JP2020082370A - Liquid jet device and control method of liquid jet device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a liquid jet device and a control method of the liquid jet device each of which allows for reduction of the possibility that liquid in which sedimentation of a sedimentation component has proceeded is supplied to a liquid jet unit.SOLUTION: The liquid jet device comprises: a liquid jet unit 41 that jets liquid from a nozzle 44; a holding unit 102 configured to attach and detach a liquid supply source 101 housing the liquid; a liquid supply flow path 110 configured to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 mounted on the holding unit 102 to the liquid jet unit 41; a reservoir part 120 provided in the liquid supply flow path 110 and configured to reserve the liquid; a reservoir amount adjustment mechanism 150 configured to adjust a reservoir amount SA of the liquid reserved in the reservoir part 120; and a control part that controls the reservoir amount adjustment mechanism 150 in such a way that when V1 denotes a first upper limit value of the reservoir amount SA when the residual amount RA of the liquid housed in the liquid supply source 101 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value VP, the reservoir amount SA when the residual amount RA is larger than a predetermined value VP becomes smaller than the first upper limit value V1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus such as a printer and a liquid ejecting apparatus control method.

For example, there is a recording apparatus as an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects and prints ink, which is an example of a liquid, from a recording head that is an example of a liquid ejecting unit, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-242242. The recording apparatus supplies ink to a recording head from a main ink tank which is an example of a liquid supply source through a sub tank which is an example of a storage section.

JP 2000-263807 A

A liquid containing a sedimentation component, such as ink, may sediment the sedimentation component when the time for which the liquid is stored in the sub tank becomes long. If the liquid in which the sedimentation component is sedimented is supplied to the recording head, the print quality may be deteriorated.

A liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above-mentioned problems, a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, a holding unit configured to attach and detach a liquid supply source that contains the liquid, and the liquid attached to the holding unit. A liquid supply flow channel configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejection unit from a supply source; a storage unit provided in the liquid supply flow channel and configured to store the liquid; and the storage unit. A storage amount adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage device, and an upper limit value of the storage amount when the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source is equal to or less than a predetermined value. And a control unit that controls the storage amount adjustment mechanism so that the storage amount when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value becomes smaller than the first upper limit value when the upper limit value is one.

A control method for a liquid ejecting apparatus that solves the above-described problems is a liquid ejecting section that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, and a liquid supply channel configured to supply the liquid contained in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting section. And a storage portion that is provided in the liquid supply flow path and configured to store the liquid, the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source. When the upper limit value of the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage section when is less than or equal to a predetermined value is a first upper limit value, the storage amount is the first upper limit when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value. Adjust so that it is smaller than the value.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The side view which shows the internal structure of a liquid injection apparatus schematically. The schematic diagram which shows the structure of a liquid injection apparatus and a liquid supply apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows a storage part and a storage amount adjustment mechanism. Sectional drawing cut|disconnected by the 5-5 line in FIG. The schematic diagram of the liquid ejecting apparatus when the remaining amount is larger than a predetermined amount. The flowchart which shows a liquid supply routine. The schematic diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a change of a liquid ejecting apparatus.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a liquid ejecting apparatus and a method of controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The liquid ejecting apparatus is, for example, an ink jet printer that prints images such as characters and photographs by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a pair of legs 11 and a housing 12 assembled on the legs 11. The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 guides the medium M wound around the roll body to the medium feeding unit 13 for feeding the medium M into the casing 12, the guide unit 14 for guiding the medium M discharged from the casing 12, and the guide unit 14. And a winding section 15 for winding the medium M to be wound around a roll body. The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a tension applying mechanism 16 that applies a tension to the medium M wound around the winding unit 15, and an operation panel 17 operated by a user.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 has a predetermined length as a width, a depth, and a height when installed in a place of use. Assuming that the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is installed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis. At this time, the width direction and the depth direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 are substantially horizontal. The depth direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is indicated by the Y axis. The width direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is indicated by an X axis that intersects the Y axis and the Z axis. Therefore, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are coordinate axes indicating the width, depth, and height, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a support base 20 that supports the medium M, and a transport unit 30 that transports the medium M. The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a printing unit 40 that prints on the medium M, and a control unit 60 that controls the operation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10. The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a liquid supply device 100 that supplies a liquid to the printing unit 40. The control unit 60 includes, for example, a CPU and a memory. The control unit 60 controls the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 and the liquid supply apparatus 100 by the CPU executing the program stored in the memory.

The support base 20 is provided so as to extend in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the width direction of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 matches the width direction of the medium M. The medium M is conveyed on the support table 20 in the direction opposite to the depth direction. Therefore, the transport direction of the medium M is opposite to the depth direction.

The transport unit 30 includes a first transport roller pair 31 located behind the support table 20 in the depth direction, and a second transport roller pair 32 located in front of the support table 20. The transport unit 30 includes a transport motor 33 that drives the first transport roller pair 31 and the second transport roller pair 32. By driving the first transport roller pair 31 and the second transport roller pair 32 by the transport motor 33, the medium M sandwiched between the first transport roller pair 31 and the second transport roller pair 32 is on the surface of the support base 20. It is conveyed along the conveying direction.

The printing unit 40 includes a liquid ejecting unit 41 that ejects a liquid from a nozzle 44. The printing unit 40 of the present embodiment includes a guide shaft 42 provided so as to extend in the width direction, and a carriage 43 configured to reciprocate in the width direction by being guided by the guide shaft 42.

The printing unit 40 includes a carriage motor 45 for moving the carriage 43 along the guide shaft 42. The carriage 43 moves as the carriage motor 45 is driven. That is, the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 of this embodiment is a serial type in which the liquid ejecting unit 41 scans the medium M. The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 may be configured as a line type in which the liquid ejecting unit 41 is provided long in the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid ejecting unit 41 has one or a plurality of nozzles 44 that eject the liquid. The liquid ejecting unit 41 includes an individual liquid chamber 411 that communicates with the nozzle 44, a storage unit 413 that is separated from the individual liquid chamber 411 by a vibration plate 412, and an actuator 414 that is stored in the storage unit 413. The liquid ejecting unit 41 includes a common liquid chamber 415 that temporarily stores the supplied liquid and supplies the liquid to the plurality of individual liquid chambers 411.

The actuator 414 is, for example, a piezoelectric element that contracts when a drive voltage is applied. When the diaphragm 412 is deformed due to the contraction of the actuator 414 and then the application of the drive voltage is released, the liquid in the individual liquid chamber 411 whose volume has changed is ejected from the nozzle 44 as a droplet.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a liquid supply passage 110, a storage section 120, an opening/closing valve 140, and a storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 as the configuration of the liquid supply apparatus 100. The liquid supply channel 110 is configured to supply the liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101 to the liquid ejecting unit 41. The liquid supply channel 110 connects the liquid ejecting unit 41 and the liquid supply source 101, which is a liquid supply source for the liquid ejecting unit 41. The liquid supply channel 110 is configured to include, for example, a tube.

The storage section 120 is configured to store the liquid. The storage section 120 is provided in the liquid supply channel 110. The storage section 120 is located between the liquid supply source 101 and the liquid ejecting section 41 in the liquid supply channel 110. The storage unit 120 stores the liquid supplied from the liquid supply source 101. Therefore, the storage unit 120 is located downstream of the liquid supply source 101 in the direction in which the liquid is supplied.

The storage part 120 may be formed of a flexible member 121. The storage section 120 of the present embodiment has a bag body 122 formed of a flexible member 121 having flexibility, and a connection body 123 connected to the liquid supply flow channel 110. The liquid supplied from the liquid supply source 101 is stored in the bag body 122 through the connection body 123. The bag body 122 is inflated or deflated due to the difference between the internal pressure applied to the bag body 122 and the external pressure applied to the outside of the bag body 122. In the bag body 122, its volume changes by swelling or deflating, and the storage amount SA, which is the amount of liquid to be stored, changes.

