JP3486099B2 - Manufacturing method of inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An ink jet printer device for ejecting ink from a nozzle onto a print medium, or
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an inkjet printer unit-installed device, which reliably and effectively carries out cleaning of an ink head and its confirmation inspection in order to ensure quality of a manufacturing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an assembly process to a pre-shipment performance inspection process in a conventional method of manufacturing an inkjet printer device or an inkjet printer unit mounting device. These steps are roughly divided into a product body assembly step 1, a print inspection step 2, a cleaning step 3, and a shipping inspection step 4B.

In the product body assembly step 1, a printer unit for printing on paper or the like is incorporated into the product body to complete an ink jet printer (step 1A).
Is. The inkjet printer can be used as a stand-alone machine or as shown in FIG.
There is a word processor such as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the ink jet printer is abbreviated as “printer”.

The print inspection step 2 is to inspect the function and performance of the completed printer body. In this step, the ink is actually printed on the paper to determine whether or not the paper can be printed. First, the ink cartridge is attached to the printer body (step 2A). Although not shown, printing of a predetermined pattern or the like is executed in accordance with a printing command to the printer body. Then, if accurate printing is confirmed, the print inspection ends, the ink cartridge is removed (step 2B), and the print inspection step 2 ends. If the correct printing is confirmed in the print inspection step 2, the product is shipped to the cleaning step 3 for cleaning the residual ink remaining in the printer.

In the cleaning step 3, if the printer has a cleaning function, the mode is changed to the cleaning mode based on the cleaning command, and the parts such as the ink head of the printer necessary for cleaning are moved to the ink exchange position. First, a cleaning cartridge (a cartridge having the same shape as the ink cartridge) filled with the cleaning liquid is attached to the position where the ink cartridge was attached (step 3A), and the cleaning cartridge is moved to a position having a cleaning function called a maintenance section. By the function of the maintenance unit, the cleaning liquid is sucked into the ink head from the ink inlet (step 3B), and the nozzle head and the like of the dirty printer are automatically washed away with the cleaning liquid while the carriage including the ink head is attached to the printer. After that, after moving to the ink replacement position again,
Remove the wash cartridge (step 3D). Then, it moves to the maintenance position again and sucks and removes the residual cleaning liquid in the flow path from the ink inlet to the ink nozzle (step 3E).

As another cleaning method, there is a method in which after the printing inspection is completed, a carriage including an ink head necessary for cleaning is removed from the printer and separately cleaned as shown in FIG. In this method, a carriage or the like including a plurality of ink heads to be cleaned is connected in parallel to perform centralized cleaning at the same time, and is performed to improve the yield. Then, the carriage or the like including the ink head after cleaning is installed in the printer again (final assembly step 1X), and then this printer is sent to the next step 4B. Incidentally, as a cleaning means for the ink head of the printer, there is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-7117.
0, JP-A-6-8471, JP-A-7-25021, JP-A-8-295029, and JP-A-9-39260.

After the cleaning process 3 in FIG. 15 or the final assembly process 1X in FIG. 16, the printer main body is shipped or moved to the next process after the accurate operation confirmation and cleaning in the printer are completed.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
When the process shown in (1) is passed and the process is moved to the shipping inspection or the next step 4B as it is, the printer wiring, assembly, printing operation, etc. can be confirmed by referring to the print test result sheet in the print inspection. However, in the above method, there is no proof that the cleaning of the head and the ink flow path, which are important parts of the printer, has been confirmed without fail, and therefore a problem remains in terms of cleaning quality assurance. That is, when there is a suspicion that cleaning has not been performed, re-cleaning is unavoidable, and the production flow is disturbed by the addition of a new manufacturing process, the yield is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is increased, which is a serious problem.

The cleaning method after the print inspection shown in FIG. 16 is such that the carriage or the like including the ink head is removed (step 2C) to perform separate cleaning, and after the cleaning is completed, the carriage or the like is attached again to the printer body (step 2D). In the case of the method, as in the case of FIG. 15 described above, in addition to the fact that the confirmation of cleaning confirmation of the head and the like is not obtained, it is shipped without confirming the final operation of the reassembled carriage etc. There was a big problem with. That is, after reassembling the head and the like, it is also the most important issue to confirm whether or not all the control electrical connectors-and the structural joints that constitute the flow path are all securely made and operate normally. Was there.

Further, it is a problem and an object to find out which ink jet system is suitable.

