JP2009166246A - Image recorder, control method for image recorder, and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder capable of preventing deterioration of recording quality caused by thickening of an ink jetted from a nozzle train while suppressing lowering of throughput in recording processing, and to provide a control method for an image recorder and a program therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The image recorder 1 performs recording processing by jetting the ink onto a recording medium 21 from at least one recording unit comprising at least one nozzle train 8 formed of a plurality of nozzles on the basis of job information that is notified from a host device 20. A recovery processing part 9 performs recovery processing for recovering from clogging of an ink in the nozzle train 8. A nozzle train management control part 3 performs at least either ink quality holding processing for holding the quality of the ink in the nozzle train 8 by an ink quality holding processing part 3a or recovery processing by the recovery processing part 9 on the basis of notification of the job information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording technique, and more particularly to a technique for suppressing deterioration in recording quality due to thickening of ink ejected from a nozzle array.

  2. Description of the Related Art As an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium such as paper, an ink jet full line type color printer is known. In a full-line color printer, nozzle rows (recording heads) are arranged for each ink color at a predetermined interval in the direction of transporting the recording medium (sub-scanning direction). This nozzle row is arranged so that a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection are formed over a length equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. The desired characters and images are recorded by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles in each color nozzle row toward the recording medium.

  In the vicinity of the nozzle openings in such a nozzle row, when the recording process is not performed for a long time, the water as the ink solvent evaporates depending on the elapsed time and the temperature of the ink. Ink viscosity may increase (thickening). When ink thickening occurs in the vicinity of the nozzle opening, clogging occurs in the nozzle, which may cause problems such as ink not being ejected or proper ink droplets not being ejected during the recording process.

As a technique for solving such a problem, a configuration in which thickened ink is wiped by a wiping mechanism is known.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the amount of interference between the wiping member and the nozzle opening and the relative speed between the wiping member and the nozzle opening are based on the elapsed time since the previous cleaning for discharging the liquid from the nozzle opening. A technique of an ink jet recording apparatus for changing the above is disclosed.

  The ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a timer, and the timer measures the elapsed time from the previous cleaning. Then, based on the measured elapsed time, the amount of interference between the wiping member and the nozzle opening, the relative speed between the wiping member and the nozzle opening, and the number of times of wiping the nozzle opening by the wiping member are changed.

  In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a temperature measurement unit that measures the temperature of ink, and estimates the viscosity of the ink based on the measured temperature. Then, based on the estimated viscosity of the ink and the elapsed time from the previous cleaning, the above-described wiping conditions are appropriately set and executed.

In this way, the ink jet recording apparatus of Patent Literature 1 wipes away the thickened ink in the vicinity of the nozzle opening to ensure proper ejection of ink droplets.
JP 2006-218788 A

  However, the ink jet recording apparatus of Patent Document 1 does not perform a process for preventing ink thickening during the standing time after the completion of the recording process. For this reason, a time for the recovery process is required regardless of the length of the standing time, and the throughput at the start of the recording process is reduced.

  In recent image recording apparatuses, the demand for using water-based ink is increasing. In the case of water-based ink, nozzle row non-ejection is likely to occur due to an increase in ink viscosity due to evaporation of moisture. For this reason, an image recording apparatus that performs recording processing using water-based ink is provided with a cap portion that seals the nozzle row, and the nozzle row is sealed by the cap portion during periods when the recording processing is not performed. Some prevent thickening of ink. That is, in such an image recording apparatus, it is necessary to drive the cap unit during the non-recording process when the recording process is not performed to seal the nozzle row, and to move the cap unit to the retracted position when the recording process starts. For this reason, the throughput at the start of the recording process is reduced.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in recording quality due to thickening of ink ejected from a nozzle row while suppressing a decrease in throughput of recording processing. An object is to provide an image recording apparatus, a control method of the image recording apparatus, and a program thereof.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, an image recording apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed from a plurality of nozzles based on notified job information. In an image recording apparatus that performs recording processing by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a recording medium, a recovery processing unit for performing recovery processing for recovering clogging of ink in the nozzle row, and maintaining the quality of ink in the nozzle row And a nozzle array management control unit that executes at least one of the ink quality holding process and the recovery process by the recovery processing unit based on the notification of the job information.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image recording apparatus, wherein recording is performed from at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed from a plurality of nozzles based on notified job information. A method of controlling an image recording apparatus that performs recording processing by discharging ink onto a medium, including ink quality retention processing for maintaining the quality of ink in a nozzle row and recovery for recovering ink clogging in the nozzle row Determining whether to execute at least one of the processes based on the notification of the job information, and executing at least one of the ink quality holding process and the recovery process based on the determination result To do.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a program stores, on the recording medium, at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed from a plurality of nozzles based on notified job information. A program for causing an arithmetic processing unit to control an image recording apparatus that performs recording processing by ejecting ink, the ink quality maintaining process for maintaining the quality of ink in the nozzle array, and the ink in the nozzle array Whether to execute at least one of the recovery process for recovering the clogging of the ink based on the notification of the job information, and the ink quality holding process and the recovery process based on the determination result of the determination process And a control processing for executing at least one of the processing unit.

