JP2011131530A - Liquid jetting device and method for controlling the liquid jetting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect abnormality of a nozzle with less possibility that throughput is lowered and processing load is increased in a liquid jetting device. <P>SOLUTION: A change of ink pressure of a non-driving cavity 174b and a non-driving cavity 174d caused by crosstalk C is detected from voltage generated between electrodes of an actuator 20b and an actuator 20d to which driving voltage waveform is not applied. Presence or absence of the abnormality of jetting nozzles N1 to N5 is detected based on a change of the ink pressure of the non-driving cavity 174b and the non-driving cavity 174d. To put it more concretely, the presence or absence of the abnormality of the jetting nozzles N1 to N5 is detected by comparing voltage waveform generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20b and the actuator 20d to which the driving voltage waveform is not applied with that at ordinary time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid from a liquid ejecting head to a material to be ejected, and a control method for the liquid ejecting apparatus.

Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus refers to an ink jet recording apparatus, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like that performs recording on a recording paper by ejecting ink from a liquid ejecting head such as a recording head onto an ejected material such as recording paper. The present invention includes not only a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges liquid other than ink but also various liquid consuming apparatuses that eject or eject a minute amount of liquid droplets.
The liquid droplet is a state of liquid ejected or ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and includes liquid droplets having a granular shape, a tear shape, and a thread shape.

  The liquid may be any material that can be ejected or discharged from the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in a state in which the substance is in a liquid phase, and is granular such as liquid, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals (metal melts). Including the body. Further, not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a substance in which particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent are included.

  Typical examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal. Here, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as gel ink and hot melt ink in addition to general water-based ink and oil-based ink.

  As a specific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, for example, a liquid containing materials such as an electrode material and a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, and a color filter in a dispersed or dissolved form. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic material used for biochip manufacturing, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette, a textile printing apparatus, a microdispenser, or the like. Furthermore, a transparent resin liquid such as UV curable resin is used to form a liquid injection device that injects lubricating oil pinpoint onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects onto a substrate, or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali in order to etch the substrate or the like.

  In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle provided on the head surface of the liquid ejecting head to the material to be ejected. A general liquid ejecting head includes a common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber, an ejection nozzle provided for each pressure chamber, and an actuator provided for each pressure chamber. The liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle by changing the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber by the actuator.

  Since the liquid jet head having such a configuration is configured such that liquid is supplied from a common liquid chamber to a plurality of pressure chambers, so-called crosstalk may occur. Crosstalk here refers to the pressure at which the change in the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber caused by the actuator changes through the common liquid chamber when the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber is changed by the actuator and the liquid is injected from the injection nozzle. It is a phenomenon transmitted to the room. The change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber due to the crosstalk is extremely small compared to the change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber due to the actuator. However, depending on conditions such as the nozzle pitch, the liquid ejection accuracy may be affected. . As a conventional technique aiming at reducing the influence of crosstalk on the liquid ejection accuracy, for example, a liquid ejection apparatus that performs liquid ejection without simultaneously using adjacent ejection nozzles is known. In other words, the related art reduces the influence of crosstalk on the liquid ejection accuracy by not using an ejection nozzle that may be affected by crosstalk (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the liquid jet head configured as described above, for example, bubbles are mixed in the pressure chamber, the liquid in the pressure chamber is thickened, or foreign matter such as paper dust or dust adheres to block the opening of the jet nozzle. If it is deviated, even if the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber is changed by the actuator, so-called blanking or nozzle clogging may occur, and liquid may not be ejected from the ejection nozzle. In such a state where the liquid is not ejected from the ejection nozzle (hereinafter referred to as “nozzle abnormality”), the liquid that should be ejected is not ejected from the ejection nozzle. It becomes a factor that the liquid ejection accuracy decreases. For example, in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus, a so-called dot dropout occurs, which causes a decrease in recording image quality.

  As a means for resolving the above-mentioned nozzle abnormality, a recording apparatus such as a general ink jet printer has a head maintenance device provided with a suction mechanism that applies a suction force to the ejection nozzle and a wiper that wipes the head surface of the recording head. Is provided. For example, by applying a suction force to the ejection nozzle, it is possible to forcibly discharge the thickened ink and bubbles in the pressure chamber from the ejection nozzle. Further, by wiping the head surface of the recording head with a wiper, foreign matters such as paper dust and dust attached to the opening of the ejection nozzle can be removed.

