JP2012183806A - Abnormality detecting device, image recording apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an abnormality detecting device, an image recording apparatus and a program whereby abnormalities of a circulation channel are simply and highly accurately detected.SOLUTION: A ratio of a collection flow rate of ink collected by a collection pump 34 from an ink storage chamber 56 of a collection tank 50 to a supply flow rate of ink supplied by a supply pump 24 to an ink storage chamber 46 of a supply tank 40 is calculated (step 408). It is determined whether or not the calculated ratio exceeds a preliminarily determined threshold value (step 410). An abnormality detecting signal showing that an abnormality at the circulation channel 20 is detected is outputted to a UI panel 185 when the number of times of exceeding the threshold value exceeds a predetermined value (step 420).

Description

  The present invention relates to an abnormality detection device, an image recording device, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printing apparatus having a pump that prints an image on a print medium using an ink jet print head capable of ejecting ink and sends the ink into an ink supply system. Detection means for detecting the operating state, determination means for determining whether or not the detection result of the detection means is abnormal, and processing means for performing error processing when the determination means determines that there is an abnormality An ink jet printing apparatus is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-188864

  An object of the present invention is to provide an abnormality detection device, an image recording device, and a program for simply and accurately detecting an abnormality in a circulation path.

  In order to achieve the above object, the abnormality detection apparatus according to claim 1 is configured to apply a liquid for image recording to a recording unit that records an image on the recording medium by discharging droplets onto the recording medium. A circulation unit that circulates the liquid by supplying and collecting the liquid filled in the recording unit and supplying the collected liquid to the recording unit; and the liquid supplied to the recording unit by the circulation unit Control means for controlling the circulating means so that a physical quantity corresponding to a difference between the supply amount of the liquid and the recovered amount of the liquid recovered from the recording means by the circulating means follows a reference value, and the physical quantity is the reference And an output means for outputting an abnormality notification signal when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded from the value.

  The abnormality detection device according to claim 1 further includes comparison means for comparing the physical quantity with the threshold value per unit time as in the invention according to claim 2, wherein the output means is the comparison means. Based on the comparison result, the abnormality notification signal is output when the number of times the physical quantity exceeds the threshold exceeds the predetermined number continuously.

  The abnormality detection device according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a reception unit that receives the threshold value as in the invention according to claim 3, and compares the threshold value received by the reception unit with the physical quantity. Used for subjects.

  The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the physical quantity is an absolute value of a difference between the supply amount and the recovery amount as in the invention according to claim 4. It was.

  The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the recovered amount to the supply amount exceeds an upper limit threshold as in the invention according to claim 5, and the ratio The abnormality notification signal is output when the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold value in at least one of cases where the threshold value exceeds the lower limit threshold value.

  The abnormality detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the supply amount with respect to the recovery amount exceeds an upper limit threshold and the ratio as in the invention according to claim 6. The abnormality notification signal is output when the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold value in at least one of cases where the threshold value exceeds the lower limit threshold value.

  The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the circulation means as in the invention according to claim 7, wherein the circulation means stores the liquid stored in a storage tank as the recording means. A supply means for supplying by pressure feeding; and a recovery means for recovering the liquid from the recording means by collecting the liquid from the recording means, wherein the control means is supplied to the recording means by the supply means. The supply unit and the recovery unit are controlled so that the physical quantity corresponding to the difference between the amount and the recovery amount recovered from the recording unit by the recovery unit follows the reference value.

  The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, as in the invention according to claim 8, is a display that displays that there is a possibility of liquid leakage upon receiving the abnormality notification signal. Further comprising means.

  An image recording apparatus according to claim 9, comprising: the abnormality detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit. Constructed including.

  The program according to claim 10 is supplied to a recording means for recording an image on the recording medium by ejecting liquid droplets onto the recording medium and filled in the recording means. The liquid is collected, and the collected liquid is supplied to the recording means, and the supply amount of the liquid supplied to the recording means is circulated by the circulation means for circulating the liquid and is collected from the recording means by the circulation means. Control means for controlling the circulating means so that a physical quantity corresponding to a difference from the liquid recovery amount follows a reference value, and an abnormality notification signal when the physical quantity exceeds a predetermined threshold value from the reference value To function as an output means for outputting.

  According to the first, ninth, and tenth aspects of the invention, this corresponds to the difference between the supply amount of the liquid supplied to the recording means by the circulation means and the recovery amount of the liquid recovered from the recording means by the circulation means. As compared with a case where the physical quantity to be performed exceeds a predetermined threshold value from the reference value, the abnormality notification signal is not output, an effect that the abnormality of the circulation path is detected easily and with high accuracy is obtained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is an abnormality in the circulation path as compared with the case where there is no configuration for outputting the abnormality notification signal when the number of times that the physical quantity exceeds the threshold exceeds the predetermined number of times continuously. The effect that it is detected simply and with high accuracy is obtained.

  The invention according to claim 3 further includes an accepting unit that accepts the threshold, and the convenience is improved as compared with a case where the threshold received by the accepting unit is not used as a comparison target with the physical quantity. Is obtained.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an effect is obtained that an abnormality in the circulation path can be detected easily and with high accuracy as compared with the case where the physical quantity is not the absolute value of the difference between the supply amount and the recovery amount.

  According to the invention according to claim 5, the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold in at least one of the case where the ratio of the recovered amount to the supply amount exceeds the upper threshold and the ratio exceeds the lower threshold. As compared with the case where the configuration for outputting the abnormality notification signal is not provided, an effect that the abnormality of the circulation path is detected easily and with high accuracy is obtained.

