JP2010228287A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use initial ink and to achieve required printing quality. <P>SOLUTION: An inkjet printer 1 not in use is filled with the initial ink whose kind is the same as that of ink to be delivered. When discharging of the initial ink is selected at a first booting (S103: YES), the initial ink is completely discharged by a purge processing (S104). In addition, when a normal image quality print command is input (S107: YES), or a print command is input after the initial inks of all colors run out (S106: NO), printing is performed as it is without performing the purge processing (S114). When a high image quality print command is input under a condition that the initial ink of either one of colors remains (S107: YES), the initial ink is discharged (S110) by a purge processing under a condition that a permission therefor is received from a user (S108 and S109: YES), and then printing is performed (S114). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from nozzles.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when an ink jet printer is shipped from a factory, the recording head is filled with a preserving liquid obtained by removing dye and pigment components from the ink. Then, at the first start-up, by performing an initial purge for sucking the liquid in the recording head from the nozzle, the storage liquid in the recording head is discharged and ink is introduced from the ink cartridge into the recording head.

  If air is contained in the recording head, when ink is introduced into the recording head, air remains without being discharged from the recording head. However, in Patent Document 1, a storage solution is stored in the recording head at the time of shipment. Since no air is contained therein, air does not remain in the recording head when ink is introduced from the ink cartridge to the recording head.

JP 2006-205747 A

  Here, the liquid filled in the recording head at the time of manufacture is not limited to a dedicated storage liquid as described in Patent Document 1, and is, for example, the same type of ink that is ejected from a nozzle. May be. When the recording head is filled with ink (initial ink) at the time of shipment, printing using the initial ink may be considered.

  However, in such initial inks, gas may enter or thicken due to changes in the environment such as temperature and pressure between the time when the inkjet recording apparatus is shipped and the first start-up. In such a case, if the initial ink is used to print at a high image quality such as printing a photo, the non-ejection of the ink from the nozzle or the ink due to the gas entering the initial ink or the thickening of the initial ink. There is a possibility that the required print quality cannot be realized due to the bending in the discharge direction.

  Therefore, as in the case where the recording head is filled with the storage solution, the initial purge as described above is performed, the initial ink is completely discharged, and printing is performed after newly introducing ink into the recording head. It is done. However, for text and other printing that does not require very high print quality, the required print quality can be achieved even if printing is performed using an initial ink that has entered a gas or increased in viscosity. If the initial purge is uniformly performed at the time of starting up, the initial ink is unnecessarily discharged by the initial purge for the user who mainly prints the text.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can effectively use the initial ink and can realize the required print quality.

  An ink jet printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an ink jet head that discharges ink from a nozzle, an ink supply channel that is connected to the ink jet head and supplies ink to the ink jet head, and the ink jet from the nozzle. An ink jet printer comprising a head and a purge means for discharging ink in the ink supply flow path, and a control means for controlling the ink jet head and the purge means. The ink supply flow path is filled with the same type of initial ink as the ink ejected from the nozzle, and the initial ink remaining amount for detecting the remaining amount of the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path Detecting means, and the control means comprises: Corresponding to each of normal printing and high-quality printing than the normal printing, the inkjet head is configured to control the ink jet to be ejected from the nozzles in different modes, and In a state where the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink remains, when a normal print command for instructing to perform normal printing is input, ink is discharged to the purge means. When the high-quality print command for instructing the inkjet head to eject ink from the nozzles and performing the high-quality printing is input to the purge unit without performing the operation, And the ink jet head after completely discharging the initial ink in the ink supply channel And is characterized in that ink is ejected from the nozzle.

  According to this, when a normal print command that does not require so high print quality is input, the ink is discharged from the nozzles to the inkjet head without performing the initial ink discharge to the purge means, and printing is performed. The initial ink can be used effectively, and since the ink is not discharged by the purge means, it does not take much time before printing is possible.

  On the other hand, when a high-quality print command is input, the purge means completely discharges the initial ink in the inkjet head and the ink supply channel, and then prints by ejecting ink from the nozzle to the inkjet head. By performing the above, it is possible to realize the print quality required when printing with high image quality.

