JP2010280175A - Printer and method for switching filling state - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of appropriately performing switching of a filling state. <P>SOLUTION: The printer includes a controller that performs switching from one of a first filling state where a head is filled with a white ink and a second filling state where the head is filled with a clear ink to the other by performing suction processing S8 of sucking the ink from the head and end flushing processing S6 of performing flushing to only a nozzle located at the end of a nozzle train out of a plurality of nozzles as a target after operating a selection part to shift from one of a first communicating state where a white ink storing body communicates with the head and a second communicating state where a clear ink storing body communicates with the head to the other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a filling state switching method.

  Printing apparatuses having a head for ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium are already well known. As such a printing apparatus, an ink jet printer that performs white printing (printing with white ink) in addition to monochrome printing and color printing by discharging ink onto various media such as paper, cloth, and film is known.

  In addition, some ink jet printers include a head that is selectively filled with the white ink and the clear ink. In the ink jet printer, the controller performs switching from one to the other of the first filling state in which the head is filled with white ink and the second filling state in which the head is filled with clear ink.

JP 2008-162023 A

  By the way, the above-described switching from one of the first filling state and the second filling state to the other may not be performed appropriately. For example, although switching from the first filling state to the second filling state has been executed, white ink may remain improperly in the head, or switching from the second filling state to the first filling state is executed. However, the clear ink sometimes remained inappropriately on the head.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a printing apparatus or the like in which the filling state is appropriately switched.

The main present invention is a head for ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium, wherein white ink and clear ink are selectively filled, and a plurality of nozzles serving as ejection openings for the white ink and the clear ink are arranged. A head including a nozzle row formed by
A white ink container for containing the white ink;
A clear ink container that contains the clear ink;
A selection unit for communicating any one of the white ink container and the clear ink container with the head;
Switching from one to the other of the first filling state in which the head is filled with the white ink and the second filling state in which the head is filled with the clear ink,
The selection unit is operated to shift from one of the first continuous state in which the white ink container and the head are in communication and the second communication state in which the clear ink container and the head are in communication to each other. After performing the suction process for sucking ink from the head and the end flushing process for flushing only the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles,
And a controller that executes the printing apparatus.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a printer 1 according to an embodiment. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a printer. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a printer. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing nozzle rows formed on a head 42. FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram showing the filling chamber 70 of the head 42 and the ink cartridge 44. FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram showing the filling chamber 70 of the head 42. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an ink suction unit 32. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the aspect of a test | inspection cleaning process. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the clear switching method and the white switching method. It is the flowchart which showed the example which the controller 60 performs white switching, after a power supply is turned ON. It is the flowchart which showed the example which the controller 60 performs clear switching, when a power supply is turned off. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the other method which concerns on a clear switching method and a white switching method. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the other method which concerns on a clear switching method and a white switching method.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A head for ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium, which is formed by selectively filling white ink and clear ink, and arranging a plurality of nozzles serving as ejection openings for the white ink and the clear ink. A head having a nozzle row;
A white ink container for containing the white ink;
A container for clear ink that contains the clear ink;
A selection unit for communicating any one of the white ink container and the clear ink container with the head;
Switching from one of the first filling state in which the head is filled with the white ink and the second filling state in which the head is filled with the clear ink to the other,
The selection unit is operated to shift from one of the first continuous state in which the white ink container and the head are in communication and the second communication state in which the clear ink container and the head are in communication to each other. After performing the suction process for sucking ink from the head and the end flushing process for flushing only the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles,
And a controller for executing the printing device.
In such a case, a printing apparatus in which the filling state is appropriately switched is realized.

The controller may perform the suction process and the end flushing process in the order of an end flushing process and a suction process.
In such a case, the filling state is more appropriately switched.

In addition, since the arrangement direction of the nozzles in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction, the nozzle located at one end portion of the nozzle row is perpendicular to the nozzle located at the other end portion of the nozzle row. At the bottom,
The controller may perform the flushing for only the nozzle located at the one end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles as the end flushing process.
In such a case, the filling state is more appropriately switched in a situation where the nozzle arrangement direction in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction.

In addition, since the arrangement direction of the nozzles in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction, the nozzle located at one end portion of the nozzle row is perpendicular to the nozzle located at the other end portion of the nozzle row. At the bottom,
The controller performs, as the end portion flushing process, a first end portion flushing process in which flushing is performed only on nozzles located at the other end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles, It is good also as performing the 2nd edge part flushing process which flushes only the nozzle located in the said one end part of the said nozzle row among nozzles.
In such a case, the filling state is more appropriately switched in a situation where the nozzle arrangement direction in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction.

Further, the controller performs an inspection process for inspecting ejection failure of the head after operating and shifting the selection unit from one of the first continuous state and the second communication state to the other, The suction process and the end flushing process may be performed only when the ejection failure is detected in the inspection process.
In such a case, the filling state is more appropriately switched and the time required for the switching is shortened.

Next, a filling state switching method for switching from one of the first filling state filled with white ink and the second filling state filled with clear ink to the other,
A head for discharging a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium, which is formed by selectively filling the white ink and the clear ink, and arranging a plurality of nozzles serving as discharge ports for the white ink and the clear ink. The white ink for the white ink from one to the other in the first continuous state in which the head including the nozzle row and the white ink container communicate with each other and the second communication state in which the head and the clear ink container communicate with each other. Operating a selection unit for communicating either the container or the clear ink container with the head; and
After shifting from one of the first communication state and the second communication state to the other, the suction process for sucking ink from the head and only the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles Performing an end flushing process that performs flushing for
A filling state switching method characterized by comprising:
In such a case, a filling state switching method in which the filling state is appropriately switched is realized.

