JP2020066129A - Control method for liquid jet device, liquid jet device, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of suppressing reduction in the quality of an image formed on a medium.SOLUTION: A control method for a liquid jet device includes: a temperature detection step; a waveform generation step of generating a plurality of drive waveforms; a test image formation step; and a setting step. The plurality of drive waveforms include: a first drive waveform corresponding to the detection environmental temperature; a second drive waveform corresponding to the temperature higher than the detection environmental temperature; a third drive waveform corresponding to the temperature lower than the detection environmental temperature; a fourth drive waveform, a fifth drive waveform and a sixth drive waveform which have the amplitude increased by a predetermined first value with respect to the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform and the third drive waveform; and a seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform and a ninth drive waveform which have the amplitude increased by a predetermined second value with respect to the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform and the third drive waveform.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a technique of a liquid ejecting apparatus having a piezoelectric element.

  Conventionally, there is known a technique of correcting a drive signal waveform in accordance with the temperature of an inkjet head obtained by a temperature detecting means in order to suppress the influence on print quality (Patent Document 1). In the conventional technique, a reference drive signal waveform and waveform correction information for correcting the drive signal waveform according to the temperature of the inkjet head are stored in a memory. The waveform correction means corrects the reference drive signal waveform using the waveform correction information according to the temperature of the inkjet head.

JP 2000-153608 A

  In the conventional technique, the waveform correction information is generally set in advance by an experiment or the like. However, there are various combinations of the use environment such as the environment temperature and the environment humidity in which the inkjet head is actually used and the type of the medium used. In addition, a difference may occur between the temperature of the inkjet head and the actual temperature of the ink. Therefore, even if the correction data is selected from the waveform correction information according to the temperature of the inkjet head obtained by the temperature detection unit and the drive signal waveform is corrected using the selected correction data, the image formed on the medium There was a risk that the quality of the product would deteriorate. Therefore, there is a demand for a technique capable of suppressing deterioration of the quality of the image formed on the medium. Such a demand is not limited to a printing apparatus including an inkjet head, but is common to a technique of ejecting a liquid other than ink by a liquid ejecting head.

  According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid ejecting head including a nozzle, a pressure generating chamber that communicates with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element that causes a pressure change with respect to liquid in the pressure generating chamber; A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus is provided that includes a temperature detecting unit that detects an environmental temperature of the head. This liquid ejecting apparatus control method includes a temperature detecting step of detecting a detected environmental temperature, which is the environmental temperature by the temperature detecting section, and a plurality of driving operations that are candidates for an appropriate driving waveform of a driving potential supplied to the piezoelectric element. A waveform generating step of generating a waveform and supplying a plurality of the drive potentials corresponding to the generated drive waveforms to the piezoelectric element, respectively, to form a plurality of test images corresponding to the drive waveforms on a medium. And a setting step of setting the drive waveform corresponding to one of the test images selected from the plurality of test images as the proper drive waveform. Is a first drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a second drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, A third drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detection environmental temperature, a first drive waveform, a second drive waveform, and a third drive waveform having predetermined amplitudes. The fourth drive waveform, the fifth drive waveform, and the sixth drive waveform, which are increased by 1, and the amplitude for each of the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform. Including a seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform, and a ninth drive waveform that are smaller by a second predetermined value.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid ejecting head. Sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the liquid ejecting head by the plane parallel to the Y direction and the Z direction. FIG. 6 is a diagram for further explaining the liquid ejecting apparatus. The figure for demonstrating an example of a drive waveform. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of a nozzle of the pressure generating chamber. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a test image formed on a medium. The figure for demonstrating the setting method of a suitable drive waveform. The figure for demonstrating a 2nd drive waveform and a 3rd drive waveform. The figure for demonstrating a 4th drive waveform and a 7th drive waveform. The flowchart which shows the setting process of a suitable drive waveform. The flowchart of the setting process of the suitable drive waveform at the time of starting.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a liquid ejecting apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis that are orthogonal to each other are attached. The direction along the X-axis direction is the X direction, the direction along the Y-axis direction is the Y direction, and the direction along the Z-axis direction is the Z direction. Further, the −Z direction is the gravity direction, and the + Z direction is the antigravity direction. Also in other figures, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are added as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is an inkjet recording apparatus. The liquid ejecting apparatus 110 includes a liquid ejecting head 1, a carriage 3, a device body 4, a carriage shaft 5, a drive motor 6, a timing belt 7, a transport roller 8, and a control device 200. The apparatus body 4 constitutes an outer shell of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110, and houses the liquid ejecting head 1 and the carriage 3 inside.

  The liquid ejecting head 1 ejects ink as a liquid. The carriage 3 carries the liquid jet head 1. The carriage 3 is detachably provided with the cartridge 2 which is a liquid container. In this embodiment, four liquid ejecting heads 1 are mounted on the carriage 3, and different inks such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are ejected from the four liquid ejecting heads 1. It That is, a total of four cartridges 2 containing different liquids are mounted on the carriage 3.

  The carriage shaft 5 is attached to the apparatus body 4 and extends along the Y direction. The carriage shaft 5 supports the carriage 3 reciprocally in the Y direction. The drive motor 6 is driven according to a control signal from the control device 200, and transmits the driving force to the carriage 3 via a plurality of gears (not shown) and the timing belt 7. As a result, the carriage 3 having the liquid ejecting head 1 mounted thereon reciprocates along the carriage shaft 5.

  The transport roller 8 transports the medium S such as paper onto which the liquid is ejected in the + X direction. The transporting means for transporting the medium S is not limited to the transport roller 8 and may be a belt, a drum, or the like. In such a liquid ejecting apparatus 110, the medium S is conveyed in the + X direction with respect to the liquid ejecting head 1, and the ink droplets are ejected from the liquid ejecting head 1 while reciprocating the carriage 3 in the Y direction with respect to the medium S. By doing so, printing is performed on the medium S.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid jet head 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the liquid jet head 1 taken along a plane parallel to the Y and Z directions.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flow path forming substrate 10 constituting the liquid jet head 1 of the present embodiment is made of a silicon single crystal substrate, and the diaphragm 50 is formed on one surface thereof. The diaphragm 50 may be a single layer or a laminated layer selected from a silicon dioxide layer and a zirconium oxide layer.

