JP2019001028A - Inkjet printer and cleaning method of waste liquid path in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent thickening and solidification of a waste liquid, such as a waste ink, in a waste liquid path.SOLUTION: An inkjet printer includes: a cleaning tank which stores a cleaning liquid for a wiper which wipes an inkjet nozzle surface in an ink head; a cleaning liquid discharge passage 118 which discharges the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 102; an ink discharge passage 120 which discharges an ink discharged from inkjet nozzles of the ink head; a waste liquid path 128 which receives the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge passage and the ink discharged from the ink discharge passage and discards the cleaning liquid and the ink; and cleaning liquid discharge means 116 which periodically discharges the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through the cleaning liquid discharge passage on the basis of preset conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet printer and a waste liquid path cleaning method in an inkjet printer, and more particularly to an inkjet printer that discharges ink from an ink head by an inkjet method and a waste liquid path cleaning method in the inkjet printer.

  In the present specification and claims, the “media” includes not only various recording media made of paper such as plain paper, but also resin materials such as PVC and polyester, woven fabric, cloth, aluminum, iron, and the like. Alternatively, various media made of various materials such as wood are included.

  In the present specification and claims, the “inkjet method” includes various continuous methods such as a binary deflection method or a continuous deflection method, and various on-demand methods such as a thermal method or a piezoelectric element method. It means a printing method using an ink jet technique by various conventionally known methods.

  Conventionally, the entire operation is controlled by a microcomputer, and liquid ink is supplied to an ink head provided with an ink jet nozzle that discharges ink by an ink jet method on a surface (ink jet nozzle surface) facing a recording paper as a medium. 2. Related Art Inkjet printers are known in which supplied ink is ejected from an inkjet nozzle onto a recording sheet and printing is performed on the recording sheet.

  As such an ink jet printer, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-253867, a wiper for wiping an ink jet nozzle surface on which an ink jet nozzle is formed in an ink head and a cleaning liquid for cleaning the wiper There is a thing provided with the cleaning device which has the washing tank which stored the.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration around the cleaning tank in a conventional inkjet printer.

  Here, reference numeral 102 denotes a cleaning tank that stores a cleaning liquid for cleaning a wiper that wipes the ink jet nozzle surface in a cleaning device that cleans the ink head. In addition, in order to improve the visibility of drawings, illustration of various components such as a wiper in the cleaning device is omitted.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a cleaning liquid pouch storing the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid pouch 104 passes through a tube (cleaning liquid supply tube) 106 in which one end 106 a is connected to the cleaning liquid pouch and the other end 106 b is disposed in the cleaning tank 102. It is supplied to the tank 102.

  A valve (cleaning liquid supply valve) 108 is provided between the cleaning tank 102 and the cleaning liquid pouch 104 in the tube 106. The valve 108 is controlled by the microcomputer 110 that controls the overall operation of the inkjet printer so as to be in one of an open (OPEN) state and a closed (CLOSE) state. When the valve 108 is opened by the control of the microcomputer 110, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid pouch 104 to the cleaning tank 102 through the tube 106. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, when the valve 108 is closed by the control of the microcomputer 110, the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid pouch 104 to the cleaning tank 102 through the tube 106 is stopped. The

  An opening 102c is formed at a position adjacent to the bottom 102b in the side wall 102a, which is a lower part of the cleaning tank 102. One end 112a of a tube 112 (cleaning liquid discharge tube) is connected to the opening 102c. The other end 112b of the tube 112 is disposed in a waste liquid receiving member 114 having a funnel shape that expands from the lower end 114a toward the upper end 114b.

  A pump (cleaning liquid discharge pump) 116 for discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank 102 to the waste liquid receiving member 114 is disposed between one end 112 a and the other end 112 b of the tube 112. The pump 116 receives the waste liquid from the cleaning tank 102 when it is stopped by the microcomputer 110 through the other end 112b of the tube 112 (OPEN: open) and in the stopped state (shown in FIG. 1). Control is performed so as to be in one of the operating states (forward rotation) in which the cleaning liquid is discharged to the member 114. By operating the pump 116, the waste liquid of the cleaning liquid (waste cleaning liquid) passing through the tube 112 and discharged from the cleaning tank 102 is received by the waste liquid receiving member 114.