=== Regarding Printer 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
First, an outline of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ink jet printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer 1) as an example of a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating the outline of the printer 1. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing nozzle rows formed on the head 42. FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram showing the filling chamber 70 of the head 42 and the ink cartridge 44. FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram showing the filling chamber 70 of the head 42. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the ink suction unit 32. FIG. 7 will be described later.

  The printer 1 shown in FIG. 2 and the printer 1 shown in FIG. 5A and 5B, in order to make the drawings easier to understand, it is assumed that the number of nozzles 72, pressure chambers 74, and piezo elements 78 is seven, which is smaller than the actual number (360). Is drawn. In FIG. 6, only one of the five suction pumps 35 is shown for easy understanding of the drawing (the description of the four suction pumps 35 is omitted).

  The printer 1 corresponds to, for example, roll paper or large-sized printing paper (these correspond to media). In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer 1 includes roll paper S. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a transport unit 20, a head unit 40, an ink suction unit 32, an inspection unit 38, a detector group 50, and a controller 60. The printer 1 that has received the print data (print command) from the computer 110 as an external device controls each unit (the transport unit 20, the head unit 40, etc.) by the controller 60. For example, the controller 60 receives print data (print command) from the computer 110, controls each unit based on the received print data (print command), and prints an image on the roll paper S. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by the detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs the detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

  The transport unit 20 is for transporting the roll paper S in the transport direction. The transport unit 20 includes a paper feed motor 31, a map roller 24 that is driven by the paper feed motor 31 to feed the roll paper S in the transport direction (hereinafter also referred to as the sub-scanning direction), and a roll for setting the roll paper S. A paper holder 27, a paper pressing roller 29 for pressing the roll paper S against the map roller 24, and a platen 26 that supports the roll paper S are provided.

  The roll paper S is set in the roll paper holder 27. The roll paper S is pressed against the map roller 24 by the paper pressing roller 29, and is fed in the transport direction on the surface of the platen 26 as the map roller 24 rotates.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink (the ink is a concept including both water-based ink and oil-based ink. In the present embodiment, water-based ink) to the roll paper S. The head unit 40 includes a head 42, an ink cartridge 44 as an example of a container for containing ink to be supplied to the head 42, and a head 42 that supports the head 42 and moves the head 42 (hereinafter referred to as a main scanning direction). A carriage 48 for moving the carriage 48, a carriage motor 49, a traction belt 46 driven by the carriage motor 49 to move the carriage 48, and a guide rail 47 for guiding the carriage 48. . The carriage 48 is pulled by a pulling belt 46 driven by a carriage motor 49 and moves in the main scanning direction along the guide rail 47. The operation of ejecting ink by the head 42 while the carriage 48 moves in the main scanning direction and the operation of feeding the roll paper S by the transport unit 20 described above are repeated, whereby dots are formed on the roll paper S and an image is formed. Printed on the roll paper S.

  Here, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment can execute white printing (printing with white ink) in addition to normal monochrome printing and color printing. That is, the printer 1 has, as print modes, a print mode that performs white printing (print mode that uses white ink), a print mode that performs monochrome printing (print mode that does not use white ink), and a print mode that performs color printing (white mode). (Print mode that does not use ink).

  In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, white ink for white printing and black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink for white and monochrome printing are prepared to realize these printing modes. ing.

  Note that the white ink according to the present embodiment is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-313481. This white ink is a water-based pigment ink, and a characteristic matter related to this white ink is that it includes a hollow resin. When the hollow resin is present in the liquid ink, the hollow portion (cavity) is filled with moisture. When the ink is ejected and placed on the medium, moisture in the hollow portion (cavity) evaporates, and the hollow portion (cavity) is filled with air. The size of this hollow portion (cavity) is designed to scatter visible light effectively (ie, to make the ink appear white) and thus was formed by the ink placed on the medium. When the image is viewed, the image looks white.

  The head 42 is provided with a chamber filled with ink (hereinafter referred to as a filling chamber 70 for convenience) for each of the five colors of ink (for each color). As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the filling chamber 70 includes a nozzle 72, a pressure chamber 74, a reservoir 76, and the like.

  The nozzles 72 are ink discharge ports provided on the lower surface of the head 42, and as shown in FIG. 4, 360 nozzles are provided for each of the five colors of ink (for each color). That is, in the present embodiment, nozzles for ejecting white ink, nozzles for ejecting cyan ink, nozzles for ejecting magenta ink, nozzles for ejecting yellow ink, nozzles for ejecting black ink, 360 (each 360 × 5 = 1800 in total) is provided. The 360 nozzles are arranged in a row along the sub-scanning direction, and form a white nozzle row W, a cyan nozzle row C, a magenta nozzle row M, a yellow nozzle row Y, and a black nozzle row K. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is inclined from the horizontal direction (also inclined from the vertical direction). Therefore, the alignment direction of the nozzles 72 in the nozzle row along the sub-scanning direction is inclined from the horizontal direction. For this reason, the nozzles 72 in the nozzle row are located on the upper side in the vertical direction as the nozzles 72 with lower numbers. For example, in FIG. 4, the # 1 nozzle is located at the uppermost position in the vertical direction, and the # 360 nozzle is located at the lowermost position in the vertical direction.