  An ink jet printer according to a second invention is the ink jet printer according to the first invention, wherein the control means detects that the initial ink remains by the initial ink remaining amount detecting means. And a predetermined display means for confirming whether or not the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path may be completely discharged when the high image quality print command is input. Only when a consent signal indicating that the initial ink based on the confirmation message is completely discharged is inputted to the purge means, the inkjet head is output to the purge head. And the initial ink in the ink supply channel is completely discharged.

  The amount of the initial ink is considerably large, and the initial ink once discharged cannot be returned to the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path, so that some users do not want to discharge the initial ink.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when a high-quality print command is input, a confirmation message as to whether or not the initial ink may be completely discharged is displayed on the predetermined display unit, and the confirmation is performed. Since the initial ink is discharged only when the approval based on the message is received, the initial ink can be discharged only when the user desires even when the high-quality print command is input.

  An ink jet printer according to a third invention is the ink jet printer according to the first or second invention, wherein the control means detects that the initial ink remains by the initial ink remaining amount detecting means. When the high-quality print command is input in a state where the ink is present, the purge unit discharges ink by an amount substantially equal to the remaining amount of the initial ink detected by the initial ink remaining amount detecting unit. It is what.

  According to this, it is possible to prevent the ink supplied to the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path from being newly discharged by discharging the amount of ink that is substantially the same as the detected remaining amount of the initial ink. .

  An ink jet printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects the initial ink from the ink consumption in the ink jet head. It is characterized by detecting the remaining amount.

  According to this, the remaining amount of the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path can be easily detected from the ink consumption in the ink jet head.

  An ink jet printer according to a fifth invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the ink jet head has a plurality of types of nozzles that eject different types of ink. The ink supply channel is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of nozzles, and the initial ink remaining amount detecting means is provided in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel for each type of ink. The remaining amount of the initial ink is detected, and the control unit detects the normal ink in a state where the initial ink remaining amount detection unit detects that the initial ink does not remain for all types of ink. Regardless of whether a print command or the high image quality command is input, the purge unit does not discharge ink and While, in the ink-jet head, is characterized in that the ink is ejected from the nozzle.

  According to this, after all kinds of initial inks are exhausted, the initial ink is not ejected from the nozzles. Therefore, when a high-quality print command is input thereafter, a new inkjet head and ink supply are provided. It is possible to prevent the ink supplied to the flow path from being discharged.

  An ink jet printer according to a sixth invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the ink jet head has a plurality of types of nozzles that eject different types of ink. The ink supply channel is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of nozzles, and the initial ink remaining amount detecting means is provided in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel for each type of ink. The initial ink remaining amount is detected, and the control unit detects that the initial ink remains only for some types of ink by the initial ink remaining amount detection unit. When the high-quality print command is input, the purge unit discharges only some of the types of ink. That.

  According to this, when the initial image remains only for some types of ink and when a high-quality print command is input, the initial ink remains by discharging only the some types of ink. It is possible to prevent the discharge of ink that is not discharged.

  An ink jet printer according to a seventh invention is the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein printing is performed using the initial ink or the initial ink is used in an unused state. It is possible to select whether to perform printing using only ink newly supplied to the inkjet head and the ink supply flow path, and the control device performs printing using only newly supplied ink. When the selection signal indicating that the ink is selected is input, the purge means completely discharges the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel. is there.

  According to this, in the unused state, when the user selects whether or not to perform printing using the initial ink, and when it is selected to perform printing using newly supplied ink, the inkjet head and By discharging the initial ink in the ink supply flow path, when the user requests high print quality, it is possible to achieve high print quality before a print command is input. be able to.

  According to the present invention, when a normal print command that does not require a very high print quality is input, the ink is ejected from the nozzles to the inkjet head without performing the initial ink discharge to the purge unit, and printing is performed. Thus, the initial ink can be used effectively, and the ink is not discharged by the purge means, so that it does not take much time before printing becomes possible.