  Except when performing the process which supplies the washing | cleaning liquid to the washing tank 102, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve | bulb 108 is a closed state and the pump 116 is made into the open state. The state shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as a steady state.

  The valve 108 is stored when the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 102 is volatilized and decreased, when the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 102 is decreased due to the cleaning process, or stored in the cleaning tank 102 described later. When the cleaning liquid is supplied to the emptied cleaning tank 102 in accordance with the replacement of the cleaning liquid, the steady state is changed to the open state.

  The pump 116 is operated when the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 102 is replaced. By setting the pump 116 to the operating state from the steady state, all the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank 102 can be discharged to the waste liquid receiving member 114. When the cleaning tank 102 becomes empty, the pump 116 is stopped and stopped, and the valve 108 is opened to supply the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid pouch 104 to the cleaning tank 102. When a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning tank 102, the valve 108 is closed and returned to a steady state.

  The pump 116 is disposed above the opening 102c in the height direction. For this reason, in the stop state opened to the open air (OPEN: Open), the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 102 does not flow from the opening 102c through the pump 116 to the waste liquid receiving member 114 side via the tube 112. Absent.

  An opening 102d is formed at an upper position in the side wall 102a, which is an upper portion of the cleaning tank 102. One end 118a of a tube 118 (cleaning liquid outflow tube) is connected to the opening 102d. The other end 118b of the tube 118 is disposed in a waste liquid receiving member 114 having a funnel shape. When the cleaning liquid is stored in the cleaning tank 102, the amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the opening 102d (excess cleaning liquid) flows out of the opening 102d through the tube 118 by gravity due to the action of gravity, and is discharged by the waste liquid receiving member 114. It is accepted. As a result, the cleaning tank 102 is prevented from storing a cleaning liquid of a specified amount or more.

  In addition, in an ink jet printer, ink is ejected from an ink jet nozzle in a cleaning process for wiping dirt on the ink jet nozzle surface of an ink head with a wiper or a flushing process for adjusting a meniscus of the ink jet nozzle. Ink discharged from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head in processes other than the printing process is discharged as waste liquid (waste ink).

  Reference numeral 120 denotes a tube 120 (waste ink discharge tube) for discharging waste liquid (waste ink) discharged from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head for uses other than printing. One end 120a of the tube 120 is a capping device (not shown) that collects ink (waste ink) ejected from the inkjet nozzles of the ink head during processing other than printing processing such as cleaning processing and flushing processing. It is connected to the. The capping device is a device for capping (sealing) the ink jet nozzle surface of the ink head. The other end 120b of the tube 120 is disposed in a waste liquid receiving member 114 having a funnel shape. Waste ink discharged from the capping device through the tube 120 is received by the waste liquid receiving member 114.

  One end 122 a of a tube (waste liquid path tube) 122 is connected to the lower end 114 a of the waste liquid receiving member 114. The other end 122b of the tube 122 is disposed in a waste liquid bottle 126 for storing waste cleaning liquid, excess cleaning liquid, and waste ink. The waste cleaning liquid, excess cleaning liquid, and waste ink received by the waste liquid receiving member 114 pass through the tube 122 and are accommodated in the waste liquid bottle 126.

  In the present specification and claims, when there is no need to distinguish between “waste cleaning liquid”, “excess cleaning liquid”, and “waste ink”, these are simply referred to as “waste liquid” as appropriate. .

  By the way, the waste liquid path 128, which is a path through which the waste liquid including the waste liquid receiving member 114, the tube 122, and the waste liquid bottle 126 passes, adopts a structure that allows the waste liquid to flow by its own weight by the action of gravity, so that the whole is the atmosphere. The diameter of the flow path through which the waste liquid passes is also designed to be wide.