  According to the invention according to claim 6, the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold in at least one of the case where the ratio of the supply amount to the recovered amount exceeds the upper threshold and the ratio exceeds the lower threshold. As compared with the case where the configuration for outputting the abnormality notification signal is not provided, an effect that the abnormality of the circulation path is detected easily and with high accuracy is obtained.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the supply means so that the physical quantity corresponding to the difference between the supply amount supplied to the recording means by the supply means and the recovery amount recovered from the recording means by the recovery means follows the reference value. As compared with the case where the configuration for controlling the recovery means is not provided, an effect that the abnormality of the circulation path is easily detected can be obtained.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp the abnormality of the circulation path as compared with the case where the abnormality notification signal is received and the display means for displaying the possibility of liquid leakage is not provided. An effect is obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the image recording device which concerns on embodiment. 2A and 2B are plan perspective views illustrating a structure example of a recording head of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 3A is a plan perspective view of the recording head, FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a part thereof, and FIG. Is another example of the structure of the recording head. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the ink chamber unit of the recording head of the image recording device which concerns on embodiment, and is sectional drawing along line 4-4 shown to FIG. 2 (A) and (B). It is an enlarged view showing a nozzle arrangement of a recording head of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an ink circulation system of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a maintenance unit used for maintaining a normal function of the recording head of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electric system configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a process of the abnormality detection processing program which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the screen which alert | reports the abnormality detection result of the image recording apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image recording apparatus 100 is capable of recording an image only on one side of a recording material 114 as a recording medium (in the present embodiment, a recording sheet as an example), a paper feeding unit 102 that supplies the recording material 114, and a recording material 114. A permeation suppression processing unit 104 that performs permeation suppression processing, a processing liquid application unit 106 that applies a processing liquid to the recording material 114, a recording unit 108 that applies color ink to the recording material 114, and performs image recording, and a recording material 114. A fixing processing unit 110 that performs a fixing process on the image recorded on the recording medium, and a paper discharge unit 112 that conveys and discharges the recording material 114 on which the image is recorded.

  The paper supply unit 102 is provided with a paper supply table 120 on which the recording material 114 is loaded. A feeder board 122 is provided in front of the paper feed tray 120 (on the left side in FIG. 1), and the recording materials 114 loaded on the paper feed tray 120 are sent out one by one in order from the top by the feeder board 122. . The recording material 114 sent out by the feeder board 122 reaches the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 via the transfer drum 124a.

  The transfer drum 124a and the pressure drum 126a are provided with grippers (not shown) for holding the leading end portion of the recording material 114. When the leading end portion of the recording material 114 held by the gripper of the transfer drum 124a reaches the contact position (transfer position of the recording material 114) between the transfer drum 124a and the pressure drum 126a, the gripper of the transfer drum 124a moves from the gripper of the pressure drum 126a. The leading end of the recording material 114 is transferred to the gripper. In this embodiment, one gripper is provided with two grippers, and one transfer cylinder is provided with one gripper.

  Further, the permeation suppression processing unit 104 includes a sheet preheating unit 128 and a permeation suppression unit at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126a in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126a (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). An agent head 130 and a permeation suppression agent drying unit 132 are provided. The paper preheating unit 128 and the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132 are provided with heaters that are controlled within a predetermined temperature range, and the recording material 114 held in the impression cylinder 126a is stored in the paper preheating unit 128 or the permeation suppression agent. When passing the position which opposes the drying unit 132, it is heated by the heater of these units.

  The permeation inhibitor head 130 ejects the permeation inhibitor as droplets to attach the permeation inhibitor to the recording material 114 held on the impression cylinder 126a. Each recording head 140C, A head having the same configuration as 140M, 140Y, 140K, 140R, 140G, and 140B is applied. The penetration inhibitor is preferably a thermoplastic resin latex solution, but is not limited thereto. For example, tabular grains (mica and the like), water repellent (fluorine coating agent) and the like may be applied. Further, instead of using an ink jet head to attach the penetration inhibitor to the recording material 114, various methods such as a spray method and a coating method may be applied.

  The treatment liquid application unit 106 disposed at the subsequent stage of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 includes a pressure drum 126b. A transfer drum 124b is provided so as to be in contact with each other. Accordingly, the recording material 114 held on the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 is transferred to the pressure drum 126b of the processing liquid application unit 106 via the transfer drum 124b after the permeation suppression processing is performed. .

  The processing liquid application unit 106 includes a sheet preheating unit 134 and a processing liquid head at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126b in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126b (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). 136 and a processing liquid drying unit 138 are provided. The paper preheating unit 134, the treatment liquid head 136, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 of the treatment liquid application unit 106 are respectively the same as the paper preheating unit 128, the penetration inhibitor head 130, and the penetration inhibitor drying unit 132 of the above-described penetration suppression processing unit 104. Since it is the same structure, description is abbreviate | omitted. Of course, it goes without saying that a different configuration from the permeation suppression processing unit 104 may be applied.

  The processing liquid attached to the recording material 114 by the processing liquid applying unit 106 is, for example, a recording material from each of the recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K, 140R, 140G, and 140B disposed in the recording unit 108 at the subsequent stage. An acidic liquid having an action of aggregating the color material contained in the ink ejected toward the ink 114 may be used. Further, the paper preheating unit 134 may be omitted, but when the recording material 114 is preheated by the heater of the paper preheating unit 134 before the processing liquid is applied onto the recording material 114 as in the present embodiment, Since the heating energy required for drying the treatment liquid can be kept low, energy saving can be achieved.

The heating temperature of the heater of the processing liquid drying unit 138 is such that the processing liquid applied to the surface of the recording material 114 by the discharge operation of the processing liquid head 136 disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126b is dried. The temperature is set such that a solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer (a thin film layer from which the treatment liquid has been dried) is formed. The term “solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer” as used herein refers to the weight per unit area of water (g / m ² ) contained in the treated liquid after drying, and the unit of the treated liquid after drying. The water content obtained by dividing by the weight per area (g / m ² ) is in the range of 0% to 70%.

  The recording unit 108 disposed at the subsequent stage of the treatment liquid application unit 106 includes a pressure drum 126c, and the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 and the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 are in contact with each other. A transfer drum 124c is provided. As a result, the recording material 114 held on the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 passes through the transfer cylinder 124c after the treatment liquid is applied to form a solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer. Is transferred to the impression cylinder 126c of the recording unit 108.