  On the other hand, when a high-quality print command is input, the purge means completely discharges the initial ink in the inkjet head and the ink supply channel, and then prints by ejecting ink from the nozzle to the inkjet head. By performing the above, it is possible to realize the print quality required when printing with high image quality.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the inkjet head of FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the control apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an inkjet printer. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on a display during operation | movement of an inkjet printer.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 includes a carriage 2, a sub tank 3, an ink jet head 4, a cartridge mounting portion 5, four tubes 6, a suction cap 7, four tubes 8, a suction pump 9 (purge means), A switching device 10, a tube 11, a waste ink tank 12, and the like are provided. Further, the operation of the inkjet printer 1 is controlled by the control device 60.

  The carriage 2 reciprocates in the scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1). The sub tank 3 is mounted on the carriage 2. The ink-jet head 4 is disposed on the lower surface of the sub tank 3 and is supplied with ink from the sub tank 3 and ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles 25 formed on the lower surface thereof.

  The cartridge mounting portion 5 is disposed at the lower right end portion of the inkjet printer 1 in FIG. 1, and four ink cartridges C respectively filled with black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are detachable. The four tubes 6 connect the sub tank 3 and the cartridge mounting unit 5 (four ink cartridges C mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 5), respectively. The ink stored in the ink cartridge C is stored in the tube 6. To the sub tank 3 and the inkjet head 4.

  In the present embodiment, the combination of the sub tank 3 and the tube 6 corresponds to the ink supply channel according to the present invention. The inkjet head 4, the sub tank 4 and the tube 6 are filled with the same type of ink (initial ink) as the ink to be ejected when the inkjet printer 1 is manufactured, and the inkjet printer 1 is shipped in this state. .

  In the ink jet printer 1, ink is ejected from the ink jet head 4 that reciprocates in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2 onto the recording paper P that is transported downward (paper transport direction) in FIG. Thus, printing is performed on the recording paper P.

  The suction cap 7 is disposed at a position facing the inkjet head 4 in a state where the carriage 2 is moved to the rightmost side in FIG. The suction cap 7 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1). By moving the suction cap 7 upward while the carriage 2 is at the position, the plurality of nozzles 25 are moved. Each nozzle row 18 (see FIG. 2) described later (the color of ink to be ejected) can be covered separately.

  The suction pump 9 is connected to a portion covering each nozzle row 18 (see FIG. 2) of the suction cap 7 through four tubes 8. The switching device 10 is provided in the middle of the tube 8 and is configured to be able to individually switch the connection between the portion corresponding to each nozzle row 18 of the suction cap 7 and the suction pump 9 and the blocking thereof. . The waste ink tank 12 is connected to the suction pump 9 via the tube 11.

  In the inkjet printer 1, as described above, the suction pump 9 is driven in a state where the plurality of nozzles 25 are covered by the suction cap 7, whereby the ink is sucked from the nozzles 25, and the inkjet head 4 and the sub tank 3. In addition, it is possible to perform a purge process for discharging the ink in the tube 6. At this time, by performing switching by the switching device 10, it is possible to selectively suck ink from the nozzles 15 that eject the four colors of ink. Further, the discharged ink is stored in the waste ink tank 12.

  Next, the inkjet head 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inkjet head 4 of FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inkjet head 4 includes a flow path unit 41 in which an ink flow path including a pressure chamber 20 and a nozzle 25 is formed, and a piezoelectric for applying pressure to the ink in the pressure chamber 20. And an actuator 42.

  The flow path unit 41 is configured by stacking four plates of a cavity plate 31, a base plate 32, a manifold plate 33, and a nozzle plate 34. Of the four plates 31 to 34, the three plates 31 to 33 excluding the nozzle plate 34 are made of a metal material such as stainless steel, and the nozzle plate 34 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyimide. Or the nozzle plate 34 may be comprised with the metal material similarly to the other three plates 31-33.