  Further, as a conventional technique for preventing the above-described nozzle abnormality, for example, when an electric field is applied between the ejection surface of the liquid ejection head and the detection unit, and the liquid ejected from the ejection nozzle reaches the detection unit A technique is known in which the viscosity of a liquid is detected from a voltage change based on electrostatic induction, and suction or wiping is performed by a head maintenance device in accordance with the detected viscosity of the liquid (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Further, as a conventional technique for detecting the above-described nozzle abnormality, for example, a technique for identifying the presence / absence of a nozzle abnormality or an ejection nozzle in which a nozzle abnormality has occurred is known from a nozzle check pattern recorded on a recording paper ( For example, see Patent Document 3). Further, as another conventional technique for detecting a nozzle abnormality, for example, there is a technique for identifying presence / absence of a nozzle abnormality and a cause of the nozzle abnormality from a pressure vibration damping vibration (residual vibration) waveform immediately after ink ejection. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2009-12406 A JP 2008-188942 A JP 2009-27381 A JP 2009-101699 A

  Although the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2 can prevent nozzle abnormalities due to thickening of the liquid in the pressure chamber, foreign matters such as bubbles mixed in the pressure chamber and paper dust adhering to the nozzle opening It is not possible to prevent the nozzle abnormality caused by this, and it is impossible to detect the nozzle abnormality when it occurs. Further, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a demerit that the nozzle check pattern needs to be recorded on the recording paper, so that the throughput is significantly reduced and the recording paper is wasted. The prior art disclosed in Patent Document 4 calculates the period of the damped vibration from the damped vibration (residual vibration) waveform of the pressure in the pressure chamber, and determines the presence or absence of the nozzle abnormality and the cause of the nozzle abnormality from the period of the damped vibration. As a result of the determination, the calculation and determination processing becomes complicated, which may increase the processing load and reduce the throughput.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize detection of a nozzle abnormality with less risk of a decrease in throughput and an increase in processing load in a liquid ejecting apparatus. .

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber, an injection nozzle provided for each pressure chamber, and a pressure chamber provided for each pressure chamber are provided. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from the ejecting nozzle by changing the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber by the actuator, a drive circuit that can individually drive the actuator, and A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a detection circuit capable of individually detecting a change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber; and a control device that controls the drive circuit, wherein the control device drives the actuator to perform the ejection When the liquid is ejected from the nozzle, the pressure is determined based on the change in the hydraulic pressure in the pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator adjacent to the pressure chamber that drives the actuator. Detecting the presence or absence of Le abnormality, it is a liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by.

  When the actuator is driven to eject the liquid from the ejection nozzle, a phenomenon called crosstalk occurs in which the change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber caused by the actuator is transmitted to the adjacent pressure chamber via the common liquid chamber. That is, the change in the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber (hereinafter referred to as “non-drive pressure chamber”) that does not drive the actuator adjacent to the pressure chamber (hereinafter referred to as “drive pressure chamber”) that drives the actuator is driven by the actuator. The change in the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber is transmitted to the adjacent non-driven pressure chamber via the common liquid chamber. If the change in the hydraulic pressure in the non-driven pressure chamber due to this crosstalk is large, the change in the hydraulic pressure in the non-driven pressure chamber causes the liquid to be ejected from the ejection nozzle of the non-driven pressure chamber that should not be ejected originally. There is a risk that it will end up. In addition, when both of the adjacent pressure chambers are driven by an actuator, the change in the hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk is mutually affected, so that the crosstalk may affect the liquid ejection accuracy. In other words, it is desirable that the crosstalk is at least as small as possible so that the liquid is not ejected from the ejection nozzle of the non-drive pressure chamber. However, the crosstalk does not occur at all due to the structure of the liquid ejection head. It is difficult to make.

  As described above, the crosstalk generally has an adverse effect on the liquid ejection accuracy, and it is considered difficult to completely remove the crosstalk. The present invention is characterized in that this crosstalk is actively used. Specifically, the present invention is based on the knowledge that the change in the hydraulic pressure of the non-driving pressure chamber due to crosstalk varies depending on the state of the non-driving pressure chamber, and also varies depending on the state of the adjacent driving pressure chamber. It is.