[0011]

Therefore, the present invention for solving the above problems is an ink jet printer manufacturing method for cleaning the inside of an ink head for ejecting ink with a cleaning liquid. interior of includes a step of cleaning by the cleaning liquid and the step of printing on a printing paper from the ink head with the washing solution, before
The printed paper has a water repellency of JIS P8137 (1976)
And the water repellency test method of paperboard "
The rank is R2, and the dropping length is in the range of 0mm to 20mm.
It is a method for manufacturing an inkjet printer, characterized in that the paper is inside the enclosure .

According to a second aspect of the invention, ink is ejected.
Ink that cleans the inside of the ink head with a cleaning solution.
A method for manufacturing a wet printer, the ink head comprising:
Cleaning step for cleaning the inside of the cleaning solution with a cleaning solution,
Washing to print on the printing paper from the ink head using
The cleaning liquid printing process and the above-mentioned object which has passed through the cleaning liquid printing process.
Whether or not the printing surface is deformed on the printing paper
It characterized by having a washing confirmation step of examining
It is a manufacturing method of inkjet cartridges.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the paper surface deformation
Is uneven deformation, warpage, waviness, or stripes on the printing paper.
The method for manufacturing an inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the method is a pattern .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the paper surface deformation
Is an uneven deformation of the printing paper on which the ink dye is attached,
Claims characterized by being warped, wavy, or striped
Item 2. The method for manufacturing an inkjet printer according to item 2 .

The invention according to claim 5 is the method for manufacturing an ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the print- receiving paper is a PPC paper.

[0016] The invention according to claim 6, wherein the print paper, rank by crawling freeness test method repellent water level follows the JIS P8137 (1976) "crawling freeness test method for paper and board" The method for manufacturing an inkjet printer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the paper is R2 and the dropping length is within a range of 0 mm to 20 mm.

[0017] The invention according to claim 7, the manufacturing method of the ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1, wherein to claim 6, wherein the cleaning liquid is distilled water or deionized water Is.

According to the present invention, after cleaning the inside of the ink head, the cleaning liquid is used as it is for printing.
At this time, since the printing paper is deformed due to the printing of the cleaning liquid, whether or not the inside of the ink head has been cleaned can be easily confirmed by the presence or absence of this deformation.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
The embodiment will be described in detail. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Block printer showing the process from the assembly process to the shipping process
It is a diagram, product body assembly process 1, printing inspection process 2, washing
Cleaning process 3, shipping inspection process 4, re-cleaning process 5, and shipping work
It has 6 steps. In the product body assembly process 1, the process 1A of assembling the inkjet printer unit 12 is performed, and the printer unit 12 is installed in the word processor 7
This is the process of incorporating into the main body to complete the product.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the word processor 7. When the paper 10 for printing is inserted in the direction of the arrow from between the keyboard 8 and the display section 9 of the device body, it is built in the rear part 11 of the device body. The image is printed by the inkjet printer unit 12 and sent out from a paper discharge port behind the main body.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the ink jet printer unit 12 incorporated in the rear of the main body of the apparatus. The carriage 13 is a printing device that moves to the left and right to enable printing in response to a print control signal from the main body. The carriage 13 has an ink head 24, which will be described later, built in at the bottom thereof, and ink cartridges 21A and 21B can be freely attached, It has a removable structure. The carriage 13 shown in FIG.
The state is shown in the position of the maintenance unit 14 provided at the left end of the printer.

The maintenance section 14 includes an ink head 24.
This is a device used for maintenance of equipment. The operation is
First, the ink head 24 is capped, the suction pump (not shown) of the maintenance unit is operated to take in ink or cleaning liquid into the ink head 24, and ink ejection is performed for purposes other than the original printing purpose (hereinafter referred to as dummy ejection).
Alternatively, the suction operation and the dummy ejection operation may be performed after the ink cartridges 21A and 21B and the cleaning cartridge (not shown) having the same shape as the ink cartridges 21A and 21B are removed. Therefore, when cleaning the carriage 13, the carriage 13 is moved to the position of the maintenance unit 14 provided at the left end of the printer 12.

Reference numerals 15 and 16 designate electrical connectors 15 for sending control signals and output signals to the printer unit.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a wiring cable, and 17 denotes wiring cables. The motor 18 provided at the end of the printer unit operates when the carriage 14 is moved left and right by a scanning motor. The sheet suction port 19 is a suction port that takes in a print medium such as paper.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the carriage 13. Carriage 1 partitioned into two chambers so that it can receive ink cartridges 21A and 21B respectively
3 large room 20A has color ink cartridge 21A, and small room 20B has
A black ink cartridge 21B is attached. At the time of cleaning, color and black cleaning cartridges are attached instead of the ink cartridges.

