JP2012106457A - Liquid ejector and liquid ejecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a liquid from being accumulated on a liquid receiving part.SOLUTION: There is provided a liquid ejector comprising a head 31 having a nozzle array where nozzles are arranged in the array direction, and a liquid receiving part 36 which receives a liquid ejected by flushing operation of a head that is located at a first position in the array direction and performs flushing operation by ejecting a liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle array. The liquid receiving part 36 has an end 36b in the array direction which inclines from the center part 36a toward the end 36b so that the end is located lower than the center part in the vertical direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection method.

Liquid ejection devices such as ink jet printers are already well known.
Some of such liquid ejection devices include a head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction, and a liquid receiving portion that receives liquid ejected by the head performing a flushing operation.

JP-A-8-150722

By the way, in the liquid ejecting apparatus, the head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by ejecting liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row. There is a case where the head is positioned at a second position that is shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row by moving the head, and the flushing operation is performed by the head. When such processing is performed, the liquid may be deposited on the liquid receiving portion that receives the discharged liquid.
This invention is made | formed in view of this subject, The place made into the objective is to suppress that a liquid accumulates on a liquid receiving part.

The main present invention includes a head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction;
The head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by discharging liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row,
Thereafter, by moving the head in the row direction, the head is positioned at a second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row, and the flushing operation is performed. A controller that causes the head to execute
A liquid receiving portion for receiving liquid ejected by the head performing the flushing operation, wherein the central portion of the liquid receiving portion is positioned vertically below the central portion in the column direction; And a liquid receiving portion inclined toward the end portion.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. 3 is a schematic side view of a flushing unit 35. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an ink receiving member 36. FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed the raster line formed in each pass in the case of printing by 8 passes. 4 is an explanatory schematic diagram for explaining movement of a head 31. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which ink is ejected from a head 31 toward an ink receiving member when a first flushing operation to a third flushing operation are performed. It is an explanatory schematic diagram for explaining the effectiveness of the printer according to the present embodiment when the printer according to the present embodiment is compared with the printer according to the comparative example. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the ink receiving member 36. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an ink receiving plate 136. FIG.

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

A head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in a row direction;
The head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by discharging liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row,
Thereafter, by moving the head in the row direction, the head is positioned at a second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row, and the flushing operation is performed. A controller that causes the head to execute
A liquid receiving portion for receiving liquid ejected by the head performing the flushing operation, wherein the central portion of the liquid receiving portion is positioned vertically below the central portion in the column direction; And a liquid receiving portion inclined toward the end portion.
According to such a liquid ejecting apparatus, it is possible to prevent liquid from being deposited on the liquid receiving portion.

In addition, the liquid receiving part is
The normal line direction may be a roll-shaped member having a circular cross section along the column direction and a radius of the cross section decreasing from the central portion toward the end portion.
In such a case, the apparatus can be made compact.

Next, a liquid discharge method for discharging liquid onto a medium,
A head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in a row direction;
The head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by discharging liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row,
Thereafter, by moving the head in the row direction, the head is positioned at a second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row, and the flushing operation is performed. A controller that causes the head to execute
A liquid receiving portion for receiving liquid ejected by the head performing the flushing operation, wherein the central portion of the liquid receiving portion is positioned vertically below the central portion in the column direction; A liquid ejecting method, comprising: ejecting a liquid onto a medium using a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid receiving portion inclined toward the end portion from the head.
According to such a liquid discharge method, it is possible to prevent liquid from being deposited on the liquid receiving portion.

=== About Configuration Example of Printer 1 ===
A configuration example of the printer 1 as an example of the liquid ejection apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the printer 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer 1.
In the following description, when referring to “up and down direction” and “left and right direction”, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 is used as a reference. In addition, the “front-rear direction” refers to a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG.
In this embodiment, the roll paper 2 is used as a medium on which the printer 1 records an image.
This will be described using (continuous paper).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a transport unit 20 and a feed unit 1 along the transport path along which the transport unit 20 transports the roll paper 2.
0, a platen 29, and a winding unit 90, and further a head unit 30
A carriage unit 40, a cleaning unit, a flushing unit 35, a heater unit 70, a blower unit 80, a controller 60 that controls these units and controls the operation as the printer 1, a detector group 50, have.

The feeding unit 10 feeds the roll paper 2 to the transport unit 20. The feeding unit 10 includes a winding shaft 18 around which the roll paper 2 is wound and rotatably supported, a relay roller 19 for winding the roll paper 2 fed from the winding shaft 18 and guiding the roll paper 2 to the transport unit 20;
have.