The on-off valve 140 is configured to open and close the liquid supply flow channel 110. The opening/closing valve 140 is provided in the liquid supply flow channel 110. The on-off valve 140 is provided closer to the liquid supply source 101 than the storage section 120 in the liquid supply flow path 110. Therefore, the opening/closing valve 140 is located between the storage section 120 and the liquid supply source 101 in the liquid supply channel 110. When the opening/closing valve 140 is opened, the liquid can flow from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage section 120. When the opening/closing valve 140 is closed, the flow of the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage section 120 is shut off.

The on-off valve 140 may be, for example, an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes the valve with a solenoid, or an electric valve that opens and closes the valve with an electric motor. The on-off valve 140 may be a fluid pressure valve that opens and closes the valve with a fluid pressure cylinder, or may be another control valve.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 is configured to adjust the storage amount SA of the liquid stored in the storage section 120. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may apply a pressure to the inside of the storage section 120 from the outside. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may apply a pressure to the inside of the storage section 120 via the flexible member 121.

The storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 of the present embodiment applies positive pressure to the liquid inside the storage section 120 by pressurizing the outside of the storage section 120, and deflates the bag body 122 so as to reduce the volume of the storage section 120. .. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 inflates the bag body 122 to increase the volume of the storage unit 120 by reducing the pressure outside the storage unit 120. When the bag 122 is inflated, the pressure inside the storage section 120 is reduced. In this way, the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 applies a negative pressure from the outside of the storage unit 120 to the inside of the storage unit 120. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may be configured to apply pressure from the outside into the storage section 120 by displacing the flexible member 121 by a mechanical element such as a spring or a lever.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may include a storage body 152 having a pressure chamber 151 that stores the storage portion 120, and a storage pump 153 that pressurizes or depressurizes the inside of the pressure chamber 151. The storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 pressurizes the inside of the pressure chamber 151 with the storage pump 153, thereby applying a positive pressure to the inside of the storage section 120 from the outside. The storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 depressurizes the pressure chamber 151 by the storage pump 153, thereby applying a negative pressure to the storage section 120 from the outside. When the pressure inside the pressure chamber 151 is increased, the bag 122 is deflated. The deflated bag 122 is separated from the inner wall 154 of the container 152 forming the pressure chamber 151. When the pressure inside the pressure chamber 151 is reduced, the bag 122 expands. The inflated bag body 122 contacts the inner wall 154.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 adjusts the pressure inside the storage section 120 by changing the pressure inside the pressure chamber 151. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 adjusts the storage amount SA by changing the volume inside the bag body 122 by applying a pressure to the outside of the bag body 122. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may be configured to open the pressure chamber 151 to the atmosphere.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may include a pressure adjustment flow passage 155 that connects the storage pump 153 located outside the container 152 and the pressure chamber 151. The storage pump 153 pressurizes or depressurizes the pressure chamber 151 through the pressure adjustment flow path 155. The storage pump 153 may be located inside the container 152.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 includes a discharge mechanism 50 configured to reduce the pressure of the liquid supply flow channel 110. The discharge mechanism 50 is configured to discharge the liquid in the liquid supply channel 110 from the liquid ejecting section 41 side of the storage section 120 in the liquid supply channel 110 by decompressing the liquid supply channel 110.

The discharge mechanism 50 of the present embodiment includes a cap 51 that can cover the nozzle 44 of the liquid ejecting unit 41, and a suction pump 52 that sucks the inside of the cap 51. The cap 51 caps the liquid ejecting unit 41 by coming into contact with the liquid ejecting unit 41. Capping means forming a space in which the nozzle 44 opens. Capping is performed to suppress the drying of the nozzle 44.

When the suction pump 52 is driven with the cap 51 capping the liquid ejecting unit 41, a negative pressure acts on the nozzle 44, and the liquid is forcibly discharged from the nozzle 44. This is called suction cleaning. That is, the discharge mechanism 50 of the present embodiment causes the liquid in the liquid supply channel 110 to be discharged from the liquid ejecting section 41 by depressurizing the liquid supply channel 110 through the liquid ejecting section 41.

When suction cleaning is performed, bubbles, foreign matters, and the like in the liquid ejecting unit 41 and the liquid supply flow channel 110 are discharged together with the liquid. Therefore, the discharge mechanism 50 depressurizes the liquid supply channel 110 in order to maintain the liquid ejecting apparatus 10.

The discharge mechanism 50 may include a waste liquid tank 53 for collecting the waste liquid discharged from the liquid ejecting unit 41. With this, the waste liquid discharged to the cap 51 by, for example, suction cleaning can be collected by the waste liquid tank 53. The waste liquid tank 53 may directly collect the discharged waste liquid.

The discharge mechanism 50 may include a regulator 54 that adjusts the pressure inside the cap 51. During capping, the regulator 54 allows the pressure inside the cap 51 to reach a predetermined pressure, for example, −2 kPa to +2 kPa, so that the inside of the cap 51 and the atmosphere pass through. That is, the regulator 54 adjusts the pressure inside the cap 51 to a predetermined pressure by taking in air into the cap 51.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is configured to perform a maintenance operation of decompressing the liquid supply flow channel 110 by the discharge mechanism 50 in a state where the liquid supply flow channel 110 is closed by the opening/closing valve 140. When the liquid supply flow channel 110 is depressurized by the discharge mechanism 50 with the liquid supply flow channel 110 closed by the open/close valve 140, negative pressure is accumulated in a portion of the liquid supply flow channel 110 downstream of the open/close valve 140. When a negative pressure is accumulated in the liquid supply channel 110, the volume of bubbles in the liquid supply channel 110 increases. This facilitates the discharge of bubbles in the liquid supply flow channel 110.

In this embodiment, the liquid is discharged from the nozzle 44 by opening the opening/closing valve 140 in the state where the negative pressure is accumulated in the liquid supply flow channel 110. In this way, the discharge mechanism 50 accumulates the negative pressure generated by decompressing the liquid supply passage 110, and then the liquid in the liquid supply passage 110 is vigorously discharged from the nozzle 44 by the accumulated negative pressure. This is generally called chalk cleaning. Chalk cleaning is performed to maintain the liquid ejecting apparatus 10. When the choke cleaning is executed, air bubbles, foreign matters, etc. in the liquid ejecting unit 41 and the liquid supply channel 110 are discharged together with the liquid. Chalk cleaning is performed mainly for the purpose of discharging bubbles, foreign matter, and the like in the liquid supply flow channel 110.

When performing choke cleaning, the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment first closes the opening/closing valve 140. Next, the discharge mechanism 50 depressurizes the liquid supply passage 110 from the liquid ejecting unit 41 side. As a result, negative pressure is accumulated in a portion of the liquid supply flow channel 110 that is closer to the liquid ejecting unit 41 than the on-off valve 140, that is, a portion of the liquid supply flow passage 110 that is downstream of the on-off valve 140. Next, the opening/closing valve 140 is opened. As a result, the liquid is vigorously ejected from the nozzle 44 due to the pressure reduction of the ejection mechanism 50.

Next, the liquid supply apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described.
The liquid supply apparatus 100 includes a holding unit 102 configured to attach and detach a liquid supply source 101 containing a liquid. The liquid supply channel 110 is configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 41 from the liquid supply source 101 mounted on the holding unit 102.

The liquid supply source 101 may have a structure capable of containing a liquid, and may be, for example, a replaceable cartridge type or a tank type capable of replenishing the liquid. The liquid supply source 101 is provided so as to correspond to the number of types of liquid used by the liquid ejecting apparatus 10.

The liquid supply apparatus 100 may include a remaining amount acquisition unit 103 that acquires the remaining amount RA of the liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101. The remaining amount acquisition unit 103 may detect the liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101 by an optical sensor. The remaining amount acquisition unit 103 of the present embodiment includes a light emitting unit 105 that emits light toward the prism 104 of the liquid supply source 101, and a light receiving unit 106 that receives light returning from the prism 104. The prism 104 is, for example, a triangular prism. The light incident on the prism 104 changes its traveling direction depending on the amount of liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101.

