JP2009034825A - Liquid ejector and flushing control method in liquid ejector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer which can suppress occurrence of poor ejection of ink even when the recording action is not carried out over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: In the inkjet printer 1 to which two kinds cartridges 13 of colored ink cartridges 13A and protecting liquid cartridges 13B are attached detachably, attachment and detachment of the cartridges 13 is detected, and kinds of the cartridges 13 attached to the inkjet printer 1 are distinguished. A combination judging means judges a combination of the kinds of the attached cartridges 13. After the attachment and detachment of the cartridges 13 is detected, the combination of the kinds of cartridges 13 attached to the inkjet printer 1 is judged, and flushing is carried out when it is judged that the attached cartridges 13 are totally a combination of the protecting liquid cartridges 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a flushing control method in the liquid ejection apparatus.

  The nozzles of the recording head of the ink jet printer are always filled with ink so that the ink is immediately ejected when the recording operation is started. Therefore, in an ink jet printer, in order to prevent the ink solvent in the nozzles from evaporating and the ink to solidify, the ink is periodically ejected separately from the recording operation to prevent the ink from solidifying and prevent the ink from solidifying. Some have a configuration for removing so-called flushing.

  In Patent Document 1, when an ink jet printer having a plurality of ink cartridges uses only a specific color of ink for recording, the recording head other than the recording head corresponding to the specific ink is also flushed. In view of wasteful consumption of ink, a configuration that prevents wasteful consumption of ink by replacing an ink cartridge connected to a recording head that is not used for printing with an ink cartridge containing clear ink that does not contain pigment is disclosed. Has been.

JP 2006-289756 A

  However, when a recording operation is not performed for a long period of time, the ink solvent in the nozzles evaporates and the ink is solidified, which may cause a problem of ink ejection failure. In the case of the ink jet printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, for the recording head to which the ink cartridge containing clear ink is mounted, the ink in the nozzle of the recording head is completely replaced with the clear ink. Although no problem occurs, the same problem as described above may occur when replacement with clear ink is not performed. For example, if a flushing or ejection operation is not performed after replacing the ink cartridge with an ink cartridge containing clear ink, ink (not clear ink) is placed in the nozzle of the recording head to which the ink cartridge containing clear ink is connected. Ink containing a pigment) remains as it is. Therefore, after replacing the ink cartridge with an ink cartridge containing clear ink, if the state where flushing or the like is not performed continues for a long period of time, the ink remaining in the nozzle coagulates, leading to ink ejection failure. May occur. In addition, with respect to a recording head that has not been replaced with an ink cartridge containing clear ink, there is still a problem that ink is solidified in the nozzle as described above, resulting in ink ejection failure. On the other hand, even if an ink cartridge containing ink (ink containing pigment that is not clear ink) is installed, there is a problem that printing cannot be immediately performed for a recording head that is replaced with an ink cartridge containing clear ink. is there.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus and a flushing control method in the liquid ejecting apparatus that solve at least one of such problems.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a liquid ejection apparatus in which two types of cartridges, a cartridge containing a recording liquid and a cartridge containing a protective liquid, are detachably mounted, an attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the cartridge, and the type of cartridge A type discriminating means for discriminating the recording head and a flushing command means for instructing the recording head driving means to perform the flushing of the recording head. When the type of the mounted cartridge is determined and it is determined that the mounted cartridge is a protective liquid-containing cartridge or a recording liquid-containing cartridge, the flushing command means The drive means is instructed to execute the flush flushing of the print head. .

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this manner, the inside of the nozzle of the recording head can be filled with the protective liquid, and even when the recording operation is not performed over a long period of time, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ink ejection defects.

  In addition to the above-described invention, in another invention, when the type determination by the type determination unit determines that all of the mounted cartridges are cartridges containing protective liquid, or all are cartridges containing recording liquid. In any case, replacement flushing is performed.

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this manner, the inside of the nozzle of the recording head can be filled with the protective liquid, and even when the recording operation is not performed over a long period of time, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ink ejection defects. Further, by performing flushing with ink, it is possible to prevent the ink in the nozzles of the recording head from coagulating.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, replacement flushing is performed until at least the protective liquid in the cartridge containing the protective liquid or the recording liquid in the cartridge containing the recording liquid is discharged from the recording head. .

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this way, the nozzles of the recording head can be completely filled with the protective liquid or ink.

  In addition, in addition to the above-described invention, in another invention, the flushing command means commands execution of a plurality of types of flushing including flushing with a discharge amount smaller than replacement flushing.

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this way, it is possible to suppress the discharge amount due to flushing, and to reduce the consumption of the recording liquid and the protective liquid.

  In addition to the above-described invention, another invention has a type change judging means for judging whether or not the kind of the cartridge has changed between the removed cartridge and the attached cartridge before and after the cartridge is attached / detached. If the type of cartridge is the same before and after removal, replacement flushing is not executed.

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this manner, unnecessary flushing can be prevented and consumption of the protective liquid or ink can be suppressed.

  Further, in addition to the above-described invention, another invention includes a cartridge that is mounted at the time of execution of a predetermined operation including replacement flushing performed immediately before the cartridge is detached, and a cartridge that is mounted after the cartridge is detached. If there is a type change judging means for judging whether or not the type of the cartridge has changed with the existing cartridge, and if the type of the cartridge is the same before and after the attachment / detachment, the replacement flushing is not executed. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge apparatus is a liquid discharge apparatus.

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this manner, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the ink cartridge type has changed before and after the ink cartridge is attached or detached.

  In addition to the above-mentioned invention, another invention warns that recording is not possible when the type discriminating means discriminates that all the cartridges installed are cartridges containing protective liquid. .

  By configuring the ink jet printer in this way, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation by the user.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a flushing control method in a liquid ejection apparatus in which two types of cartridges, a cartridge containing a recording liquid and a cartridge containing a protective liquid, are detachably mounted, an attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of the cartridge, and the cartridge A type determining step for determining the type of the recording head, and a flushing command step for instructing the recording head driving means to execute the flushing of the recording head. The type of the cartridge mounted in step (1) is determined, and if it is determined in this determination that the cartridge mounted is a cartridge containing protective liquid or if it is determined that the cartridge is a cartridge containing recording liquid, a flushing command In the step, the recording head To motion means and to direct the execution of the exchange flushing of the recording head.

  By performing the flushing control in this manner, the inside of the nozzle of the recording head can be filled with the protective liquid, and even when the recording operation is not performed over a long period of time, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective ink ejection.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer 1 as a liquid ejection apparatus is taken as an example. The flushing control method will be described together with the configuration of the inkjet printer 1.

