JP2008238562A - Fluid ejector and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further prevent a fluid from drying at a nozzle installed on an ejection head. <P>SOLUTION: A solvent is supplied to a capping device 40 via a supply tube 53 from a solvent tank 51 which holds the solvent of a volume larger than that of a capping member 41. The nozzle 23 equipped at a printing head 24 is lidded by the capping device 40. In other words, the nozzle 23 can be lidded in a state with the solvent stored in the capping device 40 while being supplied via the supply tube 53. Moreover, the solvent tank 51 is set at a position such that a level of the stored solvent becomes higher than a level of the solvent of the capping member 41. The solvent can thus be supplied to the capping device 40 without the need of power by utilizing a head difference. An internal space 41e between the capping device 40 and the nozzle 23 is filled with the vaporized solvent, making it possible to further prevent the ink from drying at the nozzle 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejection device and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fluid ejection device includes a recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium, an ink tank that supplies ink to the recording head, and a humidifier that humidifies a space inside the ink tank. There has been proposed one that suppresses thickening of ink in an ink tank by controlling humidification by a humidifier according to the humidity of the ink (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-74755 A

  However, in the fluid ejection device described in Patent Document 1, the viscosity increase in the ink tank can be suppressed, but the nozzle portion that ejects ink has not been considered. For this reason, the viscosity of the ink is increased at the nozzle, making it difficult to eject the ink.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid ejection device and a control method thereof that can further suppress the drying of fluid at a nozzle provided in the ejection head. To do.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The fluid ejection device of the present invention is
An ejection head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting fluid to a target;
A capping unit capable of containing a solvent contained in the fluid and covering the nozzle by contacting the discharge head;
A solvent container that contains a larger volume of the solvent than the capping part contains;
A supply pipe connected to the capping unit and the solvent storage unit to supply the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit to the capping unit;
It is equipped with.

  In this fluid discharge device, the solvent is supplied from the solvent storage unit that stores a larger volume of the solvent than the capping unit to the capping unit through the supply pipe, and the nozzle provided in the discharge head is covered with the capping unit, that is, It is possible to cover the nozzle with the solvent contained in the fluid contained in the capping portion. For example, when there is a space between the capping unit and the nozzle, this space is filled with the vaporized solvent. Therefore, the drying of the fluid at the nozzle provided in the ejection head can be further suppressed. Here, the “fluid” is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid, and may be a colored liquid, for example. The “solvent contained in the fluid” may be, for example, water or an organic solvent such as alcohol, ester, ether, or the like. Further, the “target” only needs to be able to receive a fluid, and may be a printing medium such as paper, a film, an iron plate, or glass.

  In the fluid ejection device of the present invention, the solvent storage unit may be provided at a position where the liquid level of the stored solvent is higher than the liquid level of the solvent stored in the capping unit. In this way, the solvent can be supplied to the capping unit using the water head difference, and therefore the solvent can be supplied to the capping unit without requiring power. Note that “without the need for power” does not mean that any power is further used to supply the solvent to the capping unit.

  In the fluid ejection device of the present invention, the solvent accommodating portion may be formed in a horizontally long shape. In this way, when the solvent is supplied to the capping unit, the change in the height of the liquid level of the contained solvent can be further reduced. In particular, when the liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container is higher than that of the solvent in the capping part, it is possible to prevent drying of the fluid at the nozzle for a long time without replenishing the solvent in the solvent container. can do.

  The fluid discharge device of the present invention may include a supply valve connected to the supply pipe and capable of switching the presence / absence of the flow of the solvent between the solvent storage unit and the capping unit. In this way, the supply of the solvent from the solvent storage unit to the capping unit can be more easily adjusted using the supply valve.

  The fluid ejection device adopting an aspect in which the liquid level of the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit is higher than the liquid level of the solvent stored in the capping unit is connected to the supply pipe and includes the solvent storage unit and the capping unit. A supply valve capable of switching the presence / absence of the flow of the solvent between, a moving means for moving at least one of the discharge head and the capping unit so that the discharge head and the capping unit are in contact with and separated from each other, and the discharge Control means for controlling the moving means so as to be in a capping state in which the head and the capping part are in contact with each other, and for controlling the supply valve so that the solvent flows between the ejection head and the capping part. It may be provided. By doing so, the liquid level of the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit is higher than the liquid level of the solvent in the capping unit, so that the solvent can flow to the capping unit in the capping state, and the solvent is stored in the capping unit. When the amount is reduced, the solvent is supplied from the solvent accommodating portion due to the water head difference, so that the drying of the fluid at the nozzle provided in the ejection head can be further suppressed with simpler control.

