 20a of the tube member 20 is disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the pump frame 24, which is a guide member formed in a substantially C-shaped cross section, so that the outer periphery of the annular portion 20a is the pump frame 24. Is supported by. A rotating plate 25 is disposed in the annular portion 20a concentrically with the annular portion 20a. The rotating plate 25 rotates around the axis C in a state where the outer periphery maintains a predetermined clearance with the inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 20a. The motor 22 that is a drive source for rotating the rotary plate 25 is also used as a paper feed mechanism motor.

The roller member 21 is rotatably supported in a long hole 18 formed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 25. When the rotating plate 25 rotates in the forward direction (suction direction; arrow A), the roller member 21 first moves to the upstream end of the elongated hole 18 in the suction direction. When the rotating plate 25 is further rotated forward, the roller member 21 is pushed by the upstream end of the elongated hole 18 and thus rotates together with the rotating plate 25. Thereby, when the said rotating plate 25 rotates centering on the shaft center C, the roller member 21 revolves along the internal peripheral surface of the annular part 20a. By this revolution, the roller member 21 is moved to the tube member 20.
It rolls on the inner periphery of the annular portion 20a.

Here, the elongated hole 18 is provided with an angle so that the distance from the axis C is different between the end portion on the upstream side in the suction direction in the circumferential direction and the end portion on the downstream side in the suction direction. The upstream end of the suction direction is set to have a longer distance from the axial center than the downstream end of the suction direction. As a result, the roller member 21 moves along the elongated hole 18 and is positioned on the outer side in the radial direction when moved to the upstream end in the suction direction so that the inner surface of the tube member 20 is completely adhered. The tube member 20 is crushed. Conversely, when the roller member 21 moves to the downstream end in the suction direction, the roller member 21 and the tube member 20 are slightly in contact with each other so that the tube member 20 is in contact with the tube member 20.
The release state ensures a sufficient amount of the inner space (the position indicated by the chain line in the figure).

Then, when the rotating plate 25 rotates forward, the roller member 21 rolls in the suction direction on the inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 20a of the tube member 20, and the tube member 20 is sequentially deformed and restored. A negative pressure is generated upstream of 20. The ink is forcibly sucked from the nozzle openings 48 formed on the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 by the action of the negative pressure,
The sucked ink flows in the suction direction and is introduced into the downstream waste liquid tank 49.

With such a structure, when the rotating plate 25 rotates in the forward direction, the roller member 21 moves to the upstream end in the suction direction and crushes and restores the tube member 20 so that ink is sucked as described above. It is like that. On the other hand, when the rotating plate 25 reverses (arrow B), the roller member 21 moves to the downstream end in the suction direction and rotates so as not to crush the tube member 20, so that no negative pressure is generated and the ink is discharged. Do not suck.

On the other hand, the annular portion 20a, which is a curved portion of the tube member 20, is provided with a leak region where the amount of deformation due to the pressing of the roller member 21 is insufficient when the rotating plate 25 is rotated forward.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this example, the tube member 20 is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the rotating plate 25, and is drawn out in one direction with both ends aligned. The region (LA) in which the tube members 20 are bundled is a portion where the tube members 20 extend outward, and the pump frame 24 that is a guide member does not exist on the outside.
Even if the tube member 20 is deformed by pressing from the inside, the amount of deformation is not sufficient to generate a negative pressure, and the negative pressure leaks. The center of the leak region LA, that is, the center of the substantially triangular gap at the location where the tube members 20 are bundled is the leak point LP.
It is.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the tube pump 10 in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 24 in the drawing denotes a pump frame, and the tube member 20 shown in FIG. The annular portion 20a is accommodated. That is, on the inner surface of the pump frame 24,
A support surface is formed as a guide member that regulates the outer shape of the flexible tube member 20 in an annular shape.

As shown in the figure, a detection rotating shaft 26 that rotates integrally with a rotating shaft (not shown) of a rotating plate 25 that rotates as the roller member 21 revolves protrudes from one side of the pump frame 24. . A rotating disk 27 is attached to the tip of the detection rotating shaft 26, and a notch 27 a is formed in the rotating disk 27.

In the vicinity of the rotating disk 27, an optical sensor 28 for detecting the phase of the rotating operation of the rotating disk 27 sandwiches the rotating disk 27 in a non-contact manner by the light emitting part 28a and the light receiving part 28b. Are arranged. The optical sensor 28 detects the phase of the rotational operation of the rotating disk 27 based on the change in the detection signal at the notch 27 a of the rotating disk 27.

The detection rotating shaft 26, the rotating disk 27, and the optical sensor 28 constitute phase detecting means 29 that detects phase information of the roller member 21 that revolves. That is, the rotating plate 2
5 and the rotating disk 27 rotate simultaneously on the same axis, and therefore the phase of the rotating disk 25, that is, the phase of the revolving roller member 21 can be detected by detecting the phase of the rotating disk 27.

Here, the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is turned on because the notch 27a of the rotating disk 27 comes to the position of the optical sensor 28, and the light emitted from the light emitting part 28a passes through the notch 27a. This is a case where the light receiving unit 28b is reached. On the other hand, the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is turned off because the part other than the cutout part 27a of the rotating disk 27 comes to the position of the optical sensor 28, and the light emitted from the light emitting part 28a is at the rotating disk 27. This is a case where it is blocked and does not reach the light receiving unit 28b.

Therefore, in this phase detecting means 29, the light is blocked by the rotating disk 27 and the optical sensor 28 is used.
When the motor 22, that is, the rotary plate 25 is rotated forward from the state where the detection signal is OFF, the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is turned on when the light passes through the cutout portion 27a, and is continuously rotated forward and cutout portion 27a. When the light passes through and is again blocked by the rotating disk 27, the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is switched off.

In this example, when the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is switched from on to off in a state where the motor 22, that is, the rotating plate 25 is rotating forward, the roller member 21 has a leak point L.
The positional relationship between the rotary plate 25 and the rotary disc 27 is set so as to be positioned at P.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the flow path structure in the ink cartridges 7 and 8, the recording head 17, the cap member 51, and the tube pump 10.

