JP2010234545A - Liquid ejector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid ejector which avoids an increase of a printing time so as to suppress power consumption and can achieve energy saving. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid ejector includes an inkjet head 40, cartridges 30-33, a carriage 5 which carries the inkjet head 40 and moves back and forth in a right-left direction, tubes 20-23 which make the inkjet head 40 communicate with the cartridges 30-33respectively, and power generating units 100-103. The power generating units 100-103 have housings 120 with internal spaces 121; a water wheel 124 which is arranged in the internal channel 121 and rotated when an ink flows in the internal channel 121 with a vane 126 colliding against the ink that flows in the internal channel 121; and a power generating part 116 having a magnet 114 and a coil 115 disposed so that one is connected with the water wheel 124 and the other is set in an immobile state while generating an induced current to the coil 115 when the one moves associatively by rotation of the water wheel 124. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid.

Conventionally, as an example of a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid, an inkjet head having a nozzle that ejects ink, a carriage that carries the inkjet and reciprocates in a predetermined scanning direction, and ink supplied to the inkjet head are stored. A printer having a cartridge and a tube that communicates the ink jet head and the cartridge is known.
Incidentally, in recent years, interest in energy saving is increasing in various fields, and it is desired that the above-described printer is configured to reduce power consumption as energy saving. In order to meet the demand, a printer with reduced power consumption is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The printer determines an ink jet head, a carriage that carries the ink jet head and moves back and forth in the scanning direction, a transport unit that transports the print medium, and whether or not the amount of print data exceeds a predetermined value. And a speed control means for controlling the carriage and the transport means based on the amount. When the speed control means determines that the print data amount is smaller than a predetermined value, the speed of the carriage and the transport of the transport means are determined. The carriage and the conveying unit are controlled so that the speed is slower than that when the print data amount is a predetermined value or more. As a result, the power consumption when the amount of print data is small can be suppressed compared to when the amount of print data is large by slowing the carriage movement speed and the conveyance speed of the conveyance means. The power consumption during printing can be suppressed as compared with the conventional printer in which the power consumption is uniform.

JP 2008-18542 A

  However, in the printer of Patent Document 1, when printing with a print data amount less than a predetermined value is performed, the printing time is longer than when performing such printing with a conventional printer. In particular, when printing with a print data amount smaller than a predetermined value is continuously performed on a plurality of print media, the print time for each print medium is accumulated, so that the print time is longer than when performing with a conventional printer. It will be much longer. For this reason, the user may feel uncomfortable with the length of the printing time.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that can avoid an increase in printing time in order to reduce power consumption and can realize energy saving.

  A liquid discharge apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a liquid discharge head having a nozzle that discharges liquid, a liquid tank that stores liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head, a liquid virtual head that supports the liquid discharge head, A carriage that reciprocates in a parallel scanning direction, a liquid flow path through which the liquid discharge head communicates with the liquid tank, and a flow of the liquid that flows between the liquid discharge head and the liquid tank. A power generation unit that uses the power generation unit, and the liquid flow path has one end communicating with the liquid discharge head and the other end communicating with the liquid tank, and a predetermined length from the one end, A flexible tube disposed in a direction parallel to the predetermined virtual surface and in a direction having a component in the scanning direction. The power generation unit includes a housing body, and the housing. A housing formed inside the main body and having an internal flow path included in the liquid flow path, and a collision that is provided in the internal flow path and collides with the liquid flowing into the internal flow path An operating part that has a surface and is allowed to perform a predetermined operation when the liquid flows into the internal flow path, and a magnet and a coil, one of which is connected to the operating part and the other is arranged in an immobile state. And a power generation unit that generates an induced current in the coil when the one moves in conjunction with the predetermined operation of the operation unit.