  A plurality of pressure chambers 20 are formed in the cavity plate 31. The plurality of pressure chambers 20 have a substantially elliptical planar shape whose longitudinal direction is the scanning direction, and are arranged in the paper feed direction to form a row of one pressure chamber 20, and such pressure The rows of the chambers 20 are arranged in four rows in the scanning direction. In the base plate 32, a plurality of through holes 22 and 23 having a substantially circular planar shape are formed in portions facing both ends of the pressure chambers 20 in the longitudinal direction in plan view.

  A manifold channel 21 is formed in the manifold plate 33. The manifold channel 21 is provided corresponding to the row of the four pressure chambers 20, and each of the manifold flow passages 21 is opposed to the substantially right half of the plurality of pressure chambers 20 constituting each row of the pressure chambers 20. Extends in the feed direction. In addition, the manifold channel 21 is provided at the upper end portion in FIG. 2, and ink is supplied from four ink supply ports 19 connected to the sub tank 3. More specifically, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are supplied from the four ink supply ports 19 in order from the one arranged on the left side of FIG.

  The manifold plate 33 is formed with a plurality of through holes 24 having a substantially circular planar shape at a portion facing the plurality of through holes 23 in plan view. In the nozzle plate 34, a plurality of nozzles 25 are formed in a portion facing the through hole 24 in plan view. As with the pressure chamber 20, the plurality of nozzles 25 are arranged in the paper feed direction to form one nozzle row 18, and such nozzle rows 18 are arranged in four rows in the scanning direction. The black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are ejected from the plurality of nozzles 25 in order from the left side of the nozzle row 18 in FIG.

  In the flow path unit 41, the manifold flow path 21 communicates with the pressure chamber 20 through the through hole 32, and the pressure chamber 20 communicates with the nozzle 25 through the through holes 23 and 24. As described above, the flow path unit 41 is formed with a plurality of individual ink flow paths from the manifold flow path 21 through the pressure chamber 20 to the nozzle 25.

  The piezoelectric actuator 42 includes a diaphragm 51, a piezoelectric layer 52, and a plurality of individual electrodes 53. The diaphragm 51 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, and is joined to the upper surface of the flow path unit 41 so as to cover the plurality of pressure chambers 20. The conductive diaphragm 51 also serves as a common electrode for driving the piezoelectric actuator 42 as will be described later, and is always held at the ground potential.

  The piezoelectric layer 52 is made of a piezoelectric material mainly composed of lead zirconate titanate, which is a mixed crystal of lead titanate and lead zirconate, and continuously on the upper surface of the diaphragm 51 across the plurality of pressure chambers 20. Has been placed.

  The plurality of individual electrodes 53 have a substantially elliptical planar shape that is slightly smaller than the pressure chamber 20, and are arranged on portions of the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 52 facing the substantially central portions of the plurality of pressure chambers 20. Yes. The plurality of individual electrodes 53 are connected to a driver IC 55 (see FIG. 4) via a flexible wiring member (FPC) (not shown), and a driving potential is individually applied to the plurality of individual electrodes 53 by the driver IC 55. Is done.

  In addition, a portion of the piezoelectric layer 52 sandwiched between the plurality of individual electrodes 53 and the diaphragm 51 as a common electrode is polarized in the thickness direction.

  Here, a driving method of the piezoelectric actuator 42 will be described. In the piezoelectric actuator 42, the plurality of individual electrodes 43 are previously held at the ground potential by the driver IC 55. When a driving potential is applied to any of the plurality of individual electrodes 53 by the driver IC 55, a potential difference is generated between the individual electrode 53 and the diaphragm 51 as a common electrode held at the ground potential, and the piezoelectric layer An electric field in the same thickness direction as that of the polarization direction is generated in a portion sandwiched between these electrodes. As a result, the portion of the piezoelectric layer 52 contracts in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, and as a result, the diaphragm 51 and the piezoelectric layer 52 are deformed so as to protrude toward the pressure chamber 20 as a whole, and the pressure chamber 20 The volume of is reduced. As a result, the pressure of the ink in the pressure chamber 20 rises, and the ink is ejected from the nozzle 25 communicating with the pressure chamber 20.