  The fluid ejection device according to the present invention may include supply means for supplying the solvent accommodated in the solvent accommodating portion from the solvent accommodating portion to the capping portion. If it carries out like this, supply of the solvent from a solvent storage part to a capping part can be performed more reliably.

  In the fluid ejection device of the present invention, the ejection head may eject a paint containing a resin and a solvent as fluid. The paint is easy to dry, and once it is dried by the nozzle of the discharge head, it becomes difficult to discharge the paint.

  In the fluid discharge device of the present invention, the container moving means for moving the solvent container up and down, the liquid level of the solvent in the solvent container and the liquid level of the solvent stored in the capping unit are substantially the same. It is good also as a thing provided with the movement control means which controls the said accommodating part movement means so that it may become. In this way, the liquid level of the solvent accommodated in the capping unit can be kept constant with relatively simple control. Moreover, since the solvent accommodated in the solvent accommodating portion can be sufficiently utilized, it is possible to suppress the drying of the fluid with the nozzle for a longer period without replenishing the solvent accommodating portion with the solvent.

The control method of the fluid ejection device of the present invention includes:
A discharge head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging a fluid to a target, a capping unit capable of storing a solvent contained in the fluid and covering the nozzle by contact with the discharge head, and the capping unit stored A solvent containing portion provided in a position that contains the solvent in a volume larger than that and the liquid level of the contained solvent is higher than the liquid level of the solvent contained in the capping portion; A supply pipe connected to the capping section connected to the solvent storage section and the solvent storage section connected to the solvent storage section; and the solvent between the solvent storage section and the capping section connected to the supply pipe There are few discharge heads and capping parts so that a supply valve capable of switching the presence / absence of circulation, and the discharge heads and the capping parts are in contact with and separated from each other. Be a control method of a fluid ejection apparatus and a moving means for moving one,
Controlling the moving means so as to be in a capping state in which the ejection head and the capping portion are in contact with each other, and controlling the supply valve so that the solvent flows between the ejection head and the capping portion. Is included.

  In this control method of the fluid ejection device, it is possible to cover the nozzle in a state where the solvent contained in the fluid is supplied to and stored in the capping unit from the solvent storage unit via the supply pipe. Therefore, the drying of the fluid at the nozzle provided in the ejection head can be further suppressed. In addition, since the solvent can be circulated to the capping part that is in the capping state, the liquid level of the solvent stored in the solvent storage part is higher than the liquid level of the solvent in the capping part, so that the solvent is stored in the capping part. When the amount is reduced, the solvent is supplied from the solvent accommodating portion due to the water head difference, so that the drying of the fluid at the nozzle provided in the ejection head can be further suppressed with simpler control. In the control method of the fluid ejection device, various aspects of the above-described fluid ejection device may be adopted, and steps for realizing each function of the fluid ejection device described above may be added. .

  The program of the present invention is for causing one or a plurality of computers to realize each step of the above-described control method of the fluid ejection device. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by one computer or if each computer is assigned to each step and executed, each step of the fluid ejection device described above is executed, so that the same effect as the control method can be obtained. It is done.

  Next, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of the configuration of the printer 20 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a capping device 40, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of the configuration of a hydration mechanism 50. The printer 20 of the present embodiment is configured as a large-size special printer that prints an image by discharging a water-based paint as ink onto a signboard made of iron or the like as the print medium S, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 20 performs printing by ejecting ink droplets onto a printing medium S conveyed by a supply roller 35 driven by a drive motor 33 on the platen 36 from the back to the front in the drawing. A printer mechanism 21 to perform, a capping device 40 formed at one end of the platen 36, a hydration mechanism 50 connected to the capping device 40 to humidify the print head 24, an operation panel 60 for a user to input various instructions, And a controller 70 for controlling the entire printer 20.

