JP3203930B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in a control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus presses ink held in an ink container and supplies it to an ink ejection nozzle of a print head to eject ink particles from the nozzle. This is a configuration for printing on an object. Such an ink jet recording apparatus is
Printing can be performed without contacting the print head with the object to be printed, so it is used as a device that prints on the surface of the product conveyed by the conveyor by installing the print head facing the conveyor that conveys the product can do.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, if the supply of ink is stopped while the ink circulation system such as the print head and the ink supply means is filled with ink when the operation is stopped, the solvent volatilizes and the ink solidifies. There is a danger of causing a clogging phenomenon. Therefore, the conventional apparatus usually performs a stop sequence to wash the ink circulation system such as the print head and the ink supply means with a solvent, and to stop in a state where the solvent is filled. An operation sequence in which the ink is supplied while the ink is collected and the ejection of the ink particles is started is executed.

[0004]

However, if the above-described stop sequence is executed when an abnormal condition such as overflow of ink occurs, the overflow of the ink continues during the execution of the stop sequence, resulting in contamination. There is a problem that increases the damage of the.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to propose an ink jet recording apparatus capable of immediately stopping and stopping the supply of ink to a print head.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink supply unit for supplying ink to a print head, a solvent supply unit for supplying a solvent to the print head, an abnormality detection unit, and an abnormality detection unit. In an ink jet recording apparatus provided with control means for controlling the ink supply means and the solvent supply means, a first stop control for stopping the ink supply to the print head and supplying and stopping the solvent to the control means. Means, and a second stop control means for stopping the supply of ink to the print head and immediately stopping the ink supply,
Specifically, the control means selectively causes the first or second stop control means to function according to the type of abnormality detected, a display device is provided, and the control means detects the abnormality. The present invention is characterized in that display control in a form according to the type is performed, and that an abnormality to be subjected to the second stop control is highlighted, and furthermore, guidance display control in accordance with the content of the abnormality is performed. It is characterized by.

[0007]

The control means performs stop control for immediately stopping and stopping the supply of ink to the print head in accordance with the type of abnormality, so that overflow of ink and the like can be prevented.

In addition, since the display is performed according to the type of the abnormality or the content of the abnormality, the corresponding process is facilitated.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system using an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink circulating unit 2, a control unit 3 and an operation panel 4 in a main body 1, and the ink circulating unit 2 controls the pressurized ink supplied to the print head 5. The control unit 3 communicates with the operation panel 4 and the host device 6 to exchange information and controls the ink circulation unit 2 to control the pressurized ink supplied to the ink ejection nozzles in the print head 5. Excitation of the ink ejection nozzle is controlled, and deflection control of ink particles is performed with reference to a detection signal from the print object detection sensor 7.

The operation panel 4 includes an input item designation key, a data input key, an operation key, a stop key, a shift key, a reset key, a display screen, an alarm, and the like.

The print head 5 is installed downward so as to face the upper surface of the printing object 9 conveyed by the belt conveyor 8, and the printing object detection sensor 7 detects the printing object 9 conveyed by the belt conveyor 7. Is detected so as to face the print head 5. The ink particles ejected from the ink ejection nozzle of the print head 5 are repeatedly deflected in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the printing object 9, and the movement of the printing object 9 and the deflection of the ink particles cause the adhesion position of the ink particles to be two. Dimensionally controlled.

The control section 3 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. 2, a signal input processing such as a key input signal from an operation panel 4 or an external signal input through communication with a higher-level device 6. 110, and then a device status monitoring process 120 is performed, and a status determination process 130 is performed.
If there is no abnormality, the print control process 150 is executed via the normal operation control process 140. If there is an abnormality in the state of the apparatus, an abnormal stop control processing 160 is executed.

A personal computer, a work station, or the like used as the host device 6 is generally configured to perform communication by adding a BCC code to data. The control unit 3 is designed to support such data communication,
It is devised so that data communication can be performed regardless of the presence or absence of the BCC code.

FIG. 3 shows in detail the processing in the signal input processing 110 for communicating with such a higher-level device 6 and receiving necessary external signals. The control unit 3
A setting is made as to whether the host device 6 is a device of the data communication system with the BCC code. In the process 301, the setting is confirmed and the presence or absence of the BCC code is determined. "BCC
If “code present” is not set, the process proceeds to step 303. If it is set, “process BCC code flag” is set in process 302, and then the process proceeds to process 303.

