JP2008221655A - Liquid jet recorder and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve ejection stability and to simultaneously suppress an amount of waste liquid by optimizing an ejection condition in an idle ejection operation even when temperature or humidity rapidly changes. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid droplet jet recorder such as an inkjet printer or the like is equipped with a sensor for measuring temperature or humidity of a portion in the vicinity of an inkjet head. When a difference in temperature and/or moisture between a time point of starting printing and a time point of completion of the previous printing is large, the number of times of repeating the idle ejection operation for ejecting ink to a portion out of an image forming region in an ink ejection recovery operation is increased or decreased. The liquid droplet jet recorder is equipped with a timer for measuring a time period from the previous completion of printing to the starting of the next printing. When the rapid change of the temperature and/or humidity is presented in a short time (preferably 5 hours), the number of times of repeating the idle ejection operation can be increased or decreased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge recording apparatus that performs printing by discharging droplets from a nozzle onto a sheet, and a control method thereof.

  An ink jet recording apparatus prints characters, figures, and the like by ejecting ink from a large number of nozzles of a print head and printing on paper. Therefore, while the ink printed on the paper is required to be fast-dried so that high-speed printing can be performed, the nozzle is required to have a small diameter so that high-quality output can be performed. It is easy to clog. Further, since it is required to eject smaller droplets, the discharge energy is small and clogging is more likely.

  In order to prevent clogging due to ink coagulation, it is necessary to discharge ink that has been thickened by a maintenance operation by idle discharge. This maintenance operation is called ink discharge recovery operation or simply recovery operation.

  As a conventional invention aiming at recovery of the ink ejection capability without causing a decrease in printing speed or wasteful consumption of ink, there is an ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. This conventional technique protects the head from drying by sealing the head with a capping means, detects the time that the head has been capped, and immediately ejects ink according to that time immediately after the capping is removed. It is characterized by comprising an idle discharge control means for determining the discharge interval according to the amount and the time capped during the printing period.

As in the case of Patent Document 1, as a conventional invention aimed at accurately recovering the ink discharge capability of the recording head without causing wasteful consumption of ink, the inkjet disclosed in Patent Document 2 is also used. There is a recording device. This prior art is characterized in that it includes idle ejection control means depending on the amount of printing just before the non-recording state and the time of the non-recording state.
Japanese Patent No. 3491622 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-281950

  However, in order to increase the printing speed, it is necessary to start printing by shortening the idle ejection time as much as possible before outputting the image. However, if the idle discharge time is shortened, clogging due to insufficient idle discharge amount occurs, which may affect image quality.

  In Patent Document 1, the longer the capping time, the longer the time required for idle ejection before printing or during printing, and the printing speed decreases.

  In Patent Document 2, the longer the waiting time before printing, the more the number of empty ejection droplets needs to be increased, leading to a decrease in printing speed.

  Normally, even when the temperature and humidity change abruptly, the viscosity of the ink follows it but does not change abruptly. In the conventional method, when the difference between the temperature and humidity at the end of printing and the temperature and humidity before printing is large, that is, when the temperature and humidity suddenly rises or falls, the empty discharge control conditions are determined by the temperature and humidity values before printing. Therefore, since the assumed ink viscosity is different from the detected temperature and humidity, ejection failure occurs. In other words, by determining the idle discharge control conditions by looking at the difference from the temperature and humidity at the end of the previous printing before printing, it is possible to prevent discharge failures even when there is a sudden temperature and humidity change.