  The pressure chamber 74 is a chamber communicated with the nozzle 72 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. A drive element (piezo element 78) for ejecting ink is provided at a position adjacent to the pressure chamber 74. When printing is performed, the piezo element 78 performs an expansion / contraction operation based on the drive pulse included in the drive signal output from the unit control circuit 64. Then, the expansion / contraction operation changes the capacity of the pressure chamber 74 so that ink is ejected from the nozzle 72.

  The pressure chamber 74 (also the piezo element 78) is provided for each nozzle 72. Therefore, as the pressure chambers 74 according to the present embodiment, there are 360 white ink pressure chambers, cyan ink pressure chambers, magenta ink pressure chambers, yellow ink pressure chambers, and black ink pressure chambers (total of each). 360 × 5 = 1800). 5A and 5B, the number of nozzles 72, pressure chambers 74, and piezo elements 78 is seven, which is smaller than the actual number (360). However, in FIG. 5A, from the left, the # 4 nozzle from which white ink is ejected, the corresponding pressure chamber 74 and the piezo element 78, and the # 4 nozzle from which cyan ink is ejected correspond to this. Pressure chamber 74 and piezo element 78, # 4 nozzle ejecting magenta ink and corresponding pressure chamber 74 and piezo element 78, # 4 nozzle ejecting yellow ink, corresponding pressure chamber 74 and A piezo element 78, a # 4 nozzle from which black ink is ejected, and a pressure chamber 74 and a piezo element 78 corresponding thereto are shown. In FIG. 5B, the nozzles # 1, # 2, # 3..., # 7 from which white ink is ejected, the pressure chamber 74 and the piezoelectric element 78 corresponding thereto are shown in order from the left. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the pressure chamber 74 and the piezo element 78 are also located on the upper side in the vertical direction as the numbers are smaller. For example, in FIG. 5B, the pressure chamber 74 and the piezo element 78 corresponding to the # 1 nozzle are located at the uppermost position in the vertical direction, and the pressure chamber 74 and the piezo element 78 corresponding to the # 7 nozzle are It is located at the lowest position in the direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reservoir 76 is a chamber that communicates with the pressure chamber 74 via the supply path 75. The reservoir 76 is for storing ink, and is provided for each of the five colors of ink (for each color). That is, in this embodiment, a white ink reservoir, a cyan ink reservoir, a magenta ink reservoir, a yellow ink reservoir, and a black ink reservoir are provided, and each reservoir 76 has 360 pressure chambers 74. Communicated with. FIG. 5A shows a white ink reservoir, a cyan ink reservoir, a magenta ink reservoir, a yellow ink reservoir, and a black ink reservoir in order from the left, but FIG. 5B shows a white ink reservoir. Only the reservoir is shown.

  In this manner, the head 42 is provided with the filling chamber 70 including one reservoir 76, 360 pressure chambers 74, and 360 nozzles 72 for each of the five colors of ink (for each color). That is, in this embodiment, a white ink filling chamber filled with white ink, a cyan ink filling chamber filled with cyan ink, a magenta ink filling chamber filled with magenta ink, and a yellow ink filled with yellow ink. A filling chamber and a black ink filling chamber filled with black ink are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the ink cartridge 44 is detachably connected to the head 42 (more specifically, the reservoir 76 of the head 42), and the ink in the ink cartridge 44 enters the filling chamber 70. The filling chamber 70 is filled by flowing (supplied). Here, as apparent from FIG. 5A, only one ink cartridge 44 (that is, an ink cartridge for cyan ink) is provided in each of the cyan ink filling chamber, the magenta ink filling chamber, the yellow ink filling chamber, and the black ink filling chamber. , Magenta ink cartridge, yellow ink cartridge, and black ink cartridge) are connected, while the white ink filling chamber is connected with two ink cartridges 44.

  That is, in this embodiment, the white ink filling chamber can be filled with not only white ink but also clear ink. That is, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the head 42 (specifically, the filling chamber 70) in which white ink and clear ink are selectively filled is realized. For this reason, the white ink filling chamber has two ink cartridges 44, that is, a white ink ink cartridge containing white ink and a clear ink ink cartridge containing clear ink. One of them is connected to the head 42 (specifically, the filling chamber 70) via a changeover switch 80 as an example of a selection unit, and the white ink filling chamber and the white ink cartridge are connected by the changeover switch 80. When the white ink filling chamber communicates, the white ink filling chamber is filled with white ink, and when the white ink filling chamber and the clear ink ink cartridge communicate with each other, the white ink filling chamber is filled with the clear ink. ing.

  The purpose of selective filling of white ink and clear ink, a specific switching method from white ink to clear ink (clear ink to white ink), and an example of switching timing will be described in detail later.

  The ink suction unit 32 is for sucking ink. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink suction unit 32 is provided at a position where the head 42 faces when the carriage 48 is located at the home position at the end portion in the main scanning direction. The ink suction unit 32 performs a cleaning process for eliminating the ejection failure of the head 42 and a switching process from white ink to clear ink (clear ink to white ink) (details of the switching process will be described later). Ink the ink. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink suction unit 32 includes a head cap 33, a hose 34, and a suction pump 35.