(Overall configuration of inkjet printer)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall schematic configuration of an ink jet printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the printer 1 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a printer 1 includes a paper feed tray 2 on which recording paper P is placed, a transport mechanism 3 that transports the recording paper P placed on the tray 2 forward (in the direction of arrow A), A recording execution mechanism 4 that performs recording on the recording paper P conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 3, a reciprocating mechanism 5 that moves the recording execution mechanism 4 in the left-right direction (directions of arrows R and L), and a recording execution mechanism 4 A discharge tray 6 that receives the recording paper P that has been recorded and discharged, a message board 7 as a notification means for displaying various information related to the printer 1, and a user setting or operation on the printer 1. An operation panel 8 for giving instructions is included.

  The transport mechanism 3 includes a transport motor 9 and a transport roller 10 that rotates by receiving the rotational force of the transport motor 9. A driven roller 11 is disposed below the conveyance roller 10, and the recording paper P is recorded from the paper feed tray 2 side by the rotation of the conveyance roller 10 while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller 10 and the driven roller 11. It is sent to the execution mechanism 4.

  The recording execution mechanism 4 includes a carriage 12, a plurality of cartridges 13, a recording head 14 (see FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 1) provided corresponding to each cartridge 13. The recording head 14 is fixedly attached to the carriage 12, but the cartridges 13 are individually attached to the carriage 12 detachably. The cartridge 13 and the recording head 14 are connected by a flow path (not shown), and ink as a recording liquid in the cartridge 13 is supplied to the recording head 14 through this flow path.

  Each cartridge 13 is attached with an IC chip 15 (see FIG. 2) that stores information such as the type and capacity of the liquid contained in the cartridge 13. On the other hand, the recording execution mechanism 4 is provided with an information acquisition unit 16 (see FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 1) that acquires information about the corresponding cartridge 13 for each cartridge 13. The information acquisition unit 16 is configured as a contact point that contacts the contact point of the IC chip 15. When the cartridge 13 is attached to the recording execution mechanism 4, the information acquisition unit 16 contacts the terminal of the IC chip 15 and is stored in the IC chip 15. It is configured to be able to acquire information about the cartridge 13 being used. Information about the cartridge 13 acquired by the information acquisition unit 16 is sent to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 17 (see FIG. 2) described later.

  In addition to the information stored in the IC chip 15 as described above, a part of the cartridge 13 may have a shape corresponding to the information on the cartridge 13. In this case, for example, the information acquisition unit 16 is configured as a pin switch that is turned on / off by one or a plurality of pins that are pressed or not pressed according to the shape, and whether or not each pin is pressed As a result, the information of the cartridge 13 is acquired.

  The reciprocating mechanism 5 includes a guide shaft 18 and a timing belt 20 that is disposed in parallel with the guide shaft 18 and is driven by a carriage motor 19 (see FIG. 2, not shown in FIG. 1). . The carriage 12 of the recording execution mechanism 4 is slidably supported in the left-right direction with respect to the guide shaft 18 and is fixedly attached to the timing belt 20. Therefore, when the timing belt 20 is driven in the left-right direction, the recording execution mechanism 4 is moved in the left-right direction along the guide shaft 18.

  The transport mechanism 3 and the reciprocating mechanism 5 are configured to be driven alternately. That is, while the recording execution mechanism 4 is moved by the reciprocating mechanism 5, the transport mechanism 3 stops transporting the recording paper P, and transports the recording paper P at a timing when the recording execution mechanism 4 turns back the moving direction. It is configured as follows. That is, the transport mechanism 3 intermittently transports the recording paper P while repeatedly moving and stopping, and the reciprocating mechanism 5 moves the recording execution mechanism 4 from the left to the right while the movement of the recording paper P is stopped. Or from right to left. When the recording execution mechanism 4 moves in the left-right direction, ink is applied from the recording head 14 to the recording paper P based on image formation data sent from a host computer 21 (see FIG. 2) constituted by a personal computer or the like. And recording such as printing and images on the recording paper P. That is, on the recording paper P, recording is performed sequentially for each band from the front to the rear in accordance with the intermittent conveyance of the recording paper P. Then, the recorded recording paper P on which the predetermined recording based on the image forming data is performed by the recording execution mechanism 4 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 6.

  In the recording execution mechanism 4, for example, four cartridges 13 each containing black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink liquids as recording liquids are detachably mounted. In addition to the four cartridges described above, a cartridge in which ink liquid such as light cyan or light magenta is accommodated may be mounted.

  The message board 7 is composed of, for example, a liquid surface display device, and displays an operation state of the printer 1 and a menu for allowing the user to select various operations. The operation panel 8 includes a power switch (not shown), a paper selection switch (not shown) for setting the size of the recording paper P, and the like.

(Configuration of circuit block)
Next, an outline of the electrical configuration of the printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the printer 1 includes an interface unit 22 that receives image formation data and the like input from the host computer 21, a control unit 23, a carriage motor 19 of the reciprocating mechanism 5, and a carriage that drives and controls the carriage motor 19. A motor driver 24, a transport motor 9, a transport motor driver 25 that drives and controls the transport motor 9, a recording head 14, a recording head driver 26 that serves as a recording head driving unit that controls the recording head 14, and the cartridge 13 And an information acquisition unit 16 that acquires information about the cartridge 13 by being connected to a terminal of the IC chip 15, a message board 7, an operation panel 8, and the like.

  The control unit 23 includes a CPU 17 that controls various operations of the printer 1 in addition to the discharge control of the print head, the drive control of the reciprocating mechanism 5 and the drive control of the transport mechanism 3 based on the image formation data and the like. PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory) 27 in which processing programs relating to various operations are stored, RAM (Random Access Memory) 28 that is a working memory, and input from the host computer 21 via the interface unit 22 An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 29 for storing image forming data is provided.

  The control unit 23 constitutes, together with the information acquisition unit 16, an attachment / detachment detection unit, a type determination unit, a combination determination unit, a type change determination unit, a flushing command unit, an image processing unit, and the like. These attachment / detachment detection means, type determination means, combination determination means, type change determination means, flushing command means, image processing means, etc. will be described in detail later. The control unit 23 or the CPU 17 may be configured to use the host computer 21.

  In the printer 1 shown in the present embodiment, as the cartridge 13, a protective liquid is contained in addition to a cartridge containing a colored recording liquid such as black or cyan (hereinafter referred to as a colored ink cartridge 13A). A cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a protective liquid cartridge 13B) can be mounted. As the protective liquid, a liquid that does not contain a solute or has a property that a solute does not precipitate even when the solvent evaporates is used. Specifically, for example, in addition to pure water, a liquid in which a pigment is removed from a colored ink, that is, a mixed liquid of a stabilizer, a surfactant, and pure water, or the like can be used as a protective liquid.