  In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention makes it possible not only to improve the discharge stability but also to suppress an increase in the amount of wasted waste liquid by optimizing the discharge conditions of the idle discharge operation. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 includes a head that prints by ejecting ink from a nozzle onto a recording medium, and a sensor that measures temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the head, and the head includes an image. Perform an ink ejection recovery operation that repeatedly performs an idle ejection operation to eject ink outside the formation region, calculate the temperature / humidity difference between before the start of printing and at the end of the previous printing, measured by the sensor, and calculate the temperature / humidity difference. Accordingly, the droplet discharge recording apparatus is characterized in that the conditions of the ink discharge recovery operation are varied.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the droplet discharge recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the head sets the number of idle discharge operations when the humidity before the start of printing is higher than the humidity at the end of the previous print. The number of idle discharge operations is reduced when the number is increased and the number is low.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the droplet discharge recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the head performs the idle discharge operation when the temperature before the start of printing is higher than the temperature at the end of the previous print. The number of idle discharge operations is decreased when the number of times is increased and the number is low.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid droplet ejection recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the timer includes a timer for measuring an elapsed time from a printing end time to a next printing start time. The condition of the ink discharge recovery operation is made different according to the elapsed time measured by the above and the temperature / humidity difference calculated by the sensor.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the droplet discharge recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the head has an elapsed time measured by the timer of 5 hours or less, and the humidity before the start of printing is at the end of the previous printing. The number of idle ejection operations is increased when the humidity is higher, and the number of idle ejection operations is decreased when the humidity is low.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the droplet discharge recording apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the head has an elapsed time measured by the timer of 5 hours or less, and the temperature before the start of printing is the end of the previous print. When the temperature is higher than the hourly temperature, the number of the idle discharge operations is increased, and when the temperature is low, the number of the idle discharge operations is decreased.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the droplet discharge recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the head has a water repellent nozzle.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing end measuring step of measuring the temperature and humidity in the vicinity of a head for printing by ejecting ink from a nozzle onto a recording medium by a sensor, and the temperature and humidity are printed. Calculating a temperature / humidity difference between the temperature / humidity measured in the measurement process at the start of printing and the temperature / humidity measured in the measurement process at the end of printing, and the temperature / humidity measured in the measurement process at the start of printing; A condition setting step for setting the conditions for the ink discharge recovery operation according to the humidity difference, and an idle discharge operation for discharging ink out of the image forming area by the head under the conditions for the ink discharge recovery operation by the condition setting step. And a method of controlling a droplet discharge recording apparatus, comprising: an ink discharge recovery operation step of repeatedly performing the steps.

  According to the present invention, since the discharge conditions of the idle discharge operation are optimized, not only the discharge stability is improved, but also an increase in the amount of waste liquid waste can be suppressed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of elements of an ink jet head of an ink jet printer corresponding to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part in a direction between channels of the head, and FIG. 3 is a top view of a pressure generating chamber. This ink jet head has an ink supply port 1-1 and a frame 1 formed with a carving to be a common liquid chamber 1-2, a fluid resistance unit 2-1, a carving to be a pressure generating chamber 2-2, and a nozzle 3-1. A flow path plate 2 that forms a communication port 2-3 that communicates, a nozzle plate (also referred to as a nozzle plate) 3 that forms a nozzle 3-1, a convex portion 6-1, a diaphragm portion 6-2, and ink. A diaphragm 6 having an inlet 6-3, a laminated piezoelectric element 5 joined to the diaphragm 6 via an adhesive layer 7, and a base 4 to which the laminated piezoelectric element 5 is fixed are provided.

  The base 4 is made of a barium titanate ceramic, and the laminated piezoelectric elements 5 are arranged in two rows and joined. The laminated piezoelectric element 5 includes a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric layer 5-1 having a thickness of 10 to 50 μm / layer and an internal electrode layer made of silver and palladium (AgPd) having a thickness of several μm / layer. 5-2 are alternately laminated. The internal electrode layer 5-2 is connected to the external electrode 5-3 at both ends. The laminated piezoelectric element 5 is divided on comb teeth by half-cut dicing, and is used as a drive unit 5-6 and a support unit 5-7 (non-drive unit) one by one. The outside of the external electrode 5-3 is limited in length by cutting or the like so as to be divided by half-cut dicing, and these become a plurality of individual electrodes 5-4. The other is not divided by dicing but is conductive and becomes the common electrode 5-5.