The black ink cartridge 7 is mounted on the recording head 17 by inserting an ink supply needle 52 provided on the upper surface of the recording head 17 into an ink supply port 54 provided on the lower surface of the ink cartridge 7. Similarly, the color ink cartridge 8 has ink supply needles 52 for introducing yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink into three ink supply ports 54 for supplying yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink, respectively. By being inserted, the recording head 17 is mounted.

The ink in the ink cartridges 7 and 8 mounted on the recording head 17 is supplied from the ink supply needle 52.
Is introduced into the internal passage of the hollow ink supply needle 52 from the ink introduction hole 53 formed at the tip of the ink, passes through the flow path 55 provided in the recording head 17, and is discharged from the nozzle opening 48 by the action of the actuator 56. Printing and flushing are performed.

On the other hand, when cleaning by suction, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the cap member 51 and the rotating plate 25 of the tube pump 10 is rotated in the suction direction A, so that the roller member 21 has an annular shape of the tube member 20. Rolling the inner peripheral surface of the portion 20a in the suction direction;
The tube member 20 is sequentially deformed, and negative pressure is generated on the upstream side of the tube member 20, that is, in the internal space of the cap member 51. The negative pressure causes the ink to be forcibly sucked from the nozzle openings 48 formed on the nozzle surface of the recording head 17, and the sucked ink flows in the suction direction and is introduced into the downstream waste liquid tank 49. ing.

The recording apparatus includes a sealing unit that seals the space outside the nozzles of the recording head 17 by the cap member 51, the tube member 20, and the tube pump 10 so as to be a closed space. A sequence selection means 45, an ink cartridge replacement control means, a carriage motor control means 36, and a pump control means 64, which will be described later, receive the replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 from the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC. Thus, the nozzles of the recording head 17 are controlled to be in a sealed state.

That is, the sealing means includes a cap member 51 that caps the nozzle surface of the recording head 17, and the control means caps the nozzle surface with the cap member 51, thereby opening the nozzle opening 48 in a space outside the nozzle. Is in a sealed state so as to be a closed space.

The sealing means may further include a closing mechanism that closes the tube member 20 as a communication path that allows the space in the cap member 51 to communicate with the outside. The closing mechanism includes members that function to press and crush the tube member 20 such as a roller member 21, a rotating plate 25, a pump frame 24, and a phase detection unit 29 described later. Then, the control means capping the nozzle surface with the cap member 51 and closes the tube member 20 with a closing mechanism, thereby bringing the nozzle opening 48 into a sealed state.

The communication path is formed by the flexible tube member 20 of the tube pump 10 that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member 51 capped with the nozzle surface.
As described above, the tube pump 10 rotates the rotating plate 25 as a rotating body on which the roller member 21 is supported, and rotates the roller member 21 along the inner periphery of the tube member 20 arranged in a curved shape. The roller member 21 presses and crushes the tube member 20 by forward rotation of the rotating body (rotation in the suction direction A), and reverses rotation of the rotating plate 25 (release direction B). Is supported by the rotating plate 25 so that the pressing force to the tube member 20 is released. Then, the control means rotates the rotating plate 25 forward and stops the rotating plate 25 in a state where the roller member 21 crushes the tube member 20, thereby closing the tube member 20 and sealing the nozzle opening 48. Put it in a state. Thus, the tube member 20 as the communication path is a pump flow path that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member 51 capped with the nozzle surface, and the control means closes the flow path of the pump. Then, the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

Further, the control means is based on the phase information of the revolving roller member 21 detected by the phase detecting means 29, and the leak region where the deformation amount due to the pressing of the roller member 21 is insufficient during the normal rotation of the rotating plate 25. The tube member 20 may be closed by stopping the roller member 21 in a region outside the LA, and the nozzle opening 48 may be sealed.

In this way, since the nozzle opening 48 of the recording head 17 is sealed by the sealing means when an exchange command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received, the ink is not removed when the new ink cartridges 7 and 8 are mounted. Even if pressure is applied to the portion of the ink supply needle 52, which is the junction between the cartridges 7 and 8 and the recording head 17, the space is closed outside the nozzle opening 48, and the ink is discharged from the nozzle opening 48. There is no oozing. For this reason, it is unnecessary to perform an ink suction operation for recovering the ink meniscus of the broken nozzle opening 48 due to the ink oozing out from the nozzle opening 48 after the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are replaced. In addition, operations such as wiping and flushing discharge after suction are not required, and the cartridge replacement sequence can be simplified to shorten the time required for replacement.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a control device for executing the ink cartridge replacement operation and clogging elimination of the recording apparatus.

The ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection means 30 includes the ink cartridges 7 of the carriage 11,
In this embodiment, the mounting and removal of the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are detected in response to signals from the switches 31 and 32 pressed by the ink cartridges 7 and 8 on the cartridge receiving surface of the carriage 11 in this embodiment. Is. The ink cartridge replacement determination unit 33 determines whether or not the ink cartridges 7 and 8 have been replaced based on a signal from the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 30.

In the carriage position detecting means 34, the carriage 11 is at least at the home position (position where the recording head 17 faces the cap member 51) based on the signal from the carriage position detector 35, and the first ink cartridge 7 is in the window 6. A first exchange position opposite to the second ink cartridge 8, a second exchange position where the second ink cartridge 8 faces the window 6, and a flushing position where the ink droplets from the recording head 17 can be received during the flushing operation (this embodiment) Then, when the recording head 17 is moved to a cleaning position where the wiping unit 50 can receive wiping or rubbing, a signal about the position is output.

The carriage motor control means 36 receives the control from the sequence selection means 45 and reciprocates the carriage 11 for printing. In addition, the carriage motor control means 36 receives suction control means 39, ink cartridge replacement control means 63, and carriage position detection means 34, which will be described later. When the carriage 11 is moved to the home position, the first replacement position, the second replacement position, the flushing position, and the cleaning position based on the signal, and the replacement of the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is completed. First, the carriage 11 is moved to the home position with a torque lower than usual, a low speed, or a combination thereof.

