JP2015000510A - Ink jet recorder, and control method of acceptance member in recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recorder, in which ink preliminarily discharged from an ink jet recording head is received by a sheet-like member and in which the used amount of the sheet-like member has to be reduced while receiving the preliminarily discharged ink sufficiently in the sheet-like member.SOLUTION: An ink jet recorder 12 comprises: a recording head 7; a sheet-like member 8; a take-up roller 9b for taking up the sheet-like member 8; a preliminary ejection counter 210 for counting the preliminary discharge number of ink preliminarily discharged from the recording head 7; and a heater 4. In accordance with the temperature of the sheet-like member 8, the ink jet recorder 12 corrects the preliminary ejection number measured by the preliminary ejection counter 210. In accordance with the preliminary ejection number corrected by the ink jet recorder 12, the sheet-like member 8 is taken up by the take-up roller 9b.

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus and a method for controlling a wiping member in the apparatus.

  When ink is ejected from the ejection port of the recording head of the ink jet recording apparatus, ink mist that does not land on the recording medium is generated. The ink mist adheres to the ejection port surface of the recording head and may prevent the ink ejected from the ejection port from landing at a normal position. Thus, the ink mist adhering to the discharge port surface is usually removed by a wiper blade.

  In recent years, in order to perform recording on a recording medium having no ink receiving layer, an ink jet recording technique for fixing ink onto the recording medium using ultraviolet rays, microwaves, heat, or the like has been developed. In such an ink jet recording technique, a heat fixing ink that is easily fixed by heat or the like is used. Even in such a recording apparatus of the ink jet recording technique, there is a possibility that the ink mist adhering to the discharge port surface is firmly fixed and prevents the ink from the discharge port from landing on a normal position. Moreover, since the ink mist of such an ink jet recording technique is firmly fixed, it may be difficult to remove with an ordinary wiper blade.

  In order to remove such fixed ink, the recording apparatus of Patent Document 1 supplies the sheet-like member to a position facing the discharge port surface, and presses and wipes the sheet-like member against the discharge port surface. To clean the discharge port surface. And in the recording apparatus of patent document 1, the unused part of a sheet-like member is supplied to the position facing a discharge port surface by winding up the sheet-like member once used for wiping operation with a winding roller. .

  Further, in the recording apparatus of Patent Document 2, the sheet-like member used for the wiping operation of the discharge port surface at the home position is reused to receive the ink preliminarily discharged at the back position. In the recording apparatus of Patent Document 2, the sheet-like member reused at the back position is wound up by a predetermined amount for each preliminary ejection operation, so that the portion of the sheet-like member that can receive the pre-ejected ink faces the ejection port surface. Always supply to the position to be.

JP 2003-300369 A JP2012-511138A

  By the way, the recording apparatus of Patent Document 2 does not wind up the sheet-like member at an appropriate timing according to the degree of contamination by the preliminary ejection operation, and more sheets than the amount necessary to receive the preliminary ejected ink. There is a possibility that the shaped member has been consumed.

  Therefore, the present invention controls the sheet-like member to be wound at an appropriate timing so that the pre-discharged ink can be sufficiently received by the sheet-like member while reducing the amount of use of the sheet-like member. An object is to provide a recording apparatus.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention receives an ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink, heating means for heating the ink ejected from the ejection port, and ink ejected from the ejection port. In the ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a receiving member; a changing unit that performs a changing operation for changing a receiving region of the receiving member; and an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ejections of the ink ejected from the ejection port. And a control unit that corrects a value related to the number of ejections acquired by the acquisition unit according to a temperature of the receiving member, and causes the changing unit to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to correct the value related to the number of ejected inks according to the temperature of the receiving member that receives the ink ejected from the ejection port, and to control the receiving member to be wound at an appropriate timing. Therefore, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can reduce the amount of use of the receiving member while sufficiently receiving the pre-discharged ink by the receiving member.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the receiving unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature of a sheet-like member, and the bleeding of an ink. It is a figure which shows the order of the recording processing operation | movement of 1st Embodiment, and the figure which shows the temperature change of a sheet-like member. It is a figure which shows the temperature change of the flowchart which shows the order of the recording processing operation of 2nd Embodiment, and a sheet-like member. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the order of recording processing operations according to a third embodiment and a diagram illustrating correction coefficients for correcting the number of preliminary ejections. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the order of recording processing operations according to a fourth embodiment and a diagram illustrating correction coefficients for correcting the number of preliminary ejections.