The transport unit 20 transports the roll paper 2 sent by the feeding unit 10 along a preset transport path. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 20 includes a relay roller 21 that is positioned horizontally to the right of the relay roller 19, a relay roller 22 that is positioned obliquely downward to the right when viewed from the relay roller 21, and the relay roller 22. As seen from the upper right (
In the direction in which the roll paper 2 is transported, the first transport roller 23 located on the upstream side as viewed from the platen 29, and the right side (in the direction in which the roll paper 2 is transported in the direction in which the roll paper 2 is transported) as viewed from the first transport roller 23. A second conveying roller 24 located on the downstream side as viewed from 29, a reversing roller 25 located vertically downward as viewed from the second conveying roller 24, and a relay roller 26 located on the right as viewed from the reversing roller 25. And a delivery roller 27 positioned above the relay roller 26.

The relay roller 21 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 19 from the left side and loosens it downward.
The relay roller 22 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 21 from the left side and conveys it obliquely upward to the right.

The first transport roller 23 is a first drive roller 23a driven by a motor (not shown).
And a first driven roller 23b disposed to face the first drive roller 23a with the roll paper 2 interposed therebetween. The first transport roller 23 is a roller that pulls up the roll paper 2 slacked downward and transports it to the printing region R facing the platen 29. The first conveyance roller 23 temporarily stops conveyance during a period in which image recording is performed on the portion of the roll paper 2 on the printing region R (that is, as described later, the head 31). However, by moving the ink in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction and ejecting ink to the corresponding portion of the roll paper 2 that is stopped, image recording for one page is performed on the portion). In addition, when the first driven roller 23b rotates as the first drive roller 23a rotates by the drive control of the controller 60, the transport amount of the roll paper 2 positioned on the platen 29 (the length of the portion of the roll paper) Is adjusted).

As described above, the transport unit 20 includes the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 2.
3 is provided with a mechanism for conveying the roll paper 2 wound between the belt 3 and the sheet 2 by slacking it downward. The slackness of the roll paper 2 is monitored by the controller 60 based on a detection signal from a slack detection sensor (not shown). Specifically, when a portion of the roll paper 2 slackened between the relay rollers 21 and 22 and the first transport roller 23 is detected by the slack detection sensor, a tension of an appropriate magnitude is applied to the portion. Therefore, the transport unit 20 can transport the roll paper 2 in a relaxed state. On the other hand, when the portion of the roll paper 2 that has been loosened is not detected by the slack detection sensor, an excessive amount of tension is applied to the portion, and therefore the transport of the roll paper 2 by the transport unit 20 is temporarily performed. And the tension is adjusted to an appropriate level.

The second transport roller 24 is a second drive roller 24a driven by a motor (not shown).
And a second driven roller 24b arranged to face the second drive roller 24a with the roll paper 2 interposed therebetween. The second transport roller 24 is connected to the head unit 3
A roller that conveys the portion of the roll paper 2 on which the image has been recorded by 0 along the support surface of the platen 29 in the horizontal right direction and then conveys it vertically downward. Thereby, the conveyance direction of the roll paper 2 is changed. The second driven roller 24b rotates as the second drive roller 24a is driven to rotate by the drive control of the controller 60, whereby a predetermined amount given to the portion of the roll paper 2 located on the platen 29 is obtained. Tension is adjusted.

The reversing roller 25 is a roller that wraps the roll paper 2 sent from the second conveying roller 24 from the upper left side and conveys it diagonally upward to the right.
The relay roller 26 is a roller that winds the roll paper 2 sent from the reversing roller 25 from the lower left side and conveys it upward.
The delivery roller 27 winds the roll paper 2 sent from the relay roller 26 from the lower left side and sends it to the take-up unit 90.

In this way, the roll paper 2 moves through each roller in sequence, whereby the roll paper 2
A transport path for transporting is formed. Note that the roll paper 2 is intermittently conveyed along the conveyance path in units of areas corresponding to the print area R by the conveyance unit 20 (that is, one page worth of the roll paper 2 on the print area R). Every time an image record is made,
Intermittent conveyance is performed).

The head unit 30 is for ejecting ink as an example of a liquid onto a portion of the roll paper 2 that has been fed into the printing region R on the transport path (on the platen 29) by the transport unit 20. The head unit 30 has a head 31 and a valve unit 34.