Specifically, when the liquid supply source 101 sufficiently stores the liquid, the area in which the prism 104 and the liquid contact each other is large. Therefore, the light incident on the prism 104 travels in the liquid so as to pass through the prism 104, and a small amount of light returns to the light receiving unit 106. When the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 is small and the prism 104 is exposed from the liquid, the area where the prism 104 and the liquid contact each other is small. Therefore, the light incident on the prism 104 is reflected so as to travel inside the prism 104 and reaches the light receiving unit 106. Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 106 when the prism 104 is exposed from the liquid is larger than that when the prism 104 is hidden by the liquid.

The remaining amount acquisition unit 103 outputs the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 106 to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 determines, based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 106, whether the remaining amount RA of the liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101 is less than or equal to the predetermined value VP or less than or equal to the limit value VL.

The liquid supply channel 110 of the present embodiment has a first liquid channel 111 and a second liquid channel 112. The first liquid flow path 111 connects the liquid supply source 101 and the reservoir 120. The second liquid channel 112 connects the storage section 120 and the liquid ejecting section 41. The first liquid channel 111 and the second liquid channel 112 are connected to the connector 123 of the storage section 120.

The liquid supply flow channel 110 may be a flow channel capable of flowing a liquid. The liquid supply channel 110 may be formed of, for example, an elastically deformable tube or a channel forming member made of a hard resin material. The liquid supply channel 110 may be formed by attaching a film member to a channel forming member having a groove.

The liquid supply apparatus 100 may include a pressurizing mechanism 170 that pressurizes the liquid toward the liquid ejecting unit 41. The pressurizing mechanism 170 is provided in the liquid supply channel 110. The pressurizing mechanism 170 is located between the liquid supply source 101 and the storage section 120 in the liquid supply channel 110. Therefore, the pressurizing mechanism 170 of this embodiment is provided in the first liquid flow path 111. The liquid of the liquid supply source 101 is supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 41 via the storage unit 120 by the pressurizing mechanism 170.

The pressurizing mechanism 170 of this embodiment includes a positive displacement pump 171, a first valve 172, and a second valve 173. The first valve 172 is located upstream of the volumetric pump 171 in the liquid supply channel 110. The second valve 173 is located downstream of the volumetric pump 171 in the liquid supply channel 110. The first valve 172 and the second valve 173 of the present embodiment are one-way valves that allow the liquid flow from the upstream to the downstream in the liquid supply flow channel 110 and regulate the liquid flow from the downstream to the upstream. The first valve 172 and the second valve 173 may be configured to open and close the liquid supply flow channel 110, similarly to the opening/closing valve 140.

The positive displacement pump 171 is configured to apply pressure to the liquid by reciprocating the flexible film 174 having flexibility. The positive displacement pump 171 has a pump chamber 175 and a negative pressure chamber 176 which are separated by a flexible film 174. The positive displacement pump 171 includes a decompression unit 177 for decompressing the negative pressure chamber 176, and a pressing member 178 that presses the flexible film 174 toward the pump chamber 175 side. The pressing member 178 is provided in the negative pressure chamber 176.

When the decompression unit 177 decompresses the negative pressure chamber 176, the flexible film 174 is displaced so that the volume of the pump chamber 175 becomes large. At this time, the liquid is drawn from the liquid supply source 101 into the pump chamber 175. When the decompression of the negative pressure chamber 176 by the decompression unit 177 is stopped, the flexible film 174 is pressed against the pressing member 178, so that the displacement of the pump chamber 175 is reduced. At this time, the liquid is pushed out of the pump chamber 175. That is, the positive displacement pump 171 of the present embodiment is composed of a diaphragm pump. The positive displacement pump 171 may be a tube pump.

The pressing mechanism 170 pressurizes the liquid by the pressing member 178 pressing the liquid in the pump chamber 175 through the flexible film 174. As a result, the pressurizing mechanism 170 supplies the liquid toward the liquid ejecting unit 41. The pressing force with which the pressurizing mechanism 170 pressurizes the liquid is set by the pressing force of the pressing member 178.

The liquid supply apparatus 100 may be configured to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the liquid ejecting unit 41 by utilizing the head difference. In this case, the pressure mechanism 170 may not be provided.

The liquid supply apparatus 100 may include a first filter section 210, a second filter section 220, a third filter section 230, a static mixer 250, a liquid storage section 260, a degassing mechanism 270, and a hydraulic pressure adjusting mechanism 280. The first filter unit 210, the second filter unit 220, the third filter unit 230, the static mixer 250, the liquid storage unit 260, the degassing mechanism 270, and the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 280 are provided in the liquid supply channel 110, and the storage unit. It is located between 120 and the liquid ejecting unit 41. In the present embodiment, the first filter unit 210, the static mixer 250, the liquid storage unit 260, the degassing mechanism 270, the second filter unit 220, the liquid pressure adjusting mechanism 280, and the third filter unit 230 are second in order from the upstream side. It is provided in the liquid channel 112.

In the first filter section 210, the second filter section 220, and the third filter section 230, the amount of foreign matter collected increases as the usage time increases. Therefore, the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 may be configured such that at least one of the first filter section 210, the second filter section 220, and the third filter section 230 is replaceable. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first filter unit 210 may be provided at a position exposed from the housing 12 when the cover 18 of the housing 12 is opened.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first filter unit 210 includes a first filter 211 that collects foreign matter, a first upstream filter chamber 212 that is located upstream of the first filter 211, and a first filter 211 that is more upstream than the first filter 211. And a first downstream filter chamber 213 located downstream. The first upstream filter chamber 212 is located below the first downstream filter chamber 213. The first upstream filter chamber 212 is provided in a substantially conical shape or a substantially truncated cone shape. The first filter 211 is formed in a substantially disc shape so as to form the bottom surface of the first upstream filter chamber 212. The height of the first upstream filter chamber 212 may be smaller than the diameter of the first filter 211.

The second filter unit 220 includes a second filter 221, which collects foreign matter, a second upstream filter chamber 222 located upstream of the second filter 221, and a second downstream located downstream of the second filter 221. And a side filter chamber 223.

The third filter unit 230 includes a third filter 231, which collects foreign matter, a third upstream filter chamber 232, which is located upstream of the third filter 231, and a third downstream, which is located downstream of the third filter 231. And a side filter chamber 233.

The first filter 211, the second filter 221, and the third filter 231 may be formed such that the filtration area through which the liquid can pass is larger than the channel cross-sectional area of the liquid supply channel 110. As the first filter 211, the second filter 221, and the third filter 231, for example, a mesh body, a porous body, a perforated plate having fine through holes, or the like can be used. The first filter 211, the second filter 221, and the third filter 231 may use filters of different types and different shapes.

Examples of the mesh filter include a wire mesh, a resin mesh, a mesh filter, and a metal fiber. Examples of the metal fiber filter include a felt filter in which a stainless thin wire is formed into a felt shape, and a metal sintered filter in which a stainless thin wire is compression-sintered. Examples of the filter of the porous plate include an electroforming metal filter, an electron beam processed metal filter, and a laser beam processed metal filter.

The static mixer 250 includes a plurality of components that divide the liquid flow in the liquid flow direction. The static mixer 250 reduces the concentration bias in the liquid by dividing, diverting, or inverting the liquid flowing through the static mixer 250.

The liquid storage section 260 includes a pressurizing chamber 261, which stores a liquid, an elastic film 262 which forms a part of a wall surface of the pressurizing chamber 261, and a first elastic film 262 which presses the elastic film 262 in a direction to reduce the volume of the pressurizing chamber 261. 1 pressing member 263. The first pressing member 263 pressurizes the liquid stored in the pressurizing chamber 261.