At the bottoms of the ink cartridges 21A and 21B, there are provided three ink supply units (not shown) for color and one not shown for black at positions corresponding to ink introduction ports described later. At the bottom of the chamber 20A on the left side of the carriage 13, the ink inlet ports 2 made of three elastic materials are provided.
2A, 22B, and 22C, and inks corresponding to three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are applied to the ink head at the lower end of the head chip portion 23A by Y,
It is introduced separately in M and C. Similarly, black ink is introduced into the ink head 24 located at the lower end of the head chip portion 23B through one ink inlet port 22D on the bottom portion on the right side of the cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a sectional explanatory view of the ink head 24 at the lower end of the head chip portion 23B. Ink head 2
4 is a flow passage layer 27 and a nozzle substrate 29 on the ejection element substrate 26.
It is configured by stacking. A large number of grooves serving as individual flow paths 31 are formed on the lower surface of the nozzle substrate 29, and the ejection element 28 made of a heating resistor is formed in the recesses of the flow path layer 27 corresponding to these grooves.
Is provided. Ink inlet 2 at the bottom of the carriage 13
The ink or cleaning liquid introduced from 2D is the ink head 24.
Into the common liquid chamber 25 and is branched toward the plurality of nozzles 32. That is, the ink or the like branched from the common liquid chamber 25 enters the bypass passage 30 and the individual passage 31 having the ejection element 28. In the state filled with ink or cleaning liquid, as shown in the figure, the liquid surface exists immediately before the opening of the nozzle 32.

When electric energy is supplied to the ejecting element 28, heat is generated in the ejecting element 28 to generate bubbles in the individual passages 31, and ink (or cleaning liquid) is ejected from the nozzle 32. The above is the outline of the configuration of the inkjet printer unit related to the ink ejection and the cleaning ejection of the target device.

The print inspection step 2 is a step of inspecting the print function and performance of the completed printer body. First, the ink cartridges 21A and 21B are attached to the product body (step 2A). Although not shown, printing of a predetermined pattern or the like is executed in accordance with a printing command to the product body.
Then, if the correct printing is confirmed, the printing inspection is finished,
The ink cartridge is removed (step 2B), and the print inspection process 2 is completed. If accurate printing is confirmed in the print inspection step 2, the step moves to a cleaning step 3 for cleaning the ink head 24 in the printer for shipping.

In the cleaning step 3, the cleaning cartridge is attached (step 3A), and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the ink head 24.
Suction step of sucking into (step 3B), water printing step of printing the cleaning liquid on the print medium (step 3C), step of removing the cleaning cartridge (step 3D), suction step of sucking the residual cleaning liquid such as the ink head 24 (step) Three
E).

Cleaning cartridge mounting process (step 3)
In A), a cleaning cartridge (a cartridge having the same shape as the ink cartridge) filled with the cleaning liquid is attached to the position where the ink cartridge was attached.

The suction cleaning step (step 3B) is a step of injecting the cleaning liquid from the ink inlet to wash away the dirty ink head 24 of the printer with the cleaning liquid. That is, the carriage 13 is placed at the position of the maintenance unit 14 having a maintenance function, the front surface of the ink head 24 is covered with a cap (not shown) in the maintenance unit 14 (hereinafter referred to as capping), and a suction unit (not shown) provided in the maintenance unit 14 is also provided. Driving the pump, the ink introduction ports 22A, 22B, 22C, 2 of the carriage 13
An operation of sucking and cleaning the common liquid chamber 25 from the 2D to the nozzle 32, the bypass channel 30, and the series of channels of the individual channel 31 with the cleaning liquid is performed. In addition, a series of operations for performing dummy injection of the liquid filled in the flow path is performed. Therefore, although the inside of the flow path of the carriage 13 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid by the above steps in the maintenance section,
This is the same process that was conventionally performed.

The water printing step (step 3C) is a characteristic part of the embodiment of the present invention. While the cleaning cartridge is still attached to the carriage 13, the cleaning mode by the maintenance unit 14 is released and the normal printing mode is performed. In the same manner as in the normal printing mode, the jetting element 28 is driven to jet and print the cleaning liquid on a blank sheet with a specific printing pattern.
Incidentally, such an operation will be referred to as "water printing" hereinafter. At this time, the water-printed cleaning inspection sheet must be left alone and then attached to the main body along with other printed inspection sheets.