  In the head cap 33, the internal space is partitioned into five suction chambers 33a. When the head cap 33 is raised, the head cap 33 comes into close contact with the lower surface of the head 42. At this time, each of the five suction chambers 33a has a closed space covering the corresponding nozzle row of the five nozzle rows. Form. In other words, the head cap 33 is raised so as to seal the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head 42.

  The suction pump 35 has two small rollers 35a in the vicinity of the peripheral edge thereof, and a hose 34 is wound around the two small rollers 35a. When the suction pump 35 is driven by a motor (not shown) and rotates in the direction of the arrow, the air in the hose 34 is pushed by the small roller 35 a, thereby exhausting in the closed space in the head cap 33. ing. When exhaust is performed in the closed space, the closed space becomes negative pressure, and ink is sucked from the filling chamber 70 (nozzle 72) of the head 42. The sucked ink is discharged through a hose 34 to a waste ink discharge unit (not shown).

  The head cap 33 exhibits the following functions without the suction pump 35 being operated. That is, when the printer 1 does not perform printing (and when the carriage 48 is located at the home position), the head cap 33 rises and comes into close contact with the lower surface of the head 42. This suppresses ink evaporation from the nozzles 72 (in other words, ink drying). That is, the head cap 33 functions as a lid that seals the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head 42 during printing suspension and suppresses ink evaporation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a flushing box 37 is provided at a position adjacent to the ink suction unit 32 in the main scanning direction (position located inside the ink suction unit 32). In the printing apparatus (printer 1), while the printing process is being executed (that is, from when the controller 60 receives a print command to when the printer 1 shifts to a standby state), the head 42 prints an image. When the operation of ejecting ink is not performed, flushing is performed on all the nozzles 72 (including the nozzles 72 that are not used for printing the image). Further, during the switching process from white ink to clear ink (clear ink to white ink) (the details of the switching process will be described later), the flushing is performed in the nozzle row of the plurality of nozzles 72 (that is, the white nozzle row W). ) Is performed only for the nozzles 72 located at the end of () (referred to as end flushing). When flushing is performed, the carriage 48 moves to a position where the head 42 faces the flushing box 37. At this position, the above-described piezo element 78 is included in the drive signal output from the unit control circuit 64 (this drive signal is a flushing drive signal and is different from the print drive signal). When the expansion / contraction operation is performed based on the drive pulse, the capacity of the pressure chamber 74 changes, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 72 toward the flushing box 37. The ink discharged toward the flushing box 37 is discharged to a waste ink discharge unit (not shown).

  Further, the flushing box 37 according to the present embodiment is also used when an inspection process for inspecting the ejection failure of the head 42 is executed. That is, in the printing apparatus (printer 1) according to the present embodiment, an inspection process for inspecting ejection failure of the head 42 is performed at a predetermined timing (an example of the timing will be described in detail later). The In order to implement the inspection process, the printer 1 is provided with an inspection unit 38.

  The inspection unit 38 generates a potential difference between the electrode member provided in the flushing box 37 and the electrode member and the head 42 (and the ink ejected from the head 42) (in this embodiment, the electrode A voltage application unit for positively charging the member and negatively charging the head 42 (and ink discharged from the head 42) and a voltage detection unit for detecting the voltage of the electrode member are provided.

  When the inspection process is performed, the carriage 48 moves to a position where the head 42 faces the flushing box 37, and the voltage application unit charges the electrode member positively and the head 42 negatively. Then, when the piezo element 78 described above performs an expansion / contraction operation based on the drive pulse in such a charged state, negatively charged ink is ejected from the nozzle 72 toward the positively charged electrode member in the flushing box 37. In this case, the ink that moves toward the electrode member generates an induced voltage due to electrostatic induction and changes the voltage of the electrode member. The voltage detection unit detects the voltage and outputs the result to the controller 60. When ink is normally ejected from the nozzle 72, the voltage change is detected by the voltage detection unit. When the ejection failure of the head 42 occurs and ink is not ejected from the nozzle 72, the voltage change is not detected by the voltage detection unit. Therefore, the controller 60 grasps the presence or absence of ejection failure by receiving the change detection result (detection presence / absence) from the voltage detection unit.

  As described above, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the inspection process for inspecting the ejection failure of the head 42 is performed at a predetermined timing. When a discharge failure is recognized only for one of the nozzles 72), the cleaning process (that is, ink suction) for eliminating the discharge defect of the head 42 is executed, and the cleaning process is performed. After the execution, the inspection process is performed again (On the other hand, if no ejection failure is detected, the cleaning process and the second inspection process are not performed). In the second inspection process, if a discharge failure is detected, the combination of the cleaning process and the inspection process is repeated until no discharge failure is detected.

  Such a process, that is, a process of inspecting the ejection failure of the head 42 and cleaning the head 42 when the ejection failure is detected is referred to as an inspection cleaning process in this paper. As can be understood from the above description, the mode of the inspection cleaning process varies depending on whether or not ejection failure is detected. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case where the first inspection process is performed but no ejection failure is detected, only the first inspection process is the inspection cleaning process (the left diagram in FIG. 7). A case in which a discharge failure is detected in the first inspection process, and then a combination of the cleaning process and the inspection process is repeated n times, and no discharge defect is detected in the n + 1th inspection process (including the first inspection process). In FIG. 7, a series of processes including a first inspection process and a subsequent n-time cleaning process and inspection process group is the inspection cleaning process (the right diagram in FIG. 7). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an aspect of the inspection cleaning process.