  The tube included in the liquid flow path communicating with the liquid discharge head and the liquid tank is moved following the reciprocation of the carriage to change the posture, and the stress applied to the tube changes. If the stress applied to the tube is increased, the carriage may be prevented from reciprocating. Further, in order to reduce the size of the liquid ejection device, if the liquid ejection head and the liquid tank are arranged close to a direction parallel to the virtual plane and perpendicular to the scanning direction, the tube is compressed and added to the tube. Stress increases. A liquid ejecting apparatus that is arranged in a direction parallel to the virtual plane and having a component in the scanning direction by a predetermined length from one end of the tube, while reducing the stress applied to the tube as described above. was there. In this liquid ejection device, an inertial force acts on the liquid in the tube when the carriage is reversed from one direction to the opposite direction, and in addition to the case where the liquid flows in the tube during the liquid ejection, Liquid flows.

  According to the present invention, the operation unit included in the power generation unit is configured to perform a predetermined operation by the liquid flowing in the tube when the carriage moves while being reversed. By this predetermined operation, one of the magnet and the coil provided in the power generation unit is moved in conjunction with each other, and the magnetic field of the coil is changed. Due to the change in the magnetic field of the coil, an induced current is generated in the coil. Therefore, since the power can be generated using the flow of the liquid when the carriage is reversed and moved, the power consumption can be suppressed as much as the power can be replenished by itself. Further, since the printing time is not increased, the increase in printing time can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to avoid an increase in printing time in order to reduce power consumption, and to realize energy saving. The “predetermined operation” refers to an operation performed by the operating unit by the liquid flowing in the tube when the carriage is reversed and moved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid an increase in printing time in order to reduce power consumption, and to realize energy saving.

It is a schematic top view which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the inkjet head 40 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged top view of the inkjet head 40 of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the II line | wire of the inkjet head 40 shown in FIG. It is the schematic of the arrangement | positioning of the electric power generation units 100-103 seen from the A direction of FIG. 1, the generators 110-113, and the electrical storage apparatus 116. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the electric power generation unit 100 of FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the II-II line | wire of the electric power generation unit 100 of FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical configuration of a printer 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing a carriage 5, an inkjet head 40, tubes 20 to 23, and printing paper P. FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a power storage operation of power storage device 116. It is sectional drawing of the electric power generation unit 200 of the modification 1. It is sectional drawing of the electric power generation unit 300 of the modification 2.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is a printer that includes an inkjet head having nozzles that eject ink, and that can eject desired ink, characters, and the like by ejecting ink from the inkjet head toward printing paper. It is applied.

(Schematic configuration of the printer)
FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In the present specification and drawings, left and right and front and rear refer to the left and right directions and front and rear directions indicated by arrows in FIG. Moreover, the upper and lower sides in this specification and drawings are directions orthogonal to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a main body frame 2, a pair of guide rails 3 attached to the main body frame 2 and extending in the left-right direction, a carriage 5 attached to the guide rail 3, and a carriage 5. And a supported inkjet head 40.

  The main body frame 2 has an endless belt 6 and a pulley 7. The endless belt 6 is attached to the pulley 7 and further connected to the carriage 5. The pulley 7 is attached to a drive motor (not shown) and is rotated by the drive motor. The endless belt 6 travels in the left-right direction when the pulley 7 is rotated by a drive motor, and the carriage 5 is reciprocated in the left-right direction by the travel of the endless belt 6.

  The main body frame 2 has a flushing foam 15 and a maintenance unit 16. The flushing foam 15 receives ink ejected from the inkjet head 40, and is used during flushing processing for ejecting ink whose viscosity has increased with time and recovering the ejection performance.

  The maintenance unit 16 includes a cap 17 that seals the lower surface of the inkjet head 40 (see FIG. 4), and a suction pump 18 that communicates with the cap 17. The suction pump 18 is driven with the cap 17 capping the lower surface of the inkjet head 40, sucks air in the cap 17, depressurizes the cap 17, and sucks ink accumulated in the cap 18.