  That is, in the waste liquid path 128, the flow path through which the waste liquid passes is wide, and the waste liquid flows by its own weight due to the action of gravity, so the flow rate is slow, so that the waste liquid tends to stay in the waste liquid path 128.

  Since the waste liquid path 128 is open to the atmosphere, if the waste liquid (especially waste ink) stays in the waste liquid path 128, the waste liquid (especially waste ink) tends to increase in viscosity or solidify. In addition, since the frequency of the waste liquid flowing through the waste liquid path 128 is uneven, waste liquids such as thickened and solidified waste ink are stacked on the waste liquid path 128, and the thickened and solidified waste liquid passes through the waste liquid path. There was a problem of causing the blockage.

  When the waste liquid path 128 is blocked by the thickened or solidified waste liquid, the waste liquid overflows from the upper end portion 114b of the waste liquid receiving member 114, or the connection portions of the tubes 112, 118, and 120 are disconnected. As a result, inconveniences such as ejection of waste liquid occur.

JP 2010-253867 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to prevent thickening and solidification of waste liquid such as waste ink in the waste liquid path. An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning method for a waste liquid path in a printer and an inkjet printer.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a cleaning liquid is periodically passed through a waste liquid path based on preset conditions.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to flow the waste liquid by the cleaning liquid before the waste liquid such as waste ink staying in the waste liquid path is thickened or solidified. It can be prevented from becoming blocked.

  That is, an inkjet printer according to the present invention includes a cleaning liquid discharge channel for discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank, an ink jet printer having a cleaning tank storing a cleaning liquid for a wiper that wipes the inkjet nozzle surface of the ink head, and an ink An ink discharge channel for discharging ink discharged from the inkjet nozzles of the head, a waste liquid channel for receiving and discarding the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge channel and the ink discharged from the ink discharge channel; Based on the set conditions, there is provided cleaning liquid discharge means for periodically discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path via the cleaning liquid discharge channel.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the present invention, wherein the preset condition is an amount of ink discharged from the ink discharge channel to the waste liquid path. .

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the preset condition is a time interval.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention is the above ink jet printer according to the present invention, wherein the cleaning liquid discharge channel includes a first cleaning liquid discharge channel connected to a lower part of the cleaning tank and an upper part of the cleaning tank. And a second cleaning liquid discharge channel connected to the.

  In addition, the ink jet printer according to the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the first cleaning liquid discharge channel is connected adjacent to the bottom of the cleaning tank.

  Further, the ink jet printer according to the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the cleaning liquid discharge means has a pump disposed in the first cleaning liquid discharge flow path, and the pump is operated by the operation of the pump. The cleaning liquid is discharged from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through one cleaning liquid discharge channel.

  Further, the ink jet printer according to the present invention is the ink jet printer according to the present invention described above, wherein the cleaning liquid discharging means supplies the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path via the second cleaning liquid discharge channel by the action of gravity. It is intended to be discharged.

  In the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the waste liquid path has a funnel shape that receives the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge flow path and the ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path. A waste liquid receiving member provided, and a waste liquid bottle for storing the cleaning liquid and ink received by the waste liquid receiving member,

  The waste liquid path is open to the atmosphere, and the cleaning liquid and ink received by the waste liquid receiving member are caused to flow to the waste liquid bottle by the action of gravity.

  In addition, the cleaning method of the waste liquid path in the ink jet printer according to the present invention includes a cleaning tank storing a cleaning liquid of a wiper that wipes an ink jet nozzle surface of an ink head, and a cleaning liquid discharge channel for discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank. An ink discharge channel for discharging ink discharged from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head, and a waste liquid path for receiving and discarding the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge channel and the ink discharged from the ink discharge channel. In a method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an inkjet printer having the above, a cleaning liquid is periodically discharged from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through the cleaning liquid discharge channel based on preset conditions. is there.

  The waste liquid path cleaning method in the ink jet printer according to the present invention is the above-described waste liquid path cleaning method in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, wherein the preset condition is discharged from the ink discharge channel to the waste liquid path. The amount of ink used is the same.