  The printer mechanism 21 includes a carriage 22 that reciprocates left and right along a guide 37 by a carriage belt 32, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), red (R), blue (B), and black ( An ink cartridge 28 that individually accommodates ink of each color K) and can supply ink to the carriage 22 via the fluid tube 27; and a print head 24 that applies pressure to each ink supplied from the ink cartridge 28. Yes. As the carriage 22 is driven by the carriage motor 34a, the carriage belt 32 is installed between a carriage motor 34a attached to the right side of the mechanical frame 38 and a driven roller 34b attached to the left side of the mechanical frame 38. Move. Here, a so-called off-carriage type in which the ink cartridge 28 is not mounted on the carriage 22 is employed. The print head 24 is provided in the lower part of the carriage 22, and each color is applied from a nozzle 23 provided on the lower surface of the print head 24 by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element to deform the piezoelectric element and pressurize the ink. Ink is ejected. The print head 24 may employ a method in which ink is pressurized by bubbles generated by applying voltage to a heating resistor (for example, a heater) to heat the ink. A linear encoder 25 that detects the position of the carriage 22 is disposed on the rear surface of the carriage 22, and the position of the carriage 22 can be managed using the linear encoder 25. The ink cartridge 28 is detachably attached to the mechanical frame 38 and contains water-based acrylic paint in which a solvent is water and an acrylic resin is dispersed as each color ink.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the capping device 40 includes a capping member 41 that is provided at a position deviated from the printable area of the platen 36 to the right side of FIG. The capping device 40 is periodically used when the print head 24 is sealed to prevent the print head 24 from being dried during a printing pause or when a cleaning process for forcibly sucking out ink from the nozzle 23 is performed. Alternatively, it is used when performing a flushing process for ejecting ink droplets at a predetermined timing regardless of print data. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the capping member 41 is provided with a sealing member 41a such as silicon rubber at the opening edge. Further, on the rectangular bottom surface 41b inside the capping member 41, a water retaining member 42 made of a material capable of retaining water such as felt or sponge is disposed. Further, the bottom surface 41b is provided with a supply port 41c connected to the hydration mechanism 50 at one end of the bottom surface 41b, and a discharge port connected to the waste liquid tank 59 (see FIG. 3) at a corner opposite to the supply port 41c at the other end. An outlet 41d is provided. The bottom surface 41b is formed on an inclined surface so that the height on the discharge port 41d side is lower than the height on the supply port 41c side. As shown in FIG. 3, a stretchable discharge tube 56 is connected to the discharge port 41 d and the waste liquid tank 59, and a discharge valve 57 and a suction pump 58 for switching the presence or absence of liquid flow are connected to the discharge tube 56. When the discharge valve 57 is opened and the suction pump 58 is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the internal space 41e of the capping member 41. Further, when the discharge valve 57 is closed, the liquid can be held in the capping member 41. If this negative pressure is generated when the capping device 40 seals the nozzle 23, the ink in the print head 24 is forcibly sucked out. The discharge valve 57 is configured as an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes based on a control signal (see the circle in FIG. 3). The liquid supplied from the solvent tank 51 and the nozzle 23 is discharged from the discharge port 41d.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the capping device 40 moves up and down as the carriage 22 moves, and abuts and separates the nozzle plate 24 a provided on the lower surface side of the print head 24. Specifically, the carriage is guided to the arc groove 36b provided on the side surface of the frame 36a fixed to the right end of the platen 36 in the drawing and the link arm 44 pivotally supported on the rotation shaft 44a on the frame 36a. A capping member 41 is fixed to an upper portion of a base member 43 supported so as to be movable up and down while moving left and right below 22 and above the frame 36a. A columnar body 43a is erected upward at the right end portion of the base member 43 in the drawing so that the columnar body 43a abuts on a contact portion 22a provided at the right end portion of the carriage 22 in the drawing. It has become. Further, a spring 46 is erected on the left end portion of the base member 43 in the drawing so as to constantly urge the base member 43 in the lower left direction in the drawing. The capping member 41 is provided at a position on the base member 43 that faces the nozzle plate 24a when the contact portion 22a and the columnar body 43a contact each other. A rod-like body 43b fixed to the base member 43 is inserted into the arc groove 36b, and the upper end of the link arm 44 is pivotally supported by the base member 43 so as to be rotatable by the support shaft 44b. In the capping device 40, when the carriage 22 moves to the right in the drawing (FIG. 2A) and the carriage 22 moves to the right in the drawing with the contact portion 22a in contact with the columnar body 43a, the capping member 41 is moved. Rises while moving to the right side in the figure (FIG. 2B), and when the rod 43b reaches the right end of the arc groove 36b in the figure, the capping member 41 is strongly pressed against the nozzle plate 24a (see FIG. 2). 2 (c)). Similarly, when the carriage 22 moves leftward from the state shown in FIG. 2C, the capping member 41 moves downward while moving away from the nozzle plate 24a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hydration mechanism 50 includes a solvent tank 51 that can store a solvent (water here) contained in the ink stored in the ink cartridge 28, and one end connected to the lower part of the solvent tank 51. An elastic supply tube 53 whose end is connected to the supply port 41 c and a supply valve 54 that is arranged in the middle of the supply tube 53 and switches the presence or absence of liquid flow are provided. The solvent tank 51 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped so as to have a volume capable of storing a larger amount of solvent (for example, 2 L) than that stored in the capping member 41 and to have a larger area in the horizontal direction than in the height direction. . When the solvent tank 51 is filled with a predetermined amount of solvent, a predetermined level of the mechanical frame 38 becomes a higher liquid level (see A in FIG. 3) than the liquid level of the solvent contained in the capping member 41 (see B in FIG. 3). Fixed in position. On the upper surface of the solvent tank 51, a filling port 52 used when the solvent tank 51 is replenished with a solvent is provided. In addition, a liquid level sensor 55 that outputs a signal when the solvent no longer comes in contact with the liquid level of the capping member 41 is provided inside the solvent tank 51. The supply valve 54 is configured as an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes based on a control signal (see the circle in FIG. 3). When the capping device 40 capping the print head 24 and the supply valve 54 is opened while the solvent is in contact with the liquid level sensor 55, the hydration mechanism 50 utilizes the water head difference and the flow resistance of the supply tube 53. The solvent stored in the solvent tank 51 is designed to be supplied to the capping member 41 via the supply tube 53 so that the liquid level of the solvent of the capping member 41 becomes a predetermined height (see B in FIG. 3). Yes.