  The inkjet head 40 communicates with four sub tanks 10 to 13 carried on the carriage 5, four tubes 20 to 23 connected to the sub tanks 10 to 13, four cartridges 30 to 33, and four power generation units 100 to 103, respectively. Has been. The sub tanks 10 to 13 are similar to those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-1030, and a storage unit configured to temporarily store ink to be supplied to the inkjet head 40 and a cover that covers the storage unit. The flexible film is deformed to increase or decrease the volume in the reservoir, thereby absorbing the dynamic pressure of the ink in the tubes 20 to 23. Further, the tubes 20 to 23 are connected to the carriage 5 so that a predetermined length from one end is arranged in parallel with the left and right direction, and communicate with the sub tanks 10 to 13 through flow paths (not shown). The other ends of the tubes 20 to 23 are communicated with the cartridges 30 to 33, respectively. The cartridges 30 to 33 store ink to be supplied to the inkjet head 40, and store inks of four colors of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, respectively. The power generation units 100 to 103 are located between the sub tanks 10 to 13 and the cartridges 30 to 33, and communicate with them. The power generation units 100 to 103 are connected to the power generators 110 to 113 and the power storage device 116, respectively.

(Schematic configuration of inkjet head)
Next, the inkjet head 40 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the entire inkjet head 40, and FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing a part of the inkjet head 40. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head 40 taken along the line II shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet head 40 includes a flow path unit 41 and a piezoelectric actuator 42 that is stacked on the flow path unit 41. The flow path unit 41 includes four nozzle rows 60 to 63 arranged in the left-right direction. These nozzle rows 60 to 63 are configured by arranging a plurality of nozzles 65 in the front-rear direction, and communicate with four manifolds 57 provided for the nozzle rows 60 to 63, respectively. The four manifolds 57 communicate with the four supply ports 59, and communicate with the four tubes 20 to 23 and the four ink cartridges 30 to 33 through the four supply ports 59.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path unit 41 has a plurality of pressure chambers 54 communicating with the nozzle 65 and the manifold 57. These pressure chambers 54 are disposed so as to overlap with the communication holes 55, 56, and 58, and communicate with the manifold 57 and the nozzle 65 through the respective communication holes 55, 56, and 58. The piezoelectric actuator 42 includes an individual electrode 72 that overlaps each pressure chamber 54. The individual electrode 72 has a connection terminal 72a at the left end thereof, and the connection terminal 72a is connected to a terminal of a flexible wiring board (not shown). The individual electrode 72 is electrically connected to a driver IC (not shown) through this flexible wiring board.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the flow path unit 41 includes a cavity plate 50, a base plate 51, a manifold plate 52, and a nozzle plate 53, and these four plates 50 to 53 are joined in a stacked state. . Of these four plates 50 to 53, the three plates 50 to 52 are made of a metal material such as stainless steel. The nozzle plate 53 is formed of an insulating material (for example, a polymer synthetic resin material such as polyimide).

  The cavity plate 50 has a pressure chamber 54 formed therein, and the base plate 51 includes communication holes 55 and 56 that communicate with the pressure chamber 54. The manifold plate 52 includes a manifold 57 and a communication hole 58, and the manifold 57 communicates with the pressure chamber 54 through the communication hole 55. The nozzle plate 53 has a nozzle 65 formed therein, and the nozzle 65 communicates with the pressure chamber 54 through the communication holes 56 and 58. Although not shown, a plurality of pressure chambers 54, communication holes 55, 56, 58, and nozzles 65 are formed in each of the four plates 50 to 53, and are arranged in the vertical direction (front-rear direction) on the paper surface. Has been placed. Similarly to FIG. 2, the manifold 57 has a shape extending in the front-rear direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 4), and is disposed so as to overlap the plurality of communication holes 55.

  The piezoelectric actuator 42 includes a vibration plate 70, a piezoelectric layer 71 laminated on the upper surface of the vibration plate 70, and the individual electrode 72 described above. The vibration plate 70 is bonded to the upper surface of the cavity plate 50 and is disposed so as to cover the pressure chamber 54. The diaphragm 70 is connected to a ground (not shown) and has a ground potential. The piezoelectric layer 71 is made of a piezoelectric material mainly composed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is a solid solution of lead titanate and lead zirconate and is a ferroelectric substance.