  By the way, when the protective liquid cartridge 13B is mounted as the cartridge 13 in the printer 1, it is expected that the recording head 14 connected to the protective liquid cartridge 13B will remain unused for a while. Therefore, in such a case, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs flushing on the recording head 14 connected to the protective liquid cartridge 13B, and within the nozzles of the recording head 14 and the recording head 14 and the protective liquid cartridge. It is configured to wash the colored ink in the flow path connecting to 13B. In this way, the inside of the nozzles of the recording head 14 that is expected to be unused for a long time is washed with the protective liquid, thereby protecting the inside of the nozzles and the ink discharge mechanism inside the recording head 14 with the protective liquid. be able to. When the unused state continues for a long time, the protective liquid may evaporate, but even in such a case, solutes such as dyes (pigments) do not coagulate or precipitate, It is possible to prevent the nozzles from being clogged or impeding the functions of the ink discharge mechanism and the like.

  On the other hand, when the protective liquid cartridge 13B that is already mounted is replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B, it is not necessary to perform flushing again. Conversely, when the protective liquid cartridge 13B is replaced with the colored ink cartridge 13A, the recording head 14 corresponding to the replaced colored ink cartridge 13A is discharged so that the colored ink is immediately discharged when the recording operation is performed. On the other hand, it is preferable to perform flushing with colored ink in advance.

  As described above, when the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached / detached, it is necessary to appropriately perform the operation of the printer 1 according to the type of the cartridge 13 to be attached / detached (the colored ink cartridge 13A or the protective liquid cartridge 13B). There is. Therefore, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, an appropriate operation is performed according to the type of the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 and the change in the type before and after the cartridge 13 is attached and detached. It is configured.

  Further, when both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4, for example, recording is performed using only the ink of the mounted colored ink cartridge 13A. In addition, when performing such recording, it is necessary to make the user recognize it in advance. That is, when both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4, the printer 1 needs to perform an operation suitable for this. Therefore, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform an operation suitable for such a mounted state when both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4. It is configured.

  The operation of the printer 1 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

(Explanation of printer operation)
When a power switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 8 is turned on, the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started (started). First, the presence or absence of the recording paper P in the paper feed tray 2 and the carriage 12 are started. The operation check of the printer 1 is executed as to whether or not is placed at the reference position (step S10).

  Subsequently, it is determined (detected) whether or not the cartridge 13 mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4 is to be removed (step S20). In this determination (step S20), when the user issues an instruction to replace the cartridge 13 from the operation panel 8, the lock that locks the cartridge 13 with respect to the carriage 12 is released and the cartridge 13 can be removed. To. Then, the CPU 17 detects whether the information acquisition unit 16 and the terminal of the IC chip 15 are in contact with each other. When the CPU 17 detects that the contact between the information acquisition unit 16 and the terminal of the IC chip 15 is lost, the CPU 17 determines that the cartridge 13 has been removed from the recording execution mechanism 4.

  If the removal of the cartridge 13 is not detected in the determination in step S20 (No in step S20), the type of the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is determined (step S30). This determination is performed in the CPU 17 based on the information regarding the type of the cartridge 13 taken into the CPU 17 via the information acquisition unit 16 connected to the IC chip 15. As described above, the IC chip 15 and the information acquisition unit 16 are provided for each cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4. Therefore, the CPU 17 can determine the type of each mounted cartridge 13.

  Subsequently, the combination of the types of cartridges 13 mounted is determined based on the types of cartridges 13 determined in step S30 (steps S40 and S50). In step S40, it is determined whether all combinations of types of cartridges 13 mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4 are colored ink cartridges 13A (step S40). The case where all the inks are not colored inks is a case where at least one protective liquid cartridge 13B is attached to the recording execution mechanism 4, and both the case where all the protective liquid cartridges 13B are used and the case where both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are used. The case where it is attached is included. In step S50, it is determined whether all combinations of the types of cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B (step S50).

  Therefore, if all the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the colored ink cartridges 13A, a determination of Yes is made in step S40. On the other hand, if at least one protective liquid cartridge 13B is included in the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4, a determination of No is made in step S40. If all the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B, the determination of Yes is made in step S50, and both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached. In that case, a determination of No is made in step S50. As described above, in step S40 and step S50, the combination of the types of the cartridges 13 mounted in the recording execution mechanism 4 is all the colored ink cartridges 13A, all the protective liquid cartridges 13B, or the colored ink cartridges 13A and the protective liquid cartridges. 13B can be discriminated.

  If it is determined in step S40 that all the cartridges 13 mounted in the recording execution mechanism 4 are colored ink cartridges 13A (Yes in step S40), it is determined whether or not there is a recording operation instruction from the host computer 21. (Step S60) is performed. When the recording operation is instructed from the host computer 21 (Yes in step S60), for example, when the user turns on a recording operation start switch (not shown) of the host computer 21, the transmission is made from the host computer 21. Based on the image formation data, the controller 23 controls the operations of the transport mechanism 3, the reciprocating mechanism 5, and the recording execution mechanism 4, whereby the recording operation is performed on the recording paper P (step S70). After the recording operation (step S70) is completed, the process returns to step S20, and the above-described processes such as step S30 and step S40 are repeated.

  If there is no instruction for the recording operation (No in step S60) and the cartridge 13 is not removed (No in step S20), the mounted cartridges 13 are all colored ink cartridges 13A. The processes of S20, step S30, step S40, step S60, and step S20 are repeated.

  If it is determined in steps S40 and S50 that all of the cartridges 13 mounted in the recording execution mechanism 4 are protective liquid cartridges 13B (No in step S40 and Yes in step S50), the printer 1 The state is set to standby (step S190).

  Since the protective liquid of the protective liquid cartridge 13B does not contain a dye (pigment), it cannot be recorded on the recording paper P even if it is ejected from the recording head. Therefore, in the standby setting of the printer 1 (step S190), for example, even when the user turns on the recording operation start switch of the host computer 21, the printer 1 is set so that the printer 1 does not perform the recording operation. .

  As described above, when all of the mounted cartridges 13 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B, the printer 1 does not perform the recording operation. Therefore, in the standby setting (step S190), a message indicating that the recording operation cannot be performed because all the cartridges 13 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B is displayed on the message board 7 to display the message. To the user. From this message, the user can know that all the cartridges 13 attached to the printer 1 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B, and the printer 1 is in a state where it cannot perform the recording operation.

  Even when the recording head 14 is not actually performing the recording operation, when the ejection control signal based on the image formation data is input, the recording head 14 generates a weak current so that the ejection corresponding to the control signal can be performed immediately. Is maintained in a standby state. However, since the recording operation is not performed when the protective liquid cartridge 13B is mounted, it is not necessary to maintain the standby state. Therefore, in the standby setting (step S190), power supply to the recording head 14 is stopped. Thereby, the power consumption of the printer 1 can be reduced.