  The recording unit 108 corresponds to each of the seven colors of CMYKRGB at positions facing the surface of the impression cylinder 126c in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) of the impression cylinder 126c. Recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K, 140R, 140G, and 140B and solvent drying units 142a and 142b are respectively provided. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K, 140R, 140G, and 140B, the alphabet at the end is omitted and referred to as “recording head 140”.

  In the present embodiment, as each recording head 140, an ink jet recording head (ink jet head) is applied in the same manner as the above-described permeation inhibitor head 130 and the treatment liquid head 136. That is, each recording head 140 discharges ink droplets of the corresponding color toward the recording material 114 held on the impression cylinder 126c.

  Each recording head 140 has a length corresponding to the maximum width of the image forming area in the recording material 114 held by the pressure drum 126c, and the ink discharging surface has an ink discharging surface over the entire width of the image forming area. This is a full-line head in which a plurality of nozzles (see reference numeral 161 in FIG. 2) are arranged. Each recording head 140 is fixedly installed so as to extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126c (conveying direction of the recording material 114). In the present embodiment, the configuration in which an image is recorded using seven colors of CMYKRGB as described above is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color of ink or a combination thereof may be changed. For example, if necessary, light ink (for example, light ink such as light cyan and light magenta), dark ink, and special color ink may be added. Further, the arrangement order of the heads of the respective colors is not limited to the order shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the full line head having the nozzle row covering the entire width of the image forming area of the recording material 114 is provided for each color of ink, recording is performed in the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording material 114. An image can be recorded in the image forming area of the recording material 114 by performing the operation of relatively moving the material 114 and each recording head 140 once (that is, by one sub-scan). As a result, an image can be recorded at a higher speed than when a serial (shuttle) type head that reciprocates in the direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording material 114 is used. Productivity is improved.

  Further, the solvent drying units 142a and 142b include heaters controlled to a predetermined temperature range, such as the paper preheating units 128 and 134, the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 described above. Is done. As will be described later, when ink droplets adhere to the solid or semi-solid aggregation processing agent layer formed on the recording material 114, an ink aggregate (coloring material aggregate) is formed on the recording material 114. At the same time, the ink solvent separated from the color material spreads to form a liquid layer in which the aggregating agent is dissolved. Thus, the solvent component (liquid component) remaining on the recording material 114 causes not only warping of the recording material 114 but also image degradation. Therefore, in this embodiment, after ink droplets of each color are attached to the recording material 114 from each recording head 140, a drying process is performed to evaporate the solvent component by applying heat by the heaters of the solvent drying units 142a and 142b. Yes.

  Further, the fixing processing unit 110 disposed at the subsequent stage of the recording unit 108 includes a pressure drum 126d, and the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 and the pressure drum 126d of the fixing processing unit 110 are in contact with each other. A transfer drum 124d is provided. Thus, the recording material 114 held on the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 is delivered to the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 via the transfer drum 124d after ink droplets of each color are attached on the recording unit 108. It is. The fixing processing unit 110 includes an in-line sensor 144 and heating rollers 148a and 148b at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126d in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) of the pressure drum 126d. Each is provided.

  In the fixing processing unit 110 of the present embodiment, after image recording, fixing processing is performed by heating and pressing with the heating rollers 148a and 148b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, transparent UV ink is attached. Other configurations such as fixing the image to the recording material 114 by curing the transparent UV ink by irradiating UV light later may be applied.

  A paper discharge unit 112 disposed at a stage subsequent to the fixing processing unit 110 includes a paper discharge drum 150 that receives the recording material 114 that has been subjected to the fixing process, a paper discharge tray 152 on which the recording material 114 is loaded, and a paper discharge drum. A paper discharge chain 154 provided between a sprocket provided at 150 and a sprocket provided above the paper discharge table 152 and provided with a plurality of paper discharge grippers is provided.

  Next, the recording head 140 will be described. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the recording head 140 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of nozzles 161 that are ink droplet ejection ports, pressure chambers 162 corresponding to the nozzles 161, and the like. The ink chamber units 163 are arranged in a matrix (two-dimensionally) so that the substantial nozzle spacing along the head longitudinal direction (main scanning direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording material 114) is achieved. A higher density of (projection nozzle pitch) and a higher density of dot pitch formed on the recording material 114 are realized. The recording head 140 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2A. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, a short head block 160 in which a plurality of nozzles 161 are two-dimensionally arranged is staggered. A configuration in which the heads are arranged and connected in a shape may be used, or although not illustrated, a configuration in which short heads are arranged in a row may be used.

  The pressure chamber 162 has a substantially square planar shape, and nozzles 161 and supply ports 164 are provided at both corners on a diagonal line. As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, each pressure chamber 162 communicates with a common flow path 165 through a supply port 164. The common flow path 165 communicates with a supply tank 40 (see FIG. 5) that is an ink supply source, and the ink supplied from the supply tank 40 is distributed and supplied to each pressure chamber 162 via the common flow path 165. The A piezoelectric element 168 having an individual electrode 167 is joined to a diaphragm 166 that constitutes the top surface of the pressure chamber 162 and also has a function as a common electrode, and the piezoelectric element 168 has a drive voltage applied to the individual electrode 167. Is deformed, and an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 161 as the piezoelectric element 168 is deformed. As the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 161, new ink is supplied from the common channel 165 through the supply port 164 to the pressure chamber 162.