  The operation principle of the piezoelectric actuator 42 having the above configuration will be described. The individual electrode 72 is in a ground potential state where there is no potential difference between the individual electrode 72 and the diaphragm 70 when no drive voltage is applied. When a driving voltage is applied to the individual electrode 72, a potential difference is generated between the individual electrode 72 and the diaphragm 70, and an electric field in the vertical direction is generated in the piezoelectric layer 71. Here, when the polarization direction of the piezoelectric layer 71 is equal to the direction of the electric field, the piezoelectric layer 71 extends in the vertical direction and contracts in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Along with the contraction deformation of the piezoelectric layer 71, the vibration plate 70 is convexly deformed in the vertical direction (unimorph deformation).

  Next, the operation when the piezoelectric actuator 42 ejects ink will be described. The piezoelectric actuator 42 continues to apply a drive voltage to the individual electrode 72 when ink is not ejected. Therefore, the vibration plate 70 and the piezoelectric layer 71 stand by in a state of being convexly deformed downward on the pressure chamber 54 side. When the ink is ejected, the control device 80 (see FIG. 8) stops applying the drive voltage to the individual electrode 72, and accordingly, the individual electrode 72 becomes the ground potential. When the individual electrode 72 becomes the ground potential, the diaphragm 70 is deformed from the above-described convex deformation state to a planar shape, the volume in the pressure chamber 54 is increased, and a pressure wave is generated in the pressure chamber 54. The pressure wave propagates in one direction of the pressure chamber 54 in the left-right direction. The propagated pressure wave collides with the inner wall of the pressure chamber 54 after a predetermined time, and the phase is reversed. The pressure in the pressure chamber 54 changes from a negative pressure to a positive pressure by reversing the phase of the pressure wave. Therefore, the control device 80 (see FIG. 8) applies the drive voltage to the individual electrode 72 again at the timing when the pressure in the pressure chamber 54 becomes positive. The pressure wave generated when the volume of the pressure chamber 54 is increased and the pressure wave generated when the vibration plate 70 is convexly deformed toward the pressure chamber 54 are combined, and the combined pressure wave is discharged to the ink in the pressure chamber 54. The ink is discharged as energy. As a result, two pressure waves can be combined and applied to the ink in the pressure chamber 54, so that a much larger pressure can be applied compared to the case where one pressure wave is applied to the ink in the pressure chamber 54. .

(Schematic configuration of the power generation unit)
Next, a schematic configuration of the power generation unit will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the power generation units 100 to 103 viewed from the A direction, the generators 110 to 113 connected to the power generation units 100 to 103, and the power storage device 116. FIG. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power generation units 100 to 103 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and are connected to the four tubes 20 to 23, respectively. An air communication hole 127 is formed above each of the power generation units 100 to 103, and a shaft 125 described later extends from each of the power generation units 100 to 103 and is connected to the generators 110 to 113. The air communication hole 127 is configured by a gas permeable film that allows only gas to pass and does not allow ink to pass. The generators 110 to 113 are the same as those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-5568, and include a magnet 114 connected to the shaft 125 and a coil 115 disposed around the magnet 114. Yes. With this configuration, when the shaft 125 is rotated, the magnet 114 rotates in the coil 115 and the magnetic field in the coil 115 is changed. As a result, an induced current is generated in the coil 115. Further, the coil 115 is connected to the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116. The power storage device 116 has a configuration similar to that of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-122811, and includes a capacitor 117 that is electrically connected to the coil 115 of the generator 110. The capacitor 117 is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 88, and is configured to discharge to the rechargeable battery 88 when the charge reaches a predetermined amount or more.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the power generation unit 100 communicates with a housing 120, an internal space 121 (internal flow path) formed inside the housing 120, and the internal space 121. Two through holes 122 and 123 are formed. The two through holes 122 and 123 are connected to a tube 20 a and a tube 20 b included in the tube 20. The tube 20 a communicates with the sub tank 10 (see FIG. 1), and the tube 20 b communicates with the cartridge 30.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a water wheel 124 (operation unit) is disposed in the internal space 121. The water wheel 124 includes a shaft 125 provided at the center thereof and a plurality of wings 126 (collision surfaces) extending radially from the shaft 125. The shaft 125 pivotally supports the water wheel 124 on the housing 120 and is connected to the housing 120 via a bearing. The plurality of feathers 126 are arranged so as to collide with ink flowing into the internal space 121. With the above configuration, when the ink in the tubes 20a and 20b flows into the internal space 121 through the two through holes 122 and 123, both the water wheel 124 and the shaft 125 are rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the power generation unit 100 has an air buffer space 128 above the water wheel 124 in the internal space 121. The air buffer space 128 communicates with the air communication hole 127, and stores air bubbles mixed in the ink and discharges them to the outside. As a result, the power generation unit 120 can store bubbles mixed in the ink in the tube 20 and discharge them to the outside. The sub-tank 10, the tube 20, and the internal space 121 of this embodiment are an example of a configuration included in the “liquid channel” of the present invention.