The printing / flushing control means 37 outputs a drive signal for ejecting ink droplets from the head driving means 38 to the recording head 17 on the basis of print data from the host to control the printing operation, and exists at the flushing position. A driving signal similar to that described above is output to the recording head 17 to control a flushing operation in which ink droplets are ejected from all nozzle openings and the thickened ink is ejected to the ink receiver.

The suction control means 39 is controlled by the sequence selection means 45 and seals the recording head 17 by the capping unit 19, and the pump drive means 40 causes the pump unit 23 to be sealed.
The suction force and suction time of the tube pump 10 are controlled to suck and discharge ink from the recording head 17 in order to recover the ink discharge capability.

The ink remaining amount detecting means 41 integrates the number of dots formed by printing, the number of ink droplets ejected by the flushing operation, and the amount of ink consumed by the cleaning operation to determine the ink remaining amount of the ink cartridges 7 and 8. calculate. When the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are replaced, the integrated value is reset, and at least when the cleaning by suction is instructed, the remaining ink levels of both the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are checked and checked. When the remaining amount of ink is less than the amount of ink consumed for cleaning, the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are determined to be ink ends.

The power shutoff detecting means 42 detects on / off of the power switch P and outputs a signal indicating the state thereof. When an operation for turning off the power is performed, a predetermined post-processing is performed. The supply of power to the apparatus is stopped. The case opening detection means 43 outputs a signal indicating whether or not the case cover 1 has been opened by a signal from a switch 44 that responds to the opening and closing of the case cover 1.

The sequence selection means 45 is provided with an ink cartridge replacement command switch IC on the operation panel 9.
The cleaning command switch CC, the power interruption detection means 42, the case opening detection means 43, the ink remaining amount detection determination means 41, the reset switch R, and signals from the host are received, and the entire process or Supervises operations such as power-on processing, power-off processing, cleaning processing, ink remaining amount check processing, printing processing, ink cartridge replacement processing, etc., and suction state storage means for various states caused by cleaning processing during power-off processing 46 is stored.

The suction state storage means stores data indicating that the initial filling flag is turned off at the time of shipment from the factory, turns on the initial filling flag when the initial filling is completed on the user side, and performs a suction operation on the ink cartridges 7 and 8. And an area for storing the remaining ink amount and the like. In the figure, reference numeral 47 indicates a carriage motor drive means for driving the carriage drive motor 13.

The ink cartridge replacement control unit 63 controls the ink cartridge replacement process under the control of the sequence selection unit 45. In other words, when the ink remaining amount detection determining means 41 determines that the ink has ended, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink end sign by a method such as turning on the LED lamp. When the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC in response to the ink end notification, the sequence selection means 45
Accepts the replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 and receives the ink cartridge replacement control means 6.
3, and the nozzle opening 4 of the recording head 17 is sealed by a sealing means that seals the nozzle of the recording head 17 by the cap member 51, the tube member 20, the tube pump 10, and the like.
8 is controlled to be in a sealed state.

The nozzle opening 48 is sealed by first controlling the movement of the carriage 11 by the carriage motor control means 36, so that the ink cartridge 7, 8 whose ink end is detected faces the window 6 at the first replacement position. Alternatively, the carriage 11 is moved to the second replacement position. As will be described later, in this embodiment, when the carriage 11 is moved to the first exchange position or the second exchange position, the upper edge of the cap member 51 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface to perform capping.

Then, when capping is performed by moving to the first exchange position or the second exchange position, the rotary plate 25 of the tube pump 10 is rotated little by little in the normal rotation (suction direction A) under the control of the pump control means 64. The leak region LA where the phase detecting means 29 detects the position of the roller member 21 and the deformation amount of the tube member 21 due to the pressing of the roller member 21 becomes insufficient.
The roller member 21 is stopped in a region outside the range.

That is, the roller member 21 is positioned at the leak point LP when the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is switched from on to off in a state where the motor 22, that is, the rotating plate 25 is rotating forward, so that the rotating plate 25 is slightly moved. The motor 22 is stopped at a predetermined rotation (for example, about a quarter rotation to a half rotation) after the rotation of each rotation is made and the detection signal of the optical sensor 28 is switched from on to off.

In this state, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the cap member 51, and the tube member 20 is a communication path that communicates the space in the cap member 51 to the outside.
Is closed and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

In this state, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 performs, for example, the ink end indicator BE.
, CE to notify the user of a sign of ink cartridge replacement preparation completion by sending a signal to CE and blinking the LED lamp, etc., and cause the user to replace the ink cartridge.

The user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement is notified of the ink cartridge replacement command switch I
By pressing C again, an ink cartridge replacement end signal is input. When the sequence selection unit 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection unit 45 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control unit 63 and controls the movement of the carriage 11 by the carriage motor control unit 36 to move the carriage 11 to the home position. .

  8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining the position of the carriage 11.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the carriage 11 is present in the print area, and the carriage 11 and the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are present in a position facing the window 5 in the print area.

FIG. 8B is a second replacement position in which only the second ink cartridge 8 faces the window 6, and only the second ink cartridge 8 can be inserted and removed from the window 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a state in which the frame 2C faces and cannot be inserted or removed.

FIG. 8C is a first replacement position in which only the first ink cartridge 7 faces the window 6, and only the first ink cartridge 7 can be inserted and removed from the window 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a state where it faces the ceiling surface of the case body 2 and cannot be inserted or removed.

FIG. 8-2 (D) shows the home position, where the first ink cartridge 7 and the second ink cartridge 7
The ink cartridge 8 faces the ceiling surface of the case body 2 and cannot be inserted or removed.

The capping unit 19 is supported by the guide unit 57 so as to be slidable left and right. The capping unit 19 is slightly lowered on the most printing area side, and the cap member 51 is separated from the nozzle surface. The position where the carriage 11 is moved until the nozzle surface faces the cap member 51 in this state is the flushing position, and flushing discharge is performed from the nozzle opening 48 to the cap member 51.