  In this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 168 is used as the ejection force generating means for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 161. Instead, a heater is provided in the pressure chamber 162, and the pressure of film boiling caused by heating of the heater is provided. A thermal method in which ink is ejected using may be applied. As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 140 according to the present embodiment is configured so that the ink chamber unit 163 having the above-described configuration has a constant angle θ that is not orthogonal to the row direction along the main scanning direction and the main scanning direction. A large number of nozzles are arranged in a matrix with a constant arrangement pattern along the inclined column direction formed, thereby realizing a high density of the projection nozzle pitch. In other words, since a plurality of ink chamber units 163 are arranged at a constant pitch d along a direction that forms a constant angle θ with respect to the main scanning direction, the projection nozzle pitch P along the main scanning direction is d × cos θ. In the main scanning direction, each nozzle 161 is treated as equivalent to a linear arrangement with a constant pitch P. As a result, a recording head equivalent to 2400 nozzles per inch (2400 nozzles / inch) arranged at high density along the main scanning direction can be obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a full line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire width in which an image can be recorded is used to eject ink droplets from the nozzles to make the width direction of the recording material 114 (the recording material 114 As a nozzle drive method for recording one line (a line made up of one row of dots or a line consisting of a plurality of rows of dots) along the direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, (1) all nozzles are driven simultaneously. Either (2) the nozzles are sequentially driven from one to the other, (3) the nozzles are divided into a plurality of blocks, and the blocks are sequentially driven from one to the other for each block. In the present specification, driving of nozzles for recording one line along the width direction of the recording material 114 by any one of the above-described driving methods is defined as main scanning.

  When driving the nozzles 161 arranged in a matrix as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the main scanning (nozzle driving method) of the above (3) is preferable. Specifically, the nozzles 161-11, 161-12, 16-13, 161-14, 161-15, 161-16 shown in FIG. 4 are made into one block (other nozzles 161-21,. -26 as one block, nozzles 161-31,..., 161-36 as one block,...), And nozzles 161-11, 161-12,. By sequentially driving, one line is recorded in the width direction of the recording material 114.

  On the other hand, in this specification, the above-described full line head and the recording material 114 are moved relative to each other to thereby form one line formed by the above-described main scanning (a line composed of a single row of dots or a line composed of a plurality of rows of dots). Repeating this recording is defined as sub-scanning. The direction indicated by one line (or the longitudinal direction of the belt-like region) recorded by the main scanning is referred to as a main scanning direction, and the direction in which the sub scanning is performed is referred to as a sub scanning direction. In other words, in the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the recording material 114 is the sub-scanning direction, and the width direction of the recording material 114 orthogonal thereto is the main scanning direction.

  The arrangement structure of the nozzles 161 is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, various nozzle arrangement structures such as an arrangement structure having one nozzle row in the sub-scanning direction can be applied. Further, the present invention is not limited to the recording method using a line type head, and a short head that is less than the length in the width direction of the recording material 114 is scanned in the width direction of the recording material 114 to perform recording in the width direction. When the recording in the width direction is completed once, the recording material 114 is moved by a predetermined amount in a direction substantially orthogonal to the width direction to perform recording in the width direction of the recording material 114 in the next recording area. It is also possible to apply to a serial system in which the operation is repeated and recording is performed over the entire recording area of the recording material 114.

  Next, the configuration of the ink supply system of the image recording apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the ink circulation system of the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the ink tank 13 is connected to the buffer tank 14 via a conduit 13A. Both the ink tank 13 and the buffer tank 14 are open to the atmosphere. The pipe 13A is provided with a pump 13B and a filter 13C. The ink stored in the ink tank 13 is supplied to the buffer tank 14 by driving the pump 13B. The buffer tank 14 stores a predetermined amount of ink by supplying ink from the ink tank 13.

  The buffer tank 14 is connected to the supply tank 40 via the first flow path 22. The buffer tank 14 is connected to the recovery tank 50 via the second flow path 32. The first flow path 22 is provided with a supply pump 24 that supplies liquid so as to pressure-feed and supply ink from the buffer tank 14 to the supply tank 40, and connects the supply pump 24 and the buffer tank 14. A filter F is provided in the first flow path 22. Further, the second flow path 32 is provided with a recovery pump 34 that feeds liquid so as to suck and recover ink from the recovery tank 50 to the buffer tank 14. In the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, stepping motors 24A, 34A, and 13B ′ (see FIG. 7) are provided as drive sources in each of the pump 13B, the supply pump 24, and the recovery pump 34. .

  The supply tank 40 communicates with the recording head 140 via the supply flow path 23 and the manifold 25, and the recovery tank 50 communicates with the recording head 140 via the recovery flow path 33 and the manifold 26.

  An ink storage chamber 46 for storing ink is provided inside the supply tank 40, and a supply-side pressure detector 43 that detects the pressure in the ink storage chamber 46 is provided in the ink storage chamber 46. It has been. Further, the first flow path 22 and the supply flow path 23 communicate with the ink storage chamber 46.

  An ink storage chamber 56 that stores ink is provided inside the recovery tank 50, and a recovery-side pressure detector 53 that detects the pressure in the ink storage chamber 56 is provided in the ink storage chamber 56. It has been. The ink storage chamber 56 communicates with the second flow path 32 and the recovery flow path 33.

  The recording head 140 is divided into a plurality of head bars 140 ′ each having a nozzle 161 that ejects ink droplets (three in the example of FIG. 2), and supply for supplying ink to each head bar 140 ′. A port 23A and a discharge port 33A for discharging ink are configured. The supply channel 23 is branched by the manifold 25 in front of the supply port 23A, and ink is supplied from each supply port 23 to each head bar 140 '. Further, the respective recovery flow paths 33 from the respective discharge ports 33 </ b> A are joined by the manifold 26 in front of the recovery tank 50.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the recording head 140 is divided into the plurality of head bars 140 ′ has been described. However, the recording head 140 may be a single unit without being divided.

  The supply flow path 23 is provided with a supply valve V1 that opens and closes the supply flow path 23 at each branch for each supply port 23A. The recovery flow path 33 is provided with a recovery valve V2 that opens and closes the recovery flow path 33 at each branch for each discharge port 33A.