  According to the present invention, an image recording apparatus capable of preventing a decrease in recording quality due to thickening of ink ejected from a nozzle row while suppressing a decrease in throughput of the recording process, a control method for the image recording apparatus, And the program can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual block configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 schematically shows an arrangement example of each component of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 records from the image recording unit 6 including at least one nozzle row 8 formed from a plurality of nozzles based on job information notified from the host apparatus 20. Ink is ejected onto the medium 21 to perform a recording process. The image recording apparatus 1 includes at least a control unit 2, an image recording unit 6, an ink supply unit 5, a recovery processing unit 9, a feeding unit 13, and a conveyance unit 14. In addition, the control part 2 is not illustrated in FIG.

  The control unit 2 includes, for example, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) having a control function and an arithmetic function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing a control program, and a RAM (Random Access) used by the MPU as a working storage area. And a non-volatile memory that stores various setting values related to the control of the image recording apparatus 1.

  In the control unit 2 of the image recording apparatus 1, for example, the storage unit 4 is configured by the above-described RAM and nonvolatile memory. In the control unit 2, for example, the MPU executes a control program to configure the nozzle row management control unit 3, and the control program is stored in advance in, for example, a ROM. The nozzle array management control unit 3 includes at least an ink quality holding processing unit 3a.

  Note that determination conditions for executing the recovery process are recorded in advance in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 4. The determination condition includes a capping start condition time and a pressure purge start condition time, which will be described later.

The nozzle row management control unit 3 may be configured as a signal processing circuit as hardware controlled by the arithmetic processing device of the control unit 2.
The image recording unit 6 drives, for example, at least one nozzle row 8 formed from a plurality of nozzles that eject ink for recording processing, and a plurality of nozzles in the nozzle row 8 according to a drive instruction from the control unit 2. A nozzle row driving unit 7.

  The ink supply unit 5 includes an ink tank 5a that temporarily stores ink to pressurize ink, an ink supply path 5c that supplies ink from an ink supply tank (not shown) to the ink tank 5a, and an ink supply path 5c. The ink supply valve 5b for stopping the ink supply when the ink is pressurized, the pressurizing path 5d for connecting the pressure pump to the ink tank 5a, and the ink in the ink tank 5a for supplying the ink to the nozzle row 8. Ink supply path 5e.

The recovery processing unit 9 includes a pressurizing pump 10, a cap unit 12, and a wipe unit 11.
The pressurizing pump 10 pressurizes ink for pressurizing purge. Here, the “pressure purge” is a recovery process in which the pressurized ink is ejected from the nozzle row 8 by ejecting the pressurized ink from the nozzle row 8 and the ink in the nozzle row 8 is recovered by pushing out the thickened ink together with the foreign matter. It corresponds. When the pressure pump 10 sends air into the ink tank 5a through the pressure path 5d, the pressurized ink is sent to the nozzle row 8 through the ink supply path 5e and discharged.

