JP3548236B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus and suction recovery method in ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus having a print head suction recovery device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Ink jet recording devices can improve ink ejection by preventing thickening of ink due to evaporation of water in the ink at or near the ejection port where the ink is in contact with air, and by removing thickened ink and generated bubbles. It is general that various configurations for maintaining are provided.
[0003]
For this reason, in this type of ink jet recording apparatus, at the time of non-recording operation in which ink droplets are not discharged, the surface of the recording head where the discharge ports are provided is sealed (capping), so that the ink A capping mechanism for preventing evaporation is provided.
[0004]
In addition, in order to perform more stable ink ejection, ink is ejected from all ejection ports of the recording head at predetermined positions periodically, such as during a recording operation, or from a desired ejection port. Ink and bubbles generated by performing so-called “preliminary ejection” to update ink at ejection ports that are not involved, or by sucking ink at ejection openings and inside the ink at the start of printing or at desired time intervals. Ink suction and ink pressurization for discharging ink are performed.
[0005]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of an example of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus;
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 21 denotes an ink jet recording cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as an ink jet recording cartridge) that integrally includes a recording head mounted on a carriage 22 and having a nozzle unit for ejecting ink, and an ink supply unit having an ink tank and a supply path for storing ink. Simply referred to as a cartridge).
[0006]
The cartridge 21 is detachably fixed to the carriage 22 and can be used while exchanging a cartridge dedicated to BK (black) ink recording and a cartridge dedicated to color ink recording. The carriage 22 and the cartridge 21 are electrically connected by a contact pad (not shown). Reference numeral 23 denotes an electric board for controlling the ink ejection by the cartridge 21, and reference numeral 24 denotes a flexible cable for connecting the electric board 23 and the carriage 22. Reference numeral 25 denotes a paper feed motor. The recording paper P is conveyed by a pair of rollers 26 in a direction indicated by an arrow f in FIG. Reference numeral 27 denotes a roller which cooperates with the roller 26 to regulate the recording paper P flat and forms a recording surface for the recording cartridge 21.
[0007]
Reference numeral 28 denotes a carriage driving belt connected to the carriage 22, 29 denotes a motor for driving the belt in the S direction in the drawing, and 30 denotes a pair of guide rails for the carriage 22. The carriage 22 moves in the S direction in the figure along the guide rail 30 according to the driving of the motor 29, and can perform recording on the recording surface.
[0008]
The cartridge 21 is mounted on a carriage 22, and the carriage 22 is driven by a motor 29 in the S direction in FIG. The recording paper P is conveyed by rollers 27 in the direction f in the figure according to the driving of the paper feed motor 25. Thereby, two-dimensional scanning by the recording head 21 is performed. At this time, the recording head 21 performs recording on the recording paper P by flying ink droplets under the control of the control unit.
[0009]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a recovery device for performing a recovery operation of the recording cartridge 21 at the home position H of the recording cartridge 21 in opposition to the recording cartridge 21. The recovery device 31 collects ink droplets discharged during the above-described preliminary discharge and guides the collected ink droplets to an ink reservoir (not shown), ink droplets attached to the discharge port surface of the recording head, and paper dust. And a capping means 313 having a cap for sealing the ejection opening surface of the recording head at the time of non-recording operation or at the time of suction recovery.
[0010]
The wiping blade 312 and the capping means 313 are disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the cartridge 21, and can wipe and cap the discharge port surface at a desired timing. Further, a suction pump (not shown) is connected to the capping means via a tube or the like, so that non-pressure can be generated in the cap at a desired timing.
[0011]
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example of a sequence of the suction recovery operation in the recovery device having the above-described configuration. When the suction recovery operation is instructed, the carriage 22 moves to the home position (HP) (Step S701), and the capping means covers the discharge port surface to complete the capping (Step S702). Next, the suction pump is operated to generate a negative pressure in the cap, the ink is sucked from the discharge port to perform a suction operation, and the operation is stopped at a predetermined time to complete the suction operation (step S703).
[0012]
Next, the cap of the capping unit is separated from the discharge port surface, and the inside of the cap is connected to the atmosphere (step S704). Next, the suction pump operates again to remove the ink in the pump, tube, and cap (step S705). Next, the wiping blade advances in the direction of the discharge port surface (step S706), and further, the carriage 22 moves in the blade direction, and the discharge port surface and the wiping blade rub against each other to perform wiping, and adhere to the discharge port surface. The removed ink and the like are removed (step S707).
[0013]
Further, the carriage 22 continues to move in the same direction, and performs preliminary ejection when the ejection port reaches a position facing the preliminary ejection receiving portion, and discharges unnecessary ink, small bubbles, and the like in the nozzles (step S708). By such a series of operations or the suction recovery by repetition of these operations, the filling of the ink into the ejection port, the removal of bubbles and unnecessary ink in the ink flow path, the removal of foreign matter on the ejection port surface, and the like are effectively performed.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent print heads, the discharge ports and the liquid paths communicating with the discharge ports can be configured extremely finely and with high density, and the conventional suction recovery method may not be effective. Is starting to happen.