  For example, no bubbles are mixed in the non-driving pressure chamber, and the nozzle is clogged due to the thickening of the liquid in the non-driving pressure chamber or foreign matter adhering to the opening of the ejection nozzle (hereinafter simply referred to as “nozzle clogging”). In a state in which no non-driving pressure chamber is generated, that is, in a normal state of the non-driving pressure chamber, the change in liquid pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-driving pressure chamber is the fluctuation of the meniscus (the liquid level facing the atmosphere at the opening of the injection nozzle). Is further reduced by absorption.

  On the other hand, in the state where bubbles are mixed in the non-driven pressure chamber, the change in the hydraulic pressure due to crosstalk in the non-driven pressure chamber is further absorbed by the bubbles, and thus becomes smaller than the normal state. . On the other hand, in a state where the nozzles are clogged in the ejection nozzles of the non-drive pressure chamber, the meniscus hardly changes, so that the liquid pressure is hardly absorbed due to the meniscus change. Therefore, the change in the hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-drive pressure chamber is larger than in a normal state. That is, when the actuator is driven and liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle, the non-driven state is determined by comparing the magnitude of the change in hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk between the non-driven pressure chambers adjacent to the driven pressure chamber with that in the normal state. The presence or absence of nozzle abnormality in the pressure chamber and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected.

  Further, for example, in the state where bubbles are mixed in the driving pressure chamber, the change in the hydraulic pressure of the driving pressure chamber by the actuator is absorbed by the bubbles, so the liquid due to the crosstalk of the non-driving pressure chamber adjacent to the driving pressure chamber. The change in pressure is smaller than when the drive pressure chamber is normal. On the other hand, in a state where nozzle clogging occurs in the ejection nozzle of the driving pressure chamber, liquid is not ejected from the ejection nozzle, so that the change in the hydraulic pressure of the driving pressure chamber by the actuator is transmitted more to the common liquid chamber side. Therefore, the change in the hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-driving pressure chamber adjacent to the driving pressure chamber becomes larger than that in the normal state. That is, when the liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle by driving the actuator, the magnitude of the change in the hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-driving pressure chamber adjacent to the driving pressure chamber is compared with that in the normal state. The presence or absence of nozzle abnormality in the chamber and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected.

  As described above, the magnitude of the change in the hydraulic pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-driving pressure chamber adjacent to the driving pressure chamber is compared with that in the normal state, so that the non-driving pressure chamber and the non-driving pressure chamber are adjacent to each other. It is possible to detect the presence or absence of a nozzle abnormality in the driving pressure chamber and the cause of the nozzle abnormality. More specifically, for example, whether or not the peak value of the change waveform of the hydraulic pressure due to crosstalk in the non-driving pressure chamber adjacent to the driving pressure chamber is within the normal range, whether there is a nozzle abnormality, Factors can also be detected. Therefore, in comparison with the prior art for calculating the presence or absence of nozzle abnormality and the cause of nozzle abnormality by calculating the damping vibration period of the pressure chamber immediately after liquid injection, the present invention relates to the presence or absence of nozzle abnormality and the cause of nozzle abnormality. The processing load at the time of detection can be greatly reduced. Further, according to the present invention, when the liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle by driving the actuator, the presence or absence of the nozzle abnormality and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected simultaneously with the liquid ejection. Therefore, the present invention is less likely to reduce the throughput as compared with the prior art in which the presence / absence of nozzle abnormality and the cause of nozzle abnormality are determined from the damping vibration period of the pressure chamber immediately after liquid ejection.

  As a result, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to obtain an operational effect that it is possible to realize detection of a nozzle abnormality with less risk of a decrease in throughput and an increase in processing load.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the first aspect described above, when the control device discards the liquid to the outside of the ejected material between the liquid ejecting with respect to the ejected material, In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the drive circuit is controlled to detect the presence or absence of a nozzle abnormality so that pressure chambers that drive the actuator and pressure chambers that do not drive the actuator are alternately adjacent to each other.

  In this way, by detecting the presence or absence of a nozzle abnormality during so-called flushing in which liquid is thrown away outside the material to be ejected between liquid ejections to the material to be ejected, nozzle malfunctions between liquid ejections to the material to be ejected are detected. The presence or absence can be detected. As a result, the abnormality of the nozzle can be detected more efficiently, and the possibility that the throughput is lowered can be further reduced.