  On the flow path forming substrate 10, a plurality of pressure generating chambers 12 are arranged along the X direction. A communication portion 13 is formed on the + Y direction side of the pressure generating chamber 12. The communication portion 13 and each pressure generation chamber 12 communicate with each other via a liquid supply passage 14 and a communication passage 15 provided for each pressure generation chamber 12. The communication part 13 communicates with a manifold part 31 of a protective substrate, which will be described later, and constitutes a part of the manifold 100 that serves as a common liquid chamber of each pressure generating chamber 12. The liquid supply passage 14 is formed with a width narrower than that of the pressure generating chamber 12, and keeps the flow resistance of the liquid flowing into the pressure generating chamber 12 from the communicating portion 13 constant.

  A nozzle plate 20 is arranged on the side surface of the flow path forming substrate 10 in the −Z direction. The nozzle plate 20 has a nozzle 21 that communicates with the vicinity of the end of each pressure generating chamber 12 opposite to the liquid supply passage 14. The nozzle plate 20 is attached to the flow path forming substrate 10 with an adhesive or a heat-welding film. The nozzle plate 20 is formed of, for example, glass ceramics, a silicon single crystal substrate, stainless steel, or the like. Further, the surface of the nozzle plate 20 on which the nozzles 21 are opened constitutes the liquid ejection surface 22.

  A vibration plate 50 is arranged on the + Z direction side surface of the flow path forming substrate 10. Further, on the vibration plate 50, the first electrode 60, the piezoelectric layer 70, and the second electrode 80 are laminated by the film formation and the lithography method to form the piezoelectric element 300. The piezoelectric element 300 causes a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12. In general, one of the electrodes of the piezoelectric element 300 is used as a common electrode, and the other electrode and the piezoelectric layer 70 are patterned for each pressure generating chamber 12. In the present embodiment, the first electrode 60 is the common electrode of the piezoelectric element 300 and the second electrode 80 is the individual electrode of the piezoelectric element 300, but this may be reversed for the convenience of the drive circuit and wiring. In the example described above, the diaphragm 50 and the first electrode 60 act as a diaphragm, but of course, the invention is not limited to this. For example, without the diaphragm 50, only the first electrode 60 is provided. May act as a diaphragm. Alternatively, the piezoelectric element 300 itself may substantially double as the diaphragm.

  The lead electrode 90 is connected to the second electrode 80 of each piezoelectric element 300. A voltage is selectively applied to each piezoelectric element 300 via the lead electrode 90.

  The protective substrate 30 is attached to the surface of the flow path forming substrate 10 on the piezoelectric element 300 side with an adhesive 35. The protective substrate 30 has a manifold portion 31 that constitutes at least a part of the manifold 100. The manifold portion 31 penetrates the protective substrate 30 in the Z direction and is formed across the width direction of the pressure generating chamber 12. The manifold portion 31 communicates with the communication portion 13 of the flow path forming substrate 10 to form a manifold 100 that serves as a common liquid chamber for each pressure generating chamber 12.

  In the region of the protective substrate 30 facing the piezoelectric element 300, a piezoelectric actuator holding portion 32 having a space that does not hinder the movement of the piezoelectric element 300 is provided. The piezoelectric actuator holding portion 32 may have a space that does not hinder the movement of the piezoelectric element 300, and this space may be sealed or may not be sealed.

  As the protective substrate 30, it is preferable to use a material having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of the flow path forming substrate 10, such as glass or a ceramic material. In the present embodiment, a single silicon material of the same material as the flow path forming substrate 10 is used. It was formed using a crystal substrate. The protective substrate 30 is provided with a through hole 33 that penetrates the protective substrate 30 in the Z direction. The vicinity of the end of the lead electrode 90 extracted from each piezoelectric element 300 is provided so as to be exposed in the through hole 33.

  A drive circuit 120 for driving the piezoelectric element 300 is provided on the surface of the protective substrate 30 on the + Z direction side. As the drive circuit 120, for example, a circuit board or a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) can be used. The drive circuit 120 and the lead electrode 90 are electrically connected to each other via the connection wiring 121 made of a conductive wire such as a bonding wire. The drive circuit 120 is electrically connected to the control device 200 by electric wiring.

  A compliance substrate 40 having a sealing film 41 and a fixing plate 42 is joined to the + Z direction side surface of the protective substrate 30. The sealing film 41 is made of a material having low rigidity and flexibility, and one surface of the manifold portion 31 is sealed by the sealing film 41. The fixed plate 42 is formed of a relatively hard material. An area of the fixed plate 42 facing the manifold 100 is an opening 43 that is completely removed in the thickness direction. As a result, the one surface of the manifold 100 is sealed only by the flexible sealing film 41.

  When ejecting the liquid from the liquid ejecting head 1 onto the medium S, the control of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is executed by the control device 200. That is, the control device 200 generates a drive waveform of the piezoelectric element 300 and transmits the drive waveform to the drive circuit 120, and the drive circuit 120 that receives the drive waveform follows the drive waveform and the respective first electrodes 60 corresponding to the pressure generating chambers 12 are formed. A voltage is applied to the second electrode 80. As a result, the diaphragm 50 and the piezoelectric element 300 are flexibly deformed, so that the pressure in each pressure generating chamber 12 is increased and the liquid is ejected from the nozzle 21.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for further explaining the liquid ejecting apparatus 110. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the drive waveform 400. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram near the nozzle 21 of the pressure generating chamber 12. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting an appropriate drive waveform.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 includes the above-described control device 200, the operation panel 210, the liquid ejecting mechanism 220, and the temperature detecting unit 260. The operation panel 210 is a touch panel, receives an input from a user, and notifies the user of various states of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110. The temperature detection unit 260 is a thermistor that detects the environmental temperature in which the liquid jet head 1 is used. The temperature detection unit 260 is attached to the liquid jet head 1, for example.

  The liquid ejecting mechanism 220 includes the liquid ejecting head 1, a medium feeding mechanism 221, and a carriage mechanism 222. The medium feeding mechanism 221 is a mechanism that conveys the medium S, and is composed of the conveyance roller 8 and a motor that drives the conveyance roller 8. The carriage mechanism 222 is a mechanism that moves the carriage 3, and is configured by the drive motor 6, the timing belt 7, and the like.

  The control device 200 includes a control unit 211 that is a CPU and a storage unit 212 that is configured by a RAM or a ROM. The control unit 211 functions as the waveform generation unit 214, the test image forming unit 216, the normal ejection unit 218, and the setting unit 219 by executing various programs stored in the storage unit 212.