  The operation panel 60 is a device for a user to input various instructions to the printer 20, and includes a display unit that displays characters, figures, or symbols corresponding to the various instructions, and an operation unit that performs various operations. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 70 is provided on a main board 39 attached to the back surface of the mechanical frame 38, and is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 72. The controller 70 stores various processing programs and writes data. An erasable flash ROM 73, a RAM 74 for temporarily storing and saving data, a timer 75 used for timing, and an interface (I / F) 79 for exchanging information with external devices And an input / output port (not shown). A signal from the liquid level sensor 55 and a signal from the operation panel 60 are input to the controller 70 via an input port (not shown), and a print job or the like output from a personal computer (not shown) Is input via. Further, from the controller 70, a control signal to the print head 24, a control signal to the drive motor 33, a drive signal to the carriage motor 34a, a control signal to the supply valve 54 and the discharge valve 57, and a drive signal to the suction pump 58. A display command to the operation panel 60 is output via an output port (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the printer 20 of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process execution routine executed by the CPU 72 of the controller 70. This routine is stored in the flash ROM 73 and executed by the CPU 72 after the printer 20 is turned on. In the printer 20, the supply valve 54 is opened when the power is turned on. When this routine is started, the CPU 72 first determines whether or not there is a request to move the print head 24 (step S100). Here, it is determined that there is a request to move the print head 24 when a print job is received. When it is determined that there is no movement request for the print head 24, the CPU 72 waits as it is, and when it is determined that there is a movement request for the print head 24, the CPU 72 controls to close the supply valve 54 (step S110). And move request processing (for example, print job print processing) is executed (step S120). In the printing process, the CPU 72 drives the drive motor 33 to rotate the supply roller 35 and the like to convey the print medium S to the printable area on the platen 36, and print data in the print buffer of the RAM 74 into a bitmap image. Then, the voltage to the print head 24 is controlled so that the developed data is printed on the print medium S. At this time, the carriage motor 34a is driven to move the carriage 22 in the carriage movement direction.