  The waste liquid path cleaning method in the ink jet printer according to the present invention is the above-described waste liquid path cleaning method in the ink jet printer according to the present invention, wherein the preset condition is a time interval.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent thickening and solidification of waste liquid such as waste ink in the waste liquid path.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration around a cleaning tank for storing a cleaning liquid for cleaning a wiper for wiping an ink head in a conventional inkjet printer. FIG. 2 is a perspective configuration explanation schematically showing an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention of the microcomputer in the ink jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a waste liquid flow path solidification preventing process routine executed by the control of the microcomputer shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 1 schematically showing an operation state in the waste liquid channel solidification preventing processing routine shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention of a microcomputer according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a waste liquid flow path solidification preventing process routine executed by the control of the microcomputer shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 1, schematically showing an operation state in the waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an inkjet printer according to the present invention and a method of cleaning a waste liquid path in the inkjet printer will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, about the structure which is the same as that of the conventional structure demonstrated with reference to FIG. 1, or using the same code | symbol as the code | symbol used in the said description, it shows the detailed structure and description of an effect | action. Omitted.

  FIG. 2 shows a perspective configuration description schematically showing an example of an embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

  The ink jet printer 10 according to the present invention uses a recording paper 28 as a medium.

  The ink jet printer 10 includes a fixed base member 14 that is supported by a base member 12 and extends in the main scanning direction that is the width direction of the recording paper 28. On the base member 14, a platen 15 is provided on which the recording paper 28 is disposed.

  Side members 16L and 16R are disposed on the left and right ends of the base member 14, and a side unit 18 is disposed on the side member 16R side. A cleaning liquid pouch 104 storing a cleaning liquid is detachably disposed in the side unit 18 (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

  The inkjet printer 10 includes a central wall 20 that connects the left and right side members 16L and 16R, and a guide rail 22 is disposed on the wall surface of the central wall 20 so as to extend in the main scanning direction.

  Reference numeral 24 is a wire arranged in parallel with the wall surface of the central wall 20 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction. The carriage 26 is fixedly disposed on the wire 24 and is slidably mounted on the guide rail 22.

  An ink head 30 is disposed on the carriage 26 so as to be disposed above a recording paper 28 that is a medium positioned on the platen 15. The surface facing the recording paper 28 which is the lower surface of the ink head 30 is an ink jet nozzle surface 30a provided with ink jet nozzles for ejecting ink by the ink jet method.

  In the inkjet printer 10, the recording paper 28 is used as the medium as described above. The recording paper 28 is supplied onto the platen 15 by a paper feeding device, has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction as the width direction, and is in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, that is, the longitudinal direction of the recording paper 28. To be transported. The conveyance direction of the recording paper 28 and the sub-scanning direction are the same direction. A conventionally known configuration can be used as the configuration of the paper feeding device that conveys the recording paper 28.

  In the ink jet printer 10, a waste liquid bottle 126 is disposed on the base member 14, and an ink path from an ink cartridge (not shown) detachably disposed on the side unit 18 to the waste liquid bottle 126 is formed. Has been.

  The inkjet printer 10 is provided with a cleaning device 32 for cleaning the inkjet nozzle surface 30a of the ink head 30.

  The cleaning device 32 stores, for example, a wiper (not shown) for wiping the inkjet nozzle surface 30a and a cleaning liquid for cleaning the wiper, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-253867 described above. It is a conventionally well-known thing provided with the washing tank 102 (refer FIG.5 and FIG.8).

  The configuration around the cleaning tank 102 in the inkjet printer 10 includes the same configuration as the conventional technique shown in FIG. 1 except for the functional configuration of the microcomputer 34 described later, as shown in FIGS. ing.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an operation panel provided with an operator for the operator to control the operation of the ink jet printer 10. The operation panel 40 is provided with a display unit 40a for displaying the operation state of the inkjet printer 10 and various operators.