  The waveform generation unit 214 generates a plurality of drive waveforms that are candidates for the appropriate drive waveform of the drive potential supplied to the piezoelectric element 300. In this embodiment, nine drive waveforms described later are generated. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive waveform 400 has a drive pulse for ejecting a droplet from the nozzle 21 within one cycle T.

  The drive waveform 400 is a waveform of the potential supplied to the second electrode 80, which is an individual electrode, with the first electrode 60 as the reference potential Vbs. That is, the voltage applied to the second electrode 80 by the drive waveform 400 is shown as a potential with the reference potential Vbs as a reference.

  The drive waveform 400 includes an expansion element P1, an expansion maintaining element P2, a contracting element P3, a contraction maintaining element P4, and an expansion returning element P5. By changing the volume of the pressure generating chamber 12 by these respective elements P1 to P5, the pressure applied to the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12 is changed. The potential of the expansion maintaining element P2 is called the expansion maintaining potential V1, and the potential of the contraction maintaining element P4 is called the contraction maintaining potential V2. The expansion element P1 lowers the potential supplied to the second electrode 80 from the standby potential Vm to the expansion maintaining potential V1 lower than the standby potential Vm, and expands the volume of the pressure generating chamber 12 from the reference volume. The standby potential Vm is a potential that maintains the pressure generating chamber 12 at a predetermined reference volume. The expansion maintaining element P2 maintains the potential supplied to the second electrode 80 at the expansion maintaining potential V1, and maintains the pressure generating chamber 12 expanded by the expansion maintaining element P2 for a certain period of time. The contraction element P3 raises the potential supplied to the second electrode 80 from the expansion sustain potential V1 to the contraction sustain potential V2, and contracts the volume of the pressure generating chamber 12 beyond the reference volume. The contraction maintaining element P4 maintains the potential supplied to the second electrode 80 at the contraction maintaining potential V2, and maintains the pressure generating chamber 12 contracted by the contracting element P3 for a certain period of time. The expansion return element P5 expands the volume of the pressure generation chamber 12 to the reference volume and restores it by lowering the potential supplied to the second electrode 80 from the contraction maintenance potential V2 to the standby potential Vm.

  In the initial state of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 at the time of factory shipment, the drive waveform 400 serving as a reference is set in advance by experiments or the like and stored in the storage unit 212. For example, the reference drive waveform 400 is set according to the viscosity and surface tension of the genuine liquid used in the liquid ejecting apparatus 110, and the reference environmental temperature that is the standard environmental temperature. The reference drive waveform 400 is also referred to as a reference drive waveform 400. The reference environmental temperature is 25 ° C., for example.

The waveform generation unit 214 acquires the detected environmental temperature which is the environmental temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 260. The waveform generation unit 214 generates the first drive waveform 400A corresponding to the detected environmental temperature acquired by correcting the reference drive waveform 400. The waveform generation unit 214 uses the correction map stored in the storage unit 212 to perform the following first high temperature correction to the first high temperature correction as the detected environmental temperature becomes higher than the reference environmental temperature which is the environmental temperature corresponding to the reference drive waveform 400. 5 Perform high temperature correction.
-First high temperature correction: Lower the standby potential Vm.
Second high temperature correction: shorten the maintenance time of the expansion maintenance element P2.
-Third high temperature correction: The rate of increase of the drive potential in the contraction element P3 is reduced.
-Fourth high temperature correction: The contraction sustaining potential V2 is lowered.
Fifth high temperature correction: The ratio R between the potential difference PD1 between the standby potential Vm and the expansion maintaining potential V1 and the potential difference PD2 between the expansion maintaining potential V1 and the contraction maintaining potential V2 is reduced.
Here, the ratio R is PD1 / PD2.

  Generally, the viscosity of a liquid decreases with increasing temperature and increases with decreasing temperature. Therefore, when the temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12 is high, the liquid is likely to be ejected from the nozzle 21. Further, when the temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12 is low, it becomes difficult for the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle 21. Therefore, the reference drive waveform 400 is corrected so that the amount of liquid ejected is approximately the same as the reference environmental temperature and the liquid ejection timing is approximately the same. The liquid ejection amount is the amount of liquid ejected from the nozzle 21 in one cycle of the drive waveform. The liquid ejection timing is the timing of the liquid ejected from the nozzle 21 in one cycle of the drive waveform.

  Specifically, by bringing the standby potential Vm close to the expansion maintaining potential V1 by the first high temperature correction, as shown in FIG. 6, at the end of the expansion element P1, the liquid level of the liquid in the nozzle 21 is bent. The height Lh at which a certain meniscus is drawn into the pressure generating chamber 12 side is set to the same level as the reference environmental temperature, and the liquid ejection timing is set to the same level as the reference drive waveform 400.

  Further, when the temperature of the liquid is high, that is, when the viscosity of the liquid is low, the natural frequency of the liquid is high. Therefore, the drive waveform is made to correspond to the natural frequency of the liquid by shortening the maintenance time of the expansion maintenance element P2 by the second high temperature correction. As a result, the liquid ejection timing can be made substantially the same as the reference drive waveform 400.

  Further, the third high temperature correction, the fourth high temperature correction, and the fifth high temperature correction reduce the pressure applied to the liquid by the pressure generation chamber 12 of the liquid ejecting head 1 to be smaller than the reference drive waveform 400, so that the liquid ejection amount is used as the reference drive. It can be similar to the waveform 400.

Further, as the detected environmental temperature becomes lower than the reference environmental temperature, the waveform generation unit 214 performs the following first low temperature correction 1 to fourth low temperature correction using the correction map stored in the storage unit 212.
First low temperature correction: increase the standby potential Vm.
Second low temperature correction: prolongs the maintenance time of the expansion maintenance element P2.
Third low temperature correction: increase the rate of increase of the drive potential in the contraction element P3.
Fourth low temperature correction: increase contraction sustaining potential V2.
Fifth low temperature correction: Increase the ratio R of the potential difference PD1 between the standby potential Vm and the expansion sustain potential V1 and the potential difference PD2 between the expansion sustain potential V1 and the contraction sustain potential V2.
Here, the ratio R is PD1 / PD2.

  As described above, the liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting head 1 has a higher viscosity as the environmental temperature becomes lower and the temperature of the liquid becomes lower, so that the liquid is less likely to be ejected from the liquid ejecting head 1. Further, when the temperature of the liquid becomes low, that is, when the viscosity of the liquid is high, the natural frequency of the liquid becomes low. Therefore, the reference drive waveform 400 is corrected so that the liquid ejection amount and the liquid ejection timing are the same as the reference environmental temperature.