  The controller 60 is a control unit (control unit) for controlling the printer 1. The controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 transmits and receives data between the computer 110 that is an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and includes storage elements such as a RAM which is a volatile memory and an EEPROM which is a nonvolatile memory. The CPU 62 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

=== About selective filling of white ink and clear ink ===
As described above, in the present embodiment, the filling chamber 70 (white ink filling chamber) can be filled with not only white ink but also clear ink. In this section, the purpose of such matters will be described first. After that, a specific switching method from white ink to clear ink and from clear ink to white ink will be described, and subsequently, from white ink to clear ink and from clear ink. An example of switching timing to white ink will be described.

<<< Purpose of selective filling of white ink and clear ink >>>
Here, the purpose of selectively filling the white ink and the clear ink into the white ink filling chamber will be described.

  The purpose is to prevent clogging in the head 42 (white ink filling chamber). That is, when comparing the white ink and the clear ink, as a matter of course, the white ink is more likely to cause the clogging, and therefore the white ink is filled in the white ink filling chamber. If left for a long time, the thickening of the white ink is promoted and clogging occurs in the head 42 (particularly, the nozzle 72). In view of this, in this embodiment, when the power is turned off, the clear ink is filled in the white ink filling chamber (details will be described later).

<<< Ink switching method >>>
Here, the method of switching from white ink to clear ink (to be exact, the head 42 is filled with clear ink from the first filling state in which the head 42 is filled with white ink (hereinafter also referred to as white filling state for convenience)). First switching to the second filling state (hereinafter also referred to as clear filling state for convenience) (hereinafter, also referred to as clear switching for convenience)) and switching method from clear ink to white ink (to be precise, clear filling state) The second switching from the white filling state to the white filling state (hereinafter also referred to as white switching for convenience) will be described with reference to FIG. That is, a switching method from one of the white filling state and the clear filling state to the other will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a clear switching method and a white switching method.

  When executing the clear switching method, first, the controller 60 controls the head unit 40 and switches the above-described switch 80. That is, the controller 60 operates the changeover switch 80 to change the white ink filling chamber from the first continuous state where the white ink filling chamber and the white ink ink cartridge communicate (hereinafter also referred to as the white communicating state for convenience). And the clear ink cartridge are in a second communication state (hereinafter also referred to as a clear communication state for convenience) (step S2).

  Next, the controller 60 performs the end flushing described above. That is, the controller 60 performs end flushing processing for performing flushing only on the nozzles 72 located at the end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72. In the present embodiment, as the end flushing process, flushing is performed only on # 337 to # 360 nozzles among a plurality of nozzles 72 (# 1 to # 360 nozzles). That is, among the nozzles 72 located at both ends of the white nozzle row W, the nozzle 72 with the lower number is located at one end, the nozzle 72 located at one end, and the nozzle with the younger number located above is located at the other end. (That is, when the nozzle 72 located at one end of the white nozzle row W is provided below the nozzle 72 located at the other end of the white nozzle row W in the vertical direction) ), The controller 60 performs the flushing for only the nozzle 72 located at the one end among the plurality of nozzles 72 as the end flushing process (step S6). When the end flushing according to the present embodiment is performed, the piezo elements 78 corresponding to the # 337 to # 360 nozzles are based on the drive pulse included in the drive signal output from the unit control circuit 64. Perform expansion and contraction. Then, the capacity of the pressure chamber 74 corresponding to the nozzles # 337 to # 360 changes, and ink is ejected from the nozzles # 337 to # 360 toward the flushing box 37.

  Next, the controller 60 controls the ink suction unit 32 to perform ink suction (step S8). That is, a suction process for sucking ink is executed.

  As described above, the controller 60 performs the flushing process for the communication state transition process, the suction process for sucking ink from the head 42, and only the nozzles located at the end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72. Perform part flushing processing. By these processes, the white ink filled in the white ink filling chamber is discharged into the waste ink discharge portion, and the white ink filling chamber is filled with the clear ink from the clear ink ink cartridge so that the white ink is replaced. The

  When executing the white switching method, first, the controller 60 controls the head unit 40 to switch the above-described changeover switch 80. That is, the controller 60 operates the changeover switch 80 to shift from the clear communication state to the white communication state (step S2).

  Next, the controller 60 performs the end flushing process described above. That is, flushing is performed only for the nozzles 72 (# 337 to # 360 nozzles) located at one end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72 (# 1 to # 360 nozzles) (step S6). ).

  Next, the controller 60 controls the ink suction unit 32 to perform ink suction (step S8). That is, a suction process for sucking ink is executed.

  By these processes, the white ink filling chamber is filled with the white ink from the white ink cartridge so that the clear ink filled in the white ink filling chamber is discharged to the waste ink discharge portion and replaced with the clear ink. The

  As described above, the clear switching and the white switching are performed by sequentially controlling the head unit 40 and the ink suction unit 32 by the controller 60, and sequentially performing the switching of the switch 80, the end flushing, and the ink suction. The Rukoto.

<<< Ink switching timing >>>
Next, an example of switching timing of clear switching and white switching will be described. As described above, in the present embodiment, the state of the white ink filling chamber is set to the clear filling state when the power is turned off. Therefore, as a general rule, when the power is turned off, the controller 60 performs clear switching, and after the power is turned on, the controller 60 performs white switching (returns to the white filling state).