The head 31 has a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction on the lower surface thereof. In the present embodiment, each of the colors such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) has a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles # 1 to #N. The nozzles # 1 to #N in each nozzle row are linearly arranged in a crossing direction that intersects the transport direction of the roll paper 2 (that is, the crossing direction is the above-described row direction). Each nozzle row is arranged in parallel with a space between each other along the transport direction.

Each nozzle # 1 to #N is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for ejecting ink droplets. When a voltage having a predetermined time width is applied between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands according to the voltage application time and deforms the side wall of the ink flow path. As a result, the volume of the ink flow path contracts according to the expansion and contraction of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction is ejected from the nozzles # 1 to #N of the respective colors as ink droplets.

As will be described later, the head 31 can reciprocate in the transport direction (that is, the left-right direction) and the row direction (that is, the front-rear direction).

The valve unit 34 is for temporarily storing ink, and is connected to the head 31 via an ink supply tube (not shown). For this reason, the head 31 can perform image recording by discharging the ink supplied from the valve unit 34 toward the portion of the roll paper 2 that has been transported from the nozzle onto the platen 29 and stopped. .

The carriage unit 40 is for moving the head 31. The carriage unit 40 includes a carriage guide rail 41 extending in the transport direction (left-right direction) (see FIG. 1).
And a carriage 42 supported so as to be able to reciprocate in the transport direction (left and right direction) along the carriage guide rail 41, and a motor (not shown).

The carriage 42 is configured to move in the transport direction (left-right direction) together with the head 31 by driving a motor (not shown). The carriage 42 is provided with a head guide rail (not shown) extending in the row direction (front-rear direction). The head 31 is driven in the row direction (front-rear direction) along the head guide rail by driving the motor. Configured to move to.

The cleaning unit (not shown) is for cleaning the head 31. The cleaning unit is provided at a home position (hereinafter referred to as HP, see FIG. 1), and includes a cap, a suction pump, and the like. Head 31 (carriage 42
) Moves in the transport direction (left-right direction) and is positioned on the HP, the lower surface (nozzle surface) of the head 31.
A cap (not shown) is in close contact with each other. When the suction pump operates in such a state that the cap is in close contact, the ink in the head 31 is sucked together with the thickened ink and paper dust. In this way, the clogged nozzle recovers from the non-ejection state, thereby completing the head cleaning.

A flushing unit 35 is provided between the HP and the platen 29 in the transport direction (left-right direction), and the head 31 (carriage 42) moves in the transport direction (left-right direction) and faces the flushing unit 35. When the head 31 is located at a position (hereinafter referred to as a flushing position), the head 31 performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by ejecting ink from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row. The flushing unit 35 and the flushing operation will be described in detail later.

The platen 29 supports the part of the roll paper 2 located in the printing region R on the conveyance path and heats the part. As shown in FIG. 1, the platen 29 is provided in correspondence with the printing region R on the conveyance path, and in a region along the conveyance path between the first conveyance roller 23 and the second conveyance roller 24. Has been placed. The platen 29 can heat the portion of the roll paper 2 by receiving supply of heat generated by the heater unit 70.

The heater unit 70 is for heating the roll paper 2 and has a heater (not shown). This heater has a nichrome wire, which is connected to the platen 2
9 is arranged so as to be at a constant distance from the support surface of the platen 29.
For this reason, when the heater is energized, the nichrome wire itself generates heat, and the platen 29
Heat can be conducted to the portion of the roll paper 2 located on the support surface. Since this heater is configured by incorporating a nichrome wire in the entire area of the platen 29, heat can be uniformly conducted to the portion of the roll paper 2 on the platen 29. In the present embodiment, the portion of the roll paper 2 is uniformly heated so that the temperature of the portion of the roll paper 2 on the platen is 45 ° C. Thereby, the ink landed on the part of the roll paper 2 can be dried.

The blower unit 80 is for sending wind to the roll paper 2 on the platen 29. The blower unit 80 includes a fan 81 and a motor (not shown) that rotates the fan 81. The fan 81 rotates to send wind to the roll paper 2 on the platen 29,
This is for drying the ink landed on the roll paper 2. This fan 81 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of covers (not shown) that can be opened and closed provided on the main body are provided.
Each fan 81 is positioned above the platen 29 when the cover is closed, and faces the support surface of the platen 29 (the roll paper 2 on the platen 29).