  The buffer tank 14, the first flow path 22, the supply tank 40 and the supply flow path 23 constitute a supply system flow path, and the recovery flow path 33, the recovery tank 50 and the second flow path 32 constitute a recovery system flow. A road is constructed. The supply system flow path, the head 112, the recovery system flow path, and the buffer tank 14 constitute the circulation path 20 of the ink supply system.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the configuration of the maintenance unit used to maintain the normal function of the recording head 140 of the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image recording apparatus 100 includes a cap 174 for preventing the nozzle 161 from drying or preventing an increase in ink viscosity near the nozzle, and a cleaning blade 176 as a means for cleaning the ink ejection surface of the recording head 140. Is provided. The recording head 140 is configured to be moved relative to a maintenance unit including the cap 174 and the cleaning blade 176 by a moving mechanism (not shown), and from the position for image recording as necessary, the maintenance unit. To the maintenance position above. The cap 174 is displaced up and down relatively with respect to the recording head 140 by an elevator mechanism (not shown). In the recording head 140, the cap 174 is raised to a predetermined ascending position when the power is turned off or during printing standby so that the tip surface of the nozzle 161 is covered with the cap 174.

  In addition, when the frequency of use of the specific nozzle 161 during image recording or standby is low and the state where ink droplets are not ejected from the specific nozzle 161 continues for a certain period of time or longer, the solvent in the ink staying in the vicinity of the nozzle 161 is removed. By evaporating, the ink viscosity increases, and even if the piezoelectric element 168 is operated, there is a possibility that an ink droplet is not ejected from the nozzle 161 and a non-ejection state occurs. For this reason, in this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 168 is operated before the ink discharge state (before the ink viscosity deviates from the range in which the ink droplet is discharged by the operation of the piezoelectric element 168), and the deteriorated ink ( Preliminary discharge (also referred to as purge, idle discharge, or dummy discharge) is performed toward the cap 174 (ink receiver) in order to discharge the ink having increased viscosity staying in the vicinity of the nozzle.

  In addition, even when air bubbles are mixed into the ink in the recording head 140 (in the pressure chamber 162), the ink droplets are not ejected from the nozzles 161 even if the piezoelectric element 168 is operated. In this embodiment, in such a case, the tip surface of the nozzle 161 of the recording head 140 is covered with a cap 174, and the suction pump 177 is operated to remove the ink in the pressure chamber 162 (ink mixed with bubbles) by suction. Then, a suction operation for feeding the sucked and removed ink to the recovery tank 178 is performed. This suction operation (sucking out deteriorated ink whose viscosity has been increased (solidified)) is also performed when an initial ink is loaded into the head, or at the start of use after a long stop. The suction operation is performed on the entire ink in the pressure chamber 162, and the ink consumption is large. Therefore, it is preferable to perform preliminary ejection when the increase in the viscosity of the ink is small.

  The cleaning blade 176 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and is slid on the ink discharge surface of the recording head 140 by a blade moving mechanism (not shown). When ink droplets or foreign matters adhere to the ink discharge surface, the ink discharge surface is wiped by sliding the cleaning blade 176 on the ink discharge surface, and the ink discharge surface is cleaned.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image recording apparatus 100 includes a system control unit 182. The system control unit 182 includes pump motor drivers 59A, 59B, and 59C, a communication interface (I / F) unit 180, a memory 184, a UI. A panel 185, a motor driver 186, a heater driver 188, and a print control unit 190 are connected to each other. Note that the print control unit 190 and the system control unit 182 can be integrated to form a single processor.

  The communication I / F unit 180 is an interface unit that receives image data sent from the host computer 196. As a communication protocol in the communication I / F unit 180, any of a serial interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless network, or a parallel interface such as Centronics is applied. Image data sent from the host computer 196 is taken into the image recording apparatus 100 via the communication I / F unit 180 and temporarily stored in the memory 184.

  The memory 184 includes a primary storage unit that reads and writes data through the system control unit 182 and a secondary storage unit such as a magnetic storage medium such as an EEPROM or a hard disk made of semiconductor elements. The memory 184 configured as described above is used as a temporary storage area for image data, and is also used as a program development area and a calculation work area for a CPU (central processing unit). The memory 184 stores various data necessary for processing executed by the CPU of the system control unit 182.

  The UI panel 185 is configured by a touch panel display or the like in which a transmissive touch panel is superimposed on a display. Various types of information are displayed on the display surface of the display, and information and instructions are received when the user touches the touch panel. . In the present embodiment, an example in which the UI panel 185 is applied has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display and an operation unit provided with a numeric keypad or operation buttons are separately provided. It is good also as a form provided in.

  The system control unit 182 includes a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and functions as a control device that controls the entire image recording apparatus 100 according to a predetermined program, and also functions as an arithmetic device that performs various calculations. That is, the system control unit 182 performs transmission / reception of information with the host computer 196, access to the memory 184, acquisition of information and instructions received by the UI panel 185, display of information by the UI panel 185, and the like. A control signal for controlling the motor 198 and the heater 199 is generated.

  The system control unit 182 includes a program storage unit 182A. Various control programs are stored in the program storage unit 182A, and the control programs are read out and executed by the CPU in accordance with instructions from the system control unit 182. The program storage unit may use a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM, or may use a magnetic disk or the like. An external interface may be provided and a memory card or PC card may be used. Of course, one or more of these storage media may be provided. Note that the program storage unit 182A may also be used as a storage means such as operation parameters. The program storage unit 182A also stores an abnormal discharge detection program for performing an abnormal discharge detection process described later by the CPU of the system control unit 182.

  A motor 198 is connected to the motor driver 186, and the motor driver 186 drives the motor 198 in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 182. The motor 198 shown in FIG. 7 is actually composed of a plurality of motors, and includes, for example, the pressure drums 126a to 126d, the transfer drums 124a to 124d shown in FIG. . A heater 199 is connected to the heater driver 188, and the heater driver 188 drives the heater 199 in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 182. The heater 199 shown in FIG. 7 actually includes a plurality of heaters. For example, the paper preheating units 128 and 134, the permeation suppressor drying unit 132, the treatment liquid drying unit 138, the solvent drying unit 142a, and the like shown in FIG. A heater 142b, a heater built in the heating rollers 148a and 148b, and the like are included.