  In addition, as described above, the present invention compares the magnitude of the change in the hydraulic pressure due to crosstalk between the non-driving pressure chambers adjacent to the driving pressure chamber with that of the non-driving pressure chamber and the non-driving pressure chamber. The presence or absence of nozzle abnormality in the driving pressure chamber adjacent to the nozzle and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected. That is, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to eject liquid from all the ejection nozzles in order to detect the nozzle abnormality, the driving circuit is arranged so that the driving pressure chamber and the non-driving pressure chamber are alternately adjacent when the nozzle abnormality is detected. If controlled, approximately half the number of pressure chambers for driving the actuator is sufficient. That is, compared with the prior art which needs to eject the liquid from all the ejection nozzles, the liquid consumption and the power consumption at the time of detecting the nozzle abnormality can be greatly reduced. In addition, it is not necessary to detect a change in hydraulic pressure for the pressure chamber that drives the actuator when a nozzle abnormality is detected. Therefore, the detection circuit can be significantly reduced in scale as compared with the prior art that needs to detect the change in the hydraulic pressure for all the pressure chambers, thereby greatly reducing the cost. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, the liquid ejecting head vibrates a vibration plate provided for each pressure chamber by the actuator. Thus, the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber changes and the liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle, and the detection circuit detects the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber from the vibration of the diaphragm of the pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator. It is a liquid ejecting apparatus characterized by detecting a change in.
As described above, by using the diaphragm for changing the pressure in the pressure chamber as a part of the detection circuit, the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention can be realized at lower cost.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied, a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber, an injection nozzle provided for each pressure chamber, and each pressure chamber. A liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from the ejecting nozzle by changing the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber by the actuator, a drive circuit that can individually drive the actuator, and And a detection circuit capable of individually detecting a change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber, wherein the actuator is driven when the actuator is driven to eject the liquid from the ejection nozzle. The presence or absence of nozzle abnormality is detected based on a change in hydraulic pressure of a pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator adjacent to the pressure chamber to be driven. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to obtain the same function and effect as those of the first aspect described above.

The principal part side view of an inkjet printer. The principal part front view of an inkjet printer. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the recording head. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a recording head schematically illustrating a reservoir and a plurality of cavities. The schematic diagram of the ink pressure change waveform of the non-drive cavity by crosstalk.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of inkjet printer 1>
The configuration of the ink jet printer 1 as the “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a side view of an essential part of the ink jet printer 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of an essential part of the ink jet printer 1.

  The inkjet printer 1 includes a conveyance driving roller 11, a conveyance driven roller 12, a recording paper support member 13, a discharge driving roller 14, a discharge driven roller 15, and a carriage as means for executing recording on the recording paper P as an “ejecting material”. 16 and a recording head 17.

  The transport driving roller 11 has a high friction coating on the outer peripheral surface, and rotates by receiving the rotational driving force of a transport motor (not shown). The transport driven roller 12 is pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate in a state of being biased in a direction in contact with the transport drive roller 11. The recording paper support member 13 supports the recording paper P from the back side. The distance between the head surface of the recording head 17 and the recording surface of the recording paper P (the surface on which recording is performed; the same applies hereinafter) is maintained at a constant interval by the recording paper support member 13. The discharge driving roller 14 is rotated by a rotational driving force of a conveyance motor (not shown) being transmitted. The discharge driven roller 15 is pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate and is urged in a direction in which the discharge driven roller 15 contacts the discharge drive roller 14.

  The carriage 16 is supported by a carriage guide shaft 18 and a guide frame 19 so as to be reciprocable in the main scanning direction X. The main scanning direction X is a direction that intersects the sub-scanning direction Y (the conveyance direction of the recording paper P) along the recording surface of the recording paper P supported by the recording paper support member 13. The carriage guide shaft 18 is a component made of a metal shaft disposed along the main scanning direction X. The guide frame 19 is a part formed by bending a metal plate or the like, and is disposed along the main scanning direction X. The carriage 16 is supported by the carriage guide shaft 18 and supported so as to be capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction X in a state where the downstream portion in the sub-scanning direction Y is in contact with the guide frame 19 by its own weight and is in sliding contact. .