  The overall operation of the ink jet printer 10 is controlled by a microcomputer 34 disposed in the side unit 18.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention of the microcomputer 34 in the inkjet printer 10.

  The microcomputer 34 includes a control unit 202, a storage unit 204, a waste ink amount integration unit 206, an integrated value comparison unit 208, an elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210, an elapsed time interval comparison unit 212, and a valve control unit 214. And is built.

  The control unit 202 controls the entire process including the execution of various processes such as a printing process executed by the ink jet printer 10 and a waste liquid channel solidification preventing process routine described later (see FIGS. 4 and 7). Do.

  The storage unit 204 stores various types of information used in various types of processing such as printing processing and waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routines.

  The waste ink amount integration unit 206 integrates the ejection amount of ink ejected from the inkjet nozzles of the ink head 30 in processes other than the printing process (for example, cleaning process and flushing process). The waste ink amount accumulating unit 206 is provided every time ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head 30 in a process other than the printing process from when the power of the ink jet printer is turned on to off. Then, the ejection amount per unit time from the inkjet nozzle is multiplied by the ejection time of the ink from the inkjet nozzle, and the multiplication result is integrated to obtain an integrated value. When the processing of step S406 or step S706, which will be described later, is executed, the waste ink amount integration unit 206 clears the integration value to 0 (zero) by the processing of step S408 or step S710, and newly starts integration.

  The integrated value comparison unit 208 compares a preset reference waste ink amount with the integrated value acquired by the waste ink amount integration unit 206. Here, the reference waste ink amount is the total amount of waste ink discharged to the waste liquid path 128 in which waste liquid such as waste ink may be thickened or solidified in the waste liquid path 128. Such a reference waste ink amount may be set according to the drying speed of the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head 30, or may be obtained experimentally.

  The elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210 determines whether the inkjet printer 10 is in a standby state (power is on but only standby power is consumed) from when the inkjet printer 10 is powered on until it is disconnected. Running an operation state (power supply is turned on and actually printing processing or processing other than printing processing (for example, cleaning processing, flushing processing, processing related to a waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine described later), etc.) Regardless of whether or not it is possible, the elapsed time is counted, and the counted time is acquired as the elapsed time interval. When the process of step S406 or step S706 described later is executed, the elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210 clears the elapsed time interval counted by the process of step S408 or step S710 to 0 (zero), and newly counts it. Start.

  The elapsed time interval comparison unit 212 compares a preset reference time interval with the elapsed time interval acquired by the elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210. Here, the reference time interval is a time interval in which waste liquid such as waste ink staying in the waste liquid path 128 may cause thickening or solidification. Such a reference time interval may be set according to the drying speed of the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head 30, or may be obtained experimentally.

  The valve control unit 214 controls the opening and closing of the valve 108 that is closed in a steady state.

  In the above configuration, in the inkjet printer 10, printing is performed on the recording paper 28 in accordance with the control of the microcomputer 34.

That is, when the wire 24 is moved by winding the wire 24 in accordance with the control of the microcomputer 10, the carriage 26 reciprocates in the forward direction (forward path) and the return direction (return path) in the main scanning direction as the wire 24 moves. Moving. As a result, the ink head 30 mounted on the carriage 26 integrally reciprocates on the recording paper 28 conveyed on the platen 15 in the forward direction (forward path) and the return direction (return path) in the main scanning direction.
Printing is performed by ejecting ink onto the recording paper 28 from the ink jet nozzles formed on the ink jet nozzle surface 30a.

  Here, in the ink jet printer, when the ink jet printer 10 is turned on, the waste liquid flow path solidification preventing process routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed at a predetermined time interval as an interrupt service routine (interrupt service routine) of the main routine. Is executed. This waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine is executed at predetermined time intervals as an interrupt service routine of the main routine. However, the steady state in which the valve 108 is closed and the pump 116 is open. It shall be activated only when

  When the waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine is started, first, the comparison result by the integrated value comparison unit 208 indicates that the integrated value acquired by the waste ink amount integration unit 206 is equal to or greater than the reference waste ink amount. It is determined whether or not there is (step S402).