  Specifically, the standby temperature Vm is deviated from the expansion sustaining potential V1 by the first low temperature correction, so that the liquid level of the liquid in the nozzle 21 is bent at the end of the expansion element P1 as shown in FIG. The height Lh at which the meniscus is drawn to the pressure generating chamber 12 side is set to the same level as the reference environmental temperature, and the liquid ejection timing is set to the same level as the reference drive waveform 400.

  By making the maintenance time of the expansion maintenance element P2 longer by the second low temperature correction, the drive waveform is made to correspond to the natural frequency of the liquid. As a result, the liquid ejection timing can be made substantially the same as the reference drive waveform 400.

  Further, the third low temperature correction, the fourth low temperature correction, and the fifth low temperature correction make the pressure applied to the liquid by the pressure generation chamber 12 of the liquid ejecting head 1 larger than the reference drive waveform 400, so that the liquid ejection amount is used as the reference drive. It can be similar to the waveform 400.

  The waveform generation unit 214 generates the second drive waveform 400B to the ninth drive waveform 400I in addition to the first drive waveform 400A. The second drive waveform 400B is a drive waveform when the environmental temperature is higher than that of the first drive waveform 400A. The third drive waveform 400C is a drive waveform when the environmental temperature is lower than that of the first drive waveform 400A. The fourth drive waveform 400D is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and the ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are larger than the first drive waveform 400A. The fifth drive waveform 400E is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and the ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are larger than the second drive waveform 400B. The sixth drive waveform 400F is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and the ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are larger than the third drive waveform 400C. The seventh drive waveform 400G is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are smaller than the first drive waveform 400A. The eighth drive waveform 400H is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are smaller than the second drive waveform 400B. The ninth drive waveform 400I is a drive waveform in which the ejection amount and ejection speed of the liquid from the liquid ejection head 1 are smaller than the third drive waveform 400C. The second drive waveform 400B and the third drive waveform 400C are drive waveforms that correspond to the viscosity characteristics of the liquid existing in the liquid ejecting head 1 with respect to temperature, and the fourth drive waveform 400D to the ninth drive waveform 400I are It is a drive waveform for making the dot shape of the liquid on the medium S uniform irrespective of the state of the medium S according to the state of the medium S and the like. Details of the second drive waveform 400B to the ninth drive waveform 400I will be described later.

  The test image forming unit 216 supplies a plurality of drive potentials corresponding to the generated plurality of drive waveforms, that is, the first drive waveform 400A to the ninth drive waveform 400I to the piezoelectric element 300 in time series. The test image forming unit 216 also controls the liquid ejecting mechanism 220 and the medium feeding mechanism 221. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the test image forming unit 216 forms nine intermediate gradation test images IM1 to IM9 on the medium S according to the first drive waveform 400A to the ninth drive waveform 400I. Further, the test image forming unit 216 forms identification numbers 1 to 9 for identifying the test images IM1 to IM9 on the medium S below the nine test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S. The test images IM1 to IM9 are preferably formed on the medium S using at least three types of liquids of yellow liquid, magenta liquid, and cyan liquid. By forming the nine test images IM1 to IM9 of the intermediate gradation on the medium S, the color variation of the nine test images IM1 to IM9 can be easily identified. As the intermediate gradation, for example, when each gradation value range of RGB is 0 to 255, each gradation value is a range of 100 or more and 200 or less. In this embodiment, each gradation value of RGB is set to 128. Further, the colors of the nine test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S may be designated by the user inputting them via the operation panel 210 or the like. In FIG. 7, the difference in color between the nine test images IM1 to IM9 is represented by the difference in hatching intervals.

  The setting unit 219 sets the drive waveform corresponding to one test image selected from the nine test images IM1 to IM9 as the appropriate drive waveform used at the detected environmental temperature. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the setting unit 219 displays on the operation panel 210 an input image IMS for receiving an input of an instruction for selecting an appropriate drive waveform.

  After the nine test images IM1 to IM9 are formed on the medium S, the user compares the test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S. Then, the user determines the test images IM1 to IM9 having the desired quality from among the nine test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S. Next, the user selects the image number corresponding to the desired test image according to the contents of the input image IMS as shown in FIG. 8, and touches the image displayed as “OK”. Accordingly, the setting unit 219 receives the input instruction of the final setting instruction of the proper drive waveform, and causes the normal ejection unit 218 to drive the piezoelectric element 300 with the drive waveform corresponding to the image number input to the operation panel 210. It is stored in the storage unit 212 as an appropriate drive waveform. The input image IMS may be displayed on an external device 230 such as a personal computer instead of the operation panel 210.

  When the normal ejecting unit 218 illustrated in FIG. 4 receives a print instruction from the external device 230 or the like, the normal ejecting unit 218 supplies the drive potential of the appropriate drive waveform set by the setting unit 219 to the piezoelectric element 300, and thus the liquid ejecting head 1 Liquid is ejected from the medium to the medium S. When the proper drive waveform is not set by the setting unit 219, the normal ejecting unit 218 supplies the drive potential of the normal drive waveform to the piezoelectric element 300. The normal drive waveform may be the reference drive waveform 400 stored in the storage unit 212. Further, the normal drive waveform may be the first drive waveform 400A in which the ambient temperature is detected by the temperature detection unit 260 at a predetermined timing and the reference drive waveform 400 is corrected by the detected ambient temperature.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the second drive waveform 400B and the third drive waveform 400C. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the fourth drive waveform 400D and the seventh drive waveform 400G.

  The second drive waveform 400B is a drive waveform generated by correcting the reference drive waveform 400 when the detected environmental temperature is higher than that of the first drive waveform 400A. That is, the second drive waveform 400B is a drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature when the first drive waveform 400A is generated. The waveform generation unit 214 sets the environmental temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature when the first drive waveform 400A is generated, and corrects the reference drive waveform 400 in accordance with the set environmental temperature to generate the second drive waveform 400B. To generate. The second drive waveform 400B is a drive waveform when the environmental temperature is, for example, 2 ° C. higher than the first drive waveform 400A. The second drive waveform 400B is not limited to the above as long as it has a higher ambient temperature than the first drive waveform 400A, and may be higher by 1 ° C. or higher by 3 ° C. or more, for example. .