The take-up unit 90 is for taking up the roll paper 2 (roll paper on which an image has been recorded) sent by the transport unit 20. This take-up unit 90 is fed from the relay roller 91 that is rotatably supported by the relay roller 91 for winding the roll paper 2 sent from the feed roller 27 from the upper left side and conveying it to the lower right side. And a take-up drive shaft 92 for taking up the roll paper 2.

The controller 60 is a control unit for controlling the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62,
A memory 63 and a unit control circuit 64 are provided. The interface unit 61
This is for transmitting and receiving data between the host computer 110 which is an external device and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer 1. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like. The CPU 62 controls each unit by a unit control circuit 64 according to a program stored in the memory 63.

The detector group 50 is for monitoring the situation in the printer 1. For example, a rotary encoder that is attached to a transport roller and used for control of transport of the medium, a sheet for detecting the presence or absence of the transported medium, and the like. There are a detection sensor, a linear encoder for detecting the position of the carriage 42 (or the head 31) in the conveyance direction (left-right direction), and the like.

<<< Example of Configuration of Flushing Unit 35 >>>
Next, a configuration example of the flushing unit 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the flushing unit 35. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the ink receiving member 36. 4 is a view of the ink receiving member 36 of FIG. 3 when viewed from the X direction.

Flushing is a recovery of the nozzle to prevent the nozzle from becoming clogged due to thickening of the ink in the vicinity of the nozzle, and bubbles from being mixed into the nozzle, preventing the proper amount of ink from being discharged. It is maintenance to let you. Specifically, this is an operation for forcibly ejecting ink by applying a drive signal unrelated to the image to be recorded to the drive element (piezo element).

The flushing unit 35 is for receiving and storing ink ejected by the head 31 performing the flushing operation. As described above, the flushing unit 35 is disposed between the HP and the platen 29 in the transport direction (left-right direction) (that is,
It is provided on the upstream side when viewed from the platen 29 in the direction in which the roll paper 2 is conveyed. The flushing unit 35 includes an ink receiving member 36 and a flushing box 37 as an example of a liquid receiving portion.

The ink receiving member 36 is for receiving ink ejected by the head 31 performing a flushing operation. If there is no ink receiving member and ink is directly received by the flushing box, a large amount of ink mist is generated due to the large distance between the head and the flushing box. The ink receiving member 36 has a head 31.
By receiving ink ejected at a position close to the position first before the flushing box 37, it plays a role of suppressing the occurrence of such ink mist.

In the present embodiment, the ink receiving member 36 has a circular cross section (a cross section in which the normal direction of the cross section is along the column direction) (see FIG. 3), and the radius of the cross section is the same. A central portion 36a in the row direction of the ink receiving member 36 (the central portion does not mean a central (middle) in a strict sense) to an end portion 36b (an end portion means an end in a strict sense ( (Refer to FIG. 4) is a roll-shaped member (note that the ink receiving member 36 is in a roll shape, Will not rotate). In other words, the ink receiving member 36 (specifically, the portion of the ink receiving member 36 that receives ink) is from the central portion 36a to the end portion 36b so that the end portion 36b is positioned vertically below the central portion 36a. It is inclined towards. The details of the portion of the ink receiving member 36 that receives ink (specifically, at which portion the ink is received) will be described later.

The flushing box 37 is for storing ink received by the ink receiving member 36. In other words, the ink received primarily by the ink receiving member 36 drips downward in the vertical direction, but the flushing box 37 receives the dripped ink secondarily and then stores the ink. The flushing box 37 is a rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped member, and is located below the ink receiving member 36 and accommodates ink dropped from the ink receiving member 36.

=== Regarding the operation example of the printer 1 ===
As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with the head 31 having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction (front-rear direction). And the controller 60 is
While moving the head 31 in the transport direction (left-right direction), ink is ejected from the nozzles to form a raster line along the transport direction (left-right direction), thereby forming a portion of the roll paper 2 on the printing region R. One page of image recording is performed.

Here, the controller 60 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of paths (6 paths, 8 paths, 16 paths).
(Pass, etc.) is printed. That is, in order to increase the resolution of the image in the column direction,
Printing is performed by slightly changing the position of the head 31 in the column direction for each pass. As an image forming method, for example, known interlace (microweave) printing is executed.

This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing raster lines formed in each pass in a case of printing in 8 passes.

A nozzle row (nozzles) of the head 31 is shown on the left side of FIG. 5 and a raster line is formed by ejecting ink from the nozzles while the head 31 (nozzle row) moves in the transport direction. . The position in the column direction of the head 31 (nozzle column) shown in the figure is
When the head 31 (nozzle row) moves in the transport direction while maintaining this position, the first pass printing is executed, and the three raster lines (shown on the right end) are displayed. A raster line L1) written as pass 1 is formed.