  Next, the control device 60 that controls the operation of the inkjet printer 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control device 60. The control device 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and these include a print control unit 61, a purge control unit 62, an initial stage as shown in FIG. It operates as an ink remaining amount detection unit 63, a display signal output unit 64, an initial activation determination unit 65, and the like.

  The print control unit 61 controls operations of the carriage 2 and the driver IC 55 (inkjet head 4) when a print command is input from an external PC or the like.

  More specifically, a print command input from an external PC has a higher image quality than a normal print such as a normal print command instructing printing at a normal image quality, such as text printing, and a photo print. Is one of the high-quality print commands for instructing printing.

  When a high-quality print command is input, the carriage 2 is moved at a low speed, and ink droplets are landed on the recording paper P at a small interval to perform printing at a high resolution, and a low-quality print command. Is input, the moving speed of the carriage 2 is increased, and ink droplets are landed on the recording paper P at a large interval to perform printing at a low resolution. That is, the print control unit 61 controls the inkjet head 4 so that ink is ejected from the nozzles 25 in different modes, corresponding to normal printing and high-quality printing, respectively.

  Whether the input print command is a normal print command or a high image quality print command can be determined from, for example, resolution data included in the print command input from the PC.

  The purge control unit 62 controls operations of the carriage 2, the suction cap 7, and the suction pump 9 when performing the purge process.

  The initial ink remaining amount detection unit 63 individually detects the remaining amount of initial ink in the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3, and the tube 6 for each color. Specifically, by subtracting the amount of ink ejected from the inkjet head 4 and the amount of ink discharged by the purge process from the amount of initial ink in an unused state (the amount of ink in the inkjet head 4). From the consumed amount), the remaining amount of the initial ink is calculated. Note that the amount of initial ink in an unused state is stored in the ROM of the control device 60 or the like. Further, the ejection amount of ink from the inkjet head 4 can be calculated by detecting the number of times ink is ejected from the inkjet head 4. Further, the amount of ink discharged by the purge process can be calculated by detecting the number of times the purge process has been executed. Thus, the remaining amount of the initial ink can be easily detected from the ink consumption amount in the inkjet head 4.

  The display signal output unit 64 outputs a display signal for causing a display 67 (display unit) provided in the inkjet printer 1 to display selection screens A1 to A3, a screen A4 (see FIG. 6), which will be described later, and the like. The display signal output unit 64 may be configured to output a display signal to a PC display (not shown) connected to the inkjet printer 1 instead of the display 67.

  When the inkjet printer 1 is activated, the first activation determination unit 65 determines whether the activation is the first activation. Specifically, for example, the inkjet printer 1 is activated for the first time by detecting a flag stored in the RAM of the control device 60 so that the inkjet printer 1 is activated at the first activation after shipment. Whether or not is detected.

  Next, the operation of the inkjet printer 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the inkjet printer 1. This flowchart is started when the inkjet printer 1 is activated by the user.

  When the inkjet printer 1 is activated, as shown in FIG. 7, first, the first activation determination unit 65 determines whether the activation is the first activation (step S101, hereinafter simply referred to as S101). ), When it is determined that the activation is not the first time, the process proceeds to S105 described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the activation is the first time (S101: YES), the display signal is output from the display signal output unit 64, whereby the initial value as shown in FIG. A selection screen A1 for allowing the user to select whether or not to discharge ink is displayed, and the selection operation can be performed from the operation panel 67 provided in the inkjet printer 1 (S102). . Alternatively, the selection screen A1 may be displayed on the display of a PC connected to the inkjet printer 1, and the selection operation may be performed from the PC. The same applies to the following selection operations.

  Then, when the user selects not to discharge the initial ink (“No” is selected on the screen A1) and a selection signal indicating that is input to the control device 60 (S103: NO), as it is, The process proceeds to S105 described later. On the other hand, when it is selected to discharge the initial ink ("Yes" is selected on the screen A1) and a selection signal indicating that is input to the control device 60 (S103: YES), the purge control unit 62 The purge process is performed under the above control, and the initial inks of all the colors in the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3, and the tube 6 are completely discharged (S104), and then the process proceeds to S105 described later.