  A stepping motor 24A as a drive source of the supply pump 24 is connected to the pump motor driver 59A, and the pump motor driver 59A drives the stepping motor 24A according to an instruction from the system control unit 182. Further, a stepping motor 34A as a drive source of the recovery pump 24 is connected to the pump motor driver 59B, and the pump motor motor driver 59B drives the stepping motor 34A according to an instruction from the system control unit 182. Further, a stepping motor 13B 'as a drive source of the pump 13B is connected to the pump motor driver 59C, and the pump motor motor driver 59C drives the stepping motor 13B' according to an instruction from the system control unit 182.

  A head driver 194, a treatment liquid head driver 195, a permeation suppression agent head driver 197, and an image buffer memory 192 are connected to the print control unit 190. The print control unit 190 generates data for image recording, a signal for discharging the penetration inhibitor, and a signal for discharging the processing liquid from the image data stored in the memory 184 in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 182. The generated image recording data (dot data) is supplied to the head driver 194, and the generated permeation inhibitor discharge signal is transmitted to the permeation inhibitor head driver 197. The generated processing liquid discharge signal is supplied to the processing liquid head driver 195. When the above-described signal processing is performed by the print control unit 190, data such as image data and parameters are temporarily stored in the image buffer memory 192.

  A recording head 140 is connected to the head driver 194, and the head driver 194 applies a drive signal to be applied to the piezoelectric element 168 of the recording head 140 based on image recording data supplied from the print control unit 190. A drive circuit that generates and applies the drive signal to the piezoelectric element 168 to drive the piezoelectric element 168 is included. Further, when the ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 140 by driving the piezoelectric element 168, the head driver 194 also controls the ejection droplet amount and ejection timing of the recording head 140. Thereby, the dot of the size according to a request | requirement is recorded on the recording material 114 by arrangement | positioning according to a request | requirement. Note that the head driver 194 may include a feedback control system for keeping the driving conditions of the recording head 140 constant.

  Further, a permeation inhibitor head driver 197 is connected to a permeation inhibitor head driver 197, and the permeation inhibitor head driver 197 follows the permeation inhibitor discharge signal supplied from the print control unit 190. The permeation inhibitor is discharged from Further, the processing liquid head 136 is connected to the processing liquid head driver 195, and the processing liquid head driver 195 discharges the processing liquid from the processing liquid head 136 in accordance with the processing liquid discharge signal supplied from the print control unit 190. Let

  Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, operations of each part of the image recording apparatus 100 when an image is recorded on the recording material 114 will be described first. When an image is recorded on the recording material 114, the recording material 114 is sent out from the paper feeding table 120 of the paper feeding unit 102 to the feeder board 122. The recording material 114 is held by the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 via the transfer cylinder 124a, preheated by the paper preheating unit 128, and the permeation suppression agent discharged from the permeation suppression agent head 130 is attached. . Thereafter, the recording material 114 held on the impression cylinder 126a is heated by the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, and is dried by evaporating the solvent component (liquid component) of the permeation suppression agent.

  The recording material 114 subjected to the permeation suppression processing is transferred from the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 to the pressure drum 126b of the processing liquid application unit 106 via the transfer drum 124b. The recording material 114 held on the pressure drum 126b is preheated by the paper preheating unit 134, and the processing liquid discharged from the processing liquid head 136 is attached thereto. Thereafter, the recording material 114 held on the pressure drum 126b is heated by the processing liquid drying unit 138, and is dried by evaporating the solvent component (liquid component) of the processing liquid. Thereby, a solid or semi-solid aggregation processing agent layer is formed on the recording material 114.

  Here, when an ink droplet lands on the aggregation treatment agent layer formed on the recording material 114, the contact surface between the ink droplet and the aggregation treatment agent layer is determined in advance by the balance between the flying energy of the ink droplet and the surface energy. It becomes an area. The aggregation reaction starts immediately after the ink droplets have landed on the aggregation treatment agent. This aggregation reaction starts only at the contact surface between the ink droplet and the aggregation treatment agent layer and occurs only in the vicinity of the contact surface. Since the color material in the ink is aggregated in a state where the adhesive force is obtained with the contact area thus obtained, the color material movement is suppressed. Even if another ink droplet lands adjacent to this ink droplet, the color material of the ink that has landed first has already aggregated, so the color material does not mix with the ink that lands later, and bleeding does not occur. Deterred. Note that after the color material is aggregated, the separated ink solvent spreads, and a liquid layer in which the aggregation treatment agent is dissolved is formed on the recording material 114. The recording material 114 held on the impression cylinder 126c is heated by the solvent drying units 142a and 142b, and the solvent component (liquid component) separated from the ink aggregates on the recording material 114 is evaporated to be dried. As a result, warping of the recording material 114 is prevented and image quality deterioration due to the solvent component is suppressed.

  The recording material 114 on which the color ink is applied by the recording unit 108 and the image is recorded is transferred from the impression cylinder 126c of the recording unit 108 to the impression cylinder 126d of the fixing processing unit 110 via the transfer cylinder 124d, and heated roller Heating and pressing are performed by 148a and 148b. Further, thereafter, the recording material 114 is transferred from the pressure drum 126 d to the paper discharge drum 150 and conveyed to the paper discharge tray 152 by the paper discharge chain 154. The recording material 114 on which an image has been recorded in this manner is conveyed above the paper discharge tray 152 by the paper discharge chain 154 and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 152.

  Next, the ink circulation operation during image recording will be described.

  In the circulation flow path 20 at the time of image recording of the image recording apparatus 100, the ink is circulated at all times as follows.