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

(First embodiment)
In FIG. 1, the schematic diagram of the inkjet recording device 12 of this embodiment is shown. The ink jet recording apparatus 12 includes a carriage 1 on which a recording head 7 described later is mounted. The recording head 7 is an ink jet recording head. The carriage 1 is scanned in the main scanning direction X to perform a recording operation on the recording medium 3.

  The recording medium 3 is held on the spool 13. The recording medium 3 is transported along the transport direction Y toward the platen 2 by transport rollers (not shown).

  When the recording medium 3 is transported to a recordable recording position, the carriage 1 moves along the main scanning direction X. The carriage 1 moves in the main scanning direction X along the guide shaft 6. In the course of this movement, ink is ejected from the recording head 7 mounted on the carriage 1. The ink is ejected from an ejection port 7a provided on an ejection port surface 7b described later provided in the recording head 7. The timing for ejecting ink is determined based on the position signal acquired by the encoder 14.

  After the recording operation is completed, the recording medium 3 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, and a new area of the recording medium 3 is fed out to the recording position. The next recording operation is performed on the new area of the recording medium 3.

  On the space where the carriage 1 is scanned, a heater 4 is provided. The ink landed on the recording medium 3 is fixed by being heated by the heater 4. By heating the recording medium 3 with the heater 4, the temperature of the recording medium 3 can be maintained at a set temperature set by the user on the main body of the inkjet recording apparatus 12. The carriage 1 has a recording medium temperature sensor 3 a described later that detects the temperature of the recording medium 3.

  At a home position HP, which is a position on one side of the extended line along the main scanning direction X of the platen 2, a receiving unit 5 (described later) that receives the pre-discharged ink is provided. The receiving unit 5 may be provided only on one side or on both sides of the extension line along the main scanning direction X of the platen 2.

  A schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 is shown in FIG. A receiving unit 5 is provided at a home position HP on an extension line of the platen 2 in the main scanning direction X. The position facing the main scanning direction X across the home position HP and the platen 2 is the back position BP. Not only the recording medium 3 but also the receiving unit 5 is heated by the heater 4. The recording medium temperature sensor 3 a detects the temperature of the recording medium 3. The heater 4 heats the recording medium 3 until the temperature reaches the set temperature.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the recording head 7 mounted on the carriage 1 of FIG. A plurality of ejection ports 7 a for ejecting ink are provided on the ejection port surface 7 b of the recording head 7. The ink color tone includes those having different colors and densities. The ink colors are, for example, black (Bk), light cyan (Lc), cyan (C), light magenta (Lm), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).

  The ink ejected from the ejection port 7 a is supplied from an ink tank (not shown) via an ink channel (not shown) inside the recording head 7.

  The head temperature sensors 7 c are provided at both ends on the extension line in the column direction of the ejection port array 7 d and detect the temperature of the recording head 7.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the receiving unit 5. The receiving unit 5 includes a sheet-like member 8, a supply roller 9 a, a take-up roller 9 b, and a web temperature sensor 10. The sheet-like member 8 is a porous urethane foam, melamine foam, polyolefin, or a nonwoven fabric using PET, nylon, or the like. The sheet-like member 8 is impregnated with a wiping liquid made of water, a surfactant or a solvent.

  The sheet-like member 8 serves as a receiving area for receiving ink preliminarily ejected from the recording head 7. The winding roller 9b performs a winding operation for winding the portion of the sheet-like member 8 serving as a receiving area. The winding roller 9b is driven by a winding motor 228, which will be described later, and performs a winding operation. By taking up the sheet-like member 8 with the take-up roller 9b, a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is performed. By this changing operation, the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is made an area of the unused sheet-like member 8. The direction in which the sheet-like member 8 is taken up by the take-up roller 9b may be the main scanning direction X or the transport direction Y. In the winding operation of the winding roller 9b, the sheet-like member 8 is wound by a certain amount by rotating the winding roller 9b by a certain amount.

  The winding operation by the winding roller 9b is executed when it is determined that the number of ink droplets preliminarily discharged to the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. That is, a winding operation is performed when the number of inks ejected from the recording head 7 to the receiving area exceeds a predetermined threshold after performing the changing operation for changing the receiving area. The number of discharges is measured by a preliminary discharge counter 210 described later. A predetermined threshold value of the number of ink ejections for determining whether or not to perform the winding operation is stored in the ROM 202 described later. By comparing the number of preliminary ejections measured by the preliminary ejection counter 210 with a predetermined threshold stored in the ROM 202, the CPU 201 described later determines whether or not the number of preliminary ejections exceeds the predetermined threshold.

