JP2012176518A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (12)

A plate having a plurality of micropores, and a liquid recovery channel communicating with the micropores, and the droplets that have landed on the plate are moved to the liquid recovery channel via the microholes and recovered. A liquid recovery device adapted to
A liquid recovery apparatus characterized in that the liquid permeability of the micropores is maintained / recovered by changing the liquid level of the liquid with respect to the plate by a liquid level changing means.   The liquid level changing means includes a first state in which the liquid level is held in the plurality of micro holes, and liquids in the adjacent micro holes are connected to each other by liquids on the front side and the back side of the plate. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level is changed to the second state.   3. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level fluctuation unit is configured by a pressure control unit that controls a pressure applied to the liquid recovered in the liquid recovery flow path.   The pressure control means may selectively generate a pressure applied to the liquid recovered in the liquid recovery flow path as a pressure forming the first state and a pressure forming the second state. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 3, which is possible.   The pressure control means includes a negative pressure for moving the liquid recovered in the liquid recovery channel while forming the first state to a recovery tank connected to the liquid recovery channel; 4. The liquid recovery according to claim 3, wherein a first control is performed to alternately generate a positive pressure such that the front and back surfaces of the plate are completely covered with the liquid in order to form the state of 2. apparatus. The pressure control means is configured to move the liquid recovered in the liquid recovery flow path to the recovery tank connected to the liquid recovery flow path while forming the first state. When,
Second control for generating a second negative pressure smaller than the first negative pressure in order to move the liquid recovered in the liquid recovery flow path to the recovery tank while forming the second state. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:   The pressure control means performs the first control according to claim 4 when the number of droplets that have landed on the plate during a predetermined time period of the droplet discharge operation is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The liquid recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second control according to claim 5 is performed when the number of droplets exceeds the threshold value.   The pressure control means detects the number of droplets that have landed on the plate while performing a droplet discharge operation for a predetermined time, divided into a plurality of portions determined on the plate, and landed on each of the plurality of portions. When the maximum number of droplets in the number of droplets is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the first control according to claim 4 is performed, and when the maximum number of droplets exceeds the threshold value 4. The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second control according to claim 5 is performed.   The liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressure control unit determines a control amount of pressure in the first control and the second control according to the maximum number of droplets.   The liquid recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plate includes a liquid receiving member that rises from a surface along an end portion of the plate. A plate having a plurality of micropores, and a liquid recovery channel communicating with the micropores, and the droplets that have landed on the plate are moved to the liquid recovery channel via the microholes and recovered. A liquid recovery method for
A liquid recovery method characterized in that the liquid permeability of the micropores is maintained / recovered by changing the state of the liquid level with respect to the plate by a liquid level changing means. Droplet deflecting means for causing a recording droplet to land on a recording medium and non-recording droplets not to land on a recording medium out of droplets continuously ejected from a liquid ejection head, and the non-recording Liquid recovery means for causing droplets to land on the plate in which the plurality of micropores are formed and to move the non-recording droplets that have landed on the plate to the liquid recovery flow path through the micropores and recover A liquid ejection device comprising:
The liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid recovery means can maintain and recover the liquid permeability of the micropores by changing the state of the liquid surface of the liquid with respect to the plate.