When the carriage 11 is further moved to the home position side, the side surface of the carriage 11 comes into contact with the abutting member 65 erected at the end of the capping unit 19 on the home position side, and the capping unit 19 is pushed and moved to the home position side. Let At this time, the capping unit 19 moves while approaching the nozzle surface side, and the upper edge of the cap member 51 is in close contact with the nozzle surface and capped at the second exchange position, the first exchange position, and the home position. It becomes.

That is, the capping unit 19 operates so as to draw the locus of the arrow shown in the figure so as to perform the capping operation when it is moved to the home position side by the carriage 11. Such an operation of the capping unit 19 can be realized, for example, by slidably mounting the capping unit 19 on a guide rail provided in a line like the above-mentioned locus in the guide unit 57. The mechanism is not limited to a mechanism, and various mechanisms and structures can be employed.

With such a configuration, the control means is provided with the window 6 in the case body 2 so that the ink cartridges 7 and 8 can be replaced at a predetermined position when the replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received. Control is performed so that the carriage 11 is moved to the first exchange position or the second exchange position, and the nozzles of the recording head 17 are sealed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining ink cartridge replacement processing in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment.

First, when the ink remaining amount detection determination means 41 determines that the ink has ended, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink end sign by a method such as turning on the LED lamp. At this time, if the ink cartridge 7 for black ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator BE is lit, and if the ink cartridge 8 for color ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator CE is By lighting
The user is notified which of the two ink cartridges 7 and 8 has reached the ink end.

At this time, the ink remaining amount detection judging means 41 is provided with the ink cartridge 7 for black ink.
If the ink end is the ink end, a signal indicating that the ink cartridge 7 for the black ink is the ink end is sent to the sequence selection means 45. If the ink cartridge 8 for the color ink is the ink end, the ink cartridge for the color ink A signal indicating that 8 is an ink end is sent to the sequence selection means 45.

In response to the ink end notification, the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC to start the ink cartridge replacement operation (S1). When the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC, the sequence selection unit 45 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8. At this time, if the sequence selection means 45 has received a signal from the ink remaining amount detection judgment means 41 that the ink cartridge 7 for black ink is in an ink end, it issues a replacement command for the ink cartridge 7 for black ink. This is transmitted to the ink cartridge replacement control means 63. If a signal indicating that the ink cartridge 8 for color ink is in the ink end is received, a replacement command for the ink cartridge 8 for color ink is transmitted to the ink cartridge replacement control means 63.

When the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8, it sends a control signal to the carriage motor control means 36 to control the movement of the carriage 11 and move the carriage 11 to a predetermined replacement position ( S2). At this time, if a replacement command for the black ink cartridge 7 is received, the black ink cartridge 7 is moved to the first replacement position facing the window 6, and the color ink cartridge 8 is moved. If an exchange command has been received, the color ink cartridge 8 is moved to the second exchange position facing the window 6.

At this time, as described above, capping is performed with the upper edge of the cap member 51 in close contact with the nozzle surface regardless of the position of the carriage 11 in either the first exchange position or the second exchange position.

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the pump control means 64 to drive the tube pump 10, and the tube pump 10 is controlled by the pump control means 64.
The rotation plate 25 is rotated forward (suction direction A) little by little, the position of the roller member 21 is detected by the phase detection means 29, and the deformation of the tube member 21 due to the pressing of the roller member 21 becomes insufficient. The roller member 21 is stopped in a region outside the region LA, and the tube member 20 is closed with the roller member 21 (S3). As a result, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the cap member 51, and the tube member 20 that communicates the space in the cap member 51 to the outside is closed, and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a signal to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink cartridge replacement preparation sign by flashing the LED lamp or the like. Exchange work is performed (S4).

Then, the user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement inputs the ink cartridge replacement end signal by pressing the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC again (S5).
When the sequence selection unit 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection unit 45 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control unit 63 and controls the movement of the carriage 11 by the carriage motor control unit 36 to move the carriage 11 to the home position. (S6
), A series of ink cartridge replacement processing is completed, and printing is resumed.

  According to the liquid ejecting apparatus of the above embodiment, the following operational effects are obtained.

In other words, since the nozzles of the recording head 17 are sealed by the sealing means when an exchange command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received, the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are mounted when the new ink cartridges 7 and 8 are mounted. Even if pressure is generated at the joint between the recording head 17 and the recording head 17, ink does not ooze out from the nozzle openings 48, and meniscus destruction can be prevented. For this reason, there is no need to perform a cleaning operation for restoring the meniscus after the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are replaced.
Operations such as wiping after suction and flushing discharge become unnecessary, and the cartridge replacement sequence can be simplified and the time required for replacement can be shortened.

The sealing means is a cap member 5 for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 17.
1, and the control means capping the nozzle surface with the cap member 51 puts the nozzle opening 48 in a sealed state. Since sealing is performed, the equipment efficiency is improved by effectively using the equipment of the apparatus.

The sealing means further includes a closing mechanism that closes the tube member 20 that communicates the space in the cap member 51 to the outside, and the control means includes the cap member 51.
Since the nozzle surface is capped and the tube member 20 is closed by the closing mechanism so that the nozzle opening 48 is sealed, the cap member 51 capped by the tube member 20 is completely sealed. In order to counter the pressure applied to the joint with the recording head 17 when the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are attached, the nozzle opening 48 is used.
It is possible to prevent the ink from bleeding out.

The tube member 20 as the communication path is a flow path of a pump that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member 51 capped with the nozzle surface, and the control means closes the flow path of the pump and opens the nozzle. Since the nozzle 48 is sealed under the control of the pump in order to bring the 48 into the sealed state, the equipment efficiency is effectively utilized by utilizing the equipment of the apparatus.

The tube member 20 is a flexible tube member 20 of the tube pump 20 that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member 51 capped with the nozzle surface.
The tube pump 10 rotates the rotating plate 25 on which the roller member 21 is supported, and rolls the roller member 21 along the inner periphery of the tube member 20 arranged in a curved shape to generate a negative pressure. The roller member 21 is supported by the rotating plate 25 so that the tube member 20 is pressed and crushed by the normal rotation of the rotating plate 25, and the pressing force to the tube member 20 is released by the reverse rotation of the rotating plate 25. ,
The control means rotates the rotary plate 25 forward and stops the rotary plate 25 with the roller member 21 crushing the tube member 20, thereby closing the tube member 20 and sealing the nozzle opening 48. To
Since the sealed state of the nozzle opening 48 is formed using the structure of the tube pump 10, the equipment of the apparatus is effectively utilized and the equipment efficiency is good.