  If it is determined in steps S40 and S50 that both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are mounted in the recording execution mechanism 4 (No in step S40 and No in step S50), FIG. Is displayed on the message board 7 (step S80), and the user is notified of the message. Then, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction from the user as to whether or not to shift to the specific color recording mode (step S300) (step S90).

  In the specific color recording mode (step S300), when both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached to the recording execution mechanism 4, only the ink color of the attached colored ink cartridge 13A is desired. In this mode, the operation of the recording head 14 or the like is controlled so that an image is formed (step S355). In other words, the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected does not discharge the protective liquid, while the recording head 14 to which the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected has the desired ink color of the attached colored ink cartridge 13A. This is a mode in which the operation of the recording head 14 and the like is controlled (step S355) so that the image is formed. For example, in the case where only one black colored ink cartridge 13A is left and all the remaining parts are protective liquid cartridges 13B, the image processing means provided in the CPU 17 is provided even when the image formation data is full-color image data. , Specific color image processing is performed to form a black and white image based on gradation data subjected to gradation processing for each color. Therefore, in this case, a so-called monochrome image is recorded on the recording paper P. The specific color image processing may be image processing for forming an image to be recorded for a plurality of these colors when two or three color ink cartridges 13A are mounted. The image processing means performs the recording operation in step S70, that is, in the recording operation (step S70) when it is determined that all the mounted cartridges 13 are the colored ink cartridges 13A (Yes in step S40). All color image processing for all the ink colors of the mounted colored ink cartridge 13A is performed, and in the specific color recording mode (step S300), the specific color image processing is performed as described above. .

  In step S90, when there is an instruction to shift to the specific color recording mode (step S300) (Yes in step S90), the process shifts to the specific color recording mode (step S300). If there is no instruction to shift to the specific color recording mode (step S300) (No in step S90), and there is no removal of the cartridge 13 (No in step S20), the recording execution mechanism 4 includes the colored ink cartridge 13A. Since both of the protective liquid cartridges 13B are mounted, the processes of Step S20, Step S30, Step S40, Step S50, Step S80, Step S90, and Step S20 described above are repeated.

  If it is determined in step S20 that the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 has been removed (Yes in step S20), a new cartridge 13 ( It is determined (detected) whether or not the colored ink cartridge 13A or the protective liquid cartridge 13B) is mounted (step S100). When the contact of the terminal of the IC chip 15 is detected by the information acquisition unit 16 that has removed the cartridge 13 and has no contact with the terminal of the IC chip 15, the cartridge 13 is removed from the mounting position of the cartridge 13. Then, it is determined that a new cartridge 13 (colored ink cartridge 13A or protective liquid cartridge 13B) is mounted (Yes in step S100). In this way, it is detected whether or not the cartridge 13 has been attached / detached by the processing of step S20 and step S100.

  When the cartridge 13 is newly detected at the mounting position of the cartridge 13 once removed (Yes in step S100), the type of the cartridge 13 mounted in the recording execution mechanism 4 is the same as in step S30 described above. Is discriminated (step S110). Subsequently, based on the type of the cartridge 13 determined in step S110, the combination of the types of the mounted cartridges 13 is determined in the same manner as in steps S40 and S50 described above (steps S120 and S130).

  That is, in step S120, it is determined whether the combinations of the types of cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are all colored ink cartridges 13A (step S120). The case where all the colored ink cartridges 13A are not the case is when the recording execution mechanism 4 is equipped with at least one protective liquid cartridge 13B. The case where all the protective liquid cartridges 13B are used, and the case where all of the colored ink cartridges 13A and the protective liquid cartridges 13B are used. The case where both are mounted is included. In step S130, it is determined whether all of the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are protective liquid cartridges 13B or not (step S130).

  Therefore, if all the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the colored ink cartridges 13A, a determination of Yes is made in step S120. On the other hand, if at least one protective liquid cartridge 13B is included in the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4, a determination of No is made in step S120. If all the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the protective liquid cartridges 13B, a determination of Yes is made in step S130, and both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached. In that case, a determination of No is made in step S130. As described above, in Step S120 and Step S130, the combination of the types of the cartridges 13 mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4 is all the colored ink cartridges 13A, all the protective liquid cartridges 13B, or the colored ink cartridges 13A and the protective liquid cartridges. 13B can be discriminated.

  If it is determined in step S120 that the types of the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are all colored ink cartridges 13A (Yes in step S120), the type changes to the type of cartridge 13 before and after attachment / detachment. It is determined whether or not there has been (step S140).

  The determination as to whether or not the type of the cartridge 13 has changed before and after the attachment / detachment is made based on the type of the mounted cartridge 13 and a flag (flushing flag) described below. When the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected performs flushing of protective liquid (hereinafter referred to as protective liquid flushing) in step S170 and the like described later, the printer 1 As the operation content, information indicating that the protective liquid flushing has been performed is held (stored) in the EEPROM 29 in the form of a flag (hereinafter, this flag is referred to as a flushing flag). The flushing flag is ejected when the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected to the recording head 14 on which the protective liquid flushing is performed and the colored ink is flushed or the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected. Holds until action is taken. The flushing flag is held in the EEPROM 29 without being erased even when a power switch (not shown) of the printer 1 is turned off. Accordingly, when the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14, that is, when the flushing flag is not held in the EEPROM 29 as information for the recording head 14, the last of the recording head 14 before the cartridge 13 is attached or detached. The operation content is the flushing of colored ink or the ejection operation of colored ink.

  In step S140, it is determined whether or not the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 corresponding to each colored ink cartridge 13A. When the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14, it is considered that the operation content of the recording head 14 performed last before the attachment / detachment was the discharge operation of the colored ink such as the flushing of the colored ink. . On the contrary, when the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14, it is considered that the operation content of the recording head 14 performed last before the attachment / detachment was the protective liquid flushing. Therefore, when the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 connected to the colored ink cartridge 13A, the colored ink cartridge 13A connected to the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag is attached / detached. It can be determined that the protective liquid cartridge 13B has been replaced with the colored ink cartridge 13A before the operation is performed.

  That is, in step S140, for each colored ink cartridge 13A, it is determined whether or not the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 connected to each colored ink cartridge 13A. It is determined whether or not the cartridge 13A is different from the type before the attachment / detachment.