Next, when the head 31 (nozzle row) moves in the row direction, and the head 31 (nozzle row) moves in the transport direction while maintaining the moved position, the second pass printing is executed, and FIG. 2 are formed (raster line L2 written as pass 2 at the right end). Since interlace (microweave) printing is employed, the raster line L2 adjacent to the raster line L1 is formed by ink ejected from a nozzle different from the nozzle from which the ink forming the raster line L1 is ejected. Will be. Therefore, the moving distance of the head 31 (nozzle row) in the row direction is the inter-nozzle distance (for example, 1/1).
It is not 1/8 of (80 inches) (1/180 × 1/8 = 1/1440 inches), but a larger distance (hereinafter, this distance is referred to as distance d).

Thereafter, by performing the same operation, the third to eighth pass printing is executed, and the remaining raster lines shown in the figure (raster lines L3 to L8 written as passes 3 to 8 on the right end)
Is formed. In this way, by forming raster lines in 8 passes, the resolution of the image in the column direction can be increased to 8 times (= 1440 ÷ 180).

In the present embodiment, so-called bidirectional printing is performed. That is, 1 pass, 3
The direction of movement of the head 31 (nozzle row) when printing in the fifth pass, the seventh pass, and the seventh pass, and the head 31 (nozzle row) when printing in the second pass, the fourth pass, the sixth pass, and the eighth pass are performed. These movement directions are opposite to each other (detailed later).

In the following, an image recording operation (in other words, an ink ejection operation) of the printer 1 will be described as an operation example of the printer 1, but the case of FIG. In the description, reference is also made to FIG. In order to make the description easy to understand, the description will be made assuming that the number of nozzle rows is one (not a plurality). In the present embodiment, as will be described later, a flushing operation is performed between image recording operations.
The flushing operation will be described in detail.

<<< Example of Image Recording Operation and Flushing Operation of Printer 1 >>>
Here, an example of an image recording operation of the printer 1 and an example of a flushing operation executed between the image recording operations will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an explanatory schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the head 31. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing how ink is ejected from the head 31 toward the ink receiving member 36 when the first to third flushing operations are performed.

Before describing the image recording operation and the flushing operation, first, (viewing) of FIG. 6 will be described.
FIG. 6 shows how the head 31 moves during the printing process (that is, a series of processes related to image recording and flushing). For convenience, the head 31 is represented by a circle (there is a large circle and a small circle in the figure, but there is no meaning in distinguishing both),
The movement of the head 31 is indicated by an arrow. Here, the arrow pointing in the left-right direction in the figure indicates the movement of the head 31 in the transport direction, and the arrow pointing in the up-down direction indicates the head 3 in the row direction.
1 movement. Each arrow is given a reference numeral S1 to S21, which is a step number used in the following description of the printing process.

Further, there are step numbers to which pass 1 to pass 8 are given, and these step numbers represent steps in which an image recording operation is executed by ejecting ink.

In addition, there are white and black circles among the circles located at the flushing position, but the black circles indicate that the flushing operation is performed (in contrast, the white circles indicate that the flushing is not performed. Meaning). The black circles are labeled S6, S11, and S16, which are step numbers used in the following description of the printing process.

Hereinafter, the printing process will be described with reference to FIGS. The printing process is realized mainly by the controller 60. In particular, this embodiment is realized by the CPU 62 processing the program stored in the memory 63. And this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for performing the various operation | movement demonstrated below.

When the intermittent roll paper 2 is conveyed and the roll paper 2 is stopped, the printing region R
Printing processing for recording an image for one page on the roll paper 2 is started.

First, the controller 60 moves the head 31 in the forward direction from the HP position (the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction in which the roll paper 2 is conveyed) (step S1).
Eventually, when the head 31 passes the above-described flushing position (at this time, the flushing operation is not performed), the controller 60 causes the head 31 to eject ink while continuing to move the head 31 in the forward direction. First pass printing is executed (step S2).
. As a result, the raster line L1 (raster line of pass 1) shown in FIG.
Is formed.
When the head 31 reaches the first folding position, the controller 60 moves the head 31 in the column direction (step S3). In the present embodiment, the head 31 is moved by the distance d.
Thereafter, the controller 60 causes the head 31 to eject ink while moving the head 31 in the backward direction (the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side in the direction in which the roll paper 2 is conveyed), thereby printing the second pass. Is executed (step S4). As a result, the raster line L2 (raster line of pass 2) shown in FIG. 5 is formed.
When the head 31 reaches the flushing position (this position is also the second folding position)
The controller 60 moves the head 31 in the column direction (step S5). In the present embodiment, the head 31 is moved by the distance d.
When the movement is completed, the controller 60 performs flushing by ejecting ink from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row (referred to as a first flushing operation).
Is executed by the head 31 (step S6).