  Since the receiving unit 5 having the sheet-like member 8 is close to the recording medium 3, it can be estimated that the temperature of the recording medium 3 and the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 are substantially the same.

  Since the set temperature of the heater 4 and the temperature of the recording medium 3 are substantially the same, it can be estimated that the set temperature of the heater 4 and the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 are also substantially the same.

  The temperature of the recording head 7 is substantially the same as the temperature of the heater 4 when ink is not yet discharged before the recording operation. As described above, since it can be estimated that the set temperature of the heater 4 and the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 are substantially the same, it can be assumed that the temperature of the recording head 7 and the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 are also substantially the same.

  Accordingly, it can be estimated that the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is substantially the same as the set temperature of the heater 4, the temperature of the recording medium 3, and the temperature of the recording head 7. For this reason, instead of the temperature of the sheet-like member 8, the set temperature of the heater 4, the temperature of the recording medium 3, and the temperature of the recording head 7 may be used.

  The web temperature sensor 10 detects the temperature of the sheet-like member 8. The sheet-like member 8 is a receiving member. The web temperature sensor 10 is a sensor that detects the temperature of the receiving member. The set temperature of the heater 4 is determined by the set temperature input by the user from the console 229 described later, the type of the recording medium 3, and the like. The temperature of the recording medium 3 is detected by a recording medium temperature sensor 3a. The temperature of the recording head 7 is detected by a head temperature sensor 7c.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the inkjet recording apparatus 12. The main control unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an input / output port 204, and the like. The ROM 202 stores a control program executed by the CPU 201. The RAM 203 is used as a buffer for storing binary recording data indicating whether or not to eject ink, a work area for the CPU 201, and the like. The main control unit 200 is connected to the host computer 209 via the interface circuit 205.

  From the console 229, the user can input settings related to the inkjet recording apparatus 12. The contents of the settings that can be input by the user are conditions relating to the recording operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 12 such as the temperature of the heater 4 and the type of the recording medium 3. The contents of the settings input from the console 229 are stored in the RAM 203. The contents of the settings stored in the RAM 203 are processed by the CPU 201 based on the control program stored in the ROM 202. Based on the result of the processing by the CPU 201, each element such as the heater 4 and a transport motor 219 described later is controlled.

  The input / output port 204 is connected to the CR motor 218 that drives the carriage 1, the transport motor 219 that drives the transport roller, the recording head 7, the recovery unit 15, and the heater 4 via drive circuits 214 to 217 and 224, respectively. Yes.

  The input / output port 204 is also connected to sensors such as the recording medium temperature sensor 3a, the head temperature sensor 7c, the temperature / humidity sensor 206, the encoder sensor 207, and counters such as the preliminary discharge counter 210. The encoder sensor 207 is fixed to the carriage 1. The preliminary ejection counter 210 measures the number of ink ejections by the preliminary ejection operation such as the preliminary ejection number N after the changing operation described later. The preliminary discharge number N after the change operation is the number of inks preliminarily discharged after the sheet-like member 8 is wound up by the winding roller 9b and the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is changed.

The ROM 202, receiving speed threshold value _{N th,} which will be described later is stored. CPU201 determines whether the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation stored in the RAM203 exceeds the acceptance number threshold _{N th.} When the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation is determined to have exceeded the acceptance number threshold _{N th} the CPU 201, the drive circuit 227 is operated by the controller 226 of the receiving unit 5. The winding motor 228 is operated by the operation of the drive circuit 227. The take-up motor 228 rotates the take-up roller 9b to take up the sheet-like member 8.

  The main control unit 200 receives recording data from the host computer 209 via the interface circuit 205. The recording data received by the main control unit 200 is expanded in the buffer of the RAM 203. Next, when the recording process is started, the recording medium 3 is conveyed by a conveying roller to a position facing the discharge port surface 7 b of the recording head 7. Then, ink is ejected from the recording head 7 to the recording medium 3, and a recording operation is executed.