  If it is determined in step S402 that the integrated value acquired by the waste ink amount integration unit 206 is not equal to or greater than the reference waste ink amount (No), the process proceeds to step S404.

  In the process of step S404, it is determined whether or not the comparison result of the elapsed time interval comparison unit 212 indicates that the elapsed time interval acquired by the elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210 is greater than or equal to the reference time interval. (Step S404).

  In the determination process of step S404, when it is determined that the elapsed time interval acquired by the elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210 is not equal to or greater than the reference time interval (No), this waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine is terminated. Return to the main routine.

  On the other hand, in the determination process of step S402, when it is determined that the integrated value acquired by the waste ink amount integration unit 206 is greater than or equal to the reference waste ink amount (Yes), the process proceeds to step S406.

  Also, in the determination process of step S404, when it is determined that the elapsed time interval acquired by the elapsed time interval acquisition unit 210 is equal to or greater than the reference time interval (Yes), the process proceeds to step S406.

  In the process of step S406, as shown in FIG. 5, from the steady state, the valve 108 is opened for a time interval set in advance by the valve control unit 214, and the cleaning liquid 102 is excessively supplied to the cleaning tank 102. Then, the cleaning liquid overflows from the opening 102 d of the cleaning tank 102, and the excess cleaning liquid flows out to the waste liquid receiving member 114 through the tube 118.

  Here, the preset time interval means a cleaning liquid pouch that is an amount of cleaning liquid that can flow out thickened or solidified waste liquid (especially waste ink) existing in the waste liquid path 128. This is a time interval that can be supplied from 104 to the waste liquid path 128 as excess cleaning liquid. The preset time interval may be set according to the drying speed of the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head 30, or may be obtained experimentally. When the preset time has elapsed, the valve control unit 214 closes the valve 108 and thereby returns to a steady state.

  Note that the control of the opening and closing of the valve 108 in the process of step S406 is not based on the preset time interval as described above, but based on the amount of cleaning liquid flowing into the waste liquid path 128. Also good. That is, the amount of cleaning liquid flowing out to the waste liquid path 128 at the timing when the valve 108 is opened is monitored, and the valve 108 is closed when a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid flows into the waste liquid path 128. Good.

  When the process of step S406 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S408, the integrated value is cleared to 0, the elapsed time interval is cleared to 0, and the process returns to the main routine.

  Therefore, according to the waste liquid channel solidification preventing processing routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, the cleaning liquid is periodically supplied to the waste liquid path 128 based on the preset condition, that is, the reference waste ink amount or the reference elapsed time. It will be able to flow.

  For this reason, the waste liquid such as waste ink staying in the waste liquid path 128 can be flowed by the cleaning liquid before thickening or solidifying, and the thickened or solidified waste liquid can block the waste liquid path 128. Can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the above-described waste liquid channel solidification prevention processing routine, it is possible to replenish the cleaning liquid that has been reduced due to volatilization or cleaning processing.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows a block configuration explanatory diagram showing a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention of the microcomputer 34 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the structure which is the same as that of the structure shown in FIG.

  The microcomputer 34 has a pump control unit 216 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 3 described above. The pump control unit 216 operates (forward rotation) the pump 314 that is opened in the steady state, and discharges the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank 102 into the waste liquid receiving member 114 via the tube 112.

  FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing a waste liquid flow path solidification preventing processing routine executed by the control of the microcomputer shown in FIG. In addition, about the processing content which is the same as that of each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. To do.

  In the waste liquid flow path solidification prevention processing routine shown in FIG. 7, in the process of step S706, as shown in FIG. 8, the pump 116 is set in the operating state from the steady state for the time interval set in advance by the pump control unit 216. Then, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 102 is discharged to the waste liquid receiving member 114.