The upper diagram of FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing how ink is ejected from the head 31 toward the ink receiving member 36 when the first flushing operation is performed. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, ink is ejected in a state where the head 31 is positioned slightly rearward in the front-rear direction (row direction) with respect to the ink receiving member 36 (in the row direction of the heads 31). This position is referred to as a first flushing operation execution position).

Next, the controller 60 performs the same process as the process of steps S2 to S6 twice (steps S7 to S11, steps S12 to S16).
. In the first process, the raster line L3 (raster line of pass 3) shown in FIG. 5 by the third pass printing (step S7) is shown in FIG. 5 by the fourth pass printing (step S9). A raster line L4 (pass 4 raster line) is formed. Further, a flushing operation (second flushing operation, step S11) is also executed.

The central view of FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing how ink is ejected from the head 31 toward the ink receiving member 36 when the second flushing operation is performed. Since the head 31 has moved by the distance 2d in the row direction after the first flushing operation is performed until the second flushing operation is performed (distance d in step S8, step S10).
The head 31 ejects ink at a position shifted by a distance 2d from the time when the first flushing operation is performed (the position of the head 31 in the column direction is changed). Second flashing operation execution position). In the present embodiment, ink is ejected with the head 31 facing the ink receiving member 36.

Further, by the second process, the raster line L5 (raster line of pass 5) shown in FIG. 5 by the fifth pass printing (step S12) is shown in FIG. 5 by the sixth pass printing (step S14). The raster lines L6 thus formed (raster lines in pass 6) are respectively formed.
Further, a flushing operation (third flushing operation, step S16) is also executed.

The lower diagram of FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing how ink is ejected from the head 31 toward the ink receiving member 36 when the third flushing operation is performed. Since the head 31 has moved by a distance 2d in the row direction from the execution of the second flushing operation to the execution of the third flushing operation (distance d in step S13, step S15).
The head 31 moves at a position shifted by a distance 2d from the time when the second flushing operation is performed (distance 4d than when the first flushing operation is performed). At a position shifted to the front side, ink is ejected (this position in the row direction of the heads 31 is referred to as a third flushing operation execution position). In the present embodiment, ink is ejected in a state where the head 31 is positioned slightly in front of the ink receiving member 36 in the front-rear direction (row direction).

Next, the controller 60 executes the printing of the last two passes. That is, the controller 60 causes the head 31 to eject ink while moving the head 31 in the forward direction, and executes the seventh pass printing (step S17). As a result, the raster line L7 (raster line of pass 7) shown in FIG. 5 is formed. When the head 31 reaches the first folding position, the controller 60 moves the head 31 in the column direction (step S18). In the present embodiment, the head 31 is moved by the distance d. afterwards,
The controller 60 causes the head 31 to eject ink while moving the head 31 in the backward direction, and executes the eighth pass printing (step S19). As a result, the raster line L8 (raster line of pass 8) shown in FIG. 5 is formed.

When the head 31 reaches the flushing position (at this time, the flushing operation is not performed), the controller 60 returns the position of the head 31 in the column direction (step S).
20). That is, the head 31 is moved by a distance 7d in the direction opposite to the direction in which the head 31 has moved in steps S3, S5, S8, S10, S13, S15, and S18.

Then, the controller 60 moves the head 31 from the flushing position to the HP position (step S21), and ends the printing process for recording an image for one page.

=== Effectiveness of Printer 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a head 31 having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in the row direction, an ink receiving member 36 that receives ink ejected by the head 31 performing a flushing operation, And a controller 60. And
The controller 60 positions the head 31 at a first position in the row direction (for example, the first flushing operation execution position), and performs a flushing operation (for example, first flushing) by discharging ink from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row. Flushing operation) is performed by the head 31, and then the length of the nozzle row (that is, by moving the head 31 in the row direction (that is,
A second position (for example, the third position) shifted in the column direction from the first position by a length (for example, the distance 4d) shorter than the distance D from the nozzle # 1 to the nozzle #N (see the upper diagram of FIG. 7). The head 31 is positioned at the flushing operation execution position), and the head 31 is caused to execute the flushing operation (for example, the third flushing operation). The ink receiving member 36 is connected to the ink receiving member 3.
6 is inclined from the central portion 36a toward the end portion 36b so that the end portion 36b in the row direction is positioned below the central portion 36a in the vertical direction.