In a process 303, the presence or absence of the received data is confirmed, and if there is the received data, the process proceeds to a process 304 to fetch the received data. After that, the processing shifts to processing 305, where "B
CC flag is set, and if the flag is not set, the flow proceeds to step 306 to check whether the received data is a data end code. Then, the received data is stored, and the process returns to the step 303.

If the "BCC code presence flag" is set, the process proceeds from the process 305 to the process 308 to check whether the "data end code received flag" is set, and the flag is set. If not, the process proceeds to the process 306.

If the "data end code received flag" is set, the received data fetched in step 304 is a BCC code following the data end code, so that the received data is not stored but read and discarded, and the process proceeds to step 309. Transfer,
The “data end code received flag” is reset, and the process returns to step 303.

If the received data is a data end code, the flow shifts from step 306 to step 310 to check whether or not there is a communication error, and to perform a corresponding process.
In step 1, the "data end code received flag" is set, and the process returns to step 303.

When a communication error occurs in the data communication with the host device 6, the communication process is interrupted in the process 310, and the operation panel 4 displays an error and an alarm. FIG. 4 shows a corresponding process in the process 310 when such a communication abnormal state occurs.

In process 401, the presence or absence of a reset signal from the reset key of the operation panel 4 or the presence or absence of a reset signal from the host device 6 is monitored. If a reset signal is input, an abnormal display and an abnormal alarm are issued in processes 402 and 403. This state is escaped by performing a canceling process.

The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention can perform reciprocal printing on an object to be printed. In a printing system in which print objects stacked in a plurality of stages are conveyed so as to face the print head, it is economical to employ a configuration in which printing is performed while moving the print head for each print object. The same applies to the case where a plurality of character strings are printed on one print target.

The printing system shown in FIG. 5 is configured to print while moving the print head 5 on the printing objects 9a to 9d stacked in four stages. The print head 5 and the object-to-be-printed detection sensor 7 are installed on a horizontal moving table 53 that reciprocates by screwing into a screw shaft 52 rotated by a horizontal driving device 51. The vertical moving mounting table mechanism 54 sequentially causes the printing surfaces of the mounted printing objects 9 a to 9 d to face the print head 5. The movement controller 55 controls the movement of the print head 5 by the horizontal drive device 51 and the movement of the printing objects 9 a to 9 d by the vertical movement mounting table mechanism 54.

The control unit 3 refers to the encoder pulse signal input from the horizontal driving device 51 and
Is calculated in the horizontal direction, the arrival of an object to be printed is detected by referring to the detection signal from the object detection sensor 7, and the print head is referred to by referring to the forward / return signal input from the movement controller 55. The print control process is executed by recognizing the moving direction of No. 5.

The control unit 3 is configured to print a character string at a desired position corresponding to either the reciprocating printing system (FIG. 5) or the one-way printing system as shown in FIG. You.

In the printing system shown in FIG. 5, when the print character string 56a for the print object 9a is printed on the forward path and the print character string 56b for the print object 9b is printed on the return path, the control unit 3 In the forward movement of the head 5, the distances L1, L
2 and the distance L4 in the backward printing can be calculated to control the printing position. In addition, the printing position can be controlled by calculating the distances L5 and L3 in the backward movement. If data for calculating the distances L1 to L5 is set in advance from the operation panel 4, the control unit 3 prints a character string at a desired position by executing printing while comparing the set value with the calculated value. Control can be realized.
This data takes into account the distance that the start or end of the print object moves from the installation position of the print object detection sensor 7 to the front of the print head. Note that the distance L is the distance from the start position of the forward printing until the print head 5 reversely moves for the backward printing.

For such character string printing position control,
The control unit 3 has a control processing function as shown in FIG. In this control process, a position moved by L1 after the print object detection sensor 7 detects the start end of the print object 9a in the forward movement of the print head 5 is set as the forward print start position, and the print object is detected in the backward movement. This is an example in which a position moved by L5 after detecting the end of 9b (starting end on the return path) is set as the return printing start position.

The control unit 3 fetches print data from the operation panel 4 or the host device 6 in a process 601, and fetches write (print start) position data in a process 602. In a process 603, it is determined whether or not the data is data for an outbound route. If the data is data for an outbound route, the process proceeds to a process 604 and stored as the data for an outbound route. If the data is not the forward data, the process proceeds to step 605 and is stored as the return data. In the process 606, it is confirmed whether or not the data capture is completed. The forward data and the return data are stored independently.