  The cap unit 12 is used to maintain the quality of the ink in the nozzle row 8, and seals the nozzle row 8 over the nozzle row 8 to prevent moisture evaporation of the ink in the nozzle row 8 to keep moisture. To do. Further, the cap 12 is put on the nozzle row 8 also when the pressure purge is performed. This is so that the ink ejected from the nozzle row 8 is received (received) by the cap portion 12 so that each portion of the image recording apparatus 1 other than the nozzle row 8 is not soiled with ink.

The wipe unit 11 wipes away the foreign matter pushed out from the nozzle row 8 by the pressure purge and the stain of the nozzle row 8 due to the thickened ink, thereby recovering the nozzle row 8 from the stain.
The recovery processing unit 9 includes a drive unit (not shown), and is configured to drive the wipe unit 11 and the cap unit 12 in accordance with a control instruction from the control unit 2. This driving state will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  3A and 3B show the structures of the wipe part 11 and the cap part 12. Here, FIG. 3A shows a state in which the cap portion 12 at the same XY direction position as the nozzle row 8 is separated downward (−Z direction) with respect to the nozzle row 8. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the nozzle row 8 is sealed by the drive unit (not shown) raising the cap portion 12 at the position shown in FIG. 3A (moving in the + Z direction) and covering the nozzle row 8. ing. As described above, the drive unit has a configuration in which the cap unit 12 is driven to cover the nozzle row 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the wipe part 11 is fixed adjacent to the −X direction of the cap part 12, and the upper part (the end part in the + Z direction) is more than the cap part 12. Has a shape that protrudes upward (in the + Z direction). Therefore, the driving unit drives the wipe unit 11 while maintaining a Z-direction position (a position where the nozzle column 8 and the cap unit 12 are separated) where the upper part of the wipe unit 11 touches the lower part of the nozzle column 8. By making the nozzle row 8 slide in the + X direction, the wiper portion 11 wipes off the dirt on the nozzle row 8.

  When the image recording apparatus 1 executes a recording process, the driving unit drives the wipe unit 11 and the cap unit 12 to move in the Y direction so that the retreat position does not overlap the nozzle row 8 on the XY plane. And retreat so as not to interfere with the recording process.

Returning to the description of FIG. 1 and FIG.
The feeding unit 13 includes, for example, a feeding tray 13 a on which the recording medium 21 is stacked and a feeding roller 13 b that feeds the recording medium 21. The feeding unit 13 drives the feeding roller 13 b according to an instruction from the control unit 2 to feed the recording medium 21 to the registration roller 22.

  The conveyance unit 14 includes a conveyance member 14a, a conveyance drive unit 14b, and a conveyance information generation unit 14c. Here, the conveying member 14 a places and conveys the recording medium 21 fed to the registration roller 22 by the feeding unit 13 below the image recording unit 6. Further, the transport driving unit 14 b drives the transport member 14 a according to a drive instruction from the control unit 2. Then, the conveyance information generation unit 14c generates conveyance distance information (movement distance information) of the recording medium 21 to be conveyed. The control unit 2 determines the timing of ink ejection by the nozzle row 8 of the image recording unit 6 based on the transport distance information.

  The control unit 2 acquires the conveyance information of the recording medium 21 from the conveyance information generation unit 14 c from the time when the recording medium 21 reaches the recording medium position sensor 23, and conveys the recording medium 21 to a position facing the nozzle row 8. At this timing, the nozzle array driving unit 7 is controlled to eject ink from the nozzle array 8 to perform a recording process.

  Next, the execution timing of the ink quality maintenance process and the nozzle array 8 recovery process in the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the timing relationship between the quality maintaining process and the recovery process and the job (that is, the recording process) of the image recording apparatus 1.

  The timing chart shown in FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the job and the execution timing of ink fine vibration and capping, which are ink quality maintenance processing, and the execution timing of pressure purge in the recovery processing of the nozzle row 8. Ink fine vibration means that the ink coloring matter and moisture are separated by driving the nozzle row 8 to slightly vibrate the ink in the nozzle row 8 so as not to be ejected from the nozzle row 8 and stirring the ink. It corresponds to the processing that prevents and maintains the quality.

  In the timing chart shown in FIG. 4, the H period in the binary logic chart of L (low) and H (high) indicates the period during which each process is being executed, and the L period executes each process. Indicates a period that is not.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described along the passage of time in FIG.
First, in (1) of FIG. 4, the control unit 2 executes a job (recording process) based on the job information notified from the host device 20.