(Electrical configuration of printer)
Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the printer 1 includes a control device 80. Here, the control device 80 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) that is a central processing unit, a read only memory (ROM) that stores various programs and data for controlling the overall operation of the printer 1, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like that temporarily stores data processed by the CPU, etc., and a program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU. It may be performed. Alternatively, it may be realized by hardware in which various circuits including an arithmetic circuit are combined.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control device 80 includes a print control unit 81, a maintenance control unit 82, a timer control unit 83, and a power storage control unit 84. The print control unit 81 controls the CR motor 85 based on print data input from an input device 79 such as a PC to reciprocate the carriage 5 (see FIG. 1) in the left-right direction and control the inkjet head 40. Then, ink is ejected from the nozzle 65. Further, the print control unit 81 controls a paper feed roller (not shown) so that the printing paper P is conveyed forward. By performing the above control, a desired image or the like is printed on the printing paper P.

  The maintenance control unit 82 controls the suction pump 19 and the lift motor 86. The maintenance control unit 82 controls the lifting motor 86 to bring the cap 17 (see FIG. 1) into close contact with the lower surface of the inkjet head 40 on which the nozzle 65 is formed, and controls the suction pump 18 to perform inkjet from the nozzle 65. A suction operation for sucking ink in the head 40 is performed.

  The timer control unit 83 controls the timer unit 87 that stores the elapsed time from the previous suction operation. The timer unit 87 includes a rechargeable battery 88 and can update the elapsed time and store the updated time even when the printer 1 is turned off. The rechargeable battery 88 is configured such that the remaining amount is monitored by the timer control unit 83.

  The power storage control unit 84 controls the power storage device 116. The power storage control unit 84 causes the capacitor 117 to discharge to the rechargeable battery 88 when the timer control unit 83 determines that the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is less than the predetermined remaining amount. The power storage control unit 84 causes the capacitor 117 to discharge to the storage battery 88 when the timer control unit 83 detects that the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is less than the predetermined remaining amount. Further, the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 117 can be detected by the storage control unit 84.

  The print control unit 81 according to the present embodiment is an example of the “power storage operation control unit” according to the present invention. Further, the timer control unit 83 of the present embodiment is an example of the “remaining amount detection unit” of the present invention. Furthermore, the power storage control unit 84 of this embodiment is an example of the “power storage control unit” and “charge detection unit” of the present invention.