This makes it possible to prevent ink from being deposited on the ink receiving member 36.

The above will be described with reference to FIG. 8 while comparing the printer 1 according to the present embodiment and the printer 1 according to the comparative example. FIG. 8 is an explanatory schematic diagram for explaining the effectiveness of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment when the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is compared with the printer 1 according to the comparative example. The upper diagram in FIG. 8 represents the printer 1 according to the comparative example, and the lower diagram in FIG. 8 represents the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. In any of the diagrams, the first to third flushing operations are completed. The state of ink on the surface of the ink receiving member 36 (or at the end of image recording for one page) is shown. As apparent from FIG. 8, the difference between the printer 1 according to the comparative example and the printer 1 according to this embodiment is the ink receiving member 36.
Is a cylindrical roll member having a simpler shape.

As described above, when the controller 60 performs the flushing operation at the first position and then performs the flushing operation at the second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row. Is a region on the ink receiving member 36 where the ink is ejected a plurality of times by the flushing operation (hereinafter referred to as a “multiple region” for convenience) and a region on the ink receiving member 36 where the ink is ejected only once by the flushing operation ( Hereinafter, for convenience, it is referred to as a one-time region) on the ink receiving member 36. In the present embodiment, in FIG.
The area indicated by the reference symbol A1 is a plurality of times (specifically, this region includes a region where ink ejection is performed twice and a region where the ink discharge is performed three times), and the region indicated by the reference symbol A2 is one. (See also FIG. 7).

And in a comparative example, the following problems may arise due to this matter. That is, since a large amount of ink is landed in the multiple times region A1 by multiple times of ink ejection, the ink smoothly drips downward in the vertical direction (see I1 in the upper diagram of FIG. 8). In the rotation area A2, the amount of ink that lands due to the ink being ejected only once is reduced, so that the ink does not flow and may remain (deposit) on the ink receiving member 36. (See I2 in the upper diagram of FIG. 8. In particular, when the re-dissolvability or re-dispersibility of the ink is low, there is a high possibility that the ink will be deposited on the ink receiving member 36). Then, the remaining ink is dried and hardened after a while.

When the image recording for one page is repeated (that is, when image recording is continuously performed for many pages), the accumulated ink is stacked, and the stacked ink and the head 31 physically interfere with each other. Inconvenience may occur.

On the other hand, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the ink receiving member 36 has the end 36.
It inclines toward the edge part 36b from this center part 36a so that b may be located in the perpendicular direction lower than the center part 36a. Therefore, in the one-time area A2, the ink discharged toward the one-time area A2 is subjected to the once-time area A2 along the inclination by gravity after landing on the plurality of areas A1.
(The movement of the ink is indicated by a white arrow in the lower diagram of FIG. 8), so that these merged inks are both downward in the vertical direction. (See I3 in the lower diagram of FIG. 8). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of ink on the ink receiving member 36, and the inconvenience of physical interference between the ink and the head 31 is avoided.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiments are mainly described with respect to the liquid discharge apparatus, but also include disclosure of a liquid discharge method and the like. 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.

In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus) is embodied as an ink jet printer, but a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects or ejects liquid other than ink may be employed. The present invention can be used for various liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head that ejects an amount of liquid droplets. In addition, a droplet means the state of the liquid discharged from the said liquid ejecting apparatus, and shall also include what pulls a tail in granular shape, tear shape, and thread shape. The liquid here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, it may be in the state when the substance is in a liquid phase, such as a liquid state with high or low viscosity, sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, liquid metals (metal melts ) And a liquid as one state of a substance, as well as a material 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. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks. Specific examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include a liquid crystal display and an EL
(Electroluminescence) Liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting liquid containing dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of displays, surface-emitting displays, color filters, etc., and bio-organic materials used in biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid, 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. In addition, micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in liquid ejectors and optical communication elements that inject lubricating oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras.
A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin onto a substrate in order to form
You may employ | adopt the liquid injection apparatus which injects etching liquid, such as an acid or an alkali, in order to etch a board | substrate. The present invention can be applied to any one of these injection devices.