  The relationship between the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 and the degree of bleeding of the ink preliminarily ejected on the sheet-like member 8 will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. FIG. 6A shows a state of ink bleed when the sheet-like member 8 is not heated. In the case of FIG. 6A, the bleeding mark 11 spreads horizontally on the sheet-like member 8, and the pre-discharged ink is sufficiently immersed in the sheet-like member 8.

  FIG. 6B shows the ink bleed state when the sheet-like member 8 is heated. In the case of FIG. 6B, the blotting trace 11 does not spread in the horizontal direction on the sheet-like member 8 than in FIG. 6A, but rises in the vertical direction.

  When the sheet-like member 8 is heated, even if the same amount of ink is preliminarily ejected, the ink forms a film and rises in the vertical direction and does not sufficiently soak into the sheet-like member 8. For this reason, when the sheet-like member 8 is heated, a larger amount of ink can be discharged to the sheet-like member 8 by the amount that the amount of ink permeation into the sheet-like member 8 is reduced as a result of heating. Therefore, when the sheet-like member 8 is heated, the frequency of winding up the sheet-like member 8 can be reduced as compared with the case where the sheet-like member 8 is not heated.

  The configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 according to this embodiment has been described above. Hereinafter, the operation of the configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7A shows a flowchart of the recording processing operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 according to this embodiment. A program for executing the flowchart of the recording processing operation of the embodiment according to the present invention is stored in the ROM 202 of FIG. The program stored in the ROM 202 is read and executed by the CPU 201.

  When the recording process is started, the number N of preliminary ejections after the changing operation for changing the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is acquired in step S1. The preliminary ejection number N after the changing operation is the number of inks ejected from the recording head 7 to the receiving area after the changing operation for changing the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is performed. The preliminary discharge number N after the change operation is measured by the preliminary discharge counter 210 and stored in the RAM 203. The number of preliminary ejections according to the embodiment of the present invention is the number of inks preliminarily ejected from all ejection ports provided in the recording head 7.

After obtaining the preliminary ejection number N after the changing operation in step S1, the recording operation by the recording head 7 is executed in step S2, and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the preliminary ejection operation by the recording head 7 is executed, and the process proceeds to the next step S4. After obtaining the preliminary ejection number N ₀ of the preliminary discharge operation in step S3 in the step S4, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the sheet-like member is the threshold temperature above T _1. Threshold temperatures _{T 1} are stored in ROM 202. The CPU 201 compares the sheet member temperature T with the threshold temperature stored in the ROM 202. As described above, the set temperature of the heater 4, the temperature of the recording medium 3, and the temperature of the recording head 7 may be used instead of the temperature of the sheet-like member 8. Therefore, the temperature of the sheet-like member T is not limited to the temperature acquired from the web temperature sensor 10, and may be the temperature acquired from the set temperature of the heater 4, the recording medium temperature sensor 3 a, or the head temperature sensor 7 c. Threshold temperatures T ₁ is the temperature at which ink ejected by the preliminary discharge operation is coating of.

If T ≧ T− ₁ , the ink ejected to the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is turned into a film. When the ink becomes a film, the amount of ink permeation of the sheet-like member 8 is reduced. For this reason, the ink bleed trace 11 does not spread in the horizontal direction more than the non-heated ink bleed trace 11 shown in FIG. 6A, like the heated ink bleed trace 11 shown in FIG. That is, when T ≧ T- _1, the amount of ink that permeates the receiving area in one preliminary ejection is smaller than when T <T- ₁ . Therefore, the process proceeds to step S6 if it is determined that T ≧ _T-1 at step S5, by substituting a value obtained by multiplying the 1 less than the correction coefficient A in the preliminary ejection speed N ₀ in N _0, the value of N ₀ Estimate less. After executing Step S6, the process proceeds to Step S7.

It should be noted that not only correction by multiplying N ₀ by a correction coefficient A less than 1, but correction by subtracting a predetermined value from N ₀ or the like may be performed so that the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is estimated to be small.

If it is determined that T ≧ T− ₁ , that is, T <T− ₁ , the ink ejected to the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is not formed into a film, and therefore the step is performed without correcting the preliminary ejection number N _0. Proceed to S7.

In step S7, by substituting the value obtained by adding the preliminary ejection speed N ₀ in the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation N, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, and it determines whether or not the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation is greater than the receiving speed threshold value N _th. Receiving speed threshold value N _th is determined on the basis of the preliminary ejection number of maximum ink begins to overflow from the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8. The acceptance number threshold N _th is determined from the ink overflow state in the acceptance region when the ink is not heated as shown in FIG.