The liquid storage unit 260 pressurizes the liquid stored in the pressurizing chamber 261 at a pressure lower than the pressure applied by the pressurizing mechanism 170 when supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 41. The pressure applied by the pressurizing mechanism 170 when supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 41 is, for example, 30 kPa. Therefore, the liquid storage unit 260 pressurizes the liquid stored in the pressurizing chamber 261 at 10 kPa, for example. Specifically, the pressure acting on the liquid stored in the pressure chamber 261 by the elastic film 262 pressed against the first pressing member 263 is applied to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the liquid ejecting unit 41. It is lower than the pressure applied by the pressure mechanism 170. Therefore, when the liquid supply pressure from the liquid supply source 101 does not decrease to the liquid storage section 260, the pressing force of the first pressing member 263 is resisted and the volume of the pressurizing chamber 261 increases. The elastic film 262 is displaced.

The degassing mechanism 270 includes a degassing chamber 271 that temporarily stores liquid, an exhaust chamber 273 that is separated from the degassing chamber 271 by a degassing film 272, and an exhaust path 274 that communicates the exhaust chamber 273 to the outside.

The degassing film 272 has a property of passing gas but not liquid. As the degassing film 272, for example, a film made by specially stretching polytetrafluoroethylene and having a large number of fine holes of about 0.2 μm can be adopted. When the gas-containing liquid flows into the degassing chamber 271, only the gas passes through the degassing film 272 and enters the exhaust chamber 273. The gas that has entered the exhaust chamber 273 is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust passage 274. Thereby, bubbles and dissolved gas mixed in the liquid stored in the degassing chamber 271 are removed.

In the degassing mechanism 270, the exhaust chamber 273 may be located above the degassing chamber 271. Bubbles and dissolved gas mixed in the liquid easily float in the liquid. Therefore, when the exhaust chamber 273 is located above the degassing chamber 271, it becomes easy to remove bubbles and dissolved gas mixed in the liquid.

The degassing mechanism 270 may include a decompression pump 275 that decompresses the exhaust chamber 273. The decompression pump 275 decompresses the exhaust chamber 273 through the exhaust passage 274 to remove bubbles and dissolved gas mixed in the liquid stored in the degassing chamber 271. For example, when the pressure of the exhaust chamber 273 can be made lower than the pressure of the deaeration chamber 271 by using a member such as a spring, the decompression pump 275 may not be provided. In the present embodiment, the pressure of the pressure mechanism 170 causes the pressure of the degassing chamber 271 to be higher than the pressure of the exhaust chamber 273.

The hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 280 of the present embodiment is provided integrally with the second filter section 220 at a position downstream of the second filter section 220. The hydraulic pressure adjusting mechanism 280 includes a liquid chamber 282 communicating with the second downstream filter chamber 223 via the communication hole 281, and a valve body 283 capable of opening/closing the communication hole 281. The hydraulic pressure adjusting mechanism 280 includes a pressure receiving member 284 whose proximal end is housed in the second downstream filter chamber 223 and whose distal end is housed in the liquid chamber 282.

The liquid chamber 282 of the liquid pressure adjusting mechanism 280 can store liquid. A part of the wall surface of the liquid chamber 282 is formed by a flexible wall 285 that can be flexibly displaced. The valve body 283 may be, for example, an elastic body such as rubber or resin attached to the base end portion of the pressure receiving member 284 located inside the second downstream filter chamber 223.

The hydraulic pressure adjusting mechanism 280 includes a second pressing member 286 accommodated in the second downstream filter chamber 223 and a third pressing member 287 accommodated in the liquid chamber 282. The second pressing member 286 presses the valve body 283 in the direction of closing the communication hole 281 via the pressure receiving member 284. The third pressing member 287 pushes back the pressure receiving member 284 when the flexible wall 285 pushes the pressure receiving member 284 by the flexible wall 285 flexibly displacing in the direction of reducing the volume of the liquid chamber 282.

When the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282 decreases and the force of the flexible wall 285 that presses the pressure receiving member 284 exceeds the pressing force of the second pressing member 286 and the third pressing member 287, the valve element 283 causes the communication hole 281. Open up. When the liquid flows from the second downstream filter chamber 223 into the liquid chamber 282 by opening the communication hole 281, the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282 rises. As a result, the valve body 283 closes the communication hole 281 by the pressing force of the second pressing member 286 and the third pressing member 287 before the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282 rises to the positive pressure. In this way, the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282 is maintained in the range of negative pressure corresponding to the pressing force of the second pressing member 286 and the third pressing member 287.

The internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282 decreases as the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 41. The valve body 283 autonomously opens and closes the communication hole 281 according to the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure, which is the external pressure of the liquid chamber 282, and the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 282. Therefore, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 280 is a differential pressure valve. The differential pressure valve is also called a pressure reducing valve or a self-sealing valve.

A valve opening mechanism 290 for forcibly opening the communication hole 281 and supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit 41 may be added to the hydraulic pressure adjusting mechanism 280. For example, the valve opening mechanism 290 includes a pressurizing bag 292 housed in an accommodating chamber 291 partitioned from the liquid chamber 282 by the flexible wall 285, and a pressurizing flow path 293 that allows gas to flow into the pressurizing bag 292. ..

In the valve opening mechanism 290, the pressurizing bag 292 is inflated by the gas flowing in through the pressurizing flow path 293, and the flexible wall 285 is flexibly displaced in the direction in which the volume of the liquid chamber 282 is reduced, whereby the communication hole 281 is forcibly. Open up. The liquid supply apparatus 100 can perform pressure cleaning in which the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejecting unit 41 by pressurizing and supplying the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the liquid ejecting unit 41 with the communication hole 281 being opened.

When the liquid supply device 100 includes the decompression pump 275, the valve opening mechanism 290 and the deaeration mechanism 270 may be configured to share the decompression pump 275. For example, the pressurizing passage 293 may be connected to the exhaust passage 274 and the depressurizing pump 275 may be configured to be capable of driving both pressurization and depressurization. In this case, the check valve 187 may be provided in the exhaust passage 274. In such a configuration, the decompression pump 275 may be driven to pressurize to send gas to the pressure bag 292, and the decompression pump 275 may be driven to depressurize the exhaust chamber 273.

Next, the storage section 120 and the storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 will be described.
The storage parts 120 are provided so as to correspond to the number of the liquid supply sources 101. That is, the storage section 120 is provided so as to correspond to the number of types of liquid used by the liquid ejecting apparatus 10. For example, one storage part 120 may be provided for one liquid supply source 101, or two storage parts 120 may be provided for one liquid supply source 101.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a plurality of storage sections 120 are provided. The container 152 of the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 has a plurality of pressure chambers 151. Therefore, the container 152 is configured to house the plurality of storage units 120. The container 152 may be configured to have one pressure chamber 151. In this case, a plurality of containers 152 are provided so as to correspond to the plurality of storage sections 120.

In the container 152, the plurality of pressure chambers 151 are positioned so as to be aligned in the vertical direction. The container 152 of this embodiment has six pressure chambers 151. Therefore, the container 152 is configured to accommodate the six storage parts 120.

The plurality of pressure chambers 151 are configured such that the spaces are connected by a slit 156 provided in the container 152. Therefore, when the storage pump 153 depressurizes one pressure chamber 151, the other pressure chambers 151 are also depressurized. When the storage pump 153 pressurizes one pressure chamber 151, the other pressure chambers 151 are also pressurized. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may include a storage pump 153 for each pressure chamber 151. In this case, the pressure can be adjusted for each pressure chamber 151. The storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 pressurizes the inside of the storage section 120 by the storage pump 153 delivering gas to the pressure chamber 151 of the container 152, and the storage pump 153 discharges gas from the pressure chamber 151 of the container 152. Thus, a negative pressure is applied to the storage section 120.