  The carriage 16 is connected to an endless belt suspended between a driving pulley and a driven pulley of a carriage driving motor (not shown). The carriage 16 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X by bidirectionally rotating the endless belt with the rotational driving force of the carriage driving motor. The recording head 17 as a “liquid ejecting head” is mounted on the carriage 16 so that the head surface faces the recording surface of the recording paper P supported by the recording paper support member 13. The head surface of the recording head 17 is provided with a number of ejection nozzles (not shown) for ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the recording paper P to form dots.

  The recording paper P is sandwiched between the transport driving roller 11 and the transport driven roller 12 and is transported on the recording paper support member 13 in the sub-scanning direction Y by the driving rotation of the transport driving roller 11. The recording paper P on the recording paper support member 13 forms dots by ejecting ink from the head surface of the recording head 17 to the recording surface while the carriage 16 reciprocates in the main scanning direction X, and the transport driving roller 11. Recording is executed on the recording surface by alternately repeating the operation of transporting in the sub-scanning direction Y by a predetermined transport amount by the drive rotation. The recording paper P on which recording has been performed on the recording surface is sandwiched between the discharge driving roller 14 and the discharge driven roller 15, conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the driving rotation of the discharge driving roller 14, and discharged from the inkjet printer 1. Is done. A series of these recording controls are executed by the control device 100 having a known microcomputer control circuit.

  Further, the ink jet printer 1 includes a head maintenance device 40 for performing maintenance of the recording head 17 during a standby time when recording is not performed or during the execution of recording. The head maintenance device 40 includes a cap 41, a wiper 42, a suction pump 43, a motor 44, and a waste liquid collection unit 45, and is controlled by the control device 100.

  The cap 41 is disposed at a position facing the head surface of the recording head 17 in a state where the carriage 16 is at the home position (a position where the carriage 16 is stopped during standby when recording is not performed). Is supported so as to be displaceable in the direction of contact with and away from (the direction indicated by symbol A). During standby when recording is not performed, the carriage 16 is stopped at the home position, and the head surface of the recording head 17 is sealed with the cap 41, so that the ink of the ejection nozzles can be prevented from drying.

  The wiper 42 is disposed at a position between the cap 41 and the recording paper support member 13, and is supported so as to be displaceable in a direction in which the wiper 42 contacts and separates from the head surface of the recording head 17 (direction indicated by reference numeral A). Yes. Foreign matter such as paper dust and dust, excess ink, etc. adhering to the head surface of the recording head 17 is moved to the position where the tip of the recording head 17 can come into contact with the head surface of the recording head 17 and the carriage 16 is moved to the home. By moving from the position to the recording execution area, the wiper 42 can wipe it off.

  The suction pump 43 is a pump that is operated by the driving force of the motor 44, and is connected to the cap 41 through the suction side tube 46 and is connected to the waste liquid collecting unit 45 through the discharge side tube 47. Air bubbles and thickened ink in the recording head 17 are forced by the negative pressure acting on the head surface of the recording head 17 by operating the suction pump 43 with the head surface of the recording head 17 sealed by the cap 41. Can be discharged. The ink sucked by the suction pump 43 is discharged and accumulated in the waste liquid collecting unit 45.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the recording head 17.
The recording head 17 includes a reservoir 171, an ink supply path 172, an ink flow path 173, a cavity 174, a vibration plate 175, an ejection nozzle N, and an actuator 20.

  A reservoir 171 as a “common liquid chamber” is provided for each nozzle row. The ink in the ink cartridge (not shown) is supplied from the ink supply path 172 to the reservoir 171. A cavity 174 as a “pressure chamber” communicates with the reservoir 171 through an ink flow path 173 branched from the reservoir 171. That is, the ink in the reservoir 171 is supplied to the cavity 174 via the ink flow path 173. The ink flow path 173 and the cavity 174 are arranged in parallel with the reservoir 171 in the same number as the number of ejection nozzles of the nozzle row, and the ejection nozzle N is provided in each of the cavities 174. The actuator 20 is disposed on the diaphragm 175 of each cavity 174. The actuator 20 vibrates the piezoelectric element (piezo) 21 by applying a driving voltage waveform between the upper electrode 22 and the lower electrode 23, and vibrates the diaphragm 175 by the vibration of the piezoelectric element 21.