  The FPC 8 is soldered to the individual electrode 5-4 of the driving unit. Moreover, the common electrode 5-5 is provided with an electrode layer at the end of the laminated piezoelectric element and is wound around to join the Gnd electrode of the FPC 8. A driver IC (not shown) is mounted on the FPC 8 to control application of drive voltage to the drive unit 5-6.

  The diaphragm 6 includes a thin-film diaphragm portion 6-2 and an island-shaped convex portion (island portion) 6- 6 that joins the laminated piezoelectric element 5 serving as the driving portion 5-6 formed at the center portion of the diaphragm portion 6-2. 1, a thick film portion including a beam joined to the support portion 18, and an opening serving as an ink inflow port 6-3 are formed by stacking two Ni plating films by an electroforming method. The diaphragm portion 6-2 has a thickness of 3 μm and a width of 35 μm (one side).

  The island-shaped convex part 6-1 of the diaphragm 6 and the driving part 5-6 of the laminated piezoelectric element 5 and the coupling of the diaphragm 5 and the frame 1 are bonded by patterning the adhesive layer 7 including a gap material. .

  The flow path plate 2 uses a silicon single crystal substrate, an etching method for engraving the fluid resistance portion 2-1, the pressure generation chamber 2-2, and the through-hole serving as the communication port 2-3 at a position relative to the nozzle 3-1. And patterned.

  The portion left by etching becomes the partition wall 2-4 of the pressure generating chamber 2-2. Further, in the ink jet head of this embodiment, a portion for narrowing the etching width is provided, and this is used as the fluid resistance portion 2-1.

  The nozzle plate 3 is formed of a metal material, for example, an Ni plating film formed by an electroforming method, and has a large number of nozzles 3-1 that are fine discharge ports for flying ink droplets. The inner shape (inner shape) of the nozzle 3-1 is formed in a horn shape (may be a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially frustum shape). The diameter of the nozzle 3-1 is about 20 to 35 μm on the ink droplet outlet side. The nozzle pitch of each row was 150 dpi.

  The ink ejection surface (nozzle surface side) of the nozzle plate 3 is provided with a water repellent treatment layer 3-2 that has been subjected to a water repellent surface treatment (not shown). Ink physical properties such as PTFE-Ni eutectoid plating, electrodeposition coating of fluororesin, vapor-deposited fluororesin (for example, fluorinated pitch), baking after solvent application of silicon resin / fluorine resin, etc. A water repellent film selected according to the above is provided to stabilize the droplet shape and flight characteristics so that high quality image quality can be obtained.

  The frame 1 that forms the engraving that becomes the ink supply port 1-1 and the common liquid chamber 1-2 is manufactured by resin molding.

  In the ink jet head configured as described above, a driving waveform (pulse voltage of 10 to 50 V) is applied to the driving unit 5-6 according to the recording signal, thereby causing a displacement in the stacking direction in the driving unit 5-6. The pressure generating chamber 2-2 is pressurized through the vibration plate 6 to increase the pressure, and droplets are ejected from the nozzle 3-1. Thereafter, the ink pressure in the pressure generation chamber 2-2 decreases with the end of the droplet discharge, and a negative pressure is generated in the pressure generation chamber 2-2 due to the inertia of the ink flow and the discharge process of the drive pulse. The process proceeds to the ink filling process. At this time, the ink supplied from the ink tank flows into the common liquid chamber 1-2, passes through the fluid resistance portion 2-1 from the common liquid chamber 1-2 through the ink inlet 6-3, and the pressure generating chamber 2- 2 is filled.

  The fluid resistance unit 2-1 is effective in damping the residual pressure vibration after ejection, but becomes resistant to the maximum filling (refill) due to surface tension. By appropriately selecting the fluid resistance portion, it is possible to balance the attenuation of the residual pressure and the refill time, and to shorten the time (drive period) until shifting to the next droplet discharge operation.

  Next, the ink droplet ejection recovery operation of this embodiment will be described in more detail.