Step of removing cleaning cartridge (step 3)
D) is prior to step 3E for sucking the cleaning liquid in the washed set of flow channels such as within the cleaning cartridge is a process to be removed from the carriage 13.

The suction step (step 3E) is a step of sucking the cleaning liquid in the washed series of flow paths and the like. The carriage 13 is moved to the position of the maintenance section 14, and the maintenance section 14 moves the ink to the ink head 24. After the capping, the suction pump is driven to drive the nozzles 32 from the ink introducing ports 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D of the carriage 13.
Common liquid chamber 25, bypass flow passage 30, and individual flow passage 31
The ink and the cleaning liquid in the series of channels are sucked to fill the channels with air. If suction is performed with the ink cartridge, cleaning cartridge, etc. attached, the series of flow paths will be filled with ink or cleaning liquid.
It was removed in step 3E.

Therefore, after the assembly of the carriage unit is completed, the carriage unit is connected to the attached control unit, the ink cartridge is attached, and the print inspection for performance confirmation is performed.
After the print inspection, the ink cartridge is removed, then the cleaning cartridge is attached and suction cleaning is performed, and the ink in the series of flow paths is discharged and replaced with the cleaning liquid. Subsequently, water printing is performed in a mode similar to a normal printing operation, the cleaning cartridge is removed, and the cleaning liquid containing dirt in the series of flow paths is drained, thus ending the cleaning step 3. After that, the word processor 7 is moved to the next shipping inspection step.

The shipping inspection process 4 includes the word processor 7
This is a process of inspecting and confirming the cleaning inspection sheet (a part of the entire inspection result sheet) after the water printing process attached to the above . The inspection / confirmation means is to wash even if the dye or stains of ink are attached to the test sheet or the dye or stain of ink is not attached to the test sheet. If the inspection paper shows almost a predetermined warp, waviness, stripe pattern, etc., the cleaning passes, and if the above-mentioned predetermined reaction cannot be seen in the shipping process 6, a re-cleaning process to ensure the cleaning quality. Sent to 5.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the cleaning process 3 shown in FIG. 1, showing the printer control and the required timing. The main body of the product is a general CPU, ROM, RAM,
Auxiliary storage device such as floppy disk, hard disk, inkjet printer, etc.
And it is configured by their controller. In the process, in order to make the printer unit perform the operation peculiar to the inspection, the inspection program can be made resident from the auxiliary storage device in the work area (RAM) of the apparatus, and the inspection program can be executed by the command from the keyboard. There is.

After the printing inspection is completed in the manufacturing process, a cleaning mode start command is input from the keyboard (step 1). The carriage 13 moves to the ink exchange position (during which, about 10 seconds (step 2)). Remove both the black (BLACK) and color (COLOR) of the ink cartridge, and replace the black (BLACK) and color (C) of the cleaning tank (cartridge).
OLOR) Install both (during about 20 seconds (step 3)). By the key command, the carriage 13 moves to the maintenance section 14 at the left end of the printer unit 12, the nozzle 32 surface is capped, and the cleaning liquid is sucked. First, the black ink head 24 is performed,
Next, the cleaning liquid is sucked by automatically changing over to the color (COLOR) ink head 24 (during that time, about 135 seconds (step 4)). In the conventional process shown in FIG. 15, the carriage 1
3 moved to the maintenance section 14, the cleaning liquid remaining in the carriage 13 was sucked (during about 80 seconds (step 7)), and then the cleaning was completed (step 8). In the embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning confirmation step is added,
After completion of the first suction (step 4), a specific inspection sheet 1
By setting 0 in the printer unit 12 and issuing a command from the keyboard 8, one line of a specific black (BLACK) pattern space is provided on the paper, and a space of about 4 mm is provided between the colors (Y, M,
The parallel print pattern of C) is printed with a length of about 126 mm (during which, about 10 seconds (step 5)). Carriage 13
Moves to the ink replacement position, remove the cleaning ink here,
During that time, about 10 seconds (step 6). The inspection sheet 10 is discharged to the rear side 11 of the main body of the apparatus at the same time when the "water printing" is completed. Thereafter, a series of tests including steps 7 and 8 are completed by key operation. Meanwhile, it takes about 265 seconds.