The inner wall 154 of the container 152 forming the pressure chamber 151 may be arranged so as to come into contact with the flexible member 121 displaced so that the volume of the storage section 120 becomes large. This can prevent the flexible member 121 from excessively displacing. That is, it is possible to prevent the bag body 122 from inflating excessively. Accordingly, damage to the flexible member 121 due to excessive displacement can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 5, the storage part 120 may have an introduction hole 124 for introducing the liquid into the storage part 120 and a lead-out hole 125 for guiding the liquid out of the storage part 120. The introduction hole 124 and the extraction hole 125 of this embodiment are provided in the connection body 123 and open in the bag body 122. The liquid introduced from the introduction hole 124 is led out from the lead-out hole 125 via the inside of the storage section 120.

The connection body 123 may have a connection path 126 that connects the introduction hole 124 and the extraction hole 125. By doing so, even when the bag body 122 is completely deflated, the liquid can be made to flow from the introduction hole 124 to the outlet hole 125 through the connection path 126.

The storage part 120 may have an introduction pipe 127 connected to the first liquid flow path 111 and a discharge pipe 128 connected to the second liquid flow path 112. The inlet pipe 127 and the outlet pipe 128 of this embodiment are provided in the connection body 123. An introduction hole 124 is opened at one end of the introduction pipe 127. A lead-out hole 125 opens at one end of the lead-out pipe 128. The inlet pipe 127 and the outlet pipe 128 may be provided independently.

The bag body 122 may be formed by bonding two flexible members 121. The flexible member 121 is provided as a rectangular sheet, for example. An edge portion of the flexible member 121 is an adhesive portion 129 where the flexible members 121 are adhered to each other. The flexible member 121 may be adhered by an adhesive, or may be welded by heat or a solvent. The connection body 123 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the adhesive portions 129 and is adhered to the adhesive portions 129.

In the present embodiment, the flat bag body 122 is arranged in a flat state so as to be flat in the plane of the X axis and the Y axis. The bag body 122 may be arranged in a vertically placed state in which it is flat in the planes of the Y axis and the Z axis, or may be arranged in a vertically placed state in which it is flat in the planes of the Z axis and the X axis. May be.

Next, the upper limit value of the storage amount SA of the liquid stored in the storage section 120, the predetermined value VP and the limit value VL of the remaining amount RA of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the storage section 120 stores the liquid in the bag body 122 whose shape changes. Therefore, the storage amount SA, which is the amount of liquid stored in the storage section 120, changes depending on the shape of the bag 122.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 inflates the bag body 122 by, for example, depressurizing the pressure chamber 151 and lowering the pressure outside the bag body 122 than the pressure inside the bag body 122. When the bag body 122 expands to the maximum, the outer surface of the bag body 122 comes into contact with the inner wall 154. The storage unit 120 in this state has the maximum storage amount SA. In the present embodiment, the maximum amount that can be stored in the storage unit 120 is the first upper limit value V1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 deflates the bag body 122 by, for example, pressurizing the inside of the pressure chamber 151 and making the pressure outside the bag body 122 higher than the pressure inside the bag body 122. When the bag 122 is deflated, the inner surfaces of the bag 122 facing each other are in contact with each other. The storage amount SA in this state is set to the second upper limit value V2. When the bag body 122 is completely deflated, the contact area between the inner surfaces of the bag body 122 is maximized and the storage amount SA is minimized. The minimum storage amount SA is substantially equal to the volume of the connection path 126. The second upper limit value V2 may be the same as the minimum storage amount SA, or may be larger than the minimum storage amount SA and smaller than the first upper limit value V1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the predetermined value VP may be the same as the first upper limit value V1 or may be a value larger than the first upper limit value V1. The limit value VL is a value smaller than the predetermined value VP, and is 0 or a small value, for example. When the remaining amount RA reaches the limit value VL, the liquid cannot be supplied from the liquid supply source 101 to the liquid ejecting unit 41. Therefore, the limit value VL is an amount that requires replacement of the liquid supply source 101.

Next, a control method of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, in step S101, the control unit 60 pressurizes the storage pump 153 to pressurize the pressure chamber 151. In step S102, the control unit 60 drives the pressing mechanism 170. In step S103, the control unit 60 determines whether the remaining amount RA of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 is equal to or less than the predetermined value VP.

When the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, step S103 becomes NO. The control unit 60 stands by until the remaining amount RA becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value VP while the pressure chamber 151 is pressurized. When the remaining amount RA becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value VP, step S103 becomes YES. In step S104, the control unit 60 opens the pressure chamber 151 to the atmosphere, and releases the pressurized state of the pressure chamber 151. At this time, the control unit 60 continuously drives the pressing mechanism 170.

In step S105, the control unit 60 determines whether the remaining amount RA is less than or equal to the limit value VL. When the remaining amount RA is larger than the limit value VL, step S105 becomes NO. The control unit 60 continues to drive the pressurizing mechanism 170 and waits until the remaining amount RA becomes equal to or less than the limit value VL. When the remaining amount RA becomes equal to or less than the limit value VL, step S105 becomes YES. The control unit 60 shifts the processing to step S106.

In step S106, the control unit 60 stops driving the pressurizing mechanism 170. In step S107, the control unit 60 pressurizes the storage pump 153 to pressurize the pressure chamber 151. In step S108, the control unit 60 displays, for example, a prompt on the operation panel 17 to replace the liquid supply source 101, and notifies that the remaining amount RA has reached the limit value VL.

In step S109, the control unit 60 determines whether the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP. If the remaining amount RA is less than or equal to the predetermined value VP, step S109 becomes NO and the control unit 60 stands by. When the liquid supply source 101 is replaced and the remaining amount RA becomes larger than the predetermined value VP, step S109 becomes YES. The control unit 60 moves the process to step S102. The control unit 60 repeatedly executes the liquid supply routine while the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is powered on.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 60 controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 such that the storage amount SA when the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP becomes smaller than the first upper limit value V1. When the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 of the present embodiment controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 so that the storage amount SA becomes the second upper limit value V2 which is smaller than the first upper limit value V1. ..

Specifically, when the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 drives the storage pump 153 to pressurize the pressure in the pressure chamber 151 to pressurize the pressure in the storage unit 120 by the pressurizing mechanism 170. Higher than the liquid pressure. That is, in the storage section 120, when the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the facing inner surfaces of the bag body 122 are in contact with each other. Even when the pressurizing mechanism 170 is driven to supply the liquid, the storage section 120 is maintained in a deflated state, and the storage amount SA becomes the second upper limit value V2 or less.

As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid is supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 41 via the first liquid flow path 111, the introduction pipe 127, the connection path 126, the discharge pipe 128, and the second liquid flow path 112. When the liquid is consumed in the liquid ejecting unit 41, the remaining amount RA of the liquid supply source 101 decreases by the consumed amount.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 60 sets the upper limit value of the storage amount SA when the remaining amount RA of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 is equal to or less than the predetermined value VP to the first upper limit value V1. When the remaining amount RA is less than or equal to the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 so that the storage amount SA becomes less than or equal to the first upper limit value V1. The control unit 60 controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 to apply a lower pressure to the outside of the bag 122 when the remaining amount RA is less than or equal to the predetermined value VP than when the remaining amount RA is greater than the predetermined value VP. .. Specifically, when the remaining amount RA reaches the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 releases the pressure in the pressure chamber 151.

To release the pressurization, the storage pump 153 may be depressurized or the pressure chamber 151 may be opened to the atmosphere. When the pressurization is released, the volume of the storage section 120 increases due to the pressure of the pressurization mechanism 170 supplying the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to swell the bag body 122.

When the predetermined value VP is equal to or larger than the first upper limit value V1, the bag body 122 swells until it contacts the inner wall 154 of the container 152, and the storage unit 120 stores the liquid of the first upper limit value V1. To be done. Therefore, the control unit 60 controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 to adjust the storage amount SA so that the storage amount SA becomes the first upper limit value V1 when the remaining amount RA becomes the predetermined value VP.