  Thereafter, when all of the jobs are completed, in (2), the nozzle row management control unit 3 of the control unit 2 controls the nozzle quality driving processing unit 3a to control the nozzle row driving unit 7 to start fine ink vibration. Start counting elapsed time after job completion. At this time, the nozzle array management control unit 3 acquires from the storage unit 4 the capping start condition time d by the cap unit 12 and the pressure purge start condition time e that requires pressure purge. Here, it is assumed that the pressure purge start condition time e is longer than the capping start condition time d.

  Thereafter, the control unit 2 receives a notification of new job information (notification of “job 1”) from the higher-level device 20 in (3). At this time, it is assumed that the elapsed time when the timing is started in (2) is a, and this a is shorter than the capping start condition time d. Then, the nozzle array management control unit 3 stops the fine ink vibration processing by the ink quality holding processing unit 3a, and the control unit 2 starts the job 1 recording process.

  Thereafter, when the recording process of job 1 is completed, in (4), the nozzle row management control unit 3 causes the ink quality holding processing unit 3a to start the ink micro-vibration as in (2), and the process after the completion of the job. Time measurement is started, and a capping start condition time d and a pressure purge start condition time e are acquired from the storage unit 4.

  After that, in (5), the notification of new job information is not received from the host device 20, and the elapsed time when the time measurement is started in (4) passes the capping start condition time d. Then, the nozzle row management control unit 3 stops the fine ink vibration processing by the ink quality holding processing unit 3a, and instead causes the ink quality holding processing unit 3a to control the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 so that the inside of the nozzle row 8 A capping process is performed in which the cap portion 12 is placed over the nozzle row 8 and sealed in order to retain the ink.

  Thereafter, in (6), the control unit 2 receives a notification of new job information (notification of “job 2”) from the higher-level device 20. At this time, it is assumed that the elapsed time when the timing is started in (4) is b, and this b is shorter than the pressure purge start condition time e. Then, the nozzle row management control unit 3 stops the capping process by the ink quality holding processing unit 3a. That is, the nozzle row management control unit 3 causes the ink quality retention processing unit 3 a to control the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to separate the cap unit 12 from the nozzle row 8 and further retract from the lower side of the nozzle row 8. When the retraction of the cap unit 12 is completed in (7), the control unit 2 starts the job 2 recording process.

  Thereafter, when the recording process for job 2 is completed, in (8), as in (2), the nozzle row management control unit 3 causes the ink quality retention processing unit 3a to start the ink micro-vibration process, and after the completion of the job. The elapsed time is started, and the capping start condition time d and the pressure purge start condition time e are acquired from the storage unit 4.

  Thereafter, in (9), the notification of new job information is not received from the host device 20, and the elapsed time when the time measurement is started in (8) passes the capping start condition time d. Then, as in (5), the nozzle row management control unit 3 stops the fine ink vibration processing by the ink quality holding processing unit 3a, and instead causes the ink quality holding processing unit 3a to perform capping processing.

  After that, in (10), the notification of new job information is not received from the higher-level device 20, and the elapsed time when the time measurement is started in (8) passes the pressurized purge start condition time e. Then, after that, when the elapsed time when the time measurement is started in (8) becomes c (11), the control unit 2 receives a notification of new job information (notification of “job 3”) from the higher-level device 20. Then, the nozzle row management control unit 3 closes the ink supply valve 5b and starts execution of the pressure purge process for driving the pressure pump 10, and the thickened ink together with the foreign matter is transferred from the nozzle row 8 to the cap unit 12. Extrude.

  After the pressure purge process is executed for a predetermined time, in (12), the nozzle row management control unit 3 terminates the pressure purge process, and further controls the drive unit of the recovery process unit 9 to move the cap unit 12 to the nozzle. While separating from the row | line | column 8, the wipe part 11 is slid with respect to the nozzle row | line | column 8, and a stain | pollution | contamination is wiped off. After the wiping is completed, the nozzle row management control unit 3 further controls the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to retreat the cap unit 12 and the wipe unit 11 from below the nozzle row 8, and then the control unit 2 executes the recording process of job 3.