FIG. 7 shows a plan view (A) and a side view (B) of the inspection sheet 10 on which water printing has been performed after a predetermined time has elapsed. Place the paper 10B after water printing on the fixing plate 33 and attach the weight 34
Hold down the flat part with. Water printing is performed twice from the end A of the paper 10 to the other end B. Water print pattern is 160
dot (approx. 10 mm) x 126 mm x 1 row pattern 35 once and 40 dots (approx. 2.5 mm) x 12 approximately 4 mm apart in parallel
The 6 mm × 3 row pattern 36 is printed once with a row interval of about 1.5 mm. The former is Black (black) head, the latter is YM
It is a column corresponding to water printing ejected by the C color head. The side view (B) of FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the degree of warpage of the sheet as viewed from the edge A side. ha is the edge A of the sheet from the fixing plate 33.
And shows that the edge A side having a wide water printing area is largely warped as compared with the edge B side having a narrow water printing area. That is, the printing surface of the inspection paper 10 on which water printing has been performed is initially expanded by the cleaning liquid, and then, after a lapse of time, it is dried and slightly contracted. On the other hand, the back side of the inspection sheet does not shrink much. Therefore, as a result, the contraction acts so as to bend toward the printing surface side, so that the cleaning inspection sheet bends toward the front side.
That is, "warpage" is left. As a result of the experiment, the one having a large warp was warped by 22.5 mm, and this warp remained even after 10 hours.

FIG. 8A shows a PPC (Plain Paper Cop).
y) It is a depiction of the print pattern portion after water printing when using paper, and two print patterns 35, 36
The gap portion between them is raised to an oblong striped pattern 37. Further, from FIG. 8B showing a cross section in the direction of arrow S1-S1 of FIG. 8A, the paper surface is corrugated, and the corrugation 37 between the two water print patterns is remarkable, and the corrugation 3 of the pattern portion 3
It turns out that 5 and 36 are a little weak. That is, when there are a plurality of ink heads as in a color printer, the printing pattern of the cleaning liquid is once with the dot width of the black print head,
Three parallel color dot widths are printed at regular intervals once in parallel. As a result, the two parallel patterns on the paper surface act so that the surface shrinks over time, but the non-printed area (for example, about 4 mm wide x 126 mm long) sandwiched between the two patterns is printed on both sides. Due to the shrinkage of the part, the non-printed part remains on the paper surface which cannot be easily shrunk. Therefore, the surface of the inspection sheet 10 is unevenly deformed in the vertical direction and waviness is generated, so that the surface of the inspection sheet 10 is conspicuously deformed so that an elliptical "striped pattern" stands out.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by performing "water printing" in this cleaning step, it is possible that the dye of the ink adheres to the inspection sheet at the final shipping inspection stage. By confirming that "warp", "wavy" or "striped pattern" generated on the paper is generated on the inspection paper, it is possible to easily visually confirm whether or not the cleaning step is performed after the print inspection. Even if the cleaning test is performed normally and ink pigments or stains are not adhered to the test paper, the paper may show "warp", "wavy", or "striped pattern". By confirming that the cleaning process is performed, it is possible to discriminate whether or not the cleaning process has been really performed.

As a result, in the final inspection stage, the quality assurance can be confirmed by a simple method of visually confirming the end of the cleaning process. Therefore, the conventional problem of increased man-hours of laborious and unnecessary re-cleaning and increase of manufacturing cost resulting from not being able to confirm the end of the cleaning process until now is solved, improving quality assurance and manufacturing cost. I was able to hold back.

Further, since the ink jet printer is of a type in which the ink head 24 is provided with the ejection element 28 consisting of a heating element, the residual cleaning liquid in the individual passages 31 leading to the nozzles 32 can be easily ejected and discharged, and the remaining cleaning liquid will remain. The liquid can be easily dried and the ink head 24 can be kept clean.

<Selection of Inspection Sheet> FIG. 8A shows PPC.
It is a depiction of a print pattern portion after water printing when using paper, a striped pattern 37 on an oblong ellipse appears to be raised, and a wavy portion 37 such as a water print portion is conspicuously shown.

However, FIG. 9A is a front view of the print pattern when using the coated paper used for printing. No striped pattern was found between the two print patterns 35 and 36, and no significant change was observed. Also in the cross section S2-S2 shown in FIG. 9B, the corrugation 38 is gentle and small, and therefore the deformation of the paper will be overlooked unless care is taken. It can be considered that this is because the spread of the jetted water at the time of water printing is fast and the boundary between wetting and drying is unlikely to be formed and the deformation is gentle. In FIG. 10, printer paper (paper density 0.83 g / cm ³ , paper thickness 0.11), which has a white surface and is readily available, and PPC paper for copying machines (paper density 0.69 g / cm ³ , paper thickness 0.
(09 mm) shows the condition and suitability of the paper regarding the warp and waviness of the inspection paper printed with water. In this case, it is understood that the PPC paper has higher visibility in the result determination in the cleaning inspection process than the coated paper for the ink jet printer (IJP). Therefore,
The selection of the paper is necessary in order to make the discrimination of the confirmation of the washing process by the water printing most, and the selection will be described.