  In the recording head 17 having such a configuration, the vibration plate 175 is vibrated by applying a driving voltage waveform from the head driver 31 to the actuator 20, whereby the volume of the cavity 174 is changed and the ink pressure in the cavity 174 is changed to the driving voltage. In response to the waveform, the ink in the cavity 174 is ejected from the ejection nozzle N.

  The head driver 31 as a “drive circuit” individually drives a plurality of actuators 20 provided for each cavity 174 of the recording head 17 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 100. More specifically, the head driver 31 outputs a predetermined drive voltage waveform to the actuator 20 corresponding to the ejection nozzle N that should eject ink among the plurality of actuators 20 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 100. Apply.

  In this embodiment, the actuator 20 can also function as a “detection circuit” that individually detects changes in the ink pressure in the cavity 174. More specifically, when the ink pressure in the cavity 174 changes, the vibration plate 175 vibrates in accordance with the ink pressure change, and a voltage is generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20 in accordance with the vibration of the vibration plate 175. To do. That is, a voltage corresponding to a change in ink pressure in the cavity 174 is generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20. The charge amplifier 32 amplifies the voltage generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20 and outputs the amplified voltage to the control device 100. As described above, by using the diaphragm 175 for changing the ink pressure of the cavity 174 as a part of the “detection circuit”, the inkjet printer 1 according to the present invention can be realized at lower cost.

  A plurality of switching circuits 33 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of actuators 20. The switching circuit 33 selectively switches the connection destination of the upper electrode 22 of the actuator 20 to either the head driver 31 or the charge amplifier 32 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 100. More specifically, for the actuator 20 corresponding to the cavity 174 that ejects ink from the ejection nozzle N, the control device 100 connects the upper electrode 22 to the head driver 31. Accordingly, a predetermined drive voltage waveform is applied from the head driver 31 to the actuator 20, and ink is ejected from the ejection nozzle N. On the other hand, for the actuator 20 corresponding to the cavity 174 that does not eject ink from the ejection nozzle N, the control device 100 connects the upper electrode 22 to the charge amplifier 32. Accordingly, the control device 100 can detect a change in the ink pressure of the cavity 174 that does not eject ink from the ejection nozzle N from the voltage generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20.

<Nozzle abnormality detection>
A procedure (method) for detecting the nozzle abnormality of the recording head 17 executed by the control device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the recording head 17 schematically showing the reservoir 171 and the plurality of cavities 174.
The control device 100 performs flushing that discards ink to the outside of the recording paper P (such as the cap 41) between the ink ejections on the recording paper P. At that time, the control device 100 controls the head driver 31 and the switching circuit 33 so that the cavities 174 that drive the actuator 20 and the cavities 174 that do not drive the actuator 20 are alternately adjacent to each other. More specifically, for example, cavities 174a, 174c, and 174e are selected as cavities for driving the actuator 20 (hereinafter referred to as “driving cavities”), and cavities that do not drive the actuator 20 (hereinafter referred to as “non-driving cavities”). ) To select the cavities 174b and 174d. That is, at the time of flushing, a drive voltage waveform is applied to the actuator 20a of the drive cavity 174a, the actuator 20c of the drive cavity 174c, and the actuator 20e of the drive cavity 174e, and ink is ejected from the ejection nozzles N1, N3, and N5 (reference B). . On the other hand, no drive voltage waveform is applied to the actuator 20b of the non-drive cavity 174b and the actuator 20d of the non-drive cavity 174d, and no ink is ejected from the ejection nozzles N2 and N4.

  At this time, the control device 100 changes the ink pressure in the non-driving cavity 174b and the non-driving cavity 174d generated by the crosstalk C from the voltage generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20b and the actuator 20d to which no driving voltage waveform is applied. Is detected. Then, the control device 100 detects the presence / absence of nozzle abnormality in the ejection nozzles N1 to N5 based on the change in ink pressure in the non-drive cavity 174b and the non-drive cavity 174d. More specifically, the voltage waveform generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20b and the actuator 20d to which the drive voltage waveform is not applied is compared with that at the normal time to detect the presence or absence of the nozzle abnormality of the injection nozzles N1 to N5.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the change waveform of the ink pressure in the non-driven cavities 174b and 174d due to the crosstalk C. FIG.
Hereinafter, a procedure for detecting the presence or absence of nozzle abnormality in the ejection nozzles N1 to N3 based on a change in ink pressure in the non-driven cavity 174b will be described as an example.
For example, in a state where no bubbles are mixed in the non-driven cavity 174b and no nozzle clogging occurs in the injection nozzle N2 of the non-driven cavity 174b, that is, the non-driven cavity 174b is in a normal state, crosstalk of the non-driven cavity 174b. The change in the ink pressure due to C is absorbed by the fluctuation of the meniscus of the ejection nozzle N2 (the liquid level facing the atmosphere at the opening of the ejection nozzle) and is further reduced.