  As described above, the nozzle array management control unit 3 recovers ink clogging in the nozzle array 8 by maintaining the ink quality in the nozzle array 8 (ink fine vibration process or capping process). At least one of the recovery process (pressure purge process) to be performed is executed based on the notification of job information from the host apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle array management control unit 3 performs ink printing at the time point (2), (4), and (8) when the recording process based on the notification of job information from the host device 20 is completed. Execution of the ink fine vibration process of the quality maintaining process is started.

  Further, the nozzle array management control unit 3 performs a predetermined time (capping start condition time d) without notification of the next job information after the completion of the recording process based on the notification of the latest job information from the host device 20. ) Is started (5) and (9), the capping process of the ink quality maintaining process is started.

  Further, the nozzle array management control unit 3 performs a predetermined time (pressure purge start condition time without notification of the next job information after the completion of the recording process based on the notification of the latest job information from the host device 20. After the time point (10) when e) has elapsed, the execution of the pressure purge process, which is a recovery process, is started at the time point (11) when the next job information is notified.

  Next, a control method of the image recording apparatus 1 and its program for preventing the recording quality from being deteriorated due to ink thickening by the nozzle array management control unit 3 of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the control processing related to prevention of deterioration in recording quality due to ink thickening performed by the control unit 2.
The processing shown in FIG. 5 is realized by the MPU reading and executing a control program stored in advance in the ROM of the control unit 2. The control unit 2 functions as the nozzle row management control unit 3 when the MPU executes this control program.

  When the process of FIG. 5 is started, the control unit 2 first performs a process of waiting for the completion of the job (recording process) corresponding to the job information already notified from the host apparatus 20 at that time in step S1. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that all the jobs are completed (the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the job is not completed (determination result is Yes), the control unit 2 repeats the process of step S1 until the job is completed (until the determination result is No).

Next, in step S2, the control unit 2 performs processing for acquiring the above-described capping start condition time and pressure purge start condition time from the storage unit 4.
Next, in step S3, the control unit 2 performs a process for starting the ink slight vibration process.

Next, in step S <b> 4, the control unit 2 performs a process of starting the elapsed time from the completion of the latest job.
Next, in step S <b> 5, the control unit 2 performs processing for determining whether new job information is notified from the host device 20 and a corresponding job is started. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that a new job is started (the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that a new job is not started (the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S7.

  Next, in step S6, the control unit 2 performs a process for stopping the fine ink vibration process in order to respond to the start of a new job, and thereafter ends the control process of FIG. (Recording process) starts.

  On the other hand, in step S7, the control unit 2 performs a process of determining whether or not the elapsed time from the completion of the most recent job has exceeded the above-described capping start condition time. Here, the control part 2 returns a process to step S5, when it determines with the said elapsed time not exceeding capping start condition time (determination result is No). On the other hand, when it determines with the said elapsed time having exceeded the capping start condition time (determination result is Yes), the control part 2 moves a process to step S8.

  Next, in step S <b> 8, the control unit 2 stops the fine ink vibration process, and controls the driving unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to perform a capping process for covering the cap unit 12 on the nozzle row 8 and sealing it.

  Next, in step S <b> 9, the control unit 2 performs processing for determining whether new job information is notified from the higher-level device 20 and a corresponding job is started. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that a new job is started (the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, when the control unit 2 determines that a new job is not started (the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S12.

  Next, in step S10, the control unit 2 controls the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to release the capping by separating the cap unit 12 from the nozzle row 8 in order to respond to the start of a new job. I do.

  Next, in step S11, the control unit 2 controls the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to perform a process of moving the cap unit 12 and the wipe unit 11 from the lower side of the image recording unit 6 to the retracted position and retracting them. Thereafter, the control process of FIG. 5 is terminated and the new job (recording process) is started.

  On the other hand, in step S12, the control unit 2 performs a process of determining whether or not the elapsed time from the completion of the most recent job has exceeded the pressure purge start condition time described above. Here, the control part 2 returns a process to step S9, when it determines with the said elapsed time not exceeding pressurization purge start condition time (determination result is No). On the other hand, when it determines with the said elapsed time having exceeded the pressurization purge start condition time (determination result is Yes), the control part 2 transfers a process to step S13.