  The ratio R of PD1 / PD2 is smaller in the second drive waveform 400B than in the first drive waveform 400A. Further, the maintenance time of the expansion maintaining element P2 is shorter in the second drive waveform 400B than in the first drive waveform 400A. Further, the contraction sustaining potential V2 is lower in the second drive waveform 400B than in the first drive waveform 400A. The standby potential Vm is lower in the second drive waveform 400B than in the first drive waveform 400A. Further, the rate of increase of the drive potential in the contraction element P3 is smaller in the second drive waveform 400B than in the first drive waveform 400A.

  The third drive waveform 400C is a drive waveform generated by correcting the reference drive waveform 400 when the detected environmental temperature is lower than that of the first drive waveform 400A. That is, the third drive waveform 400C is a drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature. The waveform generation unit 214 sets the environmental temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature when the first drive waveform 400A is generated, and corrects the reference drive waveform 400 in accordance with the set environmental temperature to generate the third drive waveform 400C. To generate. The third drive waveform 400C is a drive waveform when the environmental temperature is, for example, 2 ° C. lower than the first drive waveform 400A. The third drive waveform 400C is not limited to the above as long as it is a drive waveform having an environmental temperature lower than that of the first drive waveform 400A, and may be lower by 1 ° C. or lower by 3 ° C. or more, for example. .

  The ratio R of PD1 / PD2 is larger in the third drive waveform 400C than in the first drive waveform 400A. Further, the maintenance time of the expansion maintaining element P2 is longer in the third drive waveform 400C than in the first drive waveform 400A. The contraction sustaining potential V2 is higher in the third drive waveform 400C than in the first drive waveform 400A. The standby potential Vm is higher in the third drive waveform 400C than in the first drive waveform 400A. The rate of increase of the drive potential in the contraction element P3 is higher in the third drive waveform 400C than in the first drive waveform 400A.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the fourth drive waveform 400D is a drive waveform in which the amplitude of the first drive waveform 400A is increased by a predetermined first value. In the present embodiment, the waveform generator 214 corrects the first drive waveform 400A so that the contraction sustaining potential V2, which is the highest potential of the first drive waveform 400A, is 1.15 times, and thus the fourth drive waveform 400D is obtained. To generate. The seventh drive waveform 400G is a drive waveform obtained by reducing the amplitude of the first drive waveform 400A by a predetermined second value. In the present embodiment, the seventh drive waveform 400G is generated by correcting the first drive waveform 400A so that the contraction sustaining potential V2, which is the highest potential of the first drive waveform 400A, becomes 0.85 times. As shown in FIG. 10, the expansion maintaining potential V1 that is the lowest potential of the first drive waveform 400A is set to the same potential in the first drive waveform 400A, the fourth drive waveform 400D, and the seventh drive waveform 400G. May be.

  In addition, the waveform generation unit 214, based on the second drive waveform 400B, a fifth drive waveform 400E in which the amplitude value is increased by a predetermined first value and an amplitude value is decreased by a predetermined second value. The eighth drive waveform 400H is generated. Further, the waveform generation unit 214, based on the third drive waveform 400C, a sixth drive waveform 400F in which the value of the amplitude is increased by a predetermined first value and a value of the amplitude is decreased by a predetermined second value. The generated ninth drive waveform 400I is generated. The fifth drive waveform 400E corrects the second drive waveform 400B so that the contraction sustaining potential V2, which is the highest potential of the second drive waveform 400B, becomes 1.15 times. The eighth drive waveform 400H corrects the second drive waveform 400B so that the contraction sustaining potential V2 of the second drive waveform 400B becomes 0.85 times. The sixth drive waveform 400F corrects the third drive waveform 400C so that the contraction sustaining potential V2, which is the highest potential of the third drive waveform 400C, is 1.15 times. The ninth drive waveform 400I corrects the third drive waveform 400C so that the contraction sustaining potential V2 of the third drive waveform 400C becomes 0.85 times.

  In addition, the contraction sustaining potential V2 of the fourth drive waveform 400D to the ninth drive waveform 400I is set to be 1.15 times or 0.85 times the contraction sustaining potential V2 which is the highest potential of the base drive waveform. However, the drive waveform is not limited to this.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the setting process of the proper drive waveform. This flowchart is executed when the control unit 211 detects that it is necessary to set the proper drive waveform. For example, it is executed when the control unit 211 receives an input of an instruction to set a proper drive waveform from the outside. The user inputs an instruction to set the proper drive waveform, for example, via the external device 230 or the operation panel 210. For example, the user operates the operation panel 210 to display an appropriate drive waveform setting processing screen on the operation panel 210, and inputs an instruction for setting an appropriate drive waveform.

  When the setting process of the proper drive waveform is started, first, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 executes the temperature detecting step in step S10. In the temperature detecting step, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 detects the environmental temperature by the temperature detecting unit 260. Next, the waveform generation part 214 performs a waveform generation process in step S12. In the waveform generation step, the waveform generation unit 214 generates the first drive waveform 400A to the ninth drive waveform 400I. Next, in step S14, the test image forming unit 216 executes a test image forming step. In the test image forming step, the test image forming unit 216 forms nine test images IM1 to IM9 on the medium S using the first driving waveform 400A to the ninth driving waveform 400I. Next, the setting unit 219 determines in step S16 whether or not an input of an instruction for selecting an appropriate drive waveform has been received from the outside. When the setting unit 219 receives the input of the selection instruction of the proper drive waveform, the setting unit 219 executes the setting process in step S18. In the setting step, the setting unit 219 stores one drive waveform of the first drive waveform 400A to the ninth drive waveform 400I in the storage unit 212 as a drive waveform for driving the piezoelectric element 300 according to the content of the selection instruction. By doing so, it is set as an appropriate drive waveform. Further, in step S18, the setting unit 219 may store the detected environmental temperature detected in step S10 in the storage unit 212 in association with the proper drive waveform. On the other hand, when the input of the selection instruction is not accepted in step S16, step S16 is repeatedly executed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, in addition to the first drive waveform 400A corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, the second drive waveform 400B is used to generate the ninth drive waveform 400I, and then the first drive waveform 400A is changed to the ninth drive waveform 400I. A plurality of corresponding test images IM1 to IM9 are formed on the medium S. Then, the drive waveform corresponding to one test image selected from the plurality of test images IM1 to IM9 is set as the proper drive waveform. As a result, even if there is a difference between the detected environmental temperature and the actual temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image formed on the medium S from deteriorating. That is, the first drive waveform 400A corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, the second drive waveform 400B corresponding to the environmental temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, and the third drive waveform 400C corresponding to the environmental temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature are generated. Then, by forming the test images IM1 to IM3 by the drive waveforms 400A to 400C, the drive waveform corresponding to the actual temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12 can be selected as the proper drive waveform. Further, by generating the fourth drive waveform 400D to the ninth drive waveform 400I whose amplitudes are changed and forming the test images IM4 to IM9 by the drive waveforms 400D to 400I, the drive waveform corresponding to the state of the medium S can be obtained. It can be selected as an appropriate drive waveform. As described above, by setting an appropriate drive waveform from the first drive waveform 400A to the ninth drive waveform 400I, the image formed on the medium S can be printed regardless of the usage environment of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 and the type of the medium S. It is possible to suppress deterioration of quality.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the setting process of the appropriate drive waveform at the time of startup executed by the liquid ejecting apparatus 110. In addition to the proper drive waveform setting process of the first embodiment, the setting process described below may be executed.