  Hereinafter, the above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example in which the controller 60 performs white switching after the power is turned on. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example in which the controller 60 performs clear switching when the power is turned off.

  Note that various operations of the printer 1 when this switching is executed are mainly realized by the controller 60. In particular, in the present embodiment, it is realized by the CPU 62 processing a program stored in the memory 63. And this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for performing the various operation | movement demonstrated below.

  First, an example in which the controller 60 performs white switching after the power is turned on will be described. The flowchart in FIG. 9 starts when the power is turned on by the user and the controller 60 receives a power-on command (step S2). As described above, in the present embodiment, the clear ink is filled in the white ink filling chamber when the power is turned off (the clear filling state is set). When the power is turned on, white switching is not executed and the clear filling state is maintained.

  When the power is turned on, the printer 1 enters a standby state waiting for printing (step S4: N), but even in this state, white switching is not executed and the clear filling state is maintained.

  Then, after a while, the printer 1 (controller 60) receives a print command from the computer 110 (step S4: Y). When receiving the first print command after the power is turned on, the controller 60 prints a print mode in which the print command uses white ink (that is, a print mode in which white printing is performed. Hereinafter, abbreviated as white use mode). ) And a printing mode that does not use white ink (that is, a printing mode in which monochrome printing or color printing is performed; hereinafter, abbreviated as white non-use mode) is checked (step S5). When the print command indicates the white use mode (step S5: Y), the controller 60 performs white switching (step S8), and when the print command indicates the white non-use mode. (Step S5: N), the controller 60 maintains the clear filling state without executing white switching.

  Note that after the white switching (step S8), the controller 60 executes the above-described inspection cleaning process (step S9) so that white printing performed after the white switching is performed appropriately without ejection failure.

  In addition, when the first print command is received after the power is turned on and the print mode is checked and white switching is not executed (step S5: N), the second time after the power is turned on. Until the subsequent print command is received and the white use mode is checked (step S5: Y), the controller 60 maintains the clear filling state without executing white switching. That is, the controller 60 performs the above-described check of the print mode even when the second and subsequent print commands are received after the power is turned on while the clear filling state is maintained (step S4: Y) (step S4: Y). Step S5). Then, when the second and subsequent print commands indicate the white use mode (step S5: Y), the controller 60 executes white switching (step S8), but the second and subsequent print commands are If the white non-use mode is indicated (step S5: N), the clear filling state is maintained without executing white switching.

  Next, an example in which the controller 60 performs clear switching when the power is turned off will be described. The flowchart in FIG. 10 starts when the power is turned off by the user and the controller 60 receives a power-off command (step S12). As described above (as shown in FIG. 9), when the power is turned on (while power is supplied to the printer 1), the white ink filling chamber is in the clear filling state. And white-filled state. Therefore, there is a possibility of both a clear filling state and a white filling state immediately before the power is turned off.

  Upon receiving the power OFF command, the controller 60 checks whether the white ink filling chamber is in the clear filling state or the white filling state (step S14. For example, the history of clear switching and white switching is stored in the memory 63. If stored, this check can be realized by referring to the history from the memory 63). If it is in the clear filling state (step S14: N), the controller 60 does not perform switching, but if it is in the white filling state (step S14: Y), clear switching is executed (step S16). .

=== Effectiveness of Printer 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment operates the switch 80 to switch from one of the white filling state and the clear filling state to the other and from one of the white communication state and the clear communication state to the other. After the transition, the suction process for sucking ink from the head 42 and the end flushing process for flushing only the nozzles 72 located at the end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72 are performed. To do. And thereby, the filling state is appropriately switched.

  This will be described by comparing the present embodiment with a comparative example. In the comparative example, the controller 60 moves the switching from one of the white communication state and the clear communication state to the other by operating the switch 80 and then performs the suction processing (end flushing processing). Do not do). In such a case, if the filling state is not properly switched, that is, the white filling state is switched to the clear filling state (clear switching), but the white ink remains improperly in the head. In some cases, switching from the clear filling state to the white filling state (white switching) is executed, but the clear ink may remain inappropriately in the head.

  The residual phenomenon will be specifically described by taking white switching as an example. When the suction process is performed after the transition from the clear communication state to the white communication state, the nozzle 72 positioned at the end of the white nozzle row W is performed. , A pressure chamber 74 located at the end (corresponding to the end nozzle), a portion of the reservoir 76 located at the end (corresponding to the end nozzle) (for example, a portion indicated by E in FIG. 5B) ) Or the like, the clear ink may remain without switching the ink appropriately. This is because the ink flow at the time of ink suction tends to stagnate at the end due to the location where the ink flows (in other words, the flow resistance at the end is low). In this embodiment, particularly, the stagnation occurs due to the fact that the ink does not flow properly in the reservoir portion E shown in FIG. It will cause it.

  And in view of such matters, in the present embodiment, after the controller 60 operates the changeover switch 80 to shift from one of the white communication state and the clear communication state to the other, in addition to the suction processing, The end flushing process was performed. In the end flushing process, flushing is performed only for the nozzles 72 positioned at the end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72. That is, only the end nozzle 72 is flushed, and the flushing of the nozzles 72 other than the end nozzle 72 is stopped, so that the ink flow when the end flushing is performed is the end portion. And the ink flow at the end becomes rapid (there is no event that the ink does not flow properly in the portion E of the reservoir shown in FIG. 5B). Therefore, if the suction process and the end flushing process are used in combination, the deficiency in the suction process (that is, the occurrence of stagnation at the end) is compensated by the end flushing process, and white ink or clear ink is improperly applied to the head. It will be suppressed that it remains. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the filling state is appropriately switched.