  In step S140, if there is a recording head 14 connected to the mounted colored ink cartridge 13A that holds the flushing flag (Yes in step S140), that is, it is mounted. If any of the colored ink cartridges 13A is the protective liquid ink cartridge 13B before attachment / detachment (Yes in step S140), power is supplied to the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag. Is started (step S150). Next, the flushing command means configured in the control unit 23 instructs the recording head driver 26 to perform an ejection operation on the recording head 14 for which the recording head driver 26 is the target of the flushing flag. To the contrary. That is, flushing is performed on the recording head 14 for which power supply has been started with the colored ink of the colored ink cartridge 13A connected to the recording head 14 (step S155).

  Some of the recording heads 14 holding the flushing flag have been stopped in step S190, and the recording head 14 is in a state of not accepting an ejection control signal. For this reason, power supply to the recording head 14 is started in step S150 so that the ejection control signal for performing flushing can be received, and then flushing is performed using colored ink (step S155). In step S155, flushing is not performed on the recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag. That is, when it is determined that the flushing flag is held for some or all of the recording heads 14 (Yes in Step S140), only the recording head 14 that is the target of the flushing flag in Step S155. Flushing with colored ink is performed.

  After the flushing is performed, the process returns to the determination (step S20) whether or not the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is removed. The flushing flag for the recording head 14 that has been flushed with colored ink (step S155) disappears when flushing with colored ink is performed. In addition, the power supply state of the recording head 14 that has been flushed with colored ink (step S155) is maintained as it is. By maintaining the power supply state, it is possible to immediately react to the discharge control signal when the recording operation (step S70) is performed and to start the discharge operation.

  In step S155, the flushing with the colored ink is performed on the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag for the following reason. For example, when the protective liquid flushing is performed in step S170, which will be described later, in order to perform the printing operation (step S70), the entire protective liquid cartridge 13B that has been subjected to the protective liquid flushing is replaced with a colored ink cartridge 13A. There is a case. In this case, the protective liquid remains in the flow path connecting the recording head 14 and the colored ink cartridge 13A from the recording head 14 to the colored ink cartridge 13A including the inside of the nozzle of the recording head 14. Further, when the last discharge operation of the recording head 14 at the previous operation of the printer 1 is the protective liquid flushing, all the protective liquid cartridges 13B are colored to perform the recording operation (step S70) at the current operation. In some cases, the ink cartridge 13A may be replaced. Also in this case, the protective liquid remains in the flow path. In this way, the protective liquid remaining in the flow path is replaced with colored ink, and colored ink flushing (step S155) is performed to prepare for the recording operation (step S70).

  That is, if the recording operation is executed in a state where the protective liquid remains in the nozzle or the flow path (step S70), the protective liquid is discharged to the place where the color ink should be recorded, and the recording is performed. Desired recording cannot be performed on the paper P. Therefore, as described above, by performing flushing with the colored ink in the colored ink cartridge 13A (step S155), the recording operation (step S70) is performed in a state where the protective liquid remaining in the flow path is replaced with the colored ink. It can be carried out.

  In the previous operation, the power switch is turned on when the printer 1 is operating before the power switch (not shown) is turned on, that is, before the power switch is turned on from the current state and the printer 1 is turned on. It is the time of operation when it is turned on.

  This flushing (step S155) is continued for a sufficient time necessary for the protective liquid remaining in the flow path to be completely replaced with colored ink. Alternatively, a discharge amount necessary to completely replace the protective liquid in the flow path with colored ink is obtained in advance by experiments or the like, and while measuring the discharge amount of the colored ink discharged by flushing, The flushing may be performed until the discharge amount reaches a predetermined discharge amount. Note that the discharge amount of colored ink can be determined from the amount of ink droplets per dot and the number of dots discharged, since it is possible to know how many ink droplets have been discharged from the recording head 14 based on the image formation data. can do.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the flushing flag is not held for all the recording heads 14 (No in step S140), it can be determined that there is no change in the type of the cartridge 13 that is mounted before and after the mounting / demounting. In other words, the color ink cartridge 13A is attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 both before and after attachment / detachment, and the ejection operation of the recording head 14 before attachment / detachment is an ejection operation for ejecting colored ink such as flushing of colored ink. I can judge.

  In this case, it is considered that the flow path from the recording head 14 to the colored ink cartridge 13A is filled with colored ink. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to perform flushing with colored ink, the process immediately returns to step S20.

  If it is determined that all of the mounted cartridges 13 are not colored ink cartridges 13A as a result of the removal of the cartridges 13 mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4 (No in step S120), the recording is performed. It is determined whether all of the cartridges 13 attached to the execution mechanism 4 are protective liquid cartridges 13B (step S130).

  In step S120 and step S130, if it is determined that the color execution ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 (No in step S120, No in step S130), step S20 is performed. Return to. Then, after the processing of step S30, step S40, step S50, and step S80, if there is an instruction to shift to the specific color recording mode (step S300) (Yes in step S90), the specific color recording mode (step S300) is entered. If there is no instruction (No in step S90), the process returns to step S20.

  If it is determined in steps S120 and S130 that all the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are protective liquid cartridges 13B (No in step S120 and Yes in step S130), before and after the attachment / detachment. It is determined whether or not the type of cartridge 13 has changed (step S160). Whether or not the type of the cartridge 13 has changed before and after the attachment / detachment is determined by the same method as in step S140 described above.

  That is, it is determined whether or not the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 corresponding to each protective liquid cartridge 13B. When the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14, it is considered that the operation content of the recording head 14 performed last before the attachment / detachment was flushing of colored ink. It can be determined that the protective liquid cartridge 13B connected to the recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag has been replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B before being attached or detached. On the contrary, when the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14, it is considered that the operation content of the recording head 14 performed last before the attachment / detachment was the protective liquid flushing. Accordingly, when the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14 connected to the protective liquid cartridge 13B, the protective liquid cartridge 13B connected to the recording head 14 not holding the flushing flag is attached / detached. It can be determined that the colored ink cartridge 13A has been replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B before the operation is performed.

  That is, in step S160, for each protection liquid cartridge 13B, it is determined whether or not the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 connected to each protection liquid cartridge 13B, so that the attached protection liquid It is determined whether the type of the cartridge 13B is different from that before the attachment / detachment.

  In step S160, if there is a recording head 14 connected to the mounted protective liquid cartridge 13B that does not hold the flushing flag (No in step S160), that is, it is mounted. If any of the protective liquid cartridges 13B is the colored ink cartridge 13A before being attached or detached (No in step S160), the flushing command means configured in the control unit 23 is the recording head driver 26. On the other hand, the print head driver 26 issues a command to perform an ejection operation on the print head 14 that is not the target of the flushing flag. Thereby, the recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag is flushed with the protective liquid of the protective liquid cartridge 13B connected to the recording head 14 (step S170). In step S170, flushing is not performed on the print head having the flushing flag. That is, in step S170, when it is determined that the flushing flag is not held for part or all of the recording head 14 (No in step S160), the protective liquid is applied to the recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag. Flushing by means of.