  When the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is powered from OFF to ON and the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is activated, in step S20, the setting unit 219 determines whether or not the proper drive waveform is set during the previous activation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110. judge. In other words, when the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is activated this time, if the proper drive waveform has already been stored in the storage unit 212, the setting unit 219 executes the activation setting step of step S22. In step S22, the setting unit 219 sets the proper drive waveform stored in the storage unit 212 to be used as the drive waveform for driving the piezoelectric element 300 by the normal ejection unit 218. On the other hand, when the liquid ejection device 110 is activated this time, if the previous proper drive waveform is not stored in the storage unit 212, this flowchart is ended. That is, when the previous proper drive waveform is not stored in the storage unit 212, the normal ejecting unit 218 supplies the drive potential of the normal drive waveform to the piezoelectric element 300 to eject the liquid onto the medium S. To do.

  According to the above-described embodiment, when the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 is started up this time, the previous proper drive waveform can be set as the proper drive waveform at this start up. Therefore, the temperature for setting the proper drive waveform for each start-up There is no need to perform a detection process, a generation process, a test image formation process, or a setting process.

C. Another embodiment of the setting trigger of the proper drive waveform:
In the first embodiment, when the control unit 211 receives an input of an instruction to set a proper drive waveform from the outside, the setting process of the proper drive waveform is executed, but the present invention is not limited to this. Another example of the case where the control unit 211 detects that the setting of the proper drive waveform is necessary will be described below.

  For example, the control unit 211 may detect that the cartridge 2 of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 has been replaced, thereby detecting that the setting of the proper drive waveform is necessary. As a result, printing can be performed using the drive waveform according to the characteristics of the liquid contained in the new cartridge 2, so that it is possible to reduce the possibility that the quality of the image formed on the medium S will deteriorate. Further, for example, the control unit 211 may detect that the medium S such as the roll paper of the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 has been replaced with a new medium S, thereby detecting that the appropriate drive waveform needs to be set. . As a result, printing can be performed using a drive waveform according to the characteristics of the new medium S, so that it is possible to reduce the possibility that the quality of the image formed on the medium S will deteriorate. Further, for example, when the appropriate drive waveform is already set, when the detected environmental temperature at the time of setting the already set appropriate drive waveform and the current detected environmental temperature deviate by a predetermined value, the appropriate drive waveform is set. It may be detected that the waveform needs to be set. As a result, printing can be performed using a drive waveform suitable for the characteristics of the liquid at the current detected environmental temperature, and the possibility that the quality of the image formed on the medium S will deteriorate can be reduced.

  When the control unit 211 detects the replacement of the new cartridge 2, the replacement of the new medium S, or the detection of the deviation of a predetermined value, the operation panel 210 or the external device 230 is detected. In addition, an image may be generated that prompts the user to input an instruction to set a proper drive waveform.

  As described above, the control unit 211 sets the appropriate drive waveform by determining that the appropriate drive waveform needs to be set when there is a change in the factor that affects the quality of the image formed on the medium S. Processing can be performed. This can prevent the quality of the image formed on the medium S from being degraded.

D. Other embodiments:
D-1. Other Embodiment 1:
In the first embodiment, the setting unit 219 sets the proper drive waveform as the drive waveform for driving the piezoelectric element 300 by receiving the input of the final setting instruction of the proper drive waveform from the outside, but is not limited to this. It is not something that will be done. For example, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 has a colorimeter, which measures the colors of nine test images IM1 to IM9 formed on the medium S by the colorimeter to determine RGB of the nine test images IM1 to IM9. The test image having the color most corresponding to each gradation value may be automatically selected.

D-2. Other Embodiment 2:
In the first embodiment, the waveform generation unit 214 performs the first high temperature correction to the fifth high temperature correction as the detected environmental temperature becomes higher than the reference environmental temperature which is the environmental temperature corresponding to the reference drive waveform 400. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the waveform generation unit 214 may perform at least one high temperature correction of the first high temperature correction to the fifth high temperature correction. The waveform generation unit 214 performs the first low temperature correction to the fifth low temperature correction as the detected environmental temperature becomes lower than the reference environmental temperature which is the environmental temperature corresponding to the reference drive waveform 400, but is not limited to this. It is not something that will be done. For example, the waveform generation unit 214 may perform at least one low temperature correction of the first low temperature correction to the fifth low temperature correction. Even in this case, the first drive waveform 400A to the third drive waveform 400C corresponding to each assumed temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber 12 can be generated.

D-3. Other Embodiment 3:
In the above embodiment, the liquid ejecting apparatus 110 was a printer, but the present disclosure is applicable to liquid ejecting apparatuses that eject other types of liquid. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to a liquid ejecting apparatus in which a material such as an electrode material used for manufacturing a liquid display or the like is dispersed or dissolved, a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bioorganic substance used for manufacturing a biochip, and the like.