(Power generation principle of the power generation unit)
Next, the principle of power generation in which the power generation unit 100 generates power will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic top view showing the carriage 5, the inkjet head 40, the tubes 20 to 23, and the printing paper P.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the carriage 5 moves from the left end to the right end of the printing paper P when printing on the printing paper P, and moves in the direction of arrow B when reaching the right end. Apply the brakes suddenly. At this time, an inertial force acts on the ink in the tubes 20 to 23 in the direction of the arrow C, and the ink in the tubes 20 to 23 flows in the direction of the arrow C. Since the ink in the tubes 20 to 23 is arranged so that a predetermined length of the tubes 20 to 23 extends in the left-right direction, when the carriage 5 moves in the left-right direction, the ink in the tubes 20 to 23 is moved together with the carriage 5. 23. When the carriage 5 is suddenly braked, the carriage 5 stops, but the ink in the tubes 20 to 23 is subjected to an inertial force in the moving direction of the carriage 5. Thereby, the ink in the tubes 20-23 flows. Thereby, ink flows into the internal space 121 of the power generation unit 100 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the water wheel 124 is rotated. Along with the rotation of the water wheel 124, the shaft 125 and the magnet 114 rotate, and the magnetic field in the surrounding coil 115 can be changed to generate an induced current in the coil 115. As a result, the induced current of the coil 115 flows to the capacitor 117, and the capacitor 117 can store charges.

(Explanation of charging operation and storage operation)
Here, when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 of the timer unit 87 is less than the predetermined remaining amount, if the rechargeable battery 88 is not charged, the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 becomes zero, and the timer unit 87 It is impossible to update the elapsed time and store the updated time. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery of the timer unit 87 is less than the predetermined remaining amount, a charging operation for charging the rechargeable battery 88 from the power storage device 116 is performed. However, when the amount of charge stored in the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116 is small, the charging unit 88 cannot be charged. Even in such a case, the storage operation of storing the charge in the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116 is performed so that the rechargeable battery 88 can be charged. The power storage operation is an operation for supplying an induced current to the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116, and in order to rotate the water wheel 124 (see FIG. 6) of the power generation unit 100, the carriage 5 (see FIG. 1) is moved in the horizontal direction. This is an operation of reciprocating a plurality of times.

  Here, the charging operation and the power storage operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, the charging operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is determined by the timer control unit 83 to be less than the predetermined remaining amount (S1: NO), the control device 80 determines the charge amount of the capacitor 117 (S2). . When it is determined that the charge amount of the capacitor 117 is equal to or greater than the predetermined charge amount (S2: YES), the power storage device 116 is controlled to charge the rechargeable battery 88 (S4). In S1 described above, when the timer control unit 83 determines that the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is equal to or greater than the predetermined remaining amount (S1: YES), the above-described charging operation is not performed. The remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is confirmed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the printer 1 was turned off. Thereafter, the remaining amount is periodically checked, and when the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is less than the predetermined remaining amount, the above charging operation is performed.

  With the above charging operation, the rechargeable battery 88 of the timer unit 87 can be charged from the capacitor 117 of the charging device 116, so that the rechargeable battery 88 of the timer unit 87 can be prevented from running out. For this reason, even if a long time has passed since the printer 1 was turned off, the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 can be prevented from becoming zero, and the timer unit 87 can be prevented from stopping as much as possible. it can. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the timer unit 87 from moving due to running out of the battery, accurately update the elapsed time from the previous suction operation for a long time, and store the updated time.

  Next, the power storage operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the timer control unit 83 detects that the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 88 is not equal to or greater than the predetermined remaining amount (S1: NO), the control device 80 causes the power storage control unit 84 to The amount of charge stored in the capacitor 117 is detected. If the charge amount of the capacitor 117 is not equal to or greater than the predetermined charge amount (S2: NO), the print motor 81 drives the CR motor 85 (see FIG. 8) to move the carriage 5 (see FIG. 1) in the left-right direction. The battery is reciprocated several times to perform a power storage operation (S3). And after completion | finish of electrical storage operation, the electrical storage apparatus 116 is controlled and charging to the rechargeable battery 88 is performed (S4).