  On the other hand, in a state where air bubbles can enter the non-driving cavity 174b and idling can occur in the ejection nozzle N2, the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b is further absorbed by the air bubbles. Therefore, the non-driving cavity 174b is smaller than the normal case (FIG. 5A). On the other hand, in a state where nozzle clogging has occurred in the ejection nozzle N2 of the non-drive cavity 174b, the meniscus fluctuation of the ejection nozzle N2 hardly occurs, and therefore ink pressure is hardly absorbed due to the meniscus fluctuation. Therefore, the change in the ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b is larger than when the non-driving cavity 174b is normal (FIG. 5B).

  Further, for example, in a state where air bubbles can enter the drive cavity 174a and the ejection nozzle N1 can be idle, the change in the ink pressure of the drive cavity 174a by the actuator 20a is absorbed by the air bubbles. Therefore, the change in the ink pressure of the drive cavity 174a is smaller than when the drive cavity 174a is normal. Therefore, the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b adjacent to the driving cavity 174a is smaller than when the driving cavity 174a is normal (FIG. 5A). Similarly, in a state where air bubbles may enter the drive cavity 174c and the ejection nozzle N3 may be idle, the change in ink pressure of the drive cavity 174c by the actuator 20c is absorbed by the air bubbles. Therefore, the change in the ink pressure of the drive cavity 174c is smaller than when the drive cavity 174c is normal. Therefore, the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b adjacent to the driving cavity 174c is smaller than that when the driving cavity 174c is normal (FIG. 5A).

  On the other hand, ink is not ejected from the ejection nozzle N1 in a state in which the ejection nozzle N1 of the drive cavity 174a is clogged. Therefore, the change in the ink pressure of the drive cavity 174a by the actuator 20a is more transmitted to the reservoir 171 side. Therefore, the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b adjacent to the driving cavity 174a is larger than when the driving cavity 174a is normal (FIG. 5B). Similarly, ink is not ejected from the ejection nozzle N3 when the ejection nozzle N3 of the drive cavity 174c is clogged. Therefore, the change in the ink pressure of the drive cavity 174c by the actuator 20c is transmitted more to the reservoir 171 side. Therefore, the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavity 174b adjacent to the driving cavity 174c is larger than when the driving cavity 174c is normal (FIG. 5B).

  That is, by comparing the magnitude of the change in ink pressure due to the crosstalk C of the non-driving cavities 174b adjacent to the driving cavities 174a and 174c with the normal time, the presence or absence of the nozzle abnormality of the ejection nozzles N1 to N3 and the nozzle abnormality The factor can be detected. More specifically, the nozzle abnormalities of the ejection nozzles N1 to N3 depend on whether or not the peak value of the change waveform of the ink pressure due to the crosstalk of the non-drive cavities 174b adjacent to the drive cavities 174a and 174c is within the normal range. Presence / absence and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected.

  For example, the voltage value of 50% of the positive side voltage peak value and the negative side voltage peak value generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20b of the non-driven cavity 174b in the normal state is set as the threshold values S1 and S2, respectively. When the generated voltage peak value is less than the threshold values S1 and S2, it can be determined that at least one of the injection nozzles N1 to N3 has a nozzle abnormality due to mixing of bubbles (FIG. 5A). . Further, for example, a voltage value of 120% of the positive side voltage peak value and the negative side voltage peak value generated between the electrodes of the actuator 20b of the non-driven cavity 174b in the normal state is set as the threshold values S3 and S4, respectively. In the case where the voltage peak value generated at the time exceeds the threshold values S3 and S4, it can be determined that at least one of the injection nozzles N1 to N3 has a nozzle abnormality due to nozzle clogging (FIG. 5B). ).