When the difference between the predetermined value VP and the limit value VL is larger than the difference between the first upper limit value V1 and the second upper limit value V2, the remaining amount RA becomes the predetermined value VP and after the liquid is supplied to the storage section 120. The remaining amount RA is larger than the limit value VL. Therefore, the control unit 60 supplies the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 until the remaining amount RA reaches the limit value VL. Therefore, the storage amount SA is maintained at the first upper limit value V1 and the remaining amount RA decreases.

When the remaining amount RA reaches the limit value VL, the control unit 60 stops driving the pressurizing mechanism 170 and pressurizes the outside of the bag body 122. Specifically, the control unit 60 pressurizes the storage pump 153 to pressurize the liquid in the storage unit 120 from outside the bag 122. When the liquid is consumed in the liquid ejecting unit 41, the liquid is supplied from the storage unit 120 to the liquid ejecting unit 41 by the consumed amount. In the storage part 120, the bag 122 is shrunk by the amount of the supplied liquid, and the volume is reduced.

For example, the first upper limit value V1 may be an amount expected to print one image. By doing so, even if the liquid of the liquid supply source 101 is exhausted during the printing of the image, the printing of the image can be continued by using the liquid stored in the storage section 120. This reduces the risk of interrupting printing. Further, it is possible to suppress deterioration of print quality such as color unevenness due to interruption of printing.

When the liquid supply source 101 is replaced and the remaining amount RA becomes larger than the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 drives the pressurizing mechanism 170. The pressure by which the pressure mechanism 170 presses the liquid and sends the liquid to the storage section 120 is lower than the pressure by which the storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 presses the bag 122. Therefore, when the storage amount SA is larger than the second upper limit value V2, the liquid stored in the storage section 120 is first supplied to the liquid ejecting section 41. The storage section 120 shrinks until the inner surfaces of the bag 122 that face each other come into contact with each other, and the storage amount SA becomes the second upper limit value V2 or less. When the storage amount SA becomes the second upper limit value V2 or less, the liquid contained in the liquid supply source 101 is supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 41.

The effects of this embodiment will be described.
(1) For example, when the liquid having the first upper limit value V1 is stored in the storage unit 120 regardless of the remaining amount RA, the time for which the liquid stays in the storage unit 120 becomes longer, and the sedimentation component is likely to sediment. In this respect, the control unit 60 reduces the storage amount SA to be smaller than the first upper limit value V1 when the remaining amount RA of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 is larger than the predetermined value VP. Therefore, while the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the storage amount SA is small, and the time that the liquid stays in the storage section 120 can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk that the sedimentation of the sedimentation component proceeds, and reduce the risk that the liquid in which the sedimentation component has proceeded to be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit 41.

(2) The control unit 60 controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 so that the storage amount SA becomes the first upper limit value V1 when the remaining amount RA becomes the predetermined value VP. Therefore, even when the liquid cannot be supplied from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage part 120, for example, when the liquid supply source 101 is removed from the holding part 102 and replaced, the liquid ejecting part stores the liquid stored in the storage part 120. 41 can be supplied.

(3) The storage section 120 has the bag body 122 formed of the flexible member 121. The flexible bag body 122 is deformed by the pressure applied to the outside of the bag body 122, and the internal volume of the bag body 122 changes. Therefore, the configuration in which the storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 exerts a pressure on the outside of the bag body 122 can be preferably adopted as a configuration for adjusting the storage amount SA.

(4) The inner volume of the bag body 122 increases as the pressure acting on the outside of the bag body 122 decreases. In that respect, when the remaining amount RA is less than or equal to the predetermined value VP, a lower pressure is applied to the outside of the bag body 122 than when the remaining amount RA is greater than the predetermined value VP, and the internal volume of the bag body 122 can be increased. Therefore, it can be suitably adopted as a mechanism for changing the volume in the bag body 122.

(5) When the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, among the inner surfaces of the bag body 122, the inner surfaces facing each other come into contact with each other. Therefore, the internal volume of the bag body 122 becomes small, and the storage amount SA stored in the bag body 122 becomes small. Therefore, the time for which the liquid stays in the storage unit 120 can be shortened, and the possibility that the liquid in which the settling components have settled is supplied to the liquid jetting unit 41 can be reduced.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the liquid ejecting apparatus and the method of controlling the liquid ejecting apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the storage section. Since the other points are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the discharge mechanism 50 may include a first atmosphere release valve 55. When the first atmosphere release valve 55 opens, the space surrounded by the cap 51 and the liquid ejecting unit 41 is opened to the atmosphere. The first atmosphere release valve 55 may be closed when a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle 44, and may be opened when the inside of the cap 51 is communicated with the atmosphere.

The liquid supply source 101 may include a case 107 and a liquid pack 109 housed in an air chamber 108 formed inside the case 107. The liquid pack 109 is formed of, for example, a bag-shaped flexible film.

In the holding unit 102, when the position of the liquid of the liquid supply source 101 mounted on the holding unit 102 is the position where the nozzle 44 is opened in the liquid ejecting unit 41, and the liquid stored in the storage unit 120 is the lower limit value Vm. You may arrange|position below the position of the liquid surface of.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 includes a storage amount sensor 160 that detects the storage amount SA of the liquid stored in the storage unit 120, and a supply mechanism 161 that supplies the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 to the storage unit 120. Including. The supply mechanism 161 includes a connection passage 162 connected to the liquid supply source 101 mounted on the holding portion 102, a pressure pump 163 provided in the connection passage 162, a pressure sensor 164, and an air pressure adjustment portion 165. , May be provided. The pressure pump 163 supplies pressurized air to the air chamber 108 via the connection flow path 162. The pressure pump 163 crushes the liquid pack 109 by the pressure of the pressurized air supplied into the air chamber 108, and supplies the liquid in the liquid pack 109 to the reservoir 120 via the liquid supply channel 110.

The storage section 120 may be mounted on the carriage 43 so as to be movable together with the carriage 43. When the liquid level of the liquid to be stored in the storage unit 120 is located above the opening of the nozzle 44 in the liquid ejection unit 41, the liquid pressure adjustment is performed between the storage unit 120 and the liquid ejection unit 41 in the liquid supply flow channel 110. The mechanism 280 may be provided.

The storage section 120 of the present embodiment is provided between the static mixer 250 and the degassing mechanism 270. The storage section 120 may be made of, for example, a rigid member. The storage section 120 has a storage chamber 120A having a constant volume. The storage unit 120 stores the liquid having a first upper limit value V1 or less. When the first upper limit value V1 is smaller than the volume of the storage chamber 120A, the storage chamber 120A has a region where liquid is present and a region where gas is present. The storage unit 120 may include a second atmosphere release valve 166 that opens the storage chamber 120A to the atmosphere.

The storage amount sensor 160 can detect the first upper limit value V1 and the second upper limit value V2 of the storage amount SA smaller than the first upper limit value V1. The storage amount sensor 160 may detect the lower limit value Vm. The storage amount sensor 160 may be a sensor that detects the position of the liquid surface in the storage chamber 120A. The control unit 60 determines whether the stored amount SA is one of the first upper limit value V1, the second upper limit value V2, and the lower limit value Vm based on the position of the liquid surface detected by the stored amount sensor 160. You may. The storage amount sensor 160 may detect that the storage amount SA is one of the first upper limit value V1, the second upper limit value V2, and the lower limit value Vm.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
When supplying the liquid from the liquid supply source 101, the control unit 60 may drive the pressurizing pump 163 with the open/close valve 140 open, or may operate the pressurizing pump 163 with the open/close valve 140 closed in advance. It may be driven to maintain the air chamber 108 in a pressurized state. When the air chamber 108 is maintained in the pressurized state, the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply source 101 to the reservoir 120 when the opening/closing valve 140 is opened. When the pressure of the air chamber 108 is reduced by supplying the liquid, the control unit 60 drives the pressurizing pump 163 based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 164.