  In the purge process of S104, the ink of almost the same amount as that of the initial ink filled in the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3 and the tube 6 in an unused state is used so that the initial ink is completely discharged. Discharged. Here, the control of the ink discharge amount by the purge process is performed, for example, by controlling the number of rotations of the suction pump 9 by the purge control unit 62.

  In S105, the process waits until a print command is input (S105: NO). When a print command is input (S105: YES), the ink jet head 4, It is determined whether or not the initial ink of any color remains in the sub tank 3 and the tube 6 (S106), and when the initial ink of any color does not remain (S106: NO), the purge process is performed. Without being performed, printing is performed based on the input print command under the control of the print control unit 61 (S114), and then the process returns to S105.

  On the other hand, when the initial ink of any color remains (S106: YES), if the input print command is a normal image quality print command (S107: NO), the purge process is not performed and is performed as it is. Under the control of the print control unit 61, printing is performed based on the input print command (S114), and then the process returns to S105.

  On the other hand, when the input print command is a high image quality print command (S107: YES), a display signal is output from the display signal output unit 64, whereby the display 67 is displayed on the display 67 of FIG. A selection screen A2 (confirmation message) for allowing the user to select whether or not the initial ink may be discharged is displayed, and the selection operation can be performed from the operation panel 67. A state is entered (S108).

  Then, when the user selects to accept the initial ink discharge ("Yes" is selected on the selection screen A2), and the consent signal indicating that is input to the control device 60 (S109: YES) A purge process is performed under the control of the purge control unit 62, and ink is discharged only from the nozzles 25 that eject ink of the color in which the initial ink remains (S110). Then, under the control of the print control unit 61, printing is performed based on the input print command (S114), and then the process returns to S105.

  Here, in the purge process of S110, the ink of the color in which the initial ink remains is determined as the initial ink remaining amount detected by the initial ink remaining amount detecting unit 63 so that the initial ink is completely discharged. Only about the same amount is discharged. Also in this case, the control of the ink discharge amount by the purge process is performed by controlling the number of rotations of the suction pump 9 by the purge control unit 62.

  On the other hand, when the user selects not to accept the initial ink discharge ("No" is selected on the selection screen A2) and a non-consent signal indicating that is input (S109: NO), When the display signal is output from the display signal output unit 64, the user can select whether or not the display 67 may perform printing using the initial ink as shown in FIG. 6C. The selection screen A3 is displayed, and the selection operation can be performed from the operation panel 67 (S111).

  At this time, when high-quality printing is performed using the initial ink, the nozzle 25 may cause no ink ejection or bend in the ink ejection direction due to gas entering the initial ink or thickening of the initial ink. Since there is a possibility that the required print quality cannot be realized, as shown in FIG. 6C, the selection screen A3 for confirming whether or not printing with the initial ink may be performed, A warning message that print quality cannot be guaranteed when printing with initial ink may also be displayed.

  Then, when the user selects that printing may be performed using the initial ink ("Yes" is selected on the selection screen A3) and a signal indicating that is input to the control device 60 (S112: YES), printing is performed based on the input print command under the control of the print control unit 61 (S114), and then the process returns to S105.

  On the other hand, when the user selects not to perform printing using the initial ink ("No" is selected on the selection screen A3) and a signal indicating that is input to the control device 60 ( (S112: NO), the display signal output from the display signal output unit 64 causes the display 67 to display a screen A4 for notifying that printing is not performed, as shown in FIG. 6D (S113). Then, the process returns to S105.

  When the inkjet printer 1 is operated in this way, when a normal image quality print command that does not require high print quality, such as text printing, is input with the initial ink remaining (S107: NO), a purge process is performed. Since printing is performed as is (S114), printing can be performed using the initial ink, and the initial ink can be used effectively.