In the circulation flow path 20 at the time of image recording of the image recording apparatus 100, the recording head 140 is moved from the supply tank 40 side by setting the pressure on the ink supply side higher than the pressure on the ink recovery side by a predetermined amount. Then, ink is sent to the collection tank 50 side. Here, it is assumed that the pressure in the ink storage chamber 46 is Pin, the pressure in the ink storage chamber 56 is Pout, and the back pressure (negative pressure) of the nozzle 161 from which ink is ejected is Pnzl. , Pin + Hin>Pnzl> Pout + Hout (mmH ₂ O) (Hin is a pressure difference (water head pressure) caused by a height difference between the nozzle surface and the supply side pressure detector 43, and Hout is a detection of the nozzle surface and the recovery side pressure The pressure difference (water head pressure) caused by the height difference from the vessel 53 and a back pressure of a predetermined magnitude are applied to the nozzle 161. The pressure in the ink storage chamber 46 of the supply tank 40 and the pressure in the ink storage chamber 56 of the recovery tank 50 are the same as the pressure in the ink storage chamber 46 detected by the supply side pressure detector 43 and the recovery side pressure. Based on the pressure in the ink storage chamber 56 detected by the detector 53, the pressure in the ink storage chambers 46 and 56 is set to a predetermined pressure level by the supply pump 24 and the recovery pump 34. It is controlled by the system control unit 182 so as to be Pin and Pout, whereby ink circulates in the circulation flow path 20. Thus, in the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, feedback control is performed in order to keep the driving conditions of the supply pump 24 and the recovery pump 34 constant.

  By the way, in the image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, an abnormality occurs in the circulation flow path 20 such as when ink leaks from the circulation flow path 20 or when foreign matter enters the circulation flow path 20 and the flow path becomes clogged. It is assumed that Therefore, in the image recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the abnormality detection processing for detecting the abnormality is executed by the system control unit 182. Hereinafter, the abnormality detection process executed by the system control unit 182 will be described with reference to FIG. This abnormality detection process is realized by executing the abnormality detection process program stored in the program storage unit 182A by the CPU of the system control unit 182.

  In step 400, driving of the supply pump 24 and the recovery pump 34 is started so that the ink circulates in the circulation flow path 20. In the next step 402, the pressure inside each of the ink storage chambers 46 and 56 is adjusted. The process waits until the size reaches a predetermined target value for each of the ink storage chambers 46 and 56.

  In the next step 404, after obtaining the magnitude of the pressure detected by the supply side pressure detector 43 and the magnitude of the pressure detected by the recovery side pressure detector 53, the routine proceeds to step 406, where It is determined whether or not a predetermined time (100 ms as an example) has elapsed since an affirmative determination is made in the process. If a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 404. Control goes to step 408.

  In step 408, the recovery flow rate of the ink recovered from the ink storage chamber 56 of the recovery tank 50 by the recovery pump 34 relative to the supply flow rate of the ink supplied by the supply pump 24 to the ink storage chamber 46 of the supply tank 40. The ratio (value rounded down to the nearest decimal place) is calculated. For example, when the supply flow rate per unit time is 20 ml / sec and the recovery flow rate per unit time is 10 ml / sec, the above ratio is 0.5 (percentage is 50%). This means that only half of the ink supplied to the supply tank 40 by the supply pump 24 is collected.

  In this embodiment, the supply flow rate is derived from the number of rotations per unit time of the stepping motor 24A, and the recovery flow rate is derived from the number of rotations of the stepping motor 34A per unit time. As a specific example, the supply flow rate deriving table configured by associating the rotation speed per unit time of the stepping motor 24A with the supply flow rate, and the rotation speed per unit time of the stepping motor 34A and the recovery flow rate are associated with each other. The recovery flow rate derivation table configured in addition is stored in the memory 184 in advance, and in the processing of step 408, the supply flow rate is derived using the supply flow rate derivation table and recovered using the recovery flow rate derivation table. Examples of deriving the flow rate are given. Further, the supply flow rate and the recovery flow rate may be calculated using an arithmetic expression instead of a table. Further, instead of the embodiment in which the supply flow rate and the recovery flow rate are derived from the rotation speed of the stepping motor, the supply flow rate is derived from the magnitude of the pressure in the ink storage chamber 46 detected by the supply side pressure detector 43, and the recovery is performed. The recovered flow rate may be derived from the pressure in the ink storage chamber 56 detected by the side pressure detector 53. In this case as well, a derivation form using a table and a derivation form using an arithmetic expression are conceivable.

  In the next step 410, it is determined whether or not the ratio calculated by the processing in step 408 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 412. If YES, step 414 follows. In the present embodiment, the following process is performed as the specific process of step 410 described above. That is, when the ratio calculated by the process of step 408 exceeds a predetermined upper limit threshold and when the ratio calculated by the process of step 408 falls below a predetermined lower threshold, A negative determination is made when the ratio calculated by the process of step 408 does not exceed the predetermined upper limit threshold and when the ratio calculated by the process of step 408 does not fall below the predetermined lower limit threshold. . Further, in the present embodiment, the recording head 140 is used for the ratio of the target value predetermined as the target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 56 to the target value predetermined as the target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 46. A value obtained by adding a predetermined value that can be used to normally record an image is used as an “upper limit threshold value”, and ink storage for a predetermined target value as a target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 46 is performed. A value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value that can normally record an image using the recording head 140 from a ratio of a predetermined target value as a target pressure value in the chamber 56 is expressed as “lower threshold value”. " The upper threshold and the lower threshold may be determined based on actually measured values obtained through a test using the image recording apparatus 100, or may be determined based on estimated values obtained by computer simulation.

  In step 412, the variable i is incremented by 1 (counted up), and then the process proceeds to step 416. In step 414, the current variable i is reset to “0” which is an initial value (count value is reset), and then the process proceeds to step 416. In step 416, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable i (count value) exceeds a specified value (“10” as an example). If a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 404, but an affirmative determination is made. If YES, step 418 follows. The above specified value is an upper limit value that can be considered that no abnormality has occurred in the circulation channel 20, in other words, a value that is obtained by adding 1 to this upper limit value is a value that can be considered that an abnormality has occurred in the circulation channel 20. It will be. The specified value may be determined based on an actual value obtained through a test using the image recording apparatus 100 or may be determined based on an estimated value obtained by computer simulation.

  In step 418, the drive of the supply pump 24 and the recovery pump 34 is stopped so that the circulation of ink in the circulation flow path 20 is stopped, and then the process proceeds to step 420, and an abnormality in the circulation flow path 20 is detected. Is output to the UI panel 185, and the abnormality detection processing program is terminated. The UI panel 185 displays a message indicating that an abnormality in the circulation flow path 20 has been detected on the display in accordance with the abnormality detection signal input by the process of step 420 described above. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, there is an example in which a message for notifying the user that there is a possibility of ink leakage is displayed on the display. In the example of FIG. 9, the “OK” button is displayed on the screen, and when the user touches the “OK” button via the touch panel, the message on the display is erased and the screen returns to the previous screen.