The controller 60 drives and controls the supply mechanism 161 so that the storage amount SA detected by the storage amount sensor 160 is equal to or less than the second upper limit value V2 when the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP. The control unit 60 detects the storage amount SA by the storage amount sensor 160 and opens the open/close valve 140 when the storage amount SA reaches the lower limit value Vm. When the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage section 120, the storage amount SA increases. The control unit 60 closes the open/close valve 140 so that the storage amount SA becomes equal to or less than the second upper limit value V2.

The control unit 60 drives and controls the supply mechanism 161 so that the storage amount SA becomes the first upper limit value V1 or less when the remaining amount RA is the predetermined value VP or less. The controller 60 opens the open/close valve 140 when the storage amount SA reaches the lower limit value Vm. The control unit 60 closes the open/close valve 140 so that the storage amount SA becomes equal to or less than the first upper limit value V1.

The control unit 60 returns the liquid in the storage chamber 120</b>A to the liquid supply source 101 when the liquid stays in the storage unit 120 for more than the set time or when the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is turned off. Good. Specifically, the control unit 60 opens the opening/closing valve 140 while the air chamber 108 is open to the atmosphere. The liquid in the storage chamber 120A is liquid by the head (energy of the liquid) because the liquid surface of the liquid stored in the storage unit 120 is located above the position of the liquid of the liquid supply source 101 mounted on the holding unit 102. Move to source 101. The control unit 60 closes the open/close valve 140 when the storage amount SA reaches the lower limit value Vm. The control unit 60 stirs the contained liquid by shaking the liquid supply source 101 from the holding unit 102 to the operator after closing the opening/closing valve 140 or when the power of the liquid ejecting apparatus 10 is turned on. May be prompted, or a stirring mechanism (not shown) provided in the holder 102 may be driven.

The effects of this embodiment will be described.
(6) The storage amount sensor 160 detects the storage amount SA of the liquid stored in the storage section 120. When the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 supplies the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage unit 120 so that the stored amount SA becomes the second upper limit value V2 or less. When the remaining amount RA is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value VP, the control unit 60 supplies the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage unit 120 so that the stored amount SA becomes equal to or smaller than the first upper limit value V1 which is larger than the second upper limit value V2. Supply. Therefore, the storage amount SA is reduced while the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, and the storage amount SA is increased when the remaining amount RA is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value VP.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
As shown in FIG. 9, the supply mechanism 161 may decompress the inside of the storage section 120 to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage section 120. The supply mechanism 161 may include a connection channel 162 connected to the storage chamber 120A, an exhaust pump 167 provided in the connection channel 162, a pressure sensor 164, and an air pressure adjusting unit 165. The control unit 60 may drive the exhaust pump 167 with the opening/closing valve 140 open to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source 101 to the storage unit 120.

-When the flexible member 121 is adhere|attached on both sides of the connection body 123, a clearance gap is made between the flexible member 121 and the connection body 123 in the vicinity of the connection body 123. This gap becomes larger as the thickness of the connecting body 123 is larger and the inner surfaces of the bag body 122 are farther from each other. Therefore, when the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 exerts a pressure on the outside of the bag body 122, when the connection body 123 has a thickness such that a gap is formed between the connection body 123 and the flexible member 121, Alternatively, the connection path 126 may not be provided.

The remaining amount acquisition unit 103 may be a terminal that is connected to the storage unit of the liquid supply source 101 and acquires information indicating the remaining amount RA from the storage unit. Based on the information stored in the storage unit and the amount of liquid consumed by the liquid ejecting apparatus 10, the control unit 60 determines that the remaining amount RA of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 is equal to or less than the predetermined value VP, or the limit. You may judge whether it is below value VL.

The difference between the predetermined value VP and the limit value VL may be smaller than the difference between the first upper limit value V1 and the second upper limit value V2. The storage amount SA when the remaining amount RA reaches the predetermined value VP may be smaller than the first upper limit value V1.

The second upper limit value V2 may be the storage amount SA when the inner surfaces of the bag 122 that face each other are separated from each other. For example, the pressurization mechanism 170 may supply the liquid with a pressure that causes the inner surfaces of the bag body 122 to separate from each other.

The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may include a spring that pushes the bag 122 from the outside. When the remaining amount RA is larger than the predetermined value VP, the storage amount adjusting mechanism 150 pushes the bag 122 with the spring to set the storage amount SA to the second upper limit value V2 or less, and when the remaining amount RA is the predetermined value VP or less. Alternatively, the pressure chamber 151 may be depressurized to reduce the storage amount SA to the first upper limit V1 or less.

The storage part 120 may be configured by, for example, a cylinder and a piston. The storage amount adjustment mechanism 150 may adjust the storage amount SA by mechanically moving the piston.
The predetermined value VP may be smaller than the first upper limit value V1. The control unit 60 may supply the liquid stored in the liquid supply source 101 to the storage unit 120 and prompt the replacement of the liquid supply source 101 when the remaining amount RA reaches the predetermined value VP. At this time, the storage amount SA may be smaller than the first upper limit value V1.

-Bag 122 may be formed of one flexible member 121.
The medium M may be a metal film, a plastic film, a cloth, or the like.
The liquid ejected by the liquid ejecting unit 41 is not limited to ink, and may be, for example, a liquid material in which particles of a functional material are dispersed or mixed in the liquid. For example, the liquid ejecting unit 41 may eject a liquid material containing a material such as an electrode material or a pixel material used in manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence display, a surface emitting display, or the like in a dispersed or dissolved manner.

Below, the technical idea and its effects obtained from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described.
The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, a holding unit configured to attach and detach a liquid supply source that contains the liquid, and the liquid supply source that is attached to the holding unit to the liquid. A liquid supply channel configured to supply the liquid ejecting unit, a storage unit disposed in the liquid supply channel and configured to store the liquid, and the liquid stored in the storage unit. And a storage amount adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the storage amount, and an upper limit value of the storage amount when the remaining amount of the liquid accommodated in the liquid supply source is equal to or less than a predetermined value as a first upper limit value. In this case, a control unit that controls the storage amount adjustment mechanism such that the storage amount when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value is smaller than the first upper limit value.

For example, if the liquid of the first upper limit value is stored in the storage portion regardless of the remaining amount, the time for which the liquid stays in the storage portion becomes long, and the sedimentation component is likely to sediment. In this respect, according to this configuration, the control unit makes the storage amount smaller than the first upper limit value when the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source is larger than the predetermined value. Therefore, while the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value, the storage amount becomes small, and the time for which the liquid stays in the storage portion can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk that the sedimentation of the sedimentation component progresses, and reduce the risk that the liquid in which the sedimentation component sedimentation has proceeded is supplied to the liquid ejecting unit.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the predetermined value is the same as or larger than the first upper limit value, and the control unit sets the storage amount to the first upper limit value when the remaining amount becomes the predetermined value. The storage amount adjustment mechanism may be controlled so that

According to this configuration, the control unit controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism so that the storage amount becomes the first upper limit value when the remaining amount becomes the predetermined value. Therefore, even when the liquid cannot be supplied from the liquid supply source to the storage unit, for example, while the liquid supply source is removed from the holding unit and replaced, the liquid stored in the storage unit can be supplied to the liquid ejecting unit.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the storage section includes a bag body formed of a flexible member having flexibility and a connection body connected to the liquid supply flow path, and the storage amount adjusting mechanism is Alternatively, the storage amount may be adjusted by changing the volume in the bag body by applying a pressure to the outside of the bag body.

According to this configuration, the storage section has the bag body formed of the flexible member. The flexible bag body is deformed by the pressure applied to the outside of the bag body, and the internal volume of the bag body changes. Therefore, the configuration in which the storage amount adjustment mechanism exerts pressure on the outside of the bag can be suitably adopted as the configuration for adjusting the storage amount.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the control unit controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism so that when the remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value, it is lower outside the bag than when the remaining amount is greater than the predetermined value. Pressure may be applied.