  On the other hand, when a high image quality print command for performing printing that requires high print quality such as photo printing is input with the initial ink remaining (S107: YES), the inkjet head 4, After the initial ink in the sub-tank 3 and the tube 6 is completely discharged (S110), printing is performed (S113). Therefore, instead of the initial ink that may have gas intrusion or thickening, it is newly added. Printing is performed using the ink supplied from the ink cartridge C to the inkjet head 4, and the required print quality can be realized.

  Here, the initial amount of ink initially filled in the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3, and the tube 6 is a considerable amount, and once the initial ink is discharged by the purge process of S110, the initial ink is discharged. Since the ink cannot be returned to the inkjet head 4, for example, a user who mainly prints text may not want the initial ink to be discharged.

  In response to such a user's request, in the present embodiment, even when a high-quality print command is input in a state where the initial ink remains (S107: YES), the user further receives the initial ink. The initial ink is discharged by the purge process only when it is approved to discharge the ink (S109: YES), so even if a high-quality print command is input, if the user does not want it It is possible to prevent the initial ink from being discharged.

  Further, in the purge process of S110, only the color inks with the initial ink remaining are discharged, so that other color inks newly supplied from the ink cartridge C to the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3 and the tube 6 are also discharged. It can be prevented from being discharged.

  In addition, in the purge process of S110, the ink of each color in which the initial ink remains is discharged by almost the same amount as the initial ink remaining amount detected by the initial ink remaining amount detecting unit 63. It is possible to prevent the ink supplied from the ink cartridge C to the inkjet head 4, the sub tank 3, and the tube 6 from being discharged.

  In addition, after the initial ink of all colors is used up (S106: NO), the purge process is not performed regardless of whether the input print command is the normal print command or the high image quality print command. Since printing is performed as it is (S114), it is possible to prevent the newly supplied ink from being discharged by the purge process when the high-quality print command is input after the initial inks of all colors are used up. Can do.

  In addition, when the initial startup is performed, the user selects whether to discharge the initial ink (S102), and when it is selected to discharge the initial ink (S103: YES), all colors are initialized by the purge process. Since the ink is completely discharged, when the user requests high print quality, high print quality can be realized before the print command is input by discharging the initial ink in advance. It becomes possible to be in a state.

  Next, modified examples in which various changes are made to the present embodiment will be described. However, components having the same configuration as in the present embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, at the first startup, the user selects whether or not to discharge the initial ink, and when it is selected to discharge the initial ink, the initial ink of all colors is completely discharged by the purge process. However, the above selection is not performed by the user, and when the inkjet printer 1 is activated, the above operation is immediately performed without performing the purge process regardless of whether the activation is the first activation. It may be configured to proceed to S105.

  In the above-described embodiment, the suction cap 7 is configured to individually cover the nozzles 25 that discharge color (yellow, cyan, magenta) ink for each color. In the processing, only the ink of the color in which the initial ink remains is discharged by the amount detected by the initial ink detection unit 63, but this is not limitative.

  For example, the suction cap 7 is configured to collectively cover the nozzles 25 that discharge three color inks separately from the nozzles 25 that discharge black ink, and a portion that covers the black nozzles 25; and Two tubes 8 may be provided corresponding to the portions covering the nozzles 25 that discharge color ink. In this case, switching is performed by the switching device 10 and the suction pump 9 is driven to selectively eject ink from the nozzle 25 that ejects black ink and the nozzle 25 that ejects three color inks. It becomes possible to suck. In this case, if only the black initial ink remains in the purge process of S110, only the black ink is discharged and only the initial ink of yellow, cyan, or magenta remains. If so, these three colors of ink are discharged together.

  Furthermore, the suction cap 7 may be configured to cover all the nozzles 25 together. In this case, in the purge process of S110, all colors of ink are discharged regardless of the color in which the initial ink remains.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, even in the purge process of S110, a fixed amount of ink may be discharged regardless of the initial ink remaining amount detected by the ink remaining amount detecting unit 63. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet head 4 is configured to eject four colors (plural types) of ink. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one color (one type) is ejected from the ink jet head 4. ) May be ejected only.