  As described above, when the remaining amount of the storage battery 88 is less than the predetermined remaining amount and the charge amount of the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116 is less than the predetermined charge amount, the carriage 5 is reciprocated multiple times in the left-right direction separately from printing. Let At this time, an inertial force acts on the ink in the tube and the ink flows, and the water wheel 124 in the power generation unit 100 is rotated by the ink flow. As a result, an induced current flows through the coil 115 and charges can be stored in the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116, so that the rechargeable battery 88 cannot be discharged and the timer unit 87 is prevented from running out of battery. Can do. Note that the number of times the carriage 5 reciprocates in the power storage operation of the present embodiment is not limited to the case where the carriage 5 is moved so that the capacitor 117 has a full charge amount. This includes the case where the amount of charge is temporarily prevented.

(Modification)
Next, modified embodiments in which various modifications are made to the embodiment will be described. However, components having the same configuration as in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the generator 110 is configured to generate power by rotating the shaft 125 connected to the water wheel 124, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the coil may be arranged around the water wheel, and the magnet may be arranged in the water wheel, so that the induced current flows through the coil by the rotation of the water wheel. As shown in FIG. 11, the power generation unit 200 includes a plurality of coils 229 that extend radially from the shaft 225. The coil 229 is disposed around the water wheel 224. In the water wheel 224, magnets 230 having N poles and magnets 231 having S poles are alternately arranged at edge portions extending in the normal direction from the center thereof. Coil 229 is connected to power storage device 116, and a current flowing through coil 229 flows to the power storage device.

  When the water wheel 224 is rotated about the shaft 225, the magnet 230 and the magnet 231 are alternately passed through the region surrounded by the coil 229. At this time, the magnetic field in the region surrounded by the coil 229 changes as the magnet 230 and the magnet 231 pass alternately. Due to such a change in the magnetic field in the coil 229, an induced current flows through the coil 229 and further flows into the power storage device 116 in accordance with Faraday's law, so that charge can be stored in the capacitor 117 of the power storage device 116. . Thereby, it becomes possible to flow an electric current through a power storage device by rotating the water wheel 224.

  The water turbine 224 may be connected to the generator 110 through the shaft 225. As a result, the power storage device 116 can store the electric charge in the capacitor 117 not only by the induced current flowing through the coil 229 but also by the current flowing from the generator 110, so that a predetermined amount of power can be secured in a short time. can do.

(Modification 2)
In the above modification, a water turbine is used as the configuration of the power generation unit, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a float having a lower density than ink can be used instead of a water wheel. As shown in FIG. 12, the power generation unit 300 includes a housing 320, an internal space 321 formed inside the housing 320, and a floating member 324 disposed in the internal space 321. In the case 320, through holes 322 and 323 connected to the internal space 321 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the tubes 20a and 20b are connected to the through holes 322 and 323, respectively. A ring-shaped coil 329 is disposed around the housing 320, and the coil 329 is electrically connected to the power storage device 116.

  The floating member 324 is made of a material having a density lower than that of the ink, and is positioned above the internal space 321 when the ink does not flow into the internal space 321 from the tube 20a. The floating member 324 is provided with a magnet 330 having an N pole and a magnet 331 having an S pole at both ends thereof. In addition, there are a collision surface 324a and a collision surface 324b at both ends of the floating member 324, and ink flows into the internal space 321 from the tube 20a or ink flows into the internal space 321 from the tube 20b. The floating member 324 is moved in the vertical direction. Further, inside the floating member 324, a through channel 332 that penetrates in the vertical direction is provided so that the floating member 324 does not block the through holes 322 and 323.

  With such a configuration, when the carriage 5 is reversed in the left-right direction, if ink flows into the internal space 321 from the tube 20a, the floating member 324 is caused to flow downward by the ink and pass through the region surrounded by the coil 329. Be made. At this time, the magnetic field is changed by passing through the magnet 330 and the magnet 331 of the floating member 324 in order in the region surrounded by the coil 329, and an induced current is generated in the coil 329. As a result, an induced current can be passed through the power storage device 116 connected to the coil 329 so that the capacitor 117 in the power storage device 116 can store charges.