The volume inside the bag increases as the pressure acting on the outside of the bag decreases. In this regard, according to this configuration, when the remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value, a lower pressure is applied to the outside of the bag body than when the remaining amount is greater than the predetermined value, and the internal volume of the bag body can be increased. Therefore, it can be suitably adopted as a mechanism for changing the volume inside the bag.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, in the storage section, the inner surfaces facing each other of the bag body may be in contact with each other when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value.
According to this configuration, when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value, among the inner surfaces of the bag body, the inner surfaces facing each other come into contact with each other. Therefore, the internal volume of the bag is reduced, and the amount of water stored in the bag is small. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time for which the liquid stays in the storage portion, and reduce the possibility that the liquid in which the sedimentation component has settled is supplied to the liquid ejecting unit.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus, the storage amount adjusting mechanism is housed in the liquid supply source, and a storage amount sensor capable of detecting the first upper limit value and a second upper limit value of the storage amount smaller than the first upper limit value. A supply mechanism that supplies the liquid to the storage unit, wherein the control unit controls the storage amount detected by the storage amount sensor when the remaining amount is greater than the predetermined value to be equal to or less than the second upper limit value. The supply mechanism may be drive-controlled such that the storage amount becomes equal to or less than the first upper limit value when the remaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value.

According to this configuration, the storage amount sensor detects the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage section. When the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value, the control unit supplies the liquid from the liquid supply source to the storage unit so that the stored amount becomes the second upper limit value or less. When the remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the control unit supplies the liquid from the liquid supply source to the storage unit so that the storage amount becomes equal to or less than the first upper limit value that is larger than the second upper limit value. Therefore, it can be suitably adopted as a configuration in which the storage amount is reduced while the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value and is increased when the remaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value.

A control method of a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid from a nozzle, a liquid supply channel configured to supply the liquid contained in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting unit, and the liquid supply. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a storage section that is provided in a flow path and configured to store the liquid, wherein the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source is a predetermined value or less. In the case where the upper limit value of the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage unit is set to a first upper limit value, the storage amount when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value is smaller than the first upper limit value. Adjust to. According to this method, the same effect as that of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be obtained.

In the control method of the liquid ejecting apparatus, the predetermined value is the same as or larger than the first upper limit value, and when the remaining amount is the predetermined value, the storage amount becomes the first upper limit value. May be adjusted as follows. According to this method, the same effect as that of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Liquid ejecting device, 11... Leg part, 12... Housing|casing, 13... Feeding part, 14... Guide part, 15... Winding part, 16... Tensioning mechanism, 17... Operation panel, 18... Cover, 20... Support Table, 30... Transport unit, 31... First transport roller pair, 32... Second transport roller pair, 33... Transport motor, 40... Printing unit, 41... Liquid ejecting unit, 42... Guide shaft, 43... Carriage, 44... Nozzle, 45... Carriage motor, 50... Ejection mechanism, 51... Cap, 52... Suction pump, 53... Waste liquid tank, 54... Regulator, 55... First atmosphere release valve, 60... Control unit, 100... Liquid supply device, 101 ... liquid supply source, 102... holding part, 103... remaining amount acquisition part, 104... prism, 105... light emitting part, 106... light receiving part, 107... case, 108... air chamber, 109... liquid pack, 110... liquid supply flow Channels, 111... First liquid channel, 112... Second liquid channel, 120... Storage part, 120A... Storage chamber, 121... Flexible member, 122... Bag body, 123... Connection body, 124... Introduction hole, 125... Outlet hole, 126... Connection path, 127... Inlet pipe, 128... Outlet pipe, 129... Adhesive part, 140... Open/close valve, 150... Storage amount adjusting mechanism, 151... Pressure chamber, 152... Container, 153... Reservoir Pumps, 154... Inner wall, 155... Pressure adjusting flow passage, 156... Slit, 160... Storage amount sensor, 161... Supply mechanism, 162... Connection passage, 163... Pressurizing pump, 164... Pressure sensor, 165... Air pressure adjusting unit 166... Second atmosphere release valve, 167... Exhaust pump, 170... Pressurizing mechanism, 171... Volume pump, 172... First valve, 173... Second valve, 174... Flexible membrane, 175... Pump chamber, 176... Negative pressure chamber, 177... Pressure reducing unit, 178... Pressing member, 187... Check valve, 210... First filter unit, 211... First filter, 212... First upstream filter chamber, 213... First downstream filter chamber , 220... Second filter section, 221... Second filter, 222... Second upstream filter chamber, 223... Second downstream filter chamber, 230... Third filter section, 231... Third filter, 232... Third upstream Side filter chamber, 233... Third downstream filter chamber, 250... Static mixer, 260... Liquid storage section, 261... Pressurizing chamber, 262... Elastic membrane, 263... First pressing member, 270... Degassing mechanism, 271... Deaeration chamber, 272... Deaeration film, 273... Exhaust chamber, 274... Exhaust passage, 275... Decompression pump, 280... Liquid pressure adjusting mechanism, 281... Communication hole, 282... Liquid chamber, 283... Valve body 284... Pressure receiving member, 285... Flexible wall, 286... Second pressing member, 287... Third pressing member, 290... Valve opening mechanism, 291... Storage chamber, 292... Pressurizing bag, 293... Pressurizing flow path, 411 ... Individual liquid chamber, 412... Vibration plate, 413... Housing part, 414... Actuator, 415... Common liquid chamber, M... Medium, RA... Remaining amount, SA... Storage amount, V1... First upper limit value, V2... Second Upper limit value, VL... Limit value, Vm... Lower limit value, VP... Predetermined value.

Claims (8)

A liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid from a nozzle,
A holder configured to attach and detach a liquid supply source containing the liquid;
A liquid supply channel configured to supply the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit from the liquid supply source mounted on the holding unit;
A reservoir provided in the liquid supply channel and configured to store the liquid;
A storage amount adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage section,
The storage amount when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value when the upper limit value of the storage amount when the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source is equal to or less than a predetermined value is a first upper limit value A control unit for controlling the storage amount adjustment mechanism such that the value becomes smaller than the first upper limit value,
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising: The predetermined value is a value equal to or larger than the first upper limit value,
The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the storage amount adjustment mechanism so that the storage amount becomes the first upper limit value when the remaining amount becomes the predetermined value. Injection device. The reservoir is
A bag body formed of a flexible member having flexibility,
A connection body connected to the liquid supply channel,
Have
The liquid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage amount adjusting mechanism adjusts the storage amount by changing the volume inside the bag body by applying a pressure to the outside of the bag body. Injection device. The control unit controls the storage amount adjusting mechanism to apply a lower pressure to the outside of the bag body when the remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value than when the remaining amount is greater than the predetermined value. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, when the remaining amount of the storage portion is larger than the predetermined value, the inner surfaces of the bag body facing each other are in contact with each other. The storage amount adjustment mechanism,
A storage amount sensor capable of detecting the first upper limit value and a second upper limit value of the storage amount smaller than the first upper limit value;
A supply mechanism that supplies the liquid stored in the liquid supply source to the storage section;
Including,
The control unit drives and controls the supply mechanism so that the storage amount detected by the storage amount sensor is equal to or less than the second upper limit value when the remaining amount is larger than the predetermined value, and the remaining amount is The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism is drive-controlled so that the storage amount is equal to or less than the first upper limit value when the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value. A liquid ejecting unit that ejects liquid from a nozzle,
A liquid supply channel configured to supply the liquid contained in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting unit;
A reservoir provided in the liquid supply channel and configured to store the liquid;
A method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
When the upper limit value of the storage amount of the liquid stored in the storage unit when the remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid supply source is equal to or less than a predetermined value is a first upper limit value, the remaining amount is the predetermined amount. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising adjusting the stored amount to be smaller than the first upper limit when the stored amount is larger than the value. The predetermined value is a value equal to or larger than the first upper limit value,
The method for controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the remaining amount reaches the predetermined value, the stored amount is adjusted to reach the first upper limit value.