  Next, the CPU 72 determines whether or not there is a request for capping the nozzles 23 of the print head 24 (step S130). Here, it is determined that there is a capping request for the nozzle 23 when the printing process is completed. When there is no capping request, the CPU 72 executes the process of step S120. When there is a capping request, the CPU 72 drives and controls the carriage motor 34a so as to move the carriage 22 to the position where the nozzle 23 is capped (step S140). Whether or not the print head 24 is at the capping position is determined based on the value of the linear encoder 25 (step S150). When the print head 24 is not in the capping position, the CPU 72 continues to move the print head 24 (step S140). When the print head 24 is in the capping position, the CPU 72 ends the movement of the print head 24 and opens the supply valve 54. (Step S160). At this time, if the solvent is reduced by the capping member 41, the solvent is supplied from the solvent tank 51 through the supply tube 53. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the power is turned off (step S170). When the power is not turned off, the processing after step S100 is executed, and when the power is turned off, this routine is terminated. As described above, in a state where the nozzle 23 is capped, the supply valve 54 is opened to supply the solvent from the solvent tank 51 to the capping member 41, and gradually from the gap between the nozzle plate 24a and the sealing member 41a. The volatilizing solvent is replenished so as not to lower the vapor pressure in the internal space 41e. When the solvent in the solvent tank 51 is reduced and a signal is output from the liquid level sensor 55, the CPU 72 displays a warning message on a display unit (not shown) of the operation panel 60.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The print head 24 of this embodiment corresponds to the ejection head of the present invention, the capping device 40 corresponds to the capping unit, the solvent tank 51 corresponds to the solvent storage unit, the supply tube 53 corresponds to the supply tube, the carriage motor 34a corresponds to the moving means, the CPU 72 corresponds to the control means, the water-based paint corresponds to the fluid, and the print medium S corresponds to the target. In the present embodiment, an example of the control method of the fluid ejection device of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the printer 20.

  According to the printer 20 of the present embodiment described in detail above, the solvent is supplied to the capping device 40 from the solvent tank 51 that contains a larger volume of solvent than the capping device 40 through the supply tube 53, and is provided in the print head 24. It is possible to cover the nozzle 23 with the capping device 40, that is, with the solvent contained in the aqueous paint in the capping device 40. For this reason, the internal space 41e between the capping device 40 and the nozzle 23 is filled with the vaporized solvent. Therefore, drying of the water-based paint at the nozzles 23 provided in the print head 24 can be further suppressed. Further, since the solvent tank 51 is provided at a position where the liquid level of the stored solvent is higher than the liquid level of the solvent stored in the capping device 40, the solvent tank 51 is supplied to the capping device 40 using the water head difference. The solvent can be supplied to the capping device 40 without the need for power. Here, since the solvent tank 51 is formed in a horizontally long shape, the change in the height of the liquid level of the solvent accommodated when the solvent is supplied to the capping device 40 can be further reduced. Without replenishing water to 51, drying of the water-based paint with the nozzle 23 for a longer period of time can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the supply tube 53 includes the supply valve 54, the supply of the solvent from the solvent tank 51 to the capping device 40 can be more easily adjusted using the supply valve 54. And since the liquid level of the solvent accommodated in the solvent tank 51 is higher than the liquid level of the solvent of the capping device 40, the solvent can be distributed to the capping device 40 in the capping state. When the amount of the solvent is reduced, the solvent is supplied from the solvent tank 51 due to the water head difference, and the drying of the water-based paint at the nozzle 23 can be further suppressed with simpler control. In addition, since the print head 24 discharges water-based paint that is easy to dry and difficult to be discharged once dried by the nozzles 23 of the print head 24, the present invention for maintaining the vapor pressure of the print head 24 is applied. High significance to do. Further, since the bottom surface 41b is inclined downward from the supply port 41c toward the discharge port 41d, it is easy to discharge the solvent from the discharge port 41d.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the solvent is supplied to the capping member 41 using the water head difference between the liquid level of the solvent tank 51 and the liquid level of the capping member 41. However, as shown in FIG. A supply pump 61 may be provided in the tube 53 to positively send the solvent from the solvent tank 51 to the capping member 41. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another hydration mechanism 50. By so doing, it is possible to more reliably supply the solvent from the solvent tank 51 to the capping device 40. At this time, the solvent tank 51 may not be disposed at a position where the liquid level of the solvent tank 51 is higher than the liquid level of the capping member 41.