  Further, as the end flushing process, flushing is performed only on the nozzles 72 located at both ends of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72 (that is, flushing is performed only on the nozzles 72 at both ends, However, in this embodiment, the target nozzle to be flushed is further narrowed down. That is, the flushing is performed only for the nozzles 72 located at one (one end) of the both ends of the white nozzle row W. In addition, although there are two candidates for the one end portion, in the present embodiment, flushing is performed on the lower side.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the nozzles 72 positioned at one end of the white nozzle row W are arranged at the other end of the white nozzle row W because the arrangement direction of the nozzles 72 in the white nozzle row W is inclined from the horizontal direction. In a situation in which the controller 60 is provided below the nozzle 72 located in the vertical direction in the vertical direction, the controller 60 performs the end portion flushing process by using the nozzle 72 located at the one end portion among the plurality of nozzles 72 (specifically, Flushing is performed only for the nozzles # 337 to # 360 (that is, flushing is performed only for the nozzle 72 at one end, and the nozzles 72 other than the nozzle 72 at the one end (the other end and the nozzle 72 at the center). The execution of flushing for) is stopped).

  That is, in the situation like this embodiment in which the alignment direction of the nozzles 72 in the white nozzle row W is inclined from the horizontal direction, the one end portion is located below (below the other end portion). The ink at one end tends to be thickened (in other words, the ink density is high). For this reason, the stagnation that occurs at one end is more likely to be noticeable than the stagnation that occurs at the other end. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the end flushing is performed by narrowing down to one end portion of the one end portion and the other end portion, whereby the flow of ink when the end portion flushing is performed is reduced to the one end portion. To focus on. For this reason, the ink flow at the end portion becomes even more rapid than when the flushing is performed only for the nozzles 72 located at both end portions, and the white ink and the clear ink remain inappropriately on the head. Will be suppressed more appropriately. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the filling state is more appropriately switched.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 60 performs the suction process and the end flushing process in the order of the end flushing process and the suction process. Therefore, the filling state is more appropriately switched for the following reason.

  That is, there is a possibility that the suction process and the end flushing process may be performed in a situation where the ink is clogged at the end, but in such a case, the suction process and the end flushing process are different from the present case. When performed in order (reverse order), that is, in order of the suction process and the end flushing process, the suction process is executed before the clogging at the end is eliminated by the rapid flow of ink by the end flushing process. Accordingly, the replacement of the ink at the end portion is not performed appropriately depending on the suction process. On the other hand, when the suction process and the end flushing process are performed in the order of the end flushing process and the suction process as in the present case, the clogging at the end is eliminated by the rapid flow of ink by the end flushing process. After that, the suction process is executed, so that the replacement of the ink at the end portion is more appropriately performed by the suction process than in the reverse order. That is, when the case of this case is compared with the case of the reverse order, the former is superior in terms of the degree of ink replacement by the suction process. Therefore, in this case, the filling state is switched more appropriately.

=== Other Embodiments ===
Although the above embodiments are mainly described with respect to a printing apparatus, disclosure of a filling state switching method and the like is also included. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the printing apparatus was actualized to the inkjet printer, it is not restricted to this, The present invention can also be applied to other printing apparatuses.

  In the above-described embodiment, only one end flushing process is performed as the end flushing process. However, a plurality of end flushing processes may be performed in stages. FIG. 11 shows such an example (also referred to as a second embodiment) and corresponds to FIG.

  In the second embodiment, before the end flushing process (step S6) for only one end of the above embodiment, an additional end flushing process, that is, an end for only the other end. A flushing process (step S5) is performed. More specifically, the controller 60 performs, as the end flushing process, the first end flushing process in which the flushing is performed only for the nozzles located at the other end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72. After that, a second end flushing process is performed in which flushing is performed only on the nozzles located at the one end of the white nozzle row W among the plurality of nozzles 72.

  And since such an additional flushing process was added, switching of a filling state will be performed more appropriately. That is, as described above, in the situation where the arrangement direction of the nozzles 72 in the white nozzle row W is inclined from the horizontal direction, the one end portion is positioned below (lower than the other end portion). Ink tends to be thickened (in other words, the ink density is high). Therefore, by performing an additional flushing process for only the other end portion, this high ink density state is first canceled (in the second embodiment, for example, the right half of the reservoir 76 in FIG. In such a situation, if an additional flushing process is performed in this situation, an ink flow occurs in the left half of the reservoir 76. Therefore, the state where the ink density is low in the left half and the ink density is high in the right half shifts to the state where the ink density is uniform in the right half and the left half). Subsequently, when the flushing process for only one end portion is performed, a rapid ink flow can be created at the one end portion in a situation where the high ink density state is released at the one end portion. In addition, it is possible to more appropriately prevent white ink and clear ink from remaining on the head inappropriately. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the filling state is more appropriately switched.

  In the above embodiment, the edge flushing process is always executed at the time of white switching and clear switching. However, whether or not the edge flushing process is performed may be determined according to conditions. . FIG. 12 shows such an example (also referred to as a third embodiment) and corresponds to FIG.