E. Other forms:
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the present disclosure can be implemented by the following modes. The technical features in the above embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each of the embodiments described below are for solving part or all of the problems of the present disclosure, or part or all of the effects of the present disclosure. In order to achieve the above, it is possible to appropriately replace or combine. If the technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

(1) A liquid ejecting head including a nozzle, a pressure generating chamber that communicates with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element that causes a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber, and an environmental temperature of the liquid ejecting head is detected. And a temperature detecting unit for controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus. This liquid ejecting apparatus control method includes a temperature detecting step of detecting a detected environmental temperature, which is the environmental temperature by the temperature detecting section, and a plurality of driving operations that are candidates for an appropriate driving waveform of a driving potential supplied to the piezoelectric element. A waveform generating step of generating a waveform and supplying a plurality of the drive potentials corresponding to the generated drive waveforms to the piezoelectric element, respectively, to form a plurality of test images corresponding to the drive waveforms on a medium. And a setting step of setting the drive waveform corresponding to one of the test images selected from the plurality of test images as the proper drive waveform. Is a first drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a second drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, A third drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detection environmental temperature, a first drive waveform, a second drive waveform, and a third drive waveform having predetermined amplitudes. The fourth drive waveform, the fifth drive waveform, and the sixth drive waveform, which are increased by 1, and the amplitude for each of the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform. Including a seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform, and a ninth drive waveform that are smaller by a second predetermined value. According to this aspect, after the ninth drive waveform is generated from the second drive waveform in addition to the first drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a plurality of test images corresponding to the first drive waveform to the ninth drive waveform are generated. Is formed on the medium. Then, by setting the drive waveform corresponding to one test image selected from the plurality of test images as the proper drive waveform, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the quality of the image formed on the medium.

(2) In the above configuration, the plurality of drive waveforms respectively maintain an expansion element that expands the volume of the pressure generation chamber from a reference volume and an expansion maintenance that maintains the volume of the pressure generation chamber expanded by the expansion element. An element, a contraction element for contracting the volume of the pressure generating chamber, a contraction maintaining element for maintaining the volume of the pressure generating chamber contracted by the contracting element, and an expansion for returning the volume of the pressure generating chamber to the reference volume. And a return element. According to this aspect, the volume of the pressure generating chamber can be changed by each element.

(3) In the above configuration, the drive potential is (i) a standby potential for maintaining the pressure generating chamber at the reference volume, and (ii) lower than the standby potential, and the expansion maintaining potential in the expansion maintaining element is And (iii) a contraction maintaining potential in the contraction maintaining element that is higher than the standby potential and PD1 is a potential difference between the standby potential and the expansion maintaining potential, and the expansion maintaining potential and the contraction maintaining potential are When the potential difference between the first drive waveform and the second drive waveform is PD2, the ratio R (PD1 / PD2) is larger in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform and smaller in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. May be. Generally, the viscosity of a liquid decreases with increasing temperature and increases with decreasing temperature. Therefore, when the temperature of the liquid is high, the liquid is likely to be ejected from the nozzle, and when the temperature of the liquid is low, the liquid is less likely to be ejected from the nozzle. By increasing the ratio R, the pressure applied to the liquid in the pressure generating chamber by the pressure generating chamber can be increased. That is, according to this aspect, it is possible to generate the first drive waveform to the third drive waveform in which the ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the nozzle is approximately the same for each assumed liquid temperature in the pressure generating chamber.

(4) In the above configuration, the maintenance time of the expansion maintaining element is longer in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform, and is longer in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. May be short. Generally, the natural frequency of a liquid increases as the temperature rises and decreases as the temperature falls. According to this aspect, the maintenance time of the expansion maintaining element is set longer in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform and shorter in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. This makes it possible to generate the first to third drive waveforms corresponding to the natural frequency of the liquid for each assumed temperature of the liquid in the pressure generating chamber.

(5) In the above configuration, the contraction maintaining potential of the contraction maintaining element is lower in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform, and in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. May be high. According to this aspect, the pressure applied to the liquid from the pressure generating chamber by supplying the contraction sustaining potential to the pressure element is lower in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform and lower than that in the first drive waveform. 3 The drive waveform can be made higher. This makes it possible to generate the first drive waveform to the third drive waveform in which the ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the nozzle is approximately the same for each assumed temperature of the liquid in the pressure generation chamber.

(6) In the above configuration, the contraction element is executed by increasing the drive potential at a predetermined speed, and the increase speed of the drive potential in the contraction element is higher than that of the first drive waveform. The second drive waveform may be smaller and the third drive waveform may be larger than the first drive waveform. According to this aspect, by supplying the drive potential in the contraction element to the piezoelectric element, the rising speed of the pressure applied to the liquid from the pressure generating chamber is smaller in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. The third drive waveform can be made larger than the one drive waveform. This makes it possible to generate the first drive waveform to the third drive waveform in which the ejection amount of the liquid ejected from the nozzle is approximately the same for each assumed liquid temperature in the pressure generating chamber.

(7) In the above-mentioned form, the test image forming step may form the plurality of intermediate-tone test images on the medium. According to this mode, it is easy to identify the color variation of the plurality of test images formed on the medium.

(8) In the above-described mode, when the proper drive waveform is set during the previous activation of the liquid ejecting apparatus at the time of the present activation of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the previous proper drive is performed. There may be a startup setting step of setting a waveform as the appropriate drive waveform at the startup this time. According to this aspect, when the liquid ejecting apparatus is started up this time, the previous appropriate drive waveform can be set as the appropriate drive waveform when starting up this time. Therefore, the temperature detection step for setting the appropriate drive waveform for each startup There is no need to perform a generation process, a test image formation process, or a setting process.

(9) In the above mode, when the liquid ejecting apparatus detects that the proper drive waveform needs to be set, the temperature detecting step, the waveform generating step, the test image forming step, and the You may perform a setting process. According to this aspect, when it is necessary to set the proper drive waveform, the temperature detection step, the waveform generation step, the test image forming step, and the setting step can be executed.

  The present disclosure can be implemented in various forms other than the control method of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the computer program for realizing the control method. For example, it can be realized in the form of a non-transitory recording medium recording a computer program.