  In the embodiment described above, the solvent tank 51 is fixed to the mechanical frame 38. However, a rail is provided in the vertical direction so that the solvent tank 51 can be moved up and down, and a signal is output from the liquid level sensor 55. Then, the solvent tank 51 may be moved upward until this signal is not output. If it carries out like this, the liquid level of the solvent accommodated in the capping apparatus 40 can be kept constant by comparatively simple control. Moreover, since the solvent accommodated in the solvent tank 51 can be sufficiently utilized, it is possible to suppress drying of the water-based paint with the nozzle 23 for a longer period without replenishing the solvent tank 51 with water. At this time, since the liquid level of the solvent tank 51 and the liquid level of the capping member 41 are controlled to be the same height, the supply valve 54 may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the solvent tank 51 is long in the liquid surface direction of the solvent. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the solvent tank 51 may be formed in a cube or the solvent tank 51 in the height direction. It may be long.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the nozzle 23 is in the capping state, the supply valve 54 is opened to always supply the solvent from the solvent tank 51 to the capping member 41. However, when the nozzle 23 is in the capping state, the supply valve 54 54 may be closed. At this time, for example, a liquid level sensor may be provided inside the capping member 41, and when the amount of solvent in the capping member 41 decreases, the supply valve 54 is opened and the solvent stored in the solvent tank 51 is supplied to the capping member 41. Good. Alternatively, the supply valve 54 may be periodically opened to supply the solvent stored in the solvent tank 51 to the capping member 41.

  In the above-described embodiment, the so-called off-carriage type printer mechanism 21 in which the ink cartridge 28 is provided in the mechanical frame 38 is used. However, a so-called on-carriage type printer mechanism in which the ink cartridge 28 is mounted on the carriage 22 may be used. Even in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the supply port 41c and the discharge port 41d are provided on the bottom surface 41b. However, the supply port 41c and the discharge port 41d may be provided on the side surface of the capping member 41. Further, although the supply tube 53 is connected to the side surface of the solvent tank 51, the supply tube 53 may be connected to the bottom surface of the solvent tank 51. Even if it does in this way, there exists an effect similar to embodiment mentioned above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the capping member 41 has the internal space 41e in the capping state. However, the solvent is supplied from the solvent tank 51 to the capping member 41 until the capping member 41 comes into contact with the nozzle plate 24a so that the capping member 41 does not have an internal space. It may be. Even in this case, drying of the water-based paint at the nozzle 23 can be further suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the capping member 41 contacts and separates from the print head 24 while moving in the left-right direction as the carriage 22 moves in the left-right direction, but the capping member 41 and the print head 24 are separated from each other. It is not particularly limited as long as it can contact and separate. For example, the capping member 41 may be arranged at the capping position, and the capping member 41 may be moved up and down only in the vertical direction by a slider that slides the linear guide up and down with a ball screw. Alternatively, the guide 37 may be moved up and down, and the print head 24 may be moved to the capping member 41 side. Even in this case, the nozzle 23 can be brought into the capping state.

  In the embodiment described above, the printer 22 is configured to perform printing by moving the carriage 22 in the carriage movement direction. However, as shown in FIG. 6, printing is performed without moving the print head 24 in the width direction of the print medium. The printer mechanism 121 to be executed may be used. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another printer mechanism 121. Specifically, a print head 124 (so-called line inkjet) provided with a row of nozzles 123 of each color arranged in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the print medium S with a length equal to or longer than the width of the print medium. It is assumed that ink is ejected to the printing medium by the head) and the solvent is supplied to the printing medium by the hydration mechanism 150. At this time, it is assumed that a capping device 140 formed to have the same length as the print head 124 is provided. At this time, the supply port 141c is provided at one corner of the bottom surface of the capping member 141, and the discharge port 141d is provided at the other corner. Alternatively, a plurality of supply ports 141c and discharge ports 141d may be provided. Then, the nozzle 123 is capped by moving the capping device 140 upward and coming into contact with the print head 124. Even in this case, drying of the water-based paint at the nozzle 23 can be further suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer mechanism 21 that discharges water-based paint onto an iron plate or the like has been described. However, a printer mechanism that discharges ink in which a dye or pigment is dispersed in water or an organic solvent may be used. Even with such an ink, when it is dried, ejection failure from the nozzle is likely to occur. Therefore, it is highly significant to apply the present invention. The target for receiving ink is not particularly limited, and may be a printing medium such as paper, film, iron plate, or glass.