When it is determined that N> N _th in step S8, there is a possibility that begin overflowing the ink from the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8, to perform the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 proceeds to step S9. In the present embodiment, the winding amount of the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is constant. However, the winding-up amount is, the take-up direction, the length of the discharge port array, the type of ink ejected preliminary, the volume of the ink one drop ejected preliminary, it may be changed, such as by receiving speed threshold value N _th.

  After the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is executed in step S9, the preliminary discharge number N after the changing operation is reset in step S10. Here, “reset” means to set the number to zero. After resetting the preliminary ejection number N after the change operation in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the presence or absence of recording data is confirmed. If there is no recording data, it is determined NO in step S11, and the recording process is terminated. If there is recorded data, it is determined Yes in step S11, and the process returns to step S2 to execute the recording operation again.

Not N> N _th in step S8, i.e. when it is determined that the N ≦ N _th, since ink from the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 is no possibility that overflow, perform the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 Without proceeding to step S11.

  FIG. 7B shows the temperature change of the sheet-like member 8 over time. In FIG. 7B, the preliminary ejection operation in step S3 accompanying the recording process in FIG. 7A is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. For this reason, the ink that has been preliminarily ejected accumulates in the receiving area of the sheet-like member 8 with the passage of time.

In the present embodiment, the recording operation is performed with the set temperature of the heater 4 set to 100 ° C. FIG. 7B shows the temperature change of the sheet-like member 8 when the set temperature of the heater 4 is set to 100 ° C. and heating is started. In FIG.7 (b), the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 immediately after a heating start is room temperature. Further, in the present embodiment, the threshold temperature T ₁ of is 80 ° C..

In FIG. 7B, in the region (A) where the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is lower than the threshold temperature T ₁ (80 ° C.), it is determined No in step S5 of FIG. 7A, and the preliminary discharge number N ₀₋ Is added to the preliminary discharge number N after the change operation without being corrected. In the region (B) where the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T ₁ (80 ° C.), “Yes” is determined in step S5, and the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the correction coefficient A less than 1 in the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is added to the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation from the hung.

  When the corrections in steps S5 to S6 in FIG. 7A are not performed, the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is executed in the time of (C) in FIG. On the other hand, when the corrections in steps S5 to S6 are performed, the number of preliminary ejections of ink received in the receiving region of the sheet-like member 8 is larger than in the case where the corrections in steps S5 to S6 are not performed. For this reason, when correction | amendment of step S5-S6 is performed, winding-up operation is performed in the time of (D) after the time of (C). Therefore, the usage amount of the sheet-like member 8 can be reduced by performing the corrections in steps S5 to S6.

The coating temperature varies depending on the type of ink. Thus, although the threshold temperatures T ₁ was 80 ° C. In the present embodiment, other temperatures such as 50 ° C. may be used as the threshold temperature T ₁ of in accordance with the type of ink.

  Further, the degree of bleeding of the ink into the sheet-like member 8 varies depending on the type of ink. For this reason, the value of the correction coefficient A in step S6 may differ depending on the type of ink.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a method for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 12 when the temperature region for correcting the preliminary ejection number is set in two stages will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 8A shows a flowchart of the recording processing operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 according to this embodiment. Step S21~S24 determines whether step S1~S4 the step S25 is the same as each of FIG. 7 (a), the temperature T of the sheet-like member 8 is a second threshold temperature _{T 2} above. In the second threshold temperature T ₂ above, the moisture of the ink is evaporated to be discharged by the preliminary discharge operation, the amount bleeding of the ink is reduced.

If it is determined that T ≧ _T-2 in step S25, the process proceeds to step S26, whether or not the temperature T of the sheet-like member 8 is a third threshold temperature T ₃ or more judges.

If it is determined in step S25 that T ≧ T− ₂ , that is, T <T− ₂ , it proceeds to step S29 without correcting the preliminary ejection number N ₀ .

In step S29, by substituting the value obtained by adding the preliminary ejection speed N ₀ in the preliminary ejection speed N of the changed operation N, the process proceeds to step S30.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not the temperature T of the sheet-like member 8 is equal to or higher than a _third threshold temperature T3. The third threshold temperature T ₃ of the temperature at which ink ejected by the preliminary discharge operation is coating of. The third threshold temperature _{T 3} of higher than the second threshold temperature _{T 2.}

If it is determined in step S26 that T ≧ T− ₃ , the process proceeds to step S27, and a value obtained by multiplying the preliminary discharge number N ₀ by the third correction coefficient A ₃ is substituted for N ₀ . Third correction coefficient A ₃ is a value less than 1. After executing Step S27, the process proceeds to Step S29.