When the operation proceeds to the printing operation control, in a process 607, the arrival of the starting end or the ending of the printing objects 9a to 9d by the printing object detection sensor 7 is monitored. . If it is the forward printing, the process proceeds to step 609 to set the write start position L1, and
In 10, the delay management is executed until the print head 5 moves by L1, and when the delay is completed, the process proceeds to step 611 to start the forward printing of the character string.

In the case of non-forward printing (return printing),
The process shifts from the process 608 to the process 612 to set the write start position L5. In the process 610, the delay management is performed until the print head 5 moves by the distance L5. To start.

By the way, if the detection signal of the printing object detection sensor 7 causes chattering or noise is mixed in the middle, there is a risk that the next printing object is erroneously recognized. When a new print control process is started by erroneously recognizing the arrival of the next print target, a print defect occurs.

The control section 3 has a detection signal masking function as shown in FIG. 7 in order to prevent a malfunction due to such a disturbance of the detection signal. The process 701 is a process of setting a detection signal mask time for preventing the start of new print control based on a detection signal input from the print object detection sensor 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the mask time is set to the time until one print target 9 passes through the position facing the print head 5 with respect to one print target 9. The passing time differs depending on the size and the moving speed of the printing medium 9. Accordingly, the mask time is configured to be arbitrarily set from the operation panel 4 or the host device 6.

In the process 702, it is confirmed whether or not the mask time is in progress, and the process waits until the set mask time ends.
When the masking time has expired, in step 703, the arrival of the next detection signal is monitored, and when the detection signal arrives, the flow shifts to step 704 to start detection signal masking.

In such a printing system, it is convenient if the number of prints 9 printed by the ink jet recording apparatus can be monitored by the host device 6 and used for print management or production number management processing. FIG. 9 shows a control unit 3 for management.
And a data communication processing function of the host device 6. The control unit 3 detects the arrival of the printing object 9 in the process 901, and when printing is started in the process 902, the process proceeds to the process 903 to monitor the end of the printing. Then, the print completion code is transmitted by the communication means. The host device 6 monitors the reception of the print completion code in the process 905, and upon receiving the print completion code, proceeds to the process 906 and increments the production number counter by one.

The control section 3 executes the abnormal stop control processing 160 when an abnormality occurs in the state of the apparatus. The details of the control function of stopping the ink ejection from the ink ejection nozzle of the print head 5 in the abnormal stop control processing 160 are shown in FIG.
0 is shown. In the process 1001, the type of the abnormality is determined, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to immediately stop the circulation (including replenishment) of the ink. An abnormal state in which the ink overflows from the ink holding container corresponds to an abnormality in which the circulation of the ink is immediately stopped.

In the case of an abnormality that requires the ink circulation to be stopped immediately, the process proceeds to step 1002, where the abnormal state is highlighted (inverted or blinking character) on the display of the operation panel 4, and the process proceeds to step 1003. Stop immediately. In the case of an abnormality that does not require the ink circulation to be stopped immediately, the process proceeds from the process 1001 to the process 1004 to execute a normal abnormality display, and the process stops after cleaning the ink circulation system in the process 1005. This stop is for avoiding an obstacle caused by stopping while the ink is filled in the circulation system.

Next, in step 1006, the contents of the abnormality are analyzed.
It is determined whether the input can be canceled by the reset key input. If the abnormality can be resolved by inputting the reset key, the process proceeds to step 1008 and guide information for urging the user to input the reset key is displayed on the display of the operation panel 4. Then, the process proceeds to a process 1009 to monitor the reset key input, and in a process 1010, the abnormal display and the guidance information display are deleted.

If the abnormality cannot be resolved by pressing the reset key, the process proceeds from the process 1007 to the process 1011 to display guidance information for prompting execution of a repair operation for removing the cause of the abnormality. It is monitored that the cause is removed, and if the cause of the abnormality is removed and there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to processing 1008.

In a repair work or a maintenance check work for removing the cause of the abnormality, it is convenient if a partial operation sequence can be executed without using a normal control sequence. For example, an operation of observing the flight state of ink particles ejected from the ink ejection nozzles of the print head 5 corresponds to the operation. In order to repeat the ejection and stop of ink in this work,
When the operation key and the stop key are repeatedly input from the operation panel 4, the control unit in the conventional inkjet recording apparatus executes a control process of cleaning the ink circulation system and filling the solvent when the operation is stopped. Since the control process for recovering the ink and supplying the ink is executed, it is not possible to perform the control for intermittently ejecting the ink in a short time. Further, there is a problem that the consumption of the solvent increases and a large amount of the recovered solvent is mixed into the ink.