  The ink jet printer of this embodiment has a sensor for measuring temperature and humidity. This sensor measures the temperature, especially near the head. Further, the ink discharge recovery operation determined in advance from the value of the temperature and humidity is executed.

  In recent years, highly viscous ink is often used, and the influence of temperature and humidity is not small. When performing high speed printing, quick drying is required, and it becomes easier to dry. Therefore, in order to realize stable ink discharge, a more optimal ink discharge recovery operation is required. In particular, in a low-humidity environment and a low-temperature environment, the viscosity of the ink is increased and ejection failure often occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the temperature (such as the room temperature where the ink jet printer is installed) drops in a short time, the ink temperature behaves the same as the printer temperature compared to the temperature in the printer machine dropping in a short time. It does not show, but descends slowly. There is a time lag before the ink temperature shows the same value as the temperature inside the printer. That is, a difference between the ink temperature and the temperature in the printer occurs, and if printing is started in this state, appropriate ink ejection cannot be performed.

  Similarly, when the temperature rises in a short time (such as the room temperature where the ink jet printer is installed) as shown in FIG. 5, a difference between the ink temperature and the temperature in the printer machine occurs, and appropriate ink discharge Will not be able to. For example, the case where the temperature changes abruptly refers to a case where the temperature is rapidly increased by a heater when the morning temperature is low in a winter environment.

  In this embodiment, the temperature and humidity at the end of printing are measured by the above-mentioned sensor, the information is compared with the temperature and humidity measured before the start of printing, and if the difference is large, the temperature and humidity before printing are When the temperature difference is positive (the temperature at the end of the previous printing is higher than the temperature before the start of printing) as shown in FIG. The number of idle ejections is increased to prevent ink ejection defects. If the temperature and humidity of the ink is low, but the temperature and humidity in the printer is high, ink ejection defects are likely to occur, and such a state can be prevented by the operation of the present invention. Conversely, if the temperature difference is negative (the temperature at the end of the previous printing is lower than the temperature before the start of printing), the number of idle ejections is decreased to prevent unnecessary ink consumption. If the temperature and humidity of the ink is high but the temperature and humidity in the printer is low, ejection defects are relatively unlikely to occur, but there is a possibility that an extra ink recovery operation has been performed. Such a state can be prevented.

  The idle ejection operation here can be applied not only to the idle ejection operation before the start of printing, but also to other idle ejection operations performed during printing.

  Further, if the elapsed time from the end of printing to the start of printing in a state where the head is capped with the cap member can be measured and the correction coefficient is multiplied according to the elapsed time, the accuracy is further improved.

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the temperature / humidity difference is positive, the shorter the elapsed time, the greater the number of idle ejections, thereby preventing ink ejection failure. As the elapsed time is longer, the values of the ambient temperature and humidity and the ink temperature and humidity become equal, so the number of idle ejections does not increase.

  Conversely, when the temperature / humidity difference is negative, wasteful ink consumption is prevented by reducing the number of idle ejections as the elapsed time is shorter. As the elapsed time is longer, the values of the environmental temperature and humidity and the ink temperature and humidity become equal, so the number of idle ejections increases.

  Furthermore, the water repellency of the head nozzle plate has a great influence on ink ejection. If water repellency cannot be achieved, the ink remaining on the nozzle dries and thickens, which may cause ink ejection failure. Further, since the ink remaining on the nozzles is dried and thickened, it is difficult to wipe the nozzles with a wiper or the like.

  The nozzle surface of the head used in this embodiment may be coated with a material having water repellency. By being coated, the liquid causing the dirt is repelled and the liquid is suppressed from adhering to the nozzle surface. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the nozzle and the discharge port from being blocked by the particles generated by the solidification of the dirt. Even if it adheres, its binding force is weak.

  In addition, when the surface tension of the ink is low, the ink spreads to the vicinity of the nozzle on a general nozzle surface, and a normal meniscus may not be formed. In such a state, ink ejection bends or non-ejection occurs. However, if the nozzle surface is coated with a water-repellent material, the ink does not spread in the vicinity of the nozzle and remains in the nozzle, so that normal ejection can be performed.