  In the above-described embodiment, the full-color printer 20 adopting the ink jet method is used. However, a multi-function printer equipped with a scanner may be used, or a complex printing apparatus such as a FAX machine or a copier may be used. Moreover, it is good also as a form of the control method of a fluid discharge apparatus, and good also as a form of the program which performs the control method of a fluid discharge apparatus.

Configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the printer 20 according to the present embodiment Explanatory drawing of capping device 40 Explanatory drawing showing the outline of the composition of the hydration mechanism 50 A flowchart showing an example of a process execution routine Explanatory drawing of other hydration mechanism 50 Illustration of another printer mechanism 121

Explanation of symbols

  20 Printer, 21, 121 Printer mechanism, 22 Carriage, 22a Contact part, 23, 123 Nozzle, 24, 124 Print head, 24a Nozzle plate, 25 Linear encoder, 27 Fluid tube, 28 Ink cartridge, 32 Carriage belt, 33 Drive motor, 34a Carriage motor, 34b Driven roller, 35 Supply roller, 36 Platen, 36a Frame, 36b Arc groove, 37 Guide, 38 Mechanical frame, 39 Main board, 40,140 Capping device, 41,141 Capping member, 41a Sealing Member, 41b bottom surface, 41c, 141c supply port, 41d, 141d discharge port, 41e internal space, 42 water retaining member, 43 base member, 43a columnar body, 43b rod-shaped body, 44 link arm, 4a Rotating shaft, 44b Support shaft, 46 Spring, 50, 150 Water adding mechanism, 51 Solvent tank, 52 Filling port, 53 Supply tube, 54 Supply valve, 55 Liquid level sensor, 56 Discharge tube, 57 Discharge valve, 58 Suction pump 59, waste liquid tank, 60 operation panel, 61 supply pump, 70 controller, 72 CPU, 73 flash ROM, 74 RAM, 75 timer, 79 interface (I / F).

Claims (8)

A discharge head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging a fluid containing a solvent to a target;
A capping unit capable of containing a solvent contained in a fluid and covering the nozzle by contacting the discharge head;
A solvent container that contains a larger volume of the solvent than the capping part contains;
A supply pipe connected to the capping unit and the solvent storage unit to supply the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit to the capping unit;
A fluid ejection device comprising:   The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the solvent storage unit is provided at a position such that a liquid level of the stored solvent is higher than a liquid level of the solvent stored in the capping unit.   The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the solvent storage portion is formed in a horizontally long shape. The fluid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A fluid discharge device comprising: a supply valve connected to the supply pipe and capable of switching the presence / absence of the flow of the solvent between the solvent storage unit and the capping unit. The fluid ejection device according to claim 3,
A supply valve connected to the supply pipe and capable of switching the presence or absence of the flow of the solvent between the solvent storage unit and the capping unit;
Moving means for moving at least one of the ejection head and the capping portion so that the ejection head and the capping portion are in contact with and separated from each other;
Control means for controlling the moving means so as to be in a capping state in which the discharge head and the capping part are in contact with each other, and for controlling the supply valve so that the solvent flows between the discharge head and the capping part; ,
A fluid ejection device comprising: The fluid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A fluid discharge apparatus comprising: a supply unit configured to supply the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit from the solvent storage unit to the capping unit.   The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection head ejects a paint containing a resin and a solvent as a fluid. An ejection head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a fluid containing a solvent to a target; a capping portion capable of containing a solvent contained in the fluid and covering the nozzle by contacting the ejection head; and the capping portion A solvent container that contains the solvent in a volume larger than that contained therein, and a liquid level of the solvent contained is higher than a liquid level of the solvent contained in the capping unit; and A supply pipe connected to the capping unit and connected to the solvent storage unit to supply the solvent stored in the solvent storage unit to the capping unit, and connected between the supply pipe and between the solvent storage unit and the capping unit A supply valve capable of switching the presence or absence of solvent flow, and the discharge head and the capping unit so that the discharge head and the capping unit are in contact with and separated from each other. A control method of a fluid ejection apparatus and a moving means for moving one even without,
Controlling the moving means so as to be in a capping state in which the ejection head and the capping portion are in contact with each other, and controlling the supply valve so that the solvent flows between the ejection head and the capping portion. A method for controlling a fluid ejection device.

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