  In this case, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the initial ink of the color remains in S106. In S110, the initial ink of the color may be discharged by a purge process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the initial ink remaining amount detection unit 62 detects the initial ink remaining amount from the ink consumption amount in the inkjet head 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. The remaining amount of the initial ink may be detected from the remaining amount of ink in the mounted ink cartridge C or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the initial ink remains (S106: YES), when the high-quality print command is input (S107: YES), may the initial ink be discharged to the user? A selection screen A1 for selecting whether or not to be displayed is displayed (S108), and only when it is selected to accept discharge of the initial ink (when an acceptance signal is input) (S109) The configuration is such that ink is discharged (S110). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the initial ink remains (S106: YES), and when a high-quality print command is input (S107: YES). ), The initial ink may be immediately discharged by the purge process (proceeding to S110).

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer having a so-called serial head that discharges ink from the nozzle 25 while reciprocating in the scanning direction together with the carriage 2 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an ink jet printer having a so-called line head that extends over the entire length of the width of the recording paper P and is fixed to the ink jet printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 3 Sub tank 4 Inkjet head 6 Tube 7 Suction cap 8 Tube 9 Suction pump 10 Switching device 11 Tube 12 Waste liquid tank 25 Nozzle 60 Control device 67 Display

Claims (7)

An inkjet head that ejects ink from nozzles;
An ink supply channel connected to the inkjet head for supplying ink to the inkjet head;
Purge means for discharging ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path from the nozzle;
An inkjet printer comprising a control means for controlling the inkjet head and the purge means,
In an unused state, the inkjet head and the ink supply channel are filled with the same type of initial ink as the ink ejected from the nozzle,
An initial ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply flow path;
The control means is configured to control the inkjet head so that ink is ejected from the nozzles in different modes corresponding to normal printing and printing with higher image quality than the normal printing. And
further,
In a state where the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink remains,
When a normal printing command for instructing to perform the normal printing is input, without causing the purge unit to discharge ink, the ink jet head is allowed to eject ink from the nozzle as it is,
When a high-quality print command for instructing to perform high-quality printing is input, the purge means completely discharges the initial ink in the ink-jet head and the ink supply channel, and then An ink jet printer which causes an ink jet head to eject ink from the nozzle. The control means includes
When the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink remains, and when the high-quality print command is input,
Outputting a display signal for displaying a confirmation message on a predetermined display means for confirming whether or not the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel may be completely discharged;
The initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel is supplied to the purge means only when a consent signal indicating that the initial ink based on the confirmation message is completely discharged is input. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printer is completely discharged. The control means includes
When the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink remains, and when the high-quality print command is input,
3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the purge unit causes the ink to be discharged by an amount substantially equal to the remaining amount of the initial ink detected by the initial ink remaining amount detecting unit.   4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the initial ink from the amount of ink consumed in the ink jet head. The inkjet head has a plurality of types of nozzles that discharge different types of ink,
The ink supply channel is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of nozzles;
The initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel for each type of ink,
The control means includes
In a state where the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink does not remain for all types of ink, when either the normal printing command or the high image quality command is input, The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink is ejected from the nozzle to the ink jet head as it is without causing the purge unit to discharge the ink. The inkjet head has a plurality of types of nozzles that discharge different types of ink,
The ink supply channel is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of types of nozzles;
The initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the initial ink in the ink jet head and the ink supply channel for each type of ink,
The control means includes
When the high-quality print command is input in a state where the initial ink remaining amount detecting means detects that the initial ink remains only for some types of ink,
6. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the purge means discharges only the partial type of ink. Select whether printing is performed using the initial ink in an unused state, or printing is performed using only the ink supplied to the inkjet head and the ink supply channel without using the initial ink. Is composed of
The control device includes:
When a selection signal indicating that printing has been selected using only newly supplied ink is input, the initial ink in the inkjet head and the ink supply channel is supplied to the purge unit. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printer is completely discharged.

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