  In step S170, the protective liquid flushing is performed on the recording head 14 in which the flushing flag is not held for the following reason. When the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is replaced from the colored ink cartridge 13A to the protective liquid cartridge 13B, the recording head 14 connected to the replaced protective liquid cartridge 13B is not replaced. Since the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected to the recording head 14, the colored ink remains in the flow path connecting the recording head 14 from the recording head 14 including the nozzle of the recording head 14 to the protective liquid cartridge 13B and the protective liquid cartridge 13A. ing. Also, when the last ejection operation of the recording head 14 at the previous operation of the printer 1 is ejection of colored ink, colored ink remains in the flow path. Thus, in order to replace the colored ink remaining in the flow path with the protective liquid, the protective liquid flushing (step S170) is performed.

  That is, when all of the mounted cartridges 13 are protective liquid cartridges 13B, it is expected that the printer 1 will not be used for a long time thereafter. Accordingly, as described above, when the protective liquid flushing (step S170) is performed and the colored ink remaining in the flow path is replaced with the protective liquid, the printer 1 is not used over a long period of time. Even so, it is possible to prevent the colored ink from coagulating in the flow path and to prevent the ejection failure of the recording head 14.

  Then, after holding the flushing flag for the recording head 14 that has been subjected to the protective liquid flushing (step S180), the printer 1 is set to standby (step S190), and the process returns to step S20.

  In step S160, the presence or absence of the flushing flag is determined for each recording head 14, and if the flushing flag is held for all the recording heads 14 (Yes in step S160), the process returns to step S20. That is, when the protective liquid flushing is performed in step S170 before the cartridge 13 is attached or detached, all or a part of the protective liquid cartridge 13B subjected to the protective liquid flushing is replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B again. The protective liquid remains in the flow path from the recording head 14 to the protective liquid cartridge 13B. Even when the last discharge operation of the recording head 14 during the previous operation of the printer 1 is the protective liquid flushing, the protective liquid remains in the flow path. Therefore, since it is not necessary to perform the protective liquid flushing again, the process returns to step S20, and after the processes of step S30, step S40, and step S50, the printer 1 is set to standby (step S190).

  As described above, in steps S140 and S160, it is determined whether or not the type of the cartridge 13 has changed before and after the cartridge 13 is attached and detached. A process that does not perform flushing is realized for those that have not been changed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flushing from being performed on the recording head 14 that does not require flushing, so that consumption of colored ink and protective liquid can be suppressed.

  However, if all of the mounted cartridges 13 are the colored ink cartridges 13A (Yes in step S120) as a result of the cartridge 13 being attached and detached without making such a determination (step S140), all the colored ink cartridges are used. About 13A, you may make it flush the colored ink with respect to the recording head 14 connected to these. For example, there is a case where the colored ink in the flow path such as the nozzle is solidified because the discharge operation has not been performed for a long time with the colored ink cartridge 13A connected. In such a case, the solidified colored ink can be removed by flushing the colored ink for all the recording heads 14.

  Further, even when all the cartridges 13 mounted are the protective liquid cartridges 13B as a result of the cartridges 13 being attached and detached without making the determination in step S160 (Yes in step S130), all of the protective liquid cartridges 13B are detected. The protective liquid flushing may be performed on the recording head 14 connected to these. For example, the protective liquid in the flow path such as the nozzle may evaporate because the spout protective liquid flushing has not been performed for a long time with the protective liquid cartridge 13B connected. In such a case, the protective liquid flushing is performed on all the recording heads 14 so that the nozzles and the flow paths can be filled again with the protective liquid, and the protection state of the mechanism of the recording head 14 is improved. Can do.

  The determination of whether or not the type has changed before and after the cartridge 13 is attached or detached (steps S140 and S160) may be performed as follows. That is, the type of the mounted cartridge 13 is stored in the EEPROM 29 in correspondence with the mounting position of the recording head 14 or the cartridge 13. If the cartridge 13 is attached or detached, whether or not the type of the cartridge 13 has changed before and after the attachment / detachment based on the stored type and the type of the cartridge 13 attached after the attachment / detachment. May be determined. Note that the type of cartridge 13 stored corresponds to the operation content of the recording head 14 before the cartridge 13 is attached or detached.

  In the printer 1 according to the above-described embodiment, a plurality of cartridges 13 are mounted on the recording execution mechanism 4. As the cartridge 13, a plurality of ink chambers are formed in one cartridge. A configuration in which a cartridge having a different color ink in each chamber is attached may be used. The protective liquid cartridge 13B mounted on the printer 1 in which one cartridge having such a configuration is mounted has a configuration in which the protective liquid is contained in each ink chamber of the cartridge having a plurality of ink chambers. Therefore, when the protective liquid flushing is performed, all the recording heads 14 are simultaneously performed. When the protective liquid flushing is performed, the flushing flag is held for all the recording heads 14. On the other hand, after the protective liquid flushing is performed, when a cartridge containing colored ink is mounted, the flushing flag held for each recording head 14 is flushed with respect to all the recording heads 14. Annihilate. Note that the printer 1 to which the cartridge having such a configuration is mounted does not have a flushing flag for each recording head 14, but may hold one flushing flag as the operation content of the recording head 14 before attachment / detachment. .

  Further, the cartridge 13 may have a configuration in which one cartridge containing only one color ink is attached. The protective liquid cartridge 13B attached to the printer 1 in which one cartridge having such a structure is attached has a structure in which protective liquid is contained in one ink chamber.

  Next, the specific operation of the specific color recording mode (step S300) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In this specific color recording mode (step S300), it is determined in steps S40 and S50 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 that the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 are the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B ( This is the operation mode of the printer 1 when the user gives an instruction to move to the specific color recording mode (step S300) (No in step S90) while being No in step S40 and No in step S50. Therefore, in the initial state of the specific color recording mode (step S300), the recording execution mechanism 4 is mounted with both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B.

  When the specific color recording mode (step S300) is started, first, it is determined whether or not there is a recording head 14 to which the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected that holds a flushing flag (step S310). If there is a recording head 14 that holds the flushing flag (Yes in step S310), power supply to the recording head 14 that holds the flushing flag is started (step S313). Next, the flushing command means configured in the control unit 23 instructs the recording head driver 26 to perform an ejection operation on the recording head 14 for which the recording head driver 26 is the target of the flushing flag. To the contrary. That is, flushing is performed with the colored ink of the colored ink cartridge 13A connected to the recording head 14 (step S315).