  In the third embodiment, the controller 60 checks the ejection failure of the head 42 after the controller 60 operates the changeover switch 80 to shift from one of the white communication state and the clear communication state to the other (step S2). Inspection processing is performed (step S3), and only when the ejection failure is detected in the inspection processing (step S4: Y), suction processing and end flushing processing are performed (step S6, step S8). That is, in the third embodiment, when an ejection failure is detected in the inspection process (step S3) executed after the communication state transition process (step S2) (step S4: Y), that is, only the suction process is performed. If it is estimated that proper ink replacement cannot be performed, both suction processing (step S8) and end flushing processing (step S6) are performed. On the other hand, if no ejection failure is detected in the inspection process (step S3) (step S4: N), only the suction process (step S9) is performed. As a result, the filling state is switched more appropriately, and the end flushing process is executed only when it is really necessary, so that the time required for switching is shortened.

  In the example of FIG. 12, when no ejection failure is detected in the inspection process (step S3) (step S4: N), only the suction process (step S9) is performed. Embodiments that do not perform are also conceivable. In other words, the embodiment may be such that both the end flushing process and the suction process are performed when an ejection failure is detected in the inspection process, and neither is performed when it is not detected.

  Moreover, in the above, although the example which used the electrostatic induction was given as a method of a test | inspection process, it is not limited to this. For example, a method of inspecting the ejection failure by providing a light emitting unit and a light receiving sensor and causing the light receiving sensor to detect whether or not the ink ejected from the nozzle blocks the light emitted from the light emitting unit. Good.

  In the above description, the example of repeating the cleaning process and the inspection process until no ejection failure is detected is given as the inspection cleaning process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the upper limit of the number of executions of the inspection process is determined, and when the number of executions of the inspection process reaches the upper limit, the inspection cleaning process ends even if an ejection failure is detected in this final inspection process. May be. In addition, if a discharge failure is detected in this final inspection process, the user is informed whether the inspection cleaning process may be terminated. If there is a response from the user to terminate the inspection cleaning process, the process is not terminated. If there is a response, it may be an example in which the inspection cleaning process is continued.

1 Printer, 20 transport unit, 24 Smap roller, 26 Platen,
27 Roll paper holder, 29 Paper pressing roller, 31 Paper feed motor, 32 Ink suction unit, 33 Head cap, 33a Suction chamber, 34 Hose, 35 Suction pump, 35a Small roller, 37 Flushing box, 38 Inspection unit, 40 Head unit , 42 head, 44 ink cartridge, 46 traction belt, 47 guide rail, 48 carriage, 49 carriage motor, 50 detector group, 60 controller, 61 interface unit, 62 CPU, 63 memory, 64 unit control circuit, 70 filling chamber, 72 nozzles, 74 pressure chambers, 75 supply paths, 76 reservoirs, 78 piezo elements, 80 changeover switches, 110 computers, S roll paper

Claims (6)

A head for ejecting a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium, which is formed by selectively filling white ink and clear ink, and arranging a plurality of nozzles serving as ejection openings for the white ink and the clear ink. A head having a nozzle row;
A white ink container for containing the white ink;
A container for clear ink that contains the clear ink;
A selection unit for communicating any one of the white ink container and the clear ink container with the head;
Switching from one of the first filling state in which the head is filled with the white ink and the second filling state in which the head is filled with the clear ink to the other,
The selection unit is operated to shift from one of the first continuous state in which the white ink container and the head are in communication and the second communication state in which the clear ink container and the head are in communication to each other. After performing the suction process for sucking ink from the head and the end flushing process for flushing only the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles,
And a controller for executing the printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The controller performs the suction process and the edge flushing process in the order of an edge flushing process and a suction process. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Since the nozzle array direction in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction, the nozzle located at one end of the nozzle row is lower in the vertical direction than the nozzle located at the other end of the nozzle row. It is provided in
The controller, as the end flushing process, performs flushing only on a nozzle located at the one end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Since the nozzle array direction in the nozzle row is inclined from the horizontal direction, the nozzle located at one end of the nozzle row is lower in the vertical direction than the nozzle located at the other end of the nozzle row. It is provided in
The controller performs, as the end portion flushing process, a first end portion flushing process in which flushing is performed only on nozzles located at the other end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles, A printing apparatus that performs a second end flushing process for performing flushing only on nozzles located at the one end of the nozzle row among the nozzles. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The controller performs an inspection process for inspecting ejection failure of the head after operating and shifting the selection unit from one of the first continuous state and the second communication state to the other. In the printing apparatus, the suction process and the edge flushing process are performed only when the ejection failure is detected. A filling state switching method for switching from one of a first filling state filled with white ink and a second filling state filled with clear ink to the other,
A head for discharging a plurality of colors of ink onto a medium, which is formed by selectively filling the white ink and the clear ink, and arranging a plurality of nozzles serving as discharge ports for the white ink and the clear ink. The white ink for the white ink from one to the other in the first continuous state in which the head including the nozzle row and the white ink container communicate with each other and the second communication state in which the head and the clear ink container communicate with each other. Operating a selection unit for communicating either the container or the clear ink container with the head; and
After shifting from one of the first communication state and the second communication state to the other, the suction process for sucking ink from the head and only the nozzles located at the end of the nozzle row among the plurality of nozzles Performing an end flushing process that performs flushing for
A filling state switching method characterized by comprising:

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