  Next, in step S <b> 13, the control unit 2 performs processing to determine whether new job information is notified from the higher-level device 20 and a corresponding job is started. Here, when the control unit 2 determines that a new job is started (the determination result is Yes), the control unit 2 moves the process to step S14. On the other hand, when determining that a new job is not started (determination result is No), the control unit 2 repeats the process of step S13 until it is determined that a new job is started.

Next, in step S14, the control unit 2 performs a pressure purge process for driving the pressure pump 10 for a predetermined time after the ink supply valve 5b is closed.
Next, in step S15, the control unit 2 ends the pressure purge process, controls the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to separate the cap unit 12 from the nozzle row 8 and moves the wipe unit 11 to the nozzle row 8. To remove the dirt.

  Next, in step S <b> 16, the control unit 2 controls the drive unit of the recovery processing unit 9 to perform a process of moving the cap unit 12 and the wipe unit 11 from the lower side of the nozzle row 8 to the retracted position and then retracting. Terminates the control process of FIG. 5 and starts the new job (recording process).

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the nozzle row management control unit 3 performs the ink quality holding process for holding the ink quality in the nozzle row 8 and the nozzle row 8. The time required to start the recording process by the image recording apparatus 1 is shortened by appropriately selecting and executing at least one of the recovery process for recovering the ink clogging based on the notification of the job information from the host apparatus 20. Therefore, the throughput of the recording process is improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, the present invention can make various inventions by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the present invention, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, and different components in each embodiment may be combined as appropriate.

  For example, in the image recording apparatus 1 described above, an ink fine vibration process and a capping process are performed as the ink quality maintaining process. Instead of this, the image recording apparatus 1 described above may perform only the capping process as the ink quality maintaining process. By doing so, the control process as the nozzle row management control unit 3 by the control unit 2 is performed. It can be simplified. In this case, it is preferable to set the capping start condition time short.

  In the image recording apparatus 1 described above, the capping process is performed when the capping start condition time has elapsed after the completion of the recording process based on the notification of the latest job information, and the pressure purge start condition time has elapsed. A pressure purge process was performed. Alternatively, the image recording apparatus 1 described above may execute the pressure purge process intermittently at predetermined intervals in parallel with the execution of the capping process. By doing so, it is possible to complete the pressure purge process before receiving notification of new job information, and therefore the time required for the start of the recording process by the image recording apparatus 1 is further shortened. .

1 is a diagram illustrating a conceptual block configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of arrangement of each component of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure (the 1) which shows the structure of a wipe part and a cap part. It is a figure (the 2) which shows the structure of a wipe part and a cap part. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a timing relationship between quality maintenance processing and recovery processing and a job of an image recording apparatus. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the control processing regarding the prevention of the fall of recording quality by the viscosity increase of an ink with the flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device 2 Control part 3 Nozzle row management control part 3a Ink quality maintenance processing part 4 Storage part 5 Ink supply part 5a Ink tank 5b Ink supply valve 5c Ink supply path 5d Pressurization path 5e Ink supply path 6 Image recording part 7 Nozzle array drive unit 8 Nozzle array 9 Recovery processing unit 10 Pressure pump 11 Wipe unit 12 Cap unit 13 Feed unit 13a Feed tray 13b Pickup roller 14 Transport unit 14a Transport member 14b Transport drive unit 14c Transport information generation unit 20 Host device 21 Recording medium 22 Registration roller 23 Recording medium position sensor

Claims (24)