Further, the control means is based on the phase information of the revolving roller member 21 detected by the phase detecting means 29, and the leak region where the deformation amount due to the pressing of the roller member 21 is insufficient during the normal rotation of the rotating plate 25. In order to block the tube member 20 and stop the nozzle opening 48 by stopping the roller member 21 in a region outside the LA, the capped cap member 51 becomes a completely sealed space. Ink bleeding can be effectively prevented.

Further, a carriage 11 for moving the recording head 17 in the main scanning direction is further provided, and the control means moves the carriage 11 to a predetermined position when an exchange command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received, and the sealing means Therefore, since the nozzle openings 48 of the recording head 17 are controlled to be in a sealed state, the nozzle openings 48 are sealed at a certain predetermined position, so that control according to a certain sequence is possible.

Further, since the predetermined position is an exchange position in which the outer case is provided with a window so that the ink cartridges 7 and 8 can be exchanged, the nozzle opening 48 is sealed in the exchange position. The ink cartridges 7 and 8 can be replaced while the opening 48 is kept sealed.

  10 to 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, the first cap 51a is provided at the home position and the second position is at the replacement position.
A cap 51b is provided, and the second cap 51 is used in the ink cartridge replacement process.
The nozzle opening 48 is sealed by b.

More specifically, the first cap 51a is provided in the first capping unit 19a, and the second cap 51b is provided in the second capping unit 19b. The first capping unit 19a and the second capping unit 19b are mounted so as to be movable up and down by a lifting unit 58, respectively, and are capped by a lifting operation by a cylindrical cam mechanism or the like (not shown).

The first cap 51a is connected to the tube pump 10 and sucks and discharges ink from the nozzle opening 48 by a negative pressure applied to the internal space.

The second cap 51b is provided with an opening / closing valve 59 in a tube member 20b which is a flow path for opening the internal space to the atmosphere, and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed by capping the opening / closing valve 59 in a closed state. It is. When releasing the capping, the second cap 51b is lowered in a state where the opening / closing valve 59 is opened and the internal space is opened to the atmosphere.

In this example, the two ink cartridges 7 and 8 face the window 6 at the same time, and there is one exchange position.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the position of the carriage 11.

FIG. 10A shows a state in which the carriage 11 is present in the print area, and the carriage 11 and the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are present in a position facing the window 5 in the print area.

FIG. 10B shows an exchange position where the first ink cartridge 7 and the second ink cartridge 8 face the window 6, and the first ink cartridge 7 and the second ink cartridge 8 can be inserted and removed from the window 6. It is a state.

FIG. 10C shows the home position, where the first ink cartridge 7 and the second ink cartridge 8 face the ceiling surface of the case body 2 and cannot be inserted or removed.

The 1st capping unit 19a and the 2nd capping unit 19b are supported by the raising / lowering unit 58 so that raising / lowering is possible.

When a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 is received, the carriage 11 is moved to the replacement position, and the second capping unit 19b is raised to move the second cap 51b.
The nozzle opening 48 of the recording head 17 is controlled to be in a sealed state by capping with the upper edge closely contacting the nozzle surface. That is, in this embodiment, the second cap 51b, the tube member 20b, and the on-off valve 59 function as the sealing means of the present invention.

When the cleaning command is received, the carriage 11 is moved to the home position, the first capping unit 19a is raised, the upper edge of the first cap 51a is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, and capping is performed. By driving, ink is sucked and discharged from the nozzle openings 48 of the recording head 17.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a control device that executes an ink cartridge replacement operation and clogging elimination of the recording apparatus of the second embodiment.

In this example, when the ink cartridge replacement command is received, the nozzle opening 48 is not sealed by the tube member 20 being blocked by the tube pump, but the second cap 51 is sealed.
Since the nozzle opening 48 is sealed by capping by b, a control signal is not sent from the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 to the pump control means (not shown).

The ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 when the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC and the sequence selection means 45 receives the replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8. The nozzle opening 48 of the recording head 17 is formed by the second cap 51b, the tube member 20b, the opening / closing valve 59 and the like.
Is controlled to be in a sealed state.

The nozzle opening 48 is sealed by first controlling the movement of the carriage 11 by the carriage motor control means 36 to move the carriage 11 to an exchange position where the ink cartridges 7 and 8 face the window 6. Then, the cap raising / lowering means 66 is controlled by the raising / lowering control means 67 to raise the second cap 51b, and the upper edge of the second cap 51b is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface for capping.

In this state, the nozzle opening 48 is in a sealed state, and the ink cartridge replacement control means 63.
For example, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE, and the LED lamp is blinked to notify the user of the ink cartridge replacement preparation completion sign so that the user can replace the ink cartridge.

The user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement is notified of the ink cartridge replacement command switch I
By pressing C again, an ink cartridge replacement end signal is input. When the sequence selection means 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection means 45 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 and lowers the second cap 51b by the elevation control means 67 to release the capping, and the carriage motor control means. Carriage 11 by 36
The movement 11 is controlled to move the carriage 11 to the home position.

  Since other than that is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining ink cartridge replacement processing in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment.

First, when the ink remaining amount detection determination means 41 determines that the ink has ended, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink end sign by a method such as turning on the LED lamp. At this time, if the ink cartridge 7 for black ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator BE is lit, and if the ink cartridge 8 for color ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator CE is By lighting
The user is notified which of the two ink cartridges 7 and 8 has reached the ink end.

Upon receiving the ink end notification, the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC to start the ink cartridge replacement operation (S21). When the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC, the sequence selection unit 45 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8.

When the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the carriage motor control means 36 to control the movement of the carriage 11 and move the carriage to a predetermined replacement position (S22). ).