In the experiment, regarding commercially available papers, in addition to the above-mentioned coated paper and PPC paper, commercially available heat transfer paper and glossy paper were included, and JIS P8137 (197) was used.
6) The water repellency characteristics of these papers were measured according to the “Water repellency test method for paper and paperboard”.

FIG. 11 shows a water repellency test apparatus. On the test-piece mounting base 39, the test-piece mounting surface 40 is inclined by an angle of 45 ° with respect to the horizontal plane and has a length A of a flat plate surface of 300 mm or more. A paper 41, which is a test piece, is attached to the test piece attachment surface 40, and a height B from the paper surface is 10 mm using a buret 43 supported by a buret support base 42.
Then, one drop of 0.5 ml is dropped onto the test piece with distilled water at 20 ° C., and the trace of the water drop flowing down on the surface of the test piece is observed. The results are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 12 shows the test results for various inspection sheets, and FIGS. 13A to 13D show traces of the flow-down of each sheet. (A) is PPC paper, (B) is thermal transfer paper, and both have water repellency (R2) of R2.
(It is a continuous trace and shows a width slightly narrower than a water drop), and the dropping length every 5 times is 14 to 15 mm on average. In addition, since the maximum test result is 18.5 mm, if it is 20 mm or less (within the range of 0 mm to 20 mm),
Can be seen as a compatible material. (C) is a glossy paper with a water-repellency of R6 (half of the trace is wet), with a width of more than 3 times the drop diameter, an average of 106 mm flowing down, and its tip spreads like a spoon. There is. Not suitable as a candidate for cleaning inspection paper. (D) is an experimental example of coated paper, which rapidly flows down with a width of 1.5 to 2 times the drop diameter and reaches the lower end of the paper. The water repellency is R0 (a continuous mark and shows a uniform width), and the flow length is 300 mm or more. In this case, the wettability is highest, and the water repellency of R0 is completely unsuitable as a cleaning inspection sheet.

According to the above experiment, JIS P8137
According to the results of water repellency test with distilled water (1976), the water repellency is R2, the flow length is within 20 mm, the paper thickness is not so thick, and the printability is about 0.09 mm or less, and the density is 0. ．
If the paper can be printed at 7 g / cm ³ or less, it is most suitable as the target specific paper material. If the paper is thicker than this, "warpage" and the remarkable deformation of the paper surface due to expansion and contraction are less likely to occur, and if the paper is denser than this, the capillary action of the paper fibers is strong and the diffusion speed to the surroundings is fast, The boundary of the other part is thinned, and as a result, the change in expansion and contraction of the paper due to wetting and drying is gradual and is not accompanied by any noticeable deformation.

Paper generally called coated paper is classified as coated printing paper and is coated with an inorganic pigment or the like, which is good for printing with ink, but cleaning the ink head 24 in the manufacturing process of an ink jet printer. It turned out that it is extremely unsuitable as a cleaning inspection sheet used for "water printing" performed in the process.

The relationship between the paper and the ink used for printing is often studied and tested by the manufacturers of ink jet printers and devices equipped with the same printer unit. In addition to ink, the most suitable paper is specified from the commercial products, and sometimes it is specified. It is marketed as the recommended paper. However, the paper used in the present invention does not always match the paper recommended or specified by the printer manufacturer. On the contrary, in terms of material, contrary to what is recommended for ink printing, it is desirable that the quality of the paper is such that it is easily warped and wavy, and has high elasticity. Tested with the "water repellent test method for paper and paperboard" specified in JIS P8137 (1976), the one with little paper wetting, the one with low paper thickness and paper density, and the appropriate cost, available. By using a general-purpose paper (PPC paper, thermal transfer paper, etc.) that is easy to perform as the cleaning inspection paper, there is an effect of significantly improving the visibility.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing respective steps from product assembly to shipping according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same steps as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the carriage 13 is automatically cleaned after the print inspection step 2 is completed while the ink jet printer unit 12 is still attached, based on the control command. In the second embodiment, after the print inspection is completed, the ink cartridges 21A and 21B are removed from the apparatus main body.
The carriage 13 is removed from the main body at the same time (step 2C), the cleaning is intensively performed in a completely different process, and the carriage 13 is attached to the main body again after the cleaning is completed (step 2D). In this case, the original carriage 13 having the serial number corresponding to the main body number of the word processor 7 is incorporated into the main body again and sent to the cleaning confirmation step 3X.