In an image recording apparatus that performs a recording process by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed by a plurality of nozzles based on the notified job information.
A recovery processing unit for performing recovery processing for recovering clogging of the ink in the nozzle row;
A nozzle row management control unit that executes at least one of an ink quality holding process for holding the quality of the ink in the nozzle row and a recovery process by the recovery processing unit based on the notification of the job information;
An image recording apparatus comprising:   The nozzle array management control unit, when a predetermined time elapses without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information, the recovery processing unit The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the recovery process is started when the job information is next notified.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle row management control unit starts execution of the ink quality holding process when the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed. .   The image according to claim 1, wherein the ink quality maintaining process includes at least one of a process of stirring the ink in the nozzle array and a process of moisturizing the ink in the nozzle array. Recording device.   5. The nozzle row management control unit starts execution of a process for stirring the ink in the nozzle row when the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed. The image recording apparatus described in 1.   The nozzle array management control unit includes the nozzle array management controller when a predetermined time elapses without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein execution of the ink moisturizing process is started.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the process of stirring the ink in the nozzle row includes a process of driving and controlling the nozzle row to slightly vibrate the ink. A cap portion for sealing the nozzle row by covering the nozzle row;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the moisturizing process of the ink in the nozzle array includes a process of driving and controlling the cap unit to cover the nozzle array.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery process includes a process of ejecting the pressurized ink from the nozzle row. The recovery process causes the pressurized ink to be ejected from the nozzle row,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ink ejected from the nozzle array by the recovery process is received by the cap unit.   2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery process includes a process of wiping the stain of the nozzle row with the ink to recover the nozzle row from the stain. A control unit further comprising at least the nozzle row management control unit;
The control unit is configured to include at least an arithmetic processing unit and a program storage unit in which a control program to be executed by the arithmetic processing unit is stored in advance, and by causing the arithmetic processing unit to execute the control program. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus functions as the nozzle row management control unit. A control method for an image recording apparatus that performs a recording process by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed by a plurality of nozzles based on notified job information. And
Determining whether or not to execute at least one of an ink quality maintaining process for maintaining the quality of the ink in the nozzle array and a recovery process for recovering the clogging of the ink in the nozzle array; Based on your notifications,
A control method for an image recording apparatus, wherein at least one of the ink quality holding process and the recovery process is executed based on a result of the determination. In the determination, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information,
14. The image according to claim 13, wherein when it is determined by the determination that the predetermined time has elapsed, the execution of the recovery process is started the next time the job information is notified. Control method of recording apparatus. In the determination, it is determined whether or not the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the determination determines that the recording process based on the notification of the job information has been completed, the execution of the ink quality holding process is started. Control method.   The image according to claim 13, wherein the ink quality maintaining process includes at least one of a process of stirring the ink in the nozzle array and a process of moisturizing the ink in the nozzle array. Control method of recording apparatus. In the determination, it is determined whether a predetermined time has passed without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information,
The control of the image recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when it is determined by the determination that the predetermined time has elapsed, execution of the moisturizing process of the ink in the nozzle row is started. Method. In the determination, it is determined whether or not the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed,
The execution of the process of stirring the ink in the nozzle row is started when it is determined by the determination that the recording process based on the notification of the job information has been completed. A control method of the image recording apparatus described. Based on the notified job information, the control of the image recording apparatus that performs the recording process by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from at least one recording unit including at least one nozzle row formed by a plurality of nozzles is calculated. A program for causing a device to perform
Determining whether or not to execute at least one of an ink quality maintaining process for maintaining the quality of the ink in the nozzle array and a recovery process for recovering the clogging of the ink in the nozzle array; A determination process based on the notification,
A program that causes the arithmetic processing unit to perform a control process for executing at least one of the ink quality holding process and the recovery process based on a determination result of the determination process. The determination process determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information,
The control process, when it is determined by the determination process that the predetermined time has elapsed, starts the execution of the recovery process the next time the job information is notified. Item 20. The program according to Item 19. The determination process determines whether the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed,
The control process starts the execution of the ink quality holding process when it is determined by the determination process that the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed. The listed program.   The program according to claim 19, wherein the ink quality maintaining process includes at least one of a process of stirring the ink in the nozzle array and a process of moisturizing the ink in the nozzle array. . The determination process determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed without notification of the next job information after completion of the recording process based on the latest notification of the job information,
23. The control process according to claim 22, wherein when the determination process determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, the control process starts execution of a moisturizing process for the ink in the nozzle row. Program. The determination process determines whether the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed,
When it is determined by the determination process that the recording process based on the notification of the job information is completed, the control process starts execution of a process of stirring the ink in the nozzle row. The program according to claim 22.