Subsequently, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the elevation control means 67, and the elevation control means 67 controls the cap elevation means 66 to raise the second cap 51b, and the upper edge of the second cap 51b is set to the nozzle. Capping is performed while being in close contact with the surface (S23). At this time, the on-off valve 59 is in a closed state in advance. As a result, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the second cap 51b, the tube member 20b is closed, and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a signal to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink cartridge replacement preparation sign by flashing the LED lamp or the like. Exchange work is performed (S24).

Then, the user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement inputs the ink cartridge replacement end signal by pressing the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC again (S25).
. When the sequence selection unit 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection unit 45 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control unit 63, and opens the on-off valve 59 under the control of an on-off valve control unit (not shown) (S26). Thus, the second cap 51b is lowered to release the capping (S27), and then the on-off valve 59 is closed again under the control of the on-off valve control means (S28). At this time, since the capping is released in a state where the opening / closing valve 59 is opened and the internal space is opened to the atmosphere, the second cap 51b is smoothly separated from the nozzle surface, and the meniscus is not destroyed when the second cap 51b is removed.

Then, movement control of the carriage 11 is performed by the carriage motor control means 36, the carriage 11 is moved to the home position (S29), a series of ink cartridge replacement processing is completed, and printing is resumed.

According to this embodiment, since the second cap 51b is moved up and down to seal the nozzle opening 48, the size in the main scanning direction of the apparatus can be made compact as compared with the case where the capping unit is slid.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, a cap member 51 is provided at the home position, and a contact member 60 that closes the nozzle surface and seals the nozzle surface is provided at the replacement position. The nozzle opening 48 is opened by the contact member 60 in the ink cartridge replacement process. Sealing is performed so that there is no space outside the nozzle. In other words, in this embodiment, the sealing means includes an adhesive member 60 that seals in close contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head 17.

More specifically, the cap member 51 is provided in the capping unit 19, and the capping unit 19 is mounted so as to be movable up and down by a lifting unit 58, and is capped by a lifting operation by a cylindrical cam mechanism or the like (not shown). .

The cap member 51 is connected to the tube pump 10 and sucks and discharges ink from the nozzle opening 48 by a negative pressure applied to the internal space.

The contact member 60 is a plate-like member formed of a soft elastic body such as an elastomer, and is disposed so that the upper surface thereof is parallel to the nozzle surface. And is moved up and down by a cylindrical cam mechanism or the like (not shown). The close contact member 60 is raised and brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, thereby sealing so that there is no space outside all the nozzle openings 48.

FIG. 14A shows a state in which the carriage 11 is present in the printing area, and the carriage 11 and the ink cartridges 7 and 8 are present in a position facing the window 5 in the printing area.

FIG. 14B shows a second replacement position in which only the second ink cartridge 8 faces the window 6, and only the second ink cartridge 8 can be inserted and removed from the window 6. It is in a state where it cannot be inserted or removed facing the frame 2C.

FIG. 14C shows a first replacement position in which only the first ink cartridge 7 faces the window 6, and only the first ink cartridge 7 can be inserted and removed from the window 6, and the second ink cartridge 8 is The case body 2 faces the ceiling surface and cannot be inserted or removed.

The contact member 60 is set so that the dimension in the main scanning direction is slightly longer than the nozzle surface. The nozzle surface in a state where the recording head 17 is located at the first replacement position and the recording head 17 are the first. Nozzle surface in the state of 2 replacement positions, and all the nozzle openings 48 can be sealed in close contact with the nozzle surface at both positions.

According to this embodiment, since all the nozzle openings 48 are sealed by bringing the upper surface of the contact member 60 into close contact with the nozzle surface, it is possible to reliably prevent ink from bleeding from the nozzles. Also,
One plate-like contact member 60 can seal the nozzle surfaces at a plurality of replacement positions. Further, since the contact member 60 is formed of an elastic member such as a soft elastomer, the nozzle member 48 is deformed along the cover member that covers the side of the nozzle surface of the recording head 17, and all the nozzle openings 48 can be sealed at a plurality of replacement positions.

As described above, the sealing unit includes the close contact member 60 that closes and seals the nozzle surface of the recording head 17, and the control unit closes the close contact member 60 to the nozzle surface. In order to make the opening 48 in a sealed state, the contact member 60 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface, so that the space can be sealed outside the nozzle opening 48, and the ink cartridges 7, 8 and the recording head 17 can be sealed. Nozzle opening 48 when pressure is applied at the joint.
Ink ooze out from the ink can be reliably prevented. Other than that, there exists an effect similar to the said 1st and 2nd embodiment.

  15 to 17 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, the replacement position and the home position are common positions, and in the ink cartridge replacement process, the nozzle opening is sealed by capping the recording head 17 at the home position.

More specifically, the cap member 51 is provided in the capping unit 19, and the capping unit 19 is mounted so as to be movable up and down by a lifting unit 58, and is capped by a lifting operation by a cylindrical cam mechanism or the like (not shown). . The cap member 51 is connected to the tube pump 10 and sucks and discharges ink from the nozzle opening 48 by a negative pressure applied to the internal space.

The window 6 of the case body 2 is set to have a size and a shape that both the first ink cartridge 7 and the second ink cartridge 8 face each other with the carriage 11 positioned at the home position. The window 6 is covered by a first cover member 61 that faces the first ink cartridge 7 and a second cover member 62 that faces the second ink cartridge 8.

When replacing the first ink cartridge 7, the first cover member 61 is opened and the replacement work is performed. When replacing the second ink cartridge 8, the second cover member 62 is opened and the replacement work is performed. To do.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a control device that executes an ink cartridge replacement operation and clogging elimination of the recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment.

The ink cartridge replacement control unit 63 controls the ink cartridge replacement process under the control of the sequence selection unit 45. In other words, when the ink remaining amount detection determining means 41 determines that the ink has ended, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink end sign by a method such as turning on the LED lamp. When the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC in response to the ink end notification, the sequence selection means 45
Accepts the replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8 and receives the ink cartridge replacement control means 6.
3, and the nozzle opening 4 of the recording head 17 is sealed by a sealing means that seals the nozzle of the recording head 17 by the cap member 51, the tube member 20, the tube pump 10, and the like.
8 is controlled to be in a sealed state.