  In the above embodiment, the example of calculating the ratio of the recovery flow rate to the supply flow rate has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ratio of the supply flow rate to the recovery flow rate may be calculated. However, in this case, it is also necessary to change the upper threshold and the lower threshold described in the above embodiment. That is, as the upper limit threshold, the recording head 140 is set to a ratio of the target value predetermined as the target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 46 to the target value predetermined as the target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 56. A value obtained by adding a predetermined value that can be used for normal image recording is applied, and the lower limit threshold is a target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 56 with respect to a predetermined target value. A value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value that can normally record an image using the recording head 140 from a ratio of a predetermined target value as a target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 46 is applied. Just do it.

  In the above embodiment, the ink recovered from the ink storage chamber 56 of the recovery tank 50 by the recovery pump 34 with respect to the supply flow rate of the ink supplied to the ink storage chamber 46 of the supply tank 40 by the supply pump 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a target value predetermined as a target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 56 is described. And the absolute value of the difference between the target pressure value in the ink storage chamber 46 and a predetermined target value as a threshold value, the threshold value is compared with the absolute value of the difference between the supply flow rate and the recovered flow rate. It may be determined whether or not the absolute value exceeds a threshold value. As described above, the physical quantity to be compared with the threshold value is not limited to the above ratio, and may be any physical quantity as long as it corresponds to the difference between the supply flow rate and the recovery flow rate.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the case where the threshold value is fixed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the threshold value requested by the user is received by the UI panel 185, and the received threshold value and the above step are performed. You may make it compare with the ratio calculated by the process of 408. FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a message indicating that an abnormality is detected is displayed on the UI panel 185 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an abnormality detection signal is output by the system control unit 182. In this case, output information indicating that an abnormality detection signal has been output is stored in the memory 184, and the system control unit 182 outputs the information from the memory 184 in response to a request from the user via the UI panel 185 or the host computer 196. The predetermined information may be read out and a predetermined process (for example, a process of transmitting the output information to the host computer 196) may be executed.

  In the above embodiment, the output destination of the abnormality detection signal is the UI panel 185. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the abnormality detection signal may be transmitted to the host computer 196. In this case, when the host computer 196 receives the abnormality detection signal, for example, when a display is connected to the host computer 196, the host computer 196 performs visual display using the display, and when the audio reproduction device is connected to the host computer 196, An audible display by the sound reproduction apparatus may be performed, and if a printer is connected to the sound reproduction apparatus, a permanent visual display by the printer may be performed. Further, a combination of at least two of visible display, audible display, and permanent visible display may be executed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a software form that realizes each step of the abnormality detection processing program by executing the abnormality detection processing program by the system control unit 182 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various circuits (examples) As examples, a hardware form configured by connecting an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and a form combining a software form and a hardware form may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the abnormality detection processing program is stored in advance in the program storage unit 182A has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these programs are stored in the CD. -A form provided in a state stored in a recording medium that can be read by a computer such as a ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a USB memory may be applied, or a form that is distributed via wired or wireless communication means may be applied. good.

20 Circulating Channel 24 Supply Pump 34 Recovery Pump 100 Image Recording Device 140 Recording Head 161 Nozzle 182 System Control Unit 185 UI Panel

Claims (10)

The liquid for image recording is supplied to the recording means for recording an image on the recording medium by discharging droplets onto the recording medium, and the liquid filled in the recording means is recovered and recovered. Circulating means for circulating the liquid by supplying the liquid to the recording means;
The circulation is performed so that a physical quantity corresponding to a difference between a supply amount of the liquid supplied to the recording means by the circulation means and a recovery amount of the liquid recovered from the recording means by the circulation means follows a reference value. Control means for controlling the means;
Output means for outputting an abnormality notification signal when the physical quantity exceeds a predetermined threshold value from the reference value;
An abnormality detection device including: A comparison means for comparing the physical quantity with the threshold value per unit time;
The output means outputs the abnormality notification signal when the number of times the physical quantity exceeds the threshold exceeds a predetermined number continuously based on the comparison result of the comparison means. The abnormality detection device described. And further comprising a receiving means for receiving the threshold,
The abnormality detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value received by the receiving unit is used as a comparison target with the physical quantity.   The abnormality detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical quantity is an absolute value of a difference between the supply amount and the recovery amount.   The abnormality notification signal is output when the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold when at least one of the ratio of the collected amount to the supply amount exceeds the upper threshold and the ratio exceeds the lower threshold The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The abnormality notification signal is output when the absolute value of the difference exceeds the threshold when at least one of the ratio of the supply amount to the recovered amount exceeds the upper threshold and the ratio exceeds the lower threshold The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The circulation means has supply means for supplying the liquid stored in the storage tank by pumping to the recording means, and recovery means for recovering the liquid from the recording means by sucking the liquid from the recording means. ,
The control means causes the physical quantity corresponding to a difference between the supply amount supplied to the recording means by the supply means and the recovery amount recovered from the recording means by the recovery means to follow the reference value. The abnormality detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit and the recovery unit are controlled.   The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising display means for receiving the abnormality notification signal and displaying that there is a possibility of liquid leakage. The abnormality detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means;
An image recording apparatus. Computer
The liquid for image recording is supplied to the recording means for recording an image on the recording medium by discharging droplets onto the recording medium, and the liquid filled in the recording means is recovered and recovered. The difference between the supply amount of the liquid supplied to the recording means by the circulation means for circulating the liquid by supplying the liquid to the recording means and the recovery amount of the liquid recovered from the recording means by the circulation means. In order to function as control means for controlling the circulating means so that the corresponding physical quantity follows the reference value, and as output means for outputting an abnormality notification signal when the physical quantity exceeds a predetermined threshold value from the reference value Program.

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