    1 ... Liquid jet head, 2 ... Cartridge, 3 ... Carriage, 4 ... Device body, 5 ... Carriage shaft, 6 ... Drive motor, 7 ... Timing belt, 8 ... Conveying roller, 10 ... Flow path forming substrate, 12 ... Pressure generation Chamber, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Liquid supply path, 15 ... Communication path, 20 ... Nozzle plate, 21 ... Nozzle, 22 ... Liquid ejection surface, 30 ... Protective substrate, 31 ... Manifold part, 32 ... Piezoelectric actuator holding part, 33 ... Through hole, 35 ... Adhesive, 40 ... Compliance substrate, 41 ... Sealing film, 42 ... Fixing plate, 43 ... Opening part, 50 ... Vibrating plate, 60 ... First electrode, 70 ... Piezoelectric layer, 80 ... Second electrode, 90 ... Lead electrode, 100 ... Manifold, 110 ... Liquid ejecting device, 120 ... Driving circuit, 121 ... Connection wiring, 200 ... Control device, 210 ... Operation panel, 211 ... Control section, 12 ... Storage unit, 214 ... Waveform generation unit, 216 ... Test image forming unit, 218 ... Normal ejection unit, 219 ... Setting unit, 220 ... Liquid ejection mechanism, 221 ... Mechanism, 222 ... Carriage mechanism, 230 ... External device, 260 ... temperature detection part, 300 ... piezoelectric element, 400 ... standard drive waveform, 400A ... first drive waveform, 400B ... second drive waveform, 400C ... third drive waveform, 400D ... fourth drive waveform, 400E ... fifth drive waveform , 400F ... Sixth drive waveform, 400G ... Seventh drive waveform, 400H ... Eighth drive waveform, 400I ... Nine drive waveform, IM1-IM9 ... Test image, IMS ... Input image, P1 ... Expansion element, P2 ... Expansion Maintenance element, P3 ... Contraction element, P4 ... Contraction maintenance element, P5 ... Expansion return element, PD1, PD2 ... Potential difference, S ... Medium

Claims (11)

A liquid ejecting head including a nozzle, a pressure generating chamber that communicates with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element that causes a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber, and a temperature detection that detects an environmental temperature of the liquid ejecting head. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising:
A temperature detection step of detecting a detected environmental temperature that is the environmental temperature by the temperature detection unit,
A waveform generating step of generating a plurality of drive waveforms, which is a candidate for an appropriate drive waveform of the drive potential supplied to the piezoelectric element,
A test image forming step of forming a plurality of test images corresponding to the plurality of drive waveforms on a medium by supplying the plurality of drive potentials corresponding to the plurality of drive waveforms generated to the piezoelectric element, respectively.
A setting step of setting the drive waveform corresponding to one of the test images selected from the plurality of test images as the appropriate drive waveform,
The plurality of drive waveforms are
A first drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a second drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, and a second drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature. A third drive waveform as a drive waveform, and a fourth drive waveform obtained by increasing the amplitude of each of the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform by a predetermined first value. , A fifth drive waveform, a sixth drive waveform, the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform, the amplitude is made smaller by a predetermined second value. A seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform, and a ninth drive waveform. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The plurality of drive waveforms respectively include an expansion element for expanding the volume of the pressure generating chamber from a reference volume, an expansion maintaining element for maintaining the volume of the pressure generating chamber expanded by the expansion element, and a volume of the pressure generating chamber. A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a contraction element for contracting the contraction element; Control method. The control method for a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The drive potential is (i) a standby potential for maintaining the pressure generating chamber at the reference volume, (ii) lower than the standby potential, and an expansion maintenance potential in the expansion maintenance element, and (iii) a standby potential. And also including a contraction maintaining potential in the contraction maintaining element,
When the potential difference between the standby potential and the expansion maintaining potential is PD1 and the potential difference between the expansion maintaining potential and the contraction maintaining potential is PD2, the ratio R (PD1 / PD2) is greater than the first drive waveform. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a third drive waveform is larger and the second drive waveform is smaller than the first drive waveform. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a maintenance time of the expansion maintenance element is longer in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform and shorter in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The contraction maintaining potential of the contraction maintaining element is lower in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform, and higher in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. . A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:
The contraction element is implemented by increasing the drive potential at a predetermined rate,
The rising speed of the drive potential in the contraction element is smaller in the second drive waveform than in the first drive waveform and larger in the third drive waveform than in the first drive waveform. Control method. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:
The test image forming step is a method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the plurality of test images having an intermediate gradation are formed on the medium. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
When the proper drive waveform is set during the previous activation of the liquid ejecting apparatus at the present activation of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the previous appropriate drive waveform is set to the proper driving at the present activation. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising a startup setting step of setting as a waveform. A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
A liquid ejecting apparatus that executes the temperature detecting step, the waveform generating step, the test image forming step, and the setting step when the liquid ejecting apparatus detects that the setting of the proper drive waveform is necessary. Control method. A liquid ejecting apparatus,
A liquid ejecting head comprising: a nozzle; a pressure generating chamber communicating with the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element that causes a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber,
A temperature detecting unit for detecting a detected environmental temperature which is an environmental temperature of the liquid jet head; and a control unit,
The control unit is
A waveform generating unit that generates a plurality of drive waveforms, which is a candidate for an appropriate drive waveform of the drive potential supplied to the piezoelectric element,
A test image forming unit that supplies a plurality of drive potentials corresponding to the generated drive waveforms to the piezoelectric element, respectively, and forms a plurality of test images according to the drive waveforms on a medium.
A setting unit that sets the drive waveform corresponding to one of the test images selected from the plurality of test images as the proper drive waveform,
The plurality of drive waveforms are
A first drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a second drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, and a second drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature. A third drive waveform as a drive waveform, and a fourth drive waveform obtained by increasing the amplitude of each of the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform by a predetermined first value. , A fifth drive waveform, a sixth drive waveform, the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform, the amplitude is made smaller by a predetermined second value. , A seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform, and a ninth drive waveform. A liquid ejecting head including a nozzle, a pressure generating chamber that communicates with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element that causes a pressure change in the liquid in the pressure generating chamber; and a detected environmental temperature that is an environmental temperature of the liquid ejecting head. A computer program for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising:
A waveform generation function for generating a plurality of drive waveforms, which is a candidate for an appropriate drive waveform of the drive potential supplied to the piezoelectric element,
A test image forming function of supplying a plurality of drive potentials corresponding to the generated drive waveforms to the piezoelectric element, respectively, and forming a plurality of test images on the medium according to the drive waveforms.
A setting function of setting the drive waveform corresponding to one test image selected from the plurality of test images as the proper drive waveform, in a computer;
The plurality of drive waveforms are
A first drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to the detected environmental temperature, a second drive waveform as the drive waveform corresponding to a temperature higher than the detected environmental temperature, and a second drive waveform corresponding to a temperature lower than the detected environmental temperature. A third drive waveform as a drive waveform, and a fourth drive waveform obtained by increasing the amplitude of each of the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform by a predetermined first value. , A fifth drive waveform, a sixth drive waveform, the first drive waveform, the second drive waveform, and the third drive waveform, the amplitude is made smaller by a predetermined second value. A seventh drive waveform, an eighth drive waveform, and a ninth drive waveform.

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