  The water repellent film may be formed by vacuum deposition or may be applied after being dissolved in an appropriate solvent. Speaking of the former, for example, after evacuating the inside of the vacuum chamber to a predetermined degree of vacuum with a vacuum pump, the water-repellent material is vaporized at 400 ° C. and introduced into the vacuum chamber to adjust the vacuum atmosphere, The discharge electrode is supplied with electric power to cause RF glow discharge, and the orifice surface of the liquid discharge head is surface-treated in a plasma atmosphere to form the water-repellent film on the orifice surface. Depending on the material and the degree of vacuum in the vacuum chamber, it is possible to form a water-repellent film at a low temperature of about room temperature to about 200 ° C. As for the latter, for example, a water-repellent material can be dissolved in an organic solvent and coated with a jig such as a wire bar or a doctor blade, or can be applied by spin coating with a spin coater or by spraying. It can also be dip coated (dipped) in a container filled with a coating solution.

  As the water repellent material, an organic compound having a fluorine atom, particularly an organic substance having a fluoroalkyl group, an organic silicon compound having a dimethylsiloxane skeleton, and the like can be used.

  As the organic compound having a fluorine atom, fluoroalkylsilane, alkane having a fluoroalkyl group, cambonic acid, alcohol, amine and the like are desirable. Specifically, the fluoroalkylsilane includes heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyltrimethoxysilane, heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrotrichlorosilane; fluoroalkyl As the alkane having a group, octafluorocyclobutane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-n-hexane, perfluoro-n-heptane, tetradecafluoro-2-methylpentane, perfluorododecane, perfluoroeucosane; and carboxylic acid having a fluoroalkyl group Perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid; alcohols having a fluoroalkyl group include 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5-heptafluoro-2-pentanol; The emissions, heptadecafluoro over 1,1,2,2-tetrahydro-decyl amine. Examples of organosilicon compounds having a dimethylsiloxane skeleton include α, w-bis (3-aminopropyl) polydimethylsiloxane, α, w-bis (3-glycidoxypropyl) polydimethylsiloxane, and α, w-bis (vinyl) poly. Examples thereof include dimethylsiloxane.

  As another water-repellent material, an organic compound having a silicon atom, particularly an organic compound having an alkylsiloxane group can be used.

  Examples of the organic compound having an alkylsiloxane group include alkylsiloxane groups having two or more alkylsiloxane groups and cyclic aliphatic epoxy groups in the molecule constituting the alkylsiloxane epoxy resin composition. The high molecular compound (A) containing the structural unit represented by general formula (a) and (b) is mentioned.

  A compound having a structure as shown in FIG. 8 also functions as a binder when used in combination with other water-repellent compounds. That is, it improves the workability of the ink-repellent composition and improves the workability as a dry coating film that improves the drying property after evaporation of the solvent.

  The film thickness of the water repellent film is preferably 5 μm or less, more preferably 2 μm or less. When the film thickness exceeds 5 μm, drying of the coating film may be delayed, productivity may be deteriorated, and mechanical durability may be impaired, and peeling may occur when wiping is performed.

  The effects of the above embodiment will be described below.

  According to the above embodiment, since the ejection conditions of the idle ejection operation are optimized, the amount of droplets used for maintenance can be reduced, excess ink consumption can be reduced, and appropriate ink ejection can be performed. Can do. The idle ejection operation is an operation that has a great influence on ink ejection / non-ejection, and can thereby perform appropriate ink ejection.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when the change in humidity and / or temperature is large, the amount of liquid droplets used for maintenance can be reduced, excess ink consumption can be reduced, and appropriate ink ejection can be performed. it can.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, by changing the conditions depending on the printing standby time, it is possible to reduce the amount of liquid droplets used for maintenance, reduce excess ink consumption, and perform appropriate ink ejection. it can. In particular, when the print standby time is short and the humidity and / or temperature changes are large, an appropriate idle ejection operation can be performed even if a difference between the printer internal environment and the ink characteristics occurs.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, since the head having the water repellent nozzle is used, the water repellency of the nozzle surface can be increased and ink adhesion to the nozzle plate can be prevented. Further, when the meniscus is formed normally, it is possible to prevent discharge bending and non-discharge.

  Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to provide a droplet discharge device that does not cause clogging, reduces the waste amount of waste liquid without reducing printing speed, and improves image quality and printing stability. become.

It is an element enlarged view of the inkjet head of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part in a direction between channels of the ink jet head shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view of the pressure generation chamber shown in FIG. 1. It is a graph for demonstrating the temperature change of the inside of an apparatus and ink when temperature falls in a short time. It is a graph for demonstrating the temperature change of the inside of an apparatus and ink when temperature rises for a short time. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature / humidity difference of this embodiment, and the frequency | count of idling. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the elapsed time of this embodiment, and the number of idle discharges. It is a figure for demonstrating the water repellent material of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 1-1 Ink supply port 1-2 Common liquid chamber 2 Flow path plate 2-1 Fluid resistance part 2-2 Pressure generation chamber 2-3 Communication port 2-4 Partition 3 Nozzle plate 3-1 Nozzle 4 Base 5 Lamination | stacking Piezoelectric element 5-1 Piezoelectric layer 5-2 Internal electrode layer 5-3 External electrode 5-4 Individual electrode 5-5 Common electrode 5-6 Drive part 5-7 Support part 6 Diaphragm 6-1 Convex part 6-2 Diaphragm 6-3 Ink inlet 7 Adhesive layer 8 FPC

Claims (8)

A head for printing by ejecting ink from a nozzle onto a recording medium;
A sensor for measuring temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the head,
The head performs an ink ejection recovery operation that repeatedly performs an idle ejection operation for ejecting ink outside the image forming area,
A droplet discharge characterized by calculating a temperature / humidity difference between before the start of printing and at the end of the previous printing measured by the sensor, and varying the conditions of the ink discharge recovery operation according to the temperature / humidity difference. Recording device.   The head increases the number of idle ejection operations when the humidity before the start of printing is higher than the humidity at the end of the previous printing, and reduces the number of idle ejection operations when the humidity is low. The droplet discharge recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The head increases the number of idle ejection operations when the temperature before the start of printing is higher than the temperature at the end of the previous printing, and reduces the number of idle ejection operations when the temperature is low. The droplet discharge recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. With a timer that measures the elapsed time from the end of printing to the start of the next printing,
4. The ink discharge recovery operation condition is made different according to an elapsed time measured by the timer and a temperature / humidity difference calculated by the sensor. 5. Droplet discharge recording device.   When the elapsed time measured by the timer is 5 hours or less and the humidity before the start of printing is higher than the humidity at the end of the previous printing, the head increases the number of idle ejection operations, 5. The droplet discharge recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the number of the idle discharge operations is reduced.   When the elapsed time measured by the timer is 5 hours or less and the temperature before the start of printing is higher than the temperature at the end of the previous printing, the head increases the number of idle ejection operations, and when the temperature is low 6. The droplet discharge recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the number of the idle discharge operations is reduced.   7. The droplet discharge recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head has a water repellent nozzle. A measurement process at the end of printing in which the temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the head for printing by ejecting ink from a nozzle to a recording medium by a sensor is measured at the end of the previous printing;
A measurement process at the start of printing for measuring the temperature and humidity before starting printing;
The temperature / humidity difference between the temperature / humidity measured in the measurement process at the end of printing and the temperature / humidity measured in the measurement process at the start of printing is calculated, and the conditions of the ink ejection recovery operation are calculated according to the temperature / humidity difference. A condition setting process for setting
An ink discharge recovery operation step of repeatedly performing an idle discharge operation of discharging ink outside the image forming area by the head under the conditions of the ink discharge recovery operation in the condition setting step;
A method for controlling a droplet discharge recording apparatus, comprising:

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