  Here, the preset time interval is the amount of cleaning liquid that can flow out the thickened or solidified waste liquid (particularly, waste ink) present in the waste liquid path 128, and the cleaning tank 102. The time interval during which the liquid can be discharged to the waste liquid receiving member 114. The preset time interval may be set according to the drying speed of the ink ejected from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head 30, or may be obtained experimentally. When the preset time described above elapses, the pump control unit 216 stops the operation of the pump 116 to open the pump 116, and thereby enters a steady state.

  Note that the control of the operation of the pump 116 in the process of step S706 is not based on the preset time interval as described above, but the amount of the cleaning liquid flowing out to the waste liquid path 128, that is, the operation of the pump 116. Therefore, the amount of the cleaning liquid discharged to the waste liquid receiving member 114 may be used as a reference. For example, the amount of cleaning liquid discharged by the pump 116 may be monitored, and the operation of the valve 116 may be stopped when a preset amount of cleaning liquid is discharged by the pump 116.

  When the process of step S706 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S708. From the steady state, the valve 108 is opened by the valve control unit 214, and the discharged cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning tank 102. When the supply of the discharged cleaning liquid is completed, the valve control unit 214 closes the valve 108 and returns it to the steady state. When the process of step S706 ends, the process proceeds to step S408.

  Therefore, according to the waste liquid flow path solidification prevention processing routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 described above, the cleaning liquid is periodically supplied to the waste liquid path 128 based on the preset condition, that is, the reference waste ink amount or the reference elapsed time. It will be able to flow.

  For this reason, the waste liquid such as waste ink staying in the waste liquid path 128 can be flowed by the cleaning liquid before thickening or solidifying, and the thickened or solidified waste liquid can block the waste liquid path 128. Can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the above-described waste liquid channel solidification preventing processing routine, it is possible to periodically replace the dirty cleaning liquid in which the ink scattered on the bottom 102a side of the cleaning tank 102 has settled. For this reason, contamination of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 102 can be efficiently suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to the above-described waste liquid flow path solidification preventing processing routine, it is possible to replenish the cleaning liquid reduced by volatilization or cleaning processing.

  As described above, in the ink jet printer 10 according to the present invention, since the cleaning liquid can be periodically flowed to the waste liquid path 128 based on the preset conditions, the waste ink staying in the waste liquid path 128 and the like The waste liquid can be flowed by the cleaning liquid before the waste liquid is thickened or solidified, and it is possible to prevent the waste liquid from becoming thickened or solidified to block the waste liquid path 128.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented in various other forms. That is, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, the embodiment described above may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (4).

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the shape of the waste liquid receiving member 114 is a funnel shape that is expanded from the lower end portion 114a toward the upper end portion 114b. Of course, this is not limited to this. The shape is not limited as long as it can receive the waste cleaning liquid discharged from the tube 112, the excess cleaning liquid flowing out from the tube 118, and the waste ink discharged from the tube 120.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the detailed description of the shape of the cleaning tank 102 is omitted, but the shape of the cleaning tank 102 is not particularly limited, and an appropriate shape is selected according to design conditions and the like. You can choose. For example, the cleaning tank 102 may have an appropriate shape such as a rectangular box shape with an open top or a cylindrical box shape.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the waste liquid path 128 is configured by the waste liquid receiving member 114, the tube 122, and the waste liquid bottle 126 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where the waste liquid path is configured by the waste liquid receiving member 114 and the waste liquid bottle 126 without using the tube 122. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible not only to prevent the waste liquid from thickening and solidifying in the tube 122 but also to prevent the waste liquid from thickening and solidifying in the waste liquid receiving member 114.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, it is needless to say that the above-described embodiment and the modifications shown in the above-described (1) to (3) may be appropriately combined.

  The present invention is suitable for use in an ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from an ink head by an ink jet method.