  The power supply to the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag is stopped in step S190 or step S330 described later. Therefore, after power supply is started in step S313, flushing is performed using colored ink (step S315). The flushing flag for the recording head 14 that has been flushed with colored ink (step S315) disappears when flushing with colored ink is performed. The power supply state of the recording head 14 that has been flushed with colored ink (step S315) is maintained. By maintaining the power supply state, it is possible to immediately react to the ejection control signal when the recording operation with the specific color (step S355) is performed, and to start the ejection operation.

  By determining whether or not the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 (step S310), it is possible to determine the last operation performed by the recording head 14 in the past. That is, when the flushing flag is held in the recording head 14, it can be determined that the last operation performed in the past was the protective liquid flushing. On the other hand, when the flushing flag is not held, it can be determined that the last operation performed in the past is the discharge operation by the flushing or recording operation of the colored ink. Therefore, in step S310, the type of the cartridge 13 to which the recording head 14 is connected is compared with the presence / absence of the flushing flag for the recording head 14 (the content of the last operation performed by the recording head 14 in the past). If the cartridge 13 is the colored ink cartridge 13A and there is one in which a flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 connected thereto (Yes in step S310), as described above, this recording is performed. The head 14 is flushed with colored ink (step S315).

  In step S310, the case where the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 to which the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected is, for example, as follows. This is a case where a part of the attached protective liquid cartridge 13B is replaced with the colored ink cartridge 13A while the printer 1 is set to standby (step S190). That is, while the printer 1 is in the standby setting (step S190), all the cartridges 13 that are mounted are the protective liquid cartridges 13B. Then, when a part of the protective liquid cartridge 13B is replaced with the colored ink cartridge 13A, the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 in Step S120 and Step S130. This is a case where the determination is made (No in step S120, No in step S130) and the mode is shifted to the specific color recording mode (step S300).

  In such a case, the protective liquid remains in the flow path from the recording head 14 exchanged from the protective liquid cartridge 13B to the colored ink cartridge 13A to the colored ink cartridge 13A. Accordingly, in step S315, colored ink is flushed on the recording head 14 to which the flushing flag is held while the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected, so that the protective liquid remaining in the flow path is removed. It can be replaced with colored ink.

  After the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag is flushed with colored ink (step S315) or in step S310, the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14 to which the colored ink cartridge 13A is connected. If it is determined (No in step S310), it is determined whether there is a recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected that does not hold the flushing flag (step S320). When there is a recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag (Yes in step S320), the flushing command means configured in the control unit 23 sends the recording head driver 26 to the recording head driver 26. A command is issued to perform an ejection operation on the recording head 14 that is not the target of the flushing flag. Thereby, the recording head 14 is subjected to the protective liquid flushing with the protective liquid of the protective liquid cartridge 13B connected thereto (step S325).

  That is, in step S320, the type of cartridge 13 to which the recording head 14 is connected is compared with the presence / absence of a flushing flag for the recording head 14 (the content of the last operation performed by the recording head 14 in the past). If the cartridge 13 is the protective liquid cartridge 13B and the recording head 14 connected to the cartridge 13 does not hold the flushing flag (Yes in step S320), the recording head 14, that is, the protection liquid cartridge 13B. Protective liquid flushing is performed on the recording head 14 that is connected to the liquid cartridge 13B and does not hold the flushing flag (step S325). Note that the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 that has been subjected to the protective liquid flushing (step S325).

  In step S320, the case where the flushing flag is not held for the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected is, for example, the following case.

  That is, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when all of the cartridges 13 installed before the cartridge 13 is attached / detached are the colored ink cartridges 13A, a part of the attached colored ink cartridge 13A is protected with the protective liquid. This is a case where the cartridge 13B is replaced. That is, when a part of these colored ink cartridges 13A is replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B, the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B are attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 in Step S120 and Step S130. This is a case where the determination is made (No in step S120, No in step S130) and the mode is shifted to the specific color recording mode (step S300).

  In such a case, colored ink remains in the flow path from the recording head 14 exchanged from the colored ink cartridge 13A to the protective liquid cartridge 13B to the protective liquid cartridge 13B. Accordingly, in step S325, the protection liquid flushing is performed on the recording head 14 to which the protection liquid cartridge 13B is connected but the flushing flag is not held, so that the colored ink remaining in the flow path is removed from the protection liquid. Can be replaced. Note that the flushing with colored ink in step S315 and the protective liquid flushing with the protective liquid in step S325 may be performed at different timings or simultaneously.

  After the protective liquid flushing (step S325) is performed for the recording head 14 that does not hold the flushing flag, or in step S320, it is determined that the flushing flag is held for the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected. If it is determined (No in step S320), power supply to the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected is stopped (step S330). Since the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is attached does not perform a recording operation, it is not necessary to maintain a standby state. Therefore, power supply to the recording head 14 to which the protective liquid cartridge 13B is connected is stopped (step S330), and the power consumption of the printer 1 is reduced.

  Next, by displaying a message on the message board 7 asking the user whether recording with only the ink of a specific color may be executed (step S340), the user is notified of the message. Then, it is determined whether there is an instruction from the user as to whether or not to perform specific color recording in which recording is performed only with the ink color of the mounted colored ink cartridge 13A (step S350). In Yes), the specific color image processing is performed in accordance with the ink color of the mounted colored ink cartridge 13A, and the recording with the specific color is performed (step S355). After the specific color recording (step S55) is completed, the process returns to step S310, and the processes after step S310 are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the recording operation is not instructed (No in step S350), it is determined whether or not the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is attached or detached (step S360, step S365). In step S360, it is determined whether the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 has been removed. If it is not determined that the cartridge 13 has been removed (No in step S360), steps S340, S350, and S360 are performed. Repeat the process.

  When the cartridge 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is removed and a cartridge 13 is newly attached to the removed cartridge 13 (Yes in step S365), it is attached to the recording execution mechanism 4. The type of the cartridge 13 is determined (step S370). Based on the determined type of the cartridge 13, the combination of the types of the cartridges 13 attached to the recording execution mechanism 4 is determined (steps S380 and S385).

  If it is determined in step S380 or step S385 that all of the types of the cartridges 13 that are installed are colored ink cartridges 13A (Yes in step S380), the flushing flag for the recording head 14 is determined, For the recording head 14 holding the flushing flag, flushing with colored ink is performed (step S390).

  That is, when the protective liquid cartridge 13B is replaced with the colored ink cartridge 13A, the protective liquid remains in the flow path from the recording head 14 to the colored ink cartridge 13A. Therefore, this protective liquid is replaced with colored ink (step S390). Then, after performing the flushing of the colored ink (step S390), the process proceeds to step S20 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 until the cartridge 13 is detached or the recording operation is instructed (Yes in step S60). , Step S20, Step S40, Step S60, and Step S20 are repeated.