The cleaning confirmation step 3X is a step of performing water printing as a proof of the cleaning confirmation because the inside of the carriage 13 has been cleaned in the above step. This cleaning confirmation step 3
X also operates in the same manner as the cleaning step 3 described above, and a cleaning cartridge is attached to the carriage 13 (step 3
A), a Aspirate (Step 3B) to the ink head, which is inside of the cleaning liquid to the carriage 13. It should be noted that the suction operation may be performed by simply introducing the cleaning liquid into the ink head 24 since the cleaning has already been completed.

In the water printing step (step 3C), with the cleaning cartridge filled with distilled water attached to the carriage 13, the jetting element 28 is driven in the same manner as in the normal printing mode to perform the above-mentioned water printing with a specific printing pattern. This is a process of jetting and printing distilled water on a suitable predetermined paper. The cleaning inspection sheet at this time is always attached to the main body together with other inspection sheets after being left unattended. In the cleaning inspection sheet left as it is, "warp", "waviness", or "striped pattern" occurs in the portion where water is sprayed.

[0055] In shipping inspection step 4, inspection of the washing test sheet after water printing process that is attached to the word processor 7 (part of the total test result sheet), confirmation is made. As for the inspection / confirmation means, if the cleaning inspection sheet has a substantially predetermined warp, waviness, stripe pattern, etc., the cleaning passes and the shipping process 6
In the case where the above-mentioned predetermined reaction is not observed, the re-cleaning step 5 is carried out to ensure the cleaning quality.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, after the print inspection 2, the carriage 13 to which the ink is attached is removed from the product main body and washed in a separate process, so that a plurality of units can be formed. Can be intensively washed. In the subsequent cleaning confirmation step 3, the cleaned carriage 13 is reassembled in the main body of the product, and the carriage containing distilled water.
By attaching a trig and performing water printing, "warp", "waviness", and "striped pattern" occur on a predetermined inspection sheet.

If the amount of cleaning liquid in the cleaning cartridge is insufficient (less than a predetermined amount), the nozzles 32 or the like are clogged with ink or the like due to improper cleaning, or the carriage 13 or the like is assembled after cleaning. If the inspection is not properly performed, distilled water cannot be jet-printed on the sheet, and therefore, the warp, waviness, or stripe pattern does not occur on the inspection sheet.

Further, even when water printing is performed, the cleaning is not properly performed in the head and residual ink is present, the cleaning liquid is not present in the cleaning cartridge (empty state), or the assembly is improperly performed. No cleaning liquid or ink is ejected onto the inspection sheet.

After printing 3C of water, a card containing distilled water is used.
Although the cartridge is removed and the residual water content in the carriage 13 is sucked to complete the cleaning confirmation step, since the printing is performed with distilled water, the cleaning liquid does not have to worry about the influence on the nozzle that should be considered after cleaning. it can be performed Printout using the nozzle. Further, the residual water is sucked after the water printing, but since water is used, there is no concern that foreign matter may adhere during drying, and the burden on the operator during handling is greatly reduced.

In the shipping inspection step 4, by checking the water printing result of the inspection sheet attached to the product body, whether the cleaning after the printing inspection is properly performed, whether the water printing is performed, or the assembly after the cleaning is performed. It is possible to immediately check whether the work was done properly. Print marks ejected on the inspection paper with a mixture of residual ink and cleaning liquid, or completely cleaned and ejected with only the cleaning liquid without residual ink, warping, wavy,
It can be seen from the print trace when the striped pattern is generated that cleaning is performed after the print inspection and that the assembly after cleaning is also appropriate. However, if the inspection sheet does not have print marks, warpage, waviness, or stripes due to the mixed liquid, it is immediately clear whether the cleaning is not performed properly or the assembly after cleaning is not appropriate.