The control unit 3 in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is capable of intermittently ejecting ink in a short time and has a control function for suppressing an increase in solvent consumption at this time.

FIG. 11 shows this control function. In step 1101, key input from the operation panel 4 is monitored. If there is a key input, the process moves to step 1102 to determine whether the input key is a drive key. Processing 1 if operation key input
The process proceeds to step 103 to check whether or not the vehicle is in operation. If the vehicle is in operation, the process returns to step 1101. If not running, processing 1103
Then, the process proceeds to the process 1104 to start the execution of the normal operation sequence and returns to the process 1101. The process 1104 is a control sequence for starting the operation by supplying ink while recovering the solvent removed to the print head 5 and the ink circulation system.

Processing 1 when the input key is not the operation key
The process proceeds from step 102 to step 1105 to determine whether the input key is a stop key. If stop key input, process 110
The process proceeds to step 6 to check whether the operation is stopped. If the operation is stopped, the process returns to step 1101. If not stopped, the process proceeds to step 1107 to start the execution of the normal stop sequence, and the process 110
Return to 1. Process 1107 is a control sequence for cleaning the print head 5 and the ink circulation system with a solvent, filling the solvent with the solvent, and stopping.

If the input key is not the stop key, process 1
In step 108, it is determined whether or not the shift key and the operation key are simultaneously input. If the shift key and the operation key are input simultaneously, the process proceeds to step 1109 to check whether the operation is being performed by the simultaneous input of the shift key and the operation key.
Return to 01. If the operation is not being performed, the process proceeds from the process 1109 to the process 1110 to start the execution of the operation sequence by simultaneously inputting the shift key and the operation key, and returns to the process 1101.
Processing 1110 by simultaneous input of shift key and operation key
Is a control process for supplying ink so as to eject ink particles from the ink ejection nozzle without performing the solvent recovery process.

If the input key is not the simultaneous input of the shift key and the operation key, the flow shifts to step 1111 to determine whether the input is the simultaneous input of the shift key and the stop key. If the shift key and the stop key are simultaneously input, the process shifts to step 1112 to check whether the shift key and the stop key are simultaneously stopped to determine whether the operation is stopped. If the operation is stopped, the process returns to step 1101. If not stopped, the process proceeds from the process 1112 to a process 1113 to start execution of a stop sequence by simultaneous input of the shift key and the stop key, and returns to the process 1101. The process 1113 by simultaneous input of the shift key and the stop key is a control process for stopping the supply of the ink without performing the cleaning of the ink circulation system and the solvent filling process and stopping the ejection of the ink particles from the ink ejection nozzle.

[0044]

According to the present invention, since the control means performs stop control for immediately stopping and stopping the supply of ink to the print head in accordance with the type of abnormality, it is possible to prevent the overflow of ink and the like. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system using an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an entire control process executed by a control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a data input process performed by a control unit of the ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention and communicating with a host apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication abnormality handling process in communication with a higher-level device executed by a control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another printing system using the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a reciprocating printing position control process executed by a control unit of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of masking a detection signal of a print object detection sensor performed by a control unit of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a signal processing time chart in the mask processing function shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a print completion communication process executed by a control unit and a higher-level device of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an abnormal process executed by a control unit of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a start and stop process executed by a control unit of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body, 2 ... Ink circulation part, 3 ... Control part, 4 ... Operation panel, 5 ... Print head, 6 ... Host device, 7 ... Printed material detection sensor, 8 ... Belt conveyor, 9 ... Printed material.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Takashi Kono 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Living Equipment Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-5-77439 (JP, A JP-A-56-130363 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175 B41J 2/01

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink supply unit for supplying ink to a print head, a solvent supply unit for supplying a solvent to the print head, an abnormality detection unit, and the ink supply unit and the solvent supply unit according to the detected abnormality. And control means for controlling the first and second control means, wherein the control means stops the supply of ink to the print head and supplies and stops the solvent, the first stop control means,
Stop the ink supply to the print head and stop immediately 2nd
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a stop control unit. 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means selectively causes said first or second stop control means to function according to the type of abnormality detected. 3. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device, wherein said control means performs display control in a form corresponding to the type of abnormality. 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes:
An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by highlighting an abnormality to be subjected to stop control. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a display device is provided, and said control means performs guide display control according to the content of the abnormality.