10 inkjet printer, 12 base member, 14 base member, 15 platen,
16L side member, 16R side member, 18 side unit, 20 central wall, 22 guide rail, 24 wire, 26 carriage, 28 recording paper (media), 30 ink head, 30a inkjet nozzle surface, 32 cleaning device, 34 Microcomputer (cleaning liquid discharging means), 40 operation panel, 40a display section, 102 cleaning tank, 102a side wall section, 102b bottom section, 102c opening section, 102d opening section, 104 cleaning liquid pouch, 106 tube (cleaning liquid supply tube), 106a end , 106b end, 108 valve (cleaning liquid supply valve) (cleaning liquid discharge means), 110 microcomputer, 112 tube (cleaning liquid discharge tube) (cleaning liquid discharge flow path) (first cleaning liquid discharge flow path), 112a end Part, 112b end, 114 Receiving member, 114a upper end, 114b lower end, 116 pump (cleaning liquid discharge pump) (cleaning liquid discharge means), 118 tube (cleaning liquid discharge tube) (cleaning liquid discharge flow path) (second cleaning liquid discharge flow path) , 118a end, 118b end, 120 tube (waste ink discharge tube) (ink discharge flow path), 120a end, 120b end, 122 tube (waste liquid path tube), 122a end, 122b end, 126 Waste liquid bottle, 128 Waste liquid path, 202 Control unit, 204 Storage unit 204, 206 Waste ink amount integration unit, 208 Integrated value comparison unit, 210 Elapsed time interval acquisition unit, 212 Elapsed time interval comparison unit, 214 Valve control unit, 216 Pump control unit

Claims (11)

In an inkjet printer including a cleaning tank storing a cleaning liquid for a wiper that wipes an inkjet nozzle surface in an ink head,
A cleaning liquid discharge passage for discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank;
An ink discharge channel for discharging the ink discharged from the ink jet nozzles of the ink head;
A waste liquid path for receiving and discarding the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge flow path and the ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path;
An ink jet printer comprising: a cleaning liquid discharging unit that periodically discharges the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through the cleaning liquid discharge channel based on a preset condition. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein
The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition is an amount of ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path to the waste liquid path. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein
The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition is a time interval. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3,
The cleaning liquid discharge flow path has a first cleaning liquid discharge flow path connected to a lower part of the cleaning tank and a second cleaning liquid discharge flow path connected to an upper part of the cleaning tank. Inkjet printer. The inkjet printer according to claim 4.
The ink jet printer, wherein the first cleaning liquid discharge flow path is connected adjacent to a bottom of the cleaning tank. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 4 and 5,
The cleaning liquid discharge means has a pump disposed in the first cleaning liquid discharge flow path, and the operation of the pump causes the cleaning liquid to flow from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path via the first cleaning liquid discharge flow path. An ink jet printer characterized by discharging the water. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 4, 5 and 6,
The ink jet printer, wherein the cleaning liquid discharging means discharges the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through the second cleaning liquid discharge channel by the action of gravity. The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.
The waste liquid path includes a waste liquid receiving member having a funnel shape that receives the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge flow path and the ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path, and the cleaning liquid and ink received by the waste liquid receiving member. A waste liquid bottle for storing
An ink jet printer, wherein the waste liquid path is open to the atmosphere, and the cleaning liquid and ink received by the waste liquid receiving member are caused to flow to the waste liquid bottle by the action of gravity. A cleaning tank storing wiper cleaning liquid for wiping the ink jet nozzle surface of the ink head, a cleaning liquid discharge channel for discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank, and an ink discharged from the ink jet nozzle of the ink head. In a method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an ink jet printer having an ink discharge flow path, a waste liquid path for receiving and discarding the cleaning liquid discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge flow path and the ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path,
A cleaning method for a waste liquid path in an ink jet printer, wherein the cleaning liquid is periodically discharged from the cleaning tank to the waste liquid path through the cleaning liquid discharge channel based on a preset condition. The method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an inkjet printer according to claim 9,
The method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an ink jet printer, wherein the preset condition is the amount of ink discharged from the ink discharge flow path to the waste liquid path. The method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an inkjet printer according to claim 9,
The preset condition is a time interval. A method for cleaning a waste liquid path in an ink jet printer.