  As described above, according to the present invention, whether there is a nozzle abnormality and whether or not the peak value of the change waveform of the ink pressure due to crosstalk of the non-drive cavity adjacent to the drive cavity is within the normal range. The cause of the abnormality can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the processing load of the control device 100 when detecting the presence / absence of the nozzle abnormality and the cause of the nozzle abnormality. Further, according to the present invention, when the actuator 20 is driven to eject ink from the ejection nozzle N, the presence or absence of the nozzle abnormality and the cause of the nozzle abnormality can be detected simultaneously with the ink ejection, thereby reducing the throughput. There is little fear.

  As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize detection of a nozzle abnormality with less risk of a decrease in throughput and an increase in processing load in a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer.

  In the present invention, it is not necessary to eject ink from all the ejection nozzles N in order to detect nozzle abnormality. Therefore, for example, as in the above-described embodiment, if the head driver 31 is controlled so that the drive cavities and the non-drive cavities are alternately adjacent when the nozzle abnormality is detected, the number of cavities 174 that eject ink when the nozzle abnormality is detected is About half is enough. That is, compared with the prior art that needs to eject ink from all of the ejection nozzles, it is possible to significantly reduce the ink consumption and the power consumption when detecting the nozzle abnormality.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a circuit for detecting a change in ink pressure for the cavity 174 that drives the actuator 20 when a nozzle abnormality is detected. Therefore, the scale of the detection circuit can be significantly reduced as compared with the prior art in which it is necessary to provide a circuit for detecting a change in ink pressure for all the cavities 174. For example, the charge amplifier 32 and the switching circuit 33 in FIG. 3 may not be provided for the cavities (non-driving cavities 174b and 174d in FIG. 4) that are set as non-driving cavities when a nozzle abnormality is detected during flushing or the like. Thereby, the cost can be significantly reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, the present invention can also be implemented in an ink jet printer having a film boiling ink jet type (thermal jet type) recording head, and the effects of the present invention can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 20, 20a-20e Actuator, 21 Piezoelectric element, 22 Upper electrode, 23 Lower electrode, 31 Head driver, 32 Charge amplifier, 33 Switching circuit, 40 Head maintenance apparatus, 100 Control apparatus, 171 Reservoir, 172 Ink supply Path, 173 ink flow path, 174 cavity, 174a, 174c, 174e drive cavity, 174b, 174d non-drive cavity, 175 diaphragm, C crosstalk, N, N1-N5 jet nozzle, P recording paper, X main scanning direction, Y Sub-scanning direction

Claims (4)

A common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied; a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber; an injection nozzle provided for each pressure chamber; and an actuator provided for each pressure chamber; A liquid ejecting head in which liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle by changing the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber by the actuator;
A drive circuit capable of individually driving the actuators;
A detection circuit capable of individually detecting a change in hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber;
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a control device that controls the drive circuit;
When the controller drives the actuator to eject liquid from the ejection nozzle, the control device detects a nozzle abnormality based on a change in the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator adjacent to the pressure chamber that drives the actuator. A liquid ejecting apparatus that detects presence or absence.   2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device drives the actuator and the pressure chamber that drives the actuator when the liquid is thrown away to the outside of the material to be ejected during the liquid ejection to the material to be ejected. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: detecting the presence or absence of a nozzle abnormality by controlling the drive circuit so that pressure chambers that do not perform are alternately adjacent to each other. 3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting head changes the liquid pressure in the pressure chamber by causing a vibration plate provided for each of the pressure chambers to vibrate by the actuator. The liquid is ejected from the nozzle,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection circuit detects a change in fluid pressure in the pressure chamber from vibration of a diaphragm of the pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator. A common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied; a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the common liquid chamber; an injection nozzle provided for each pressure chamber; and an actuator provided for each pressure chamber; A liquid ejecting head in which liquid is ejected from the ejection nozzle by changing the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber by the actuator;
A drive circuit capable of individually driving the actuators;
A control circuit for a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: a detection circuit capable of individually detecting a change in the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber;
When ejecting liquid from the ejection nozzle by driving the actuator, the presence or absence of nozzle abnormality is detected based on a change in the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chamber that does not drive the actuator adjacent to the pressure chamber that drives the actuator. A control method for a liquid ejecting apparatus.

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