For sealing the nozzle opening 48, first, the carriage 11 is moved to the home position as a predetermined position by controlling the movement of the carriage 11 by the carriage motor control means 36. Then, the cap raising / lowering means 66 is controlled by the raising / lowering control means 67 to raise the cap member 51, and the upper edge of the cap member 51 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface for capping.

Next, the rotary plate 25 of the tube pump 10 is rotated forward (under the control of the pump control means 64 (
The roller is rotated in the suction direction A) little by little, the position of the roller member 21 is detected by the phase detection means 29, and the roller is removed from the leak area LA where the deformation amount of the tube member 21 due to the pressing of the roller member 21 becomes insufficient. The member 21 is stopped.

In this state, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the cap member 51, and the tube member 20 is a communication path that communicates the space in the cap member 51 to the outside.
Is closed and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

Further, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the cover lock means 68 to lock the cover members 61 and 62 of the window 6 provided in the case body 2 so that the ink cartridges 7 and 8 can be replaced. Is released.

At this time, the lock of the cover members 61 and 62 facing the ink cartridges 7 and 8 where the ink end is detected is released.

In this state, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 performs, for example, the ink end indicator BE.
, CE to notify the user of a sign of ink cartridge replacement preparation completion by sending a signal to CE and blinking the LED lamp, etc., and cause the user to replace the ink cartridge.

The user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement is notified of the ink cartridge replacement command switch I
By pressing C again, an ink cartridge replacement end signal is input. When the sequence selection unit 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection unit 45 turns on the lock of the cover members 61 and 62.

  Since other than that is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating ink cartridge replacement processing in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

First, when the ink remaining amount detection determination means 41 determines that the ink has ended, a signal is sent to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink end sign by a method such as turning on the LED lamp. At this time, if the ink cartridge 7 for black ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator BE is lit, and if the ink cartridge 8 for color ink is the ink end, the lamp of the ink end indicator CE is By lighting
The user is notified which of the two ink cartridges 7 and 8 has reached the ink end.

In response to the ink end notification, the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC to start the ink cartridge replacement operation (S11). When the user presses the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC, the sequence selection unit 45 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8.

When the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 receives a replacement command for the ink cartridges 7 and 8, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the carriage motor control means 36 to control the movement of the carriage 11 and move the carriage to the home position (S12).

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the elevation control means 67, and the elevation control means 67 controls the cap elevation means 66 to raise the cap member 51, so that the upper edge of the cap member 51 becomes the nozzle surface. Capping with close contact (S13).

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the pump control means 64 to drive the tube pump 10, and the tube pump 10 is controlled by the pump control means 64.
The rotation plate 25 is rotated forward (suction direction A) little by little, the position of the roller member 21 is detected by the phase detection means 29, and the deformation of the tube member 21 due to the pressing of the roller member 21 becomes insufficient. The roller member 21 is stopped in a region outside the region LA, and the tube member 20 is closed with the roller member 21 (S14). As a result, the nozzle surface of the recording head 17 is capped by the cap member 51, and the tube member 20 that communicates the space in the cap member 51 to the outside is closed, and the nozzle opening 48 is sealed.

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a control signal to the cover lock means 68, and the cover member 61 corresponding to the ink cartridge 7 or 8 that has become the ink end.
, 62 are released (S15).

Next, the ink cartridge replacement control means 63 sends a signal to the ink end indicators BE and CE to notify the user of the ink cartridge replacement preparation completion sign by a method such as blinking the LED lamp. Is exchanged (S16).

Then, the user who has completed the ink cartridge replacement inputs the ink cartridge replacement end signal by pressing the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC again (S17).
. When the sequence selection unit 45 receives the ink cartridge replacement end signal, the sequence selection unit 45 sends a control signal to the ink cartridge replacement control unit 63, and S is controlled by the cover lock unit 68.
In step S18, the cover members 61 and 62, which have been unlocked in step 15, are turned on again (S18), a series of ink cartridge replacement processing is completed, and printing is resumed.

In this embodiment, the ink cartridges 7 and 8 can be prevented from being erroneously replaced by locking the cover members 61 and 62, and the home position also serves as the replacement position. Therefore, the size of the apparatus in the main scanning direction can be reduced. it can. Moreover, since the cover lock is released after the capping and the ink cartridge is replaced, it is possible to prevent the ink from bleeding from the nozzle opening by replacing the ink cartridge without performing the capping.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment, It is the meaning including the following modifications.

In each of the above embodiments, one head is capped with one cap. For example, a plurality of caps are provided so as to cap nozzle rows that discharge each color, and the nozzle row corresponding to the ink cartridge to be replaced is sealed. You may exchange in a state. The number of heads, nozzle rows, and caps is arbitrary, and any configuration that can seal at least the nozzles corresponding to the ink cartridge to be replaced may be used.

The tube pump 10 has a leak region LA by curving the tube member 20 in an annular shape and aligning both ends and pulling out in one direction. However, the tube pump 10 may be a tube pump without the leak region LA.

Further, the pump is not limited to the tube pump, and other pumps may be used as long as they can suck ink and block the flow path. For example, when a volume change pump is used, it has an ink suction port and an ink discharge port, but a valve that is normally closed and opened at the time of suction discharge may be provided in each port. Thus, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the flow path is closed if the pump is stopped, and the ink can be sucked and discharged if the pump is operated.

In each of the above embodiments, the replacement command is input by pressing the ink cartridge replacement command switch IC provided on the operation panel 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the replacement is performed by a command from the host. A command may be input, or when the case cover 1 is opened, if there is an ink cartridge at the ink end, the carriage may be moved assuming that an ink cartridge replacement command has been received.

Further, the tube member 20 is closed by driving the tube pump 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an on-off valve for closing is provided between the tube pump 10 or another pump and the cap member 51. It can also be done. In this way, the control means closes the tube member 20 connecting the cap member 51 and the pump, thereby closing the nozzle opening 48.
Can be in a sealed state. By doing so, since the nozzle opening 48 is sealed by closing the tube member 20 necessary for the apparatus including the cap member 51 and the pump, the facility of the apparatus is effectively used and the facility efficiency is good.