In the above embodiment, the inclination of the ink receiving member 36 is a curved inclination, but may be a linear inclination as shown in FIG.

Further, in the above embodiment, as the liquid receiving portion (ink receiving portion) having an inclination,
The explanation has been given by taking as an example a roll-shaped member whose normal direction is circular along the row direction and whose radius is gradually decreasing from the central portion 36a toward the end portion 36b. It is not limited to. For example, a member as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another ink receiving member (hereinafter referred to as an ink receiving plate 136) as an example of a liquid receiving portion (ink receiving portion). 10 is a view of the ink receiving plate 136 as viewed from above, and the lower view is a view of the ink receiving plate 136 as viewed from the side.

Similar to the ink receiving member 36, the ink receiving plate 136 is inclined from the central portion 136a toward the end portion 136b so that the end portion 136b is positioned below the central portion 136a in the vertical direction. However, the ink receiving plate 136 is not a roll-shaped member, but a plate-shaped member in which the thickness of the end portion 136b is smaller than the thickness of the central portion 136a.

Also in the printer 1 having the ink receiving plate 136, the ink receiving plate 136 is inclined from the central portion 136a toward the end portion 136b so that the end portion 136b is positioned vertically below the central portion 136a. Therefore, the aforementioned ink merging may occur at the end 136b (the movement of the ink on the ink receiving plate 136 is indicated by a white arrow in the lower diagram of FIG. 10). As a result, the merged ink flows smoothly downward vertically (see I4 in the lower diagram of FIG. 10). Therefore, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of ink on the ink receiving plate 136, and the inconvenience of physical interference between the ink and the head 31 is avoided.

However, in the ink receiving member 36, since the ink receiving member 36 has a roll shape, the position where the ink drips in the row direction can be set to the inner side compared to the ink receiving plate 136 (the lower diagram in FIG. 8). Compare I3 and I4 in the lower figure of FIG. 10). Therefore, the above embodiment is more preferable in that it is possible to realize a compact apparatus (for example, the length of the flushing box in the row direction can be shortened).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer, 2 roll paper, 10 Feeding unit, 18 winding axis, 19 Relay roller, 20 Transport unit, 21 Relay roller, 22 Relay roller, 23 1st transport roller, 23a 1st drive roller, 23b 1st driven roller, 24 Second conveying roller, 24a Second driving roller, 24b Second driven roller, 25 Reverse roller, 26
Relay roller, 27 Delivery roller, 29 Platen, 30 Head unit, 31
Head, 34 Valve unit, 35 Flushing unit, 36 Ink receiving member, 36a Central part, 36b End, 37 Flushing box, 40 Carriage unit, 41 Guide rail, 42 Carriage, 50 Carriage detector, 60 Controller, 61 Interface part, 62 CPU, 63 Memory, 64 Unit control circuit, 70 Heater unit, 80 Blower unit, 81 Fan, 90 Winding unit, 91 Relay roller, 92 Winding drive shaft, 110 Host computer, 13
6 Ink receiving plate, 136a center part, 136b end part

Claims (3)

A head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in a row direction;
The head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by discharging liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row,
Thereafter, by moving the head in the row direction, the head is positioned at a second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row, and the flushing operation is performed. A controller that causes the head to execute
A liquid receiving portion for receiving liquid ejected by the head performing the flushing operation, wherein the central portion of the liquid receiving portion is positioned vertically below the central portion in the column direction; And a liquid receiving portion inclined toward the end portion. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1,
The liquid receiver is
A liquid discharge apparatus, wherein the normal direction is a roll-shaped member having a circular cross section along the column direction, and a radius of the cross section decreasing from the central portion toward the end portion. A liquid discharge method for discharging a liquid onto a medium,
A head having a nozzle row in which nozzles are arranged in a row direction;
The head is positioned at the first position in the row direction, and the head performs a flushing operation for performing flushing by discharging liquid from each nozzle belonging to the nozzle row,
Thereafter, by moving the head in the row direction, the head is positioned at a second position shifted in the row direction from the first position by a length shorter than the length of the nozzle row, and the flushing operation is performed. A controller that causes the head to execute
A liquid receiving portion for receiving liquid ejected by the head performing the flushing operation, wherein the central portion of the liquid receiving portion is positioned vertically below the central portion in the column direction; A liquid ejecting method, comprising: ejecting a liquid onto a medium using a liquid ejecting apparatus having a liquid receiving portion inclined toward the end portion from the head.

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