  If it is determined in steps S380 and S385 that all the types of the cartridges 13 mounted are the protective liquid cartridges 13B (No in step S380 and Yes in step S385), the recording head 14 is checked. The flushing flag is determined, and the protective liquid flushing is performed on the recording head 14 that does not have the flushing flag, based on the command of the flushing command unit configured in the control unit 23 (step S395).

  That is, when the colored ink cartridge 13A is replaced with the protective liquid cartridge 13B, the colored ink remains in the flow path from the recording head 14 to the protective liquid cartridge 13B. Therefore, the colored ink is replaced with a protective liquid (step S395). Then, after performing the protective liquid flushing (step S395), the process proceeds to step S20 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and steps S20, S30, S40, S50, and S190 are performed until the cartridge 13 is attached and detached. Then, the process of step S20 is repeated.

  If it is determined in steps S380 and S385 that the type of the cartridge 13 mounted is both the colored ink cartridge 13A and the protective liquid cartridge 13B (No in step S380 and No in step S385). Returning to step S310, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In Steps S40, S50, Steps S120, S130, and Steps S380, S385 in the above-described embodiment, the combination determination unit in the control unit 23 performs the combination of the types of the cartridges 13 attached to the printer 1. However, it may be performed by the type discriminating means. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, whether the type of the cartridge 13 is changed immediately before and after the removal is determined based on the presence or absence of the flushing flag. However, the type of the card ridge 13 is changed by the type determination unit. You may make it judge whether it is doing. Further, the discharge amount of the ink in the flushing of the colored ink performed during the normal recording operation and the discharge amount of the ink and the protective liquid in the flushing performed when the cartridge as described above is replaced may be changed. In this case, the flushing during the normal recording operation only needs to discharge from the nozzle the ink that remains in the nozzle and has a high viscosity because the solvent has evaporated. For this reason, it is desirable that the flushing amount of the colored ink performed during the normal recording operation is smaller than the flushing amount associated with the replacement of the ink cartridge. The printer 1 according to the present embodiment has a so-called on-carriage type in which the cartridge 13 is placed on the carriage 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this type, and the so-called cartridge 13 is the carriage 12. It may be a so-called off-carriage type disposed in another part. Further, not only whether all the cartridges 13 are colored ink cartridges 13A or protective liquid cartridges 13B, but also a specific cartridge group among the plurality of cartridges 13 is colored ink cartridges 13A or protective liquid cartridges 13B. In this case, flushing may be performed. Further, a part of the processing of the control unit 23 may be performed by an apparatus other than a printer such as a host computer. It may be configured to determine whether or not the cartridge has been replaced while the power is off.

  In this embodiment, the liquid ejection device is embodied in an ink jet printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and liquids other than ink (liquids in which particles of functional material are dispersed, fluids such as gels) It is also possible to embody the present invention in a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects a body. For example, a liquid material injection device for injecting a liquid material in the form of dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays, and biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic substance used in the above, or a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette. In addition, a transparent resin liquid such as UV curable resin is used to form a liquid ejection device that injects lubricating oil pinpoint onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and a micro hemispherical lens (optical lens) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, and a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects gel.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall schematic configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a slow chart showing the operation of the printer. 6 is a slow chart showing an operation in a specific color recording mode of the printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (liquid ejecting apparatus) 13 ... Cartridge 13A ... Colored ink cartridge (cartridge containing recording liquid) 13B ... Protective liquid cartridge (cartridge containing protective liquid) 15 ... IC chip (attachment / detachment detection means, type discrimination means, combination discrimination means) Information acquisition unit 16 (part of attachment / detachment detection means, type determination means, combination determination means) 17 ... CPU (attachment / detachment detection means, type determination means, combination determination means) Part.)

Claims (8)

A liquid ejecting apparatus in which two types of cartridges, a recording liquid containing cartridge and a protective liquid containing cartridge, are detachably mounted,
An attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the cartridge;
Type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the cartridge;
Flushing command means for commanding the recording head drive means to execute the flushing of the recording head; and
Have
After detecting the attachment / detachment of the cartridge by the attachment / detachment detection means, the type discrimination means discriminates the type of the mounted cartridge, and the installed cartridge is determined to be a protective liquid-containing cartridge. In this case or when it is determined that the cartridge is a recording liquid-containing cartridge, the flushing command means instructs the recording head drive means to execute replacement flushing of the recording head.
A liquid discharge apparatus characterized by that. Whether the type discrimination by the type discrimination means is performed when it is determined that all of the mounted cartridges are cartridges containing protective liquid or when all the cartridges are determined to be cartridges containing recording liquid. Performing the exchange flushing;
The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   3. The replacement flushing is performed until at least the protective liquid in the cartridge containing the protective liquid or the recording liquid in the cartridge containing the recording liquid is discharged from the recording head. Liquid ejection device.   4. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flushing command unit commands execution of a plurality of types of flushing including flushing having a smaller ejection amount than the replacement flushing. 5. . Before and after detaching the cartridge, and having a type change judging means for judging whether or not the type of the cartridge has changed between the removed cartridge and the attached cartridge;
If the cartridge type is the same before and after the desorption, the replacement flushing is not performed.
The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection apparatus is a liquid ejection apparatus. The cartridge mounted at the time of execution of a predetermined operation including the replacement flushing performed immediately before the cartridge is detached, and the cartridge mounted after the cartridge is detached. Having a type change judging means for judging whether or not the type has changed,
If the cartridge type is the same before and after the attachment / detachment, the replacement flushing is not performed.
The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge apparatus is a liquid discharge apparatus.   7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the type discriminating unit discriminates that all of the mounted cartridges are protective liquid-containing cartridges, a warning is given that recording cannot be performed. The liquid discharge apparatus according to item 1. A flushing control method in a liquid ejection device in which two types of cartridges, a cartridge containing a recording liquid and a cartridge containing a protective liquid, are detachably mounted,
An attachment / detachment detecting step for detecting attachment / detachment of the cartridge;
A type determining step for determining the type of the cartridge;
A flushing command step for commanding the recording head driving means to execute the flushing of the recording head;
Have
After detecting the attachment / detachment of the cartridge in the attachment / detachment detection step, the type of the cartridge mounted in the type determination step is determined, and the cartridge mounted in this determination is a cartridge containing a protective liquid. If it is determined, or if it is determined that the cartridge is a recording liquid-containing cartridge, in the flushing command step, the recording head driving means is commanded to execute replacement flushing of the recording head.
A flushing control method characterized by the above.

Images