In each of the above embodiments, the recording head 18 can be applied to a liquid ejecting apparatus that uses a piezoelectric vibrator as a pressure generating element that is a driving element that ejects liquid, or a liquid ejecting type that uses a heating element. It can also be applied to a device.

In addition, a program that causes a computer device to execute the above-described ink cartridge replacement processing method can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium or can be provided via a communication network.

In addition, as a typical example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, there is an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the above-described ink jet recording head for image recording. However, the present invention is an example of another liquid ejecting apparatus such as a liquid crystal display. Device with color material ejection head used for color filter production, device with electrode material (conductive paste) ejection head used for electrode formation such as organic EL display, surface emitting display (FED), etc., used for biochip production The present invention can be applied to various liquid ejecting apparatuses such as an apparatus having a biological organic matter ejecting head and an apparatus having a sample ejecting head as a precision pipette.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the recording mechanism of the said recording device. It is sectional drawing of a tube pump. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a leak area | region, a leak point, and a predetermined area | region. It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the tube pump. It is a figure which shows the outline of the flow-path structure of the said recording apparatus. It is a block diagram showing a control circuit and the like of the recording apparatus. It is a figure explaining the position of the said recording device. It is a figure explaining the position of the said recording device. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control sequence for ink cartridge replacement. It is a figure explaining 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the principal part of the said 2nd Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the control circuit etc. of the said 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control sequence of the said 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the control circuit etc. of the said 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control sequence of the said 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the ink cartridge exchange sequence of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 case cover, 2 case body, 2c frame, 3 case, 4 ink cartridge,
5 windows, 6 windows, 7 ink cartridges, 8 ink cartridges, 9 operation panel,
10 tube pump, 11 carriage, 12 timing belt, 13 carriage drive motor, 14 guide member, 15 platen, 16 recording paper, 17 recording head,
18 long hole, 19 capping unit, 19a first capping unit, 19b
Second capping unit, 20 tube member, 20a annular portion, 20b tube member, 21 roller member, 22 motor, 23 pump unit, 24 pump frame, 25 rotating plate, 26 detection rotating shaft, 27 rotating disc, 27a notch 28, optical sensor, 28a light emitting unit, 28b light receiving unit, 29 phase detection unit, 30 ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit, 31 switch, 32 switch, 33 ink cartridge replacement determination unit, 34 carriage position detection unit, 35 carriage position detector , 36 Carriage motor control means, 37 Flushing control means, 38 Head drive means, 39 Suction control means, 40 Pump drive means, 41 Ink remaining amount detection determination means, 42 Power shutoff detection means, 43 Case open detection means, 44 Switch, 45 sequence selection means, 46 suction state storage means, 47 carriage motor driving means, 48 nozzle opening, 49 waste liquid tank, 50 wiping unit, 51 cap member, 51a first cap, 51b second cap, 52 ink supply needle, 53 ink introduction hole, 54 ink Supply port, 55 flow path, 56 actuator, 57 guide unit, 58 lift unit, 59 on-off valve, 60 contact member, 61 cover member, 62 cover member, 63 ink cartridge replacement control means, 64 pump control means, 65 contact member , 66 Cap lifting means, 67
Lift control means, 68 Cover lock means, BE ink end indicator, CE ink end indicator, R reset switch, CC cleaning command switch, C axis, IC
Ink cartridge replacement command switch, LA leak area, LP leak point, P
Power switch

Claims (11)

When an ejection head having a nozzle for ejecting liquid, a liquid cartridge for storing liquid to be supplied to the ejection head, a sealing unit for sealing the nozzle of the ejection head, and an exchange command for the liquid cartridge are received A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the nozzle of the ejecting head communicating with at least the liquid cartridge to be replaced by the sealing means to be in a sealed state. 2. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the sealing unit includes a cap member for capping the nozzle surface of the ejection head, and the control unit sets the nozzle in a sealed state by capping the nozzle surface with the cap member. Injection device. The sealing means further includes a closing mechanism that closes a communication path that communicates the space in the cap member to the outside, and the control means caps the nozzle surface with the cap member and communicates with the closing mechanism. 3. The nozzle is sealed by closing the passage.
The liquid ejecting apparatus described. The communication path is a flow path of a pump that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member capping the nozzle surface.
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit closes the flow path of the pump to bring the nozzle into a sealed state. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit closes a tube connecting the cap member and the pump to seal the nozzle. The communication path is formed by a flexible tube of a tube pump that applies a negative pressure to the internal space of the cap member capping the nozzle surface.
The tube pump rotates a rotating body on which a roller member is supported, and rolls the roller member along the inner periphery of the tube arranged in a curved shape to generate a negative pressure. The roller member Is supported by the rotating body so that the pressing force to the tube is released by reversing the rotating body,
6. The liquid jet according to claim 3, wherein the control means rotates the rotating body forward and stops the rotating body in a state where the roller member presses the tube, thereby closing the tube and sealing the nozzle. apparatus. Based on the phase information of the revolving roller member detected by the phase detecting means, the control means is configured to remove the roller in an area outside the leak area where the deformation amount due to the pressing of the roller member becomes insufficient during normal rotation of the rotating body. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tube is closed by stopping the member so that the nozzle is sealed. The sealing means includes a close contact member that closes and seals the nozzle surface of the ejection head, and the control means brings the nozzle into a sealed state by bringing the close contact member into close contact with the nozzle surface. Item 2. A liquid ejecting apparatus according to Item 1. A carriage for moving the ejection head in the main scanning direction;
The liquid according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid cartridge replacement command is received, the carriage is moved to a predetermined position and the nozzle of the ejection head is controlled to be in a sealed state by the sealing unit. Injection device. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined position is an exchange position in which a window portion is provided in the outer case so that the liquid cartridge can be exchanged. 11. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit moves the carriage to the predetermined position and releases the lock of the cover member of the window portion provided in the outer case so that the liquid cartridge can be replaced. .

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