(Other changes)
In the present embodiment, the case where the through holes 122 and 123 of the power generation unit 100 are both connected to the tube has been described as an example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the power generation unit may be disposed adjacent to the cartridge installation portion and connected to the cartridge without a tube.

  The piezoelectric actuator 12 of the present embodiment performs a discharge operation to stop the drive voltage applied to the individual electrode 32 by the print control circuit when discharging ink and to apply discharge energy to the ink in the pressure chamber 54. However, for example, the control device applies a driving voltage to the individual electrodes and performs an ejection operation to impart ejection energy to the ink in the pressure chamber. In the present embodiment, the case where the piezoelectric actuator 12 is used as the means for applying ink ejection energy has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a thermal ink jet printer in which a heating resistor is disposed in the pressure chamber to apply pressure to ink.

  In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink onto paper. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to an ink jet printer. That is, the present invention can also be applied to various liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject various liquids to a target depending on the application.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 20-23 Tube 30-33 Ink cartridge 16 Maintenance unit 60-63 Nozzle row | line | column 80 Control apparatus 81 Print control part 82 Maintenance control part 83 Timer control part 84 Power storage control part 87 Timer unit 88 Rechargeable battery 100-103 Power generation unit 110 Generator 111 Magnet 112 Coil 116 Power storage device 117 Capacitor 120 Case 121 Internal space 124 Water wheel 126 Wings

Claims (3)

A liquid discharge head having a nozzle for discharging liquid;
A liquid tank for storing liquid to be supplied to the liquid discharge head;
A carriage carrying the liquid ejection head and reciprocating in a scanning direction parallel to a predetermined virtual plane;
A liquid flow path through which a liquid flows, the liquid discharge head and the liquid tank communicating with each other;
A power generation unit that generates power using the flow of the liquid flowing between the liquid discharge head and the liquid tank,
The liquid channel is
One end communicates with the liquid ejection head, the other end communicates with the liquid tank, and has a predetermined length from the one end in a direction parallel to the predetermined virtual plane and having a component in the scanning direction Including a flexible tube,
The power generation unit is
A housing having a housing body and an internal flow path formed in the housing body and included in the liquid flow path;
An operation that is provided in the internal flow path, has a collision surface that collides with the liquid flowing into the internal flow path, and is allowed to perform a predetermined operation when the liquid flows into the internal flow path And
One has a magnet and a coil, one of which is connected to the operating unit and the other is arranged in a non-moving state, and the one moves in conjunction with the predetermined operation of the operating unit, so that an induced current flows in the coil. Generating a power generation unit,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: A power storage device having a capacitor electrically connected to the coil and capable of discharging the electric charge stored in the capacitor;
Recovery means for recovering the discharge performance of the nozzle by discharging the liquid from the nozzle of the liquid discharge head;
A timer for measuring the elapsed time since the recovery means was last driven;
A rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the capacitor and that supplies power for driving the timer;
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery;
Power storage control means for controlling the power storage device so as to discharge from the capacitor to the rechargeable battery based on the remaining capacity of the rechargeable battery detected by the remaining capacity detecting means,
The power storage control means includes
The power storage device is controlled to discharge from the capacitor to the rechargeable battery when the remaining capacity detecting unit detects that the remaining capacity of the rechargeable battery is less than a predetermined remaining capacity. The liquid discharge apparatus as described. Charge detection means for detecting the amount of charge stored in the capacitor;
Based on the detection results of the remaining amount detection means and the charge detection means, the carriage is controlled so as to perform a power storage operation for generating an induced current in the coil by reciprocating the carriage separately from the printing operation. Power storage operation control means,
The power storage operation control means includes
When the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery is detected to be less than a predetermined remaining amount by the remaining amount detecting means, the power storage operation is performed when the amount of charge detected by the charge detecting means is less than a predetermined amount of charge. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carriage is controlled as described above.

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