If it is determined in step S26 that T ≧ T− ₃ is not satisfied, that is, T− ₂ ≦ T <T− ₃ , the process proceeds to step S28, and the value obtained by multiplying the preliminary ejection number N ₀ by the second correction coefficient A _2. Is substituted for N ₀ . The second correction coefficient A ₂ is a value of less than 1. After executing Step S28, the process proceeds to Step S29.

By multiplying the correction coefficients A ₂ and A ₃ by the pre-discharge number N ₀ , the amount of ink that has actually permeated the receiving area in the pre-discharge ink is estimated.

As described above, when the ink is formed into a film as shown in FIG. 6B or the ink is evaporated, the amount of ink penetrating into the sheet-like member 8 is reduced. Therefore, in steps S27 and S28, underestimate by correcting the value of N ₀ by multiplying a correction coefficient less than 1 in the preliminary ejection number N _0.

In the case of less than T ₃ at the second threshold temperature T ₂ above, moisture evaporation occurs not occur coatings of. In contrast in the case of the third threshold temperature T ₃ above, the film formation is allowable. Therefore, the amount bleeding of the ink is better in the case of the third threshold temperature T ₃ or more is less than the second threshold temperature T ₂ or less than the third threshold temperature T _3. Therefore, the third correction coefficient A ₃ is made smaller than the second correction coefficient A _2, in the case of the third threshold temperature T ₃ above, the penetration of the ink preliminary discharge the sheet member 8 underestimate than the amount in the second threshold temperature T ₂ or less than the third threshold temperature T _3. Therefore, if the third threshold temperature T ₃ or more, it is more preliminary ejection number of ink that can be received in a sheet-like member 8 than the second threshold temperature T ₂ or less than the third threshold temperature T ₃ .

  Steps S29 to S33 are the same as steps S7 to S11 in FIG.

FIG. 8B shows the temperature change of the sheet-like member 8 over time as in FIG. 7B. In the present embodiment, the recording operation is performed with the set temperature of the heater 4 set to 100 ° C. FIG. 8B shows the temperature change of the sheet-like member 8 when heating is started at the set temperature 100 ° C. of the heater 4. In FIG.8 (b), the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 immediately after a heating start is room temperature. Further, in the present embodiment, the second threshold temperature T ₂ is 50 ° C., the third threshold temperature T ₃ of a 80 ° C..

In FIG. 8B, in the region (E) where the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is less than the second threshold temperature T ₂ (50 ° C.), it is determined No in step S25 of FIG. The number N ₀₋ is not corrected and is added to the preliminary ejection number N after the changing operation. In the region (H) where the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is T ₂ (50 ° C.) or more and less than the third threshold temperature T ₃ (80 ° C.), it is determined Yes in step S25 and the process proceeds to step S26. Next, in the region (H), No is determined in step S26, the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is added to the second correction coefficient A preliminary ejection speed after changing operation ₂ since it was multiplied by N in step S28 . In the region (I) where the temperature of the sheet-like member 8 is equal to or higher than T ₃ (80 ° C.), Yes is determined in step S25 and step S26, respectively, and the preliminary discharge number N ₀ is the third correction coefficient A _{3 in} step S27. Is added to the number N of preliminary discharges after the change operation.

  When the corrections in steps S27 and S28 in FIG. 8A are not executed, the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is executed in the time of (C) in FIG. 8B. When it is always determined No in step S26, the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is executed at the time of (D), and when only the correction at step S28 is not executed, at the time of (G). When all steps S21 to S33 are executed, the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 is executed at time (J).

  By performing the corrections in both steps S27 and S28 in FIG. 8A, the number of ink ejections that can be received in the receiving region of the sheet-like member 8 is greater than in the case where only the correction in either step S27 or S28 is performed. To increase. Therefore, when all steps S21 to S33 are executed and the corrections of both steps S27 and S28 are executed, the winding operation is executed at a time (J) after (D) and (G). Therefore, the amount of use of the sheet-like member 8 can be reduced by correcting both steps S27 and S28.