As described above, by adopting the cleaning confirmation means for performing water printing on a predetermined inspection sheet by using water, it is possible to confirm the cleaning which is difficult to judge by the conventional technique and to perform the proper assembly after the cleaning. Since it is possible to make a judgment by a simple method of visually recognizing, it is effective in reducing the burden of inspection on the operator. Further, even if the ink is completely cleaned and there is no ink print mark, the paper is deformed. Therefore, when the cleaning and assembling are properly performed, the ink 32 is clogged in the nozzle 32 or the like, Since the assembly is not proper, it is easy to distinguish when there is no ink print mark, and the irrationalities of returning to the cleaning confirmation step 3 etc. again due to wasteful worry do not occur, the process cost can be reduced, and the product quality There are many effects that can be secured. Regarding the distilled water described above,
The same effect can be obtained by using pure water instead of distilled water. In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer in which the ejection element made of the heat generating resistor is provided in the flow path following the nozzle of the ink head has been described, but it is also applicable to the ink jet printer using the piezoelectric element as the ejection element.

[0062]

According to the present invention, at the stage of manufacturing an ink jet printer, by performing printing with a cleaning liquid after cleaning the ink head, it is possible to visually confirm whether the cleaning of the ink head has been completed or not. This can be confirmed in the comprehensive inspection before shipment of the process by observing the state of printing by the residual ink on the cleaning inspection sheet attached to the apparatus and the deformation of the shape such as warpage, wavy or striped pattern.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an assembly process to a shipping process of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a word processor equipped with an inkjet printer.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an inkjet printer unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a partial cross section of the carriage.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink head portion at the lower end of the head chip portion.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a cleaning process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view (A) and a side view (B) of an inspection sheet after a cleaning inspection.

FIG. 8 is a partial explanatory diagram of the inspection sheet after the cleaning inspection when the PPC sheet is used as the inspection sheet.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the partial inspection paper after the cleaning inspection when the coated paper is the inspection paper.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of properties of paper after cleaning inspection of PPC paper and coated paper.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the water repellency test apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a list of water repellency test results for each inspection sheet.

FIG. 13 is a water repellency test result of various inspection sheets.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an assembly process to a shipping process of the ink jet printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an assembly process to a shipping process of the ink jet printer of prior art 1.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an assembly process to a shipping process of an ink jet printer of prior art 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 product body assembly 2 Print inspection process 2D head cleaning process 3 cleaning process 3B suction, washing process 3C water printing process 4 Shipping inspection process 6 shipping 7 Inkjet printer built-in word processor 10 Cleaning inspection paper 12 Inkjet printer unit 13 carriage 14 Maintenance Department 24 ink head 28 Injection element 31 Individual passage 32 nozzles

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masatoshi Sugimura 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Corporation (72) Tsunehiko Tanabe 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka, Osaka Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Shigeru Ishino 22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Corporation (72) Instructor, Shirasuga 22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (56) Inside Sharp Corporation (56) References JP-A-9-193379 (JP, A) JP-A-3-158244 (JP, A) JP-A-9-29984 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) B41J 2/175 B41J 2/165 B41J 2/18 B41J 2/185

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] The inside of the ink head for ejecting ink to a manufacturing method of an inkjet printer is cleaned with the cleaning liquid, the internal of the ink head and a step of washing with the washing liquid, from the ink head with the cleaning solution And a step of printing on printing paper, wherein the printing paper has a water repellency of JIS P8137 (1976) "Paper
And water repellency test method for paperboard "
The rank is R2 and the dropping length is from 0mm to 20mm.
A method for manufacturing an inkjet printer, characterized in that the paper is within the range . 2. The inside of an ink head for ejecting ink
Inkjet printer manufacturing method with cleaning liquid
A cleaning method for cleaning the inside of the ink head with a cleaning liquid.
From the ink head to the printing paper using the cleaning liquid.
The cleaning liquid printing step for printing, and the printing paper passed through the cleaning liquid printing step,
A cleaning check that inspects whether the printed surface is deformed or not.
Features and to Louis manufacturing method of ink jet printers that have a certification process, a. 3. The surface deformation is unevenness of the printing paper.
The method for manufacturing an ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein the method has a deformation, a warp, a wavy shape , or a striped pattern . 4. The deformation of the paper surface is caused by an ink pigment attached.
Concavo-convex deformation, warpage, wavy or striped pattern of the printing paper
The method for manufacturing an inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein 5. The method for manufacturing an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the print- receiving paper is PPC paper. 6. The printing paper has a water repellency of JIS P813.
According to 7 (1976) “Water and water repellency test method for paper and board”, the rank is R2 and the drip length is 0 according to the water repellency test method.
The method for manufacturing an inkjet printer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the paper has a size within a range of 20 mm to 20 mm. 7. The method of manufacturing an ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is distilled water or pure water.