  In this embodiment, the temperature region for correcting the number of preliminary ejections is set in two stages, so that the amount of ink permeating into the sheet-like member 8 can be estimated with higher accuracy than when only one temperature region for correction is set. ing. The amount of consumption of the sheet-like member 8 can be further reduced by performing the winding operation of the sheet-like member 8 according to the ink penetration amount accurately estimated. The temperature region for correcting the number of preliminary ejections may be set in three or more stages.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a control method of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 that corrects the number of preliminary ejections according to the set temperature set in the heater 4 will be described. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

  FIG. 9A shows a flowchart of the recording processing operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 according to this embodiment. Steps S41 and S42 are the same as steps S1 and S2 in FIG.

  After performing the recording operation in step S42, the set temperature Th of the heater 4 is acquired in step S43. The set temperature Th of the heater 4 is acquired by reading data relating to the set temperature Th of the heater 4. Data on the set temperature Th of the heater 4 is stored in the ROM 202, RAM 203, etc. of FIG. The data related to the set temperature Th of the heater 4 may be data input from the console 229 of FIG.

  After acquiring the set temperature Th of the heater 4 in step S43, the process proceeds to step S44. Steps S44 and S45 are the same as steps S3 and S4 in FIG.

After obtaining the preliminary ejection speed _{N 0} in step S45, the process proceeds to step S46. In step S46, a correction coefficient Ah corresponding to the set temperature Th of the heater 4 is acquired. Correction coefficient Ah corrects prefire number _{N 0.}

  Steps S47 to S52 are the same as steps S6 to S11 in FIG.

FIG. 9B shows the relationship between the set temperature of the heater 4 and the correction coefficient Ah. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9B, the correction coefficient Ah is 1 below 50 ° C., and the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is not corrected. The ink penetration amount into the sheet-like member 8 decreases due to the evaporation of ink moisture at 50 ° C. or higher. If the temperature is less than 80 ° C., the amount of ink permeating into the sheet-like member 8 does not decrease due to the formation of an ink film. Therefore, when the temperature is 50 ° C. or higher and lower than 80 ° C., the correction coefficient Ah is set to 0.8, and the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is decreased by the correction in step S47.

At 80 ° C. or higher, ink film formation occurs in addition to ink water evaporation, and the amount of ink permeation into the sheet-like member 8 is further reduced as compared to when it is 50 ° C. or higher and lower than 80 ° C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, at 80 ° C. or higher, the correction coefficient Ah is set to 0.5, which is smaller than 0.8, and the preliminary ejection number N ₀ is decreased by the correction in step S47.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a control method of the ink jet recording apparatus 12 that corrects the number of preliminary ejections according to the type of the recording medium 3 will be described. The same parts as those in the first to third embodiments are omitted in the description.

  FIG. 10A shows a flowchart of the recording processing operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 12 according to this embodiment. Steps S61 and S62 are the same as steps S1 and S2 in FIG.

  After executing the recording operation in step S62, the type of the recording medium 3 is acquired in step S63. The type of the recording medium 3 is acquired by reading data relating to the recording medium 3 stored in the ROM 202, the RAM 203, or the like in FIG. Data relating to the type of the recording medium 3 may be data input by the user from the console 229 of FIG. 5 and stored in the RAM 203.

  After acquiring the type of the recording medium 3 in step S63, the process proceeds to step S64. Steps S64 and S65 are the same as steps S3 and S4 in FIG.

After obtaining the preliminary ejection number N ₀ in step S65, the process proceeds to step S66. In step S66, the correction coefficient Ax corresponding to the type of the recording medium 3 of the heater 4 is acquired. The preliminary ejection number N ₀ is corrected by the correction coefficient Ax.

  Steps S67 to S72 are the same as steps S6 to S11 in FIG.

  FIG. 10B shows the relationship between the type of the recording medium 3 and the correction coefficient Ax. The heating temperature of the recording medium 3 varies depending on the film forming temperature of the ink used for recording and the driving amount. Further, the heating temperature of the recording medium 3 varies depending on the material of the recording medium 3. The recording medium 3 is made of a material such as vinyl chloride, polyester, metal, or glass. The heating temperature also varies depending on the heat resistance, fixability, film strength, etc. of these materials. Further, when the amount of ink ejected onto the recording medium 3 is large, the heating temperature needs to be increased. Therefore, the heating temperature by the heater 4 varies depending on the type of the recording medium 3. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10B, the value of the correction coefficient Ax also differs depending on the type of the recording medium 3.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can be widely applied to various ink jet recording apparatuses that record an image using a recording head capable of ejecting ink from an ejection port. Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus is not limited to a serial head, and may have a line head.

  The number of ejections is not limited to the number of ejections of ink actually ejected from the recording head 7, but may be the number of ejections estimated from recorded image data. For example, the number of ejections estimated from RGB data or CMYK data of an image to be recorded may be used.

  Moreover, the structure which changes the site | part used as the receiving area of the receiving member of this invention is not restricted to the structure which winds up a sheet-like member. For example, the configuration may be such that the soiled portion of the sheet-like member is not wound but is cut and collected.

  The receiving member of the present invention is not limited to a sheet-like member, and may be a belt-like member.

  In addition, the receiving member of the present invention is not limited to an unused receiving member, and may be a used receiving member that has been reused.

4 Heater 7 Recording Head 7a Discharge Port 8 Sheet-like Member 9b Winding Roller 12 Inkjet Recording Device 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
210 Predischarge counter

Claims (15)

An ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink;
Heating means for heating the ink discharged from the discharge port;
A receiving member for receiving ink discharged from the discharge port;
Changing means for performing a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the receiving member;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ejections of ink ejected from the ejection port,
Control means for correcting the value related to the number of ejections acquired by the acquisition means in accordance with the temperature of the receiving member and causing the changing means to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. An inkjet recording apparatus.   The value related to the number of ejections is the number of ejections of ink droplets ejected from the ink jet recording head or the number of ejections estimated from image data after changing the receiving area of the receiving member by the changing means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit sets the receiving area of the receiving member to an unused area of the receiving member. The receiving member is a sheet-like member,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit is a winding unit that winds the sheet-like member.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the changing unit to perform the changing operation when the corrected value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. 6. .   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature of the receiving member is equal to or higher than a first temperature, the value relating to the number of ejections is corrected.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the correction is performed by multiplying a value related to the number of ejections by a first correction coefficient less than one.   When the temperature of the receiving member is equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the value relating to the ejection number is multiplied by a second correction coefficient lower than the first correction coefficient. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7.   9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the receiving member.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value related to the number of ejections is corrected according to a type of ink ejected from the ejection ports. In an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink; a receiving member that receives ink ejected from the ejection port; and a heating unit that heats the ink ejected from the ejection port. A receiving member control method comprising:
An acquisition step of acquiring a value relating to the number of ejections of ink ejected from the ejection ports;
A correction step of correcting a value related to the number of ejections acquired in the acquisition step according to a temperature of the receiving member, and changing a receiving region of the receiving member based on the corrected value. Control method for receiving member. An ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink and performing recording on a recording medium;
Heating means for heating the ink discharged from the discharge port;
A receiving member for receiving ink discharged from the discharge port;
Changing means for performing a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the receiving member;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ejections of ink ejected from the ejection port,
And a controller that corrects a value related to the number of ejections acquired by the acquiring unit according to a type of the recording medium, and causes the changing unit to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. Inkjet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink;
Heating means for heating the ink discharged from the discharge port;
A receiving member for receiving ink discharged from the discharge port;
Changing means for performing a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the receiving member;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ink discharged from the discharge port,
Control means for correcting the value relating to the number of ejections acquired by the acquisition unit according to a set temperature of the heating unit and causing the changing unit to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. An inkjet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink;
Heating means for heating the ink discharged from the discharge port;
A receiving member for receiving ink discharged from the discharge port;
Changing means for performing a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the receiving member;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ink discharged from the discharge port,
Control means for correcting the value related to the number of ejections acquired by the acquisition unit according to the temperature of the inkjet recording head and causing the changing unit to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. An inkjet recording apparatus. An ink jet recording head provided with an ejection port for ejecting ink and performing recording on a recording medium;
Heating means for heating the ink discharged from the discharge port;
A receiving member for receiving ink discharged from the discharge port;
Changing means for performing a changing operation for changing the receiving area of the receiving member;
In an inkjet recording apparatus having an acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the number of ink discharged from the discharge port,
And a controller that corrects a value related to the number of ejections acquired by the acquiring unit according to a temperature of the recording medium, and causes the changing unit to perform the changing operation based on the corrected value. Inkjet recording apparatus.

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