[0015]
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the ink in the flow path is divided into a plurality of portions as an example of the above case. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the cartridge 21, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view when the cartridge 21 is cut along a plane V including a row of ejection openings, and is a diagram showing a state of ink filling.
[0016]
In FIG. 8A, reference numeral 211 denotes a nozzle having an ink ejection port at an end, and a driving unit for ejecting each ink is provided inside. Reference numeral 212 denotes a liquid chamber common to each nozzle (referred to as a common liquid chamber), and 213, an ink flow path that connects the absorber 214 filled with ink and the common liquid chamber 212.
[0017]
FIG. 8B shows a state in which the solid-painted portion is filled with ink, and shows that the ink is divided into four regions 213a, 213b, 213c, and 213d.
[0018]
In such an ink-filled head, printing cannot be continued and suction recovery is required. FIG. 9 shows a state diagram at the start of suction. Reference numeral 313 denotes the above-described capping means, and the negative pressure P ₀ Is occurring. However, since the ink is filled in the nozzles and the common liquid chamber 212, the negative pressure reaching the adjacent gaps is increased by the pressure loss due to the resistance between the nozzle / common liquid chamber wall surface and the ink. ₀ Less negative pressure P ₁ It becomes.
[0019]
Further, in the adjacent gap, a negative pressure P is generated due to a pressure loss due to the resistance of the ink region 213a and the flow path wall. ₁ Even smaller negative pressure P ₂ Only arrives. By repeating this, the negative pressure P reaching the gap between the joint between the absorber 214 as the ink supply unit and the flow path is obtained. ₄ Is the negative pressure P in the cap ₀ It is much smaller than that. In order for suction to be performed, this negative pressure P ₄ Must be greater than the ink holding power of the absorber, and if it is small, ink will not be filled no matter how much the conventional suction recovery operation is repeated.
[0020]
Conventionally, in order to avoid such a state where ink cannot be filled,
(1) Set the suction negative pressure / suction amount sufficiently large
(2) Reduce the pressure loss by making the flow path cross-sectional area large enough
(3) Shorten the flow path length sufficiently to reduce the number of divided parts
And so on. However, in the case of (1), there are problems such as an increase in waste ink and an increase in the size of a pump, and in the case of (2), a similar problem occurs due to an increase in the required suction amount due to an increase in the flow channel volume. This has been an obstacle to configuring an ink jet recording apparatus that is small and has low running cost. Further, in the case of (3), the vibration caused by the flow of ink in the ink absorber 214 and the supply path affects the inside of the nozzle, and it is easy to cause ejection failure, so that high-speed high-quality printing cannot be performed. Had occurred.
[0021]
More recently,
A. Nozzle miniaturization for improving recording resolution,
B. Lowering the surface tension of the ink to improve the drying speed of the ink,
Has progressed remarkably, and A. In the case of, the pressure loss increases, and B. In the case of (1), the problem of the ink filling failure due to the ink separation is becoming more and more important due to the increase in the frequency of bubble generation.
[0022]
As described above, according to the conventional suction recovery method, it is possible to avoid / eliminate a state in which ink cannot be filled due to ink breakage, and reduce the size, operating cost, high speed, high quality, high resolution recording, and high speed fixing. It was impossible to construct the ink jet recording apparatus as intended.
[0023]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus having the above-described features and a suction recovery method by eliminating an ink filling failure due to ink division.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has solved the above problem by the following technical configuration.
(1) An ink droplet ejecting means for recording an image having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, a plurality of flow paths respectively communicating with the plurality of ejection ports, and a common liquid chamber communicating with the plurality of flow paths. And a suction unit having a cap and a suction pump for suctioning and discharging the ink in the ink droplet discharge unit to the outside, and an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink droplet discharge unit discharges ink droplets to a non-image area, The total volume of the ink droplets is equal to or greater than all the internal volumes of the plurality of flow paths And the sum of the internal volume and the internal volume of the common liquid chamber An ink jet recording apparatus having a pre-suction pre-ejection recovery mode in which the suction means is operated after the ink is ejected so as to achieve the following.
(2) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the non-image area where the ink droplets are ejected is inside the cap of the suction unit.
(3) The ink droplet ejection means is a set of ink droplet ejection means for ejecting a plurality of different inks, and the suction means integrally caps and suctions the set of ink droplet ejection means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to the above (1) or (2).
(4) A plurality of the ink droplet ejection units are provided, and the plurality of ink droplet ejection units apply ink droplets to a non-image area before operating the suction unit to perform suction from the plurality of ink droplet ejection units. 4. The method according to any one of (1) to (3), further comprising: an ink droplet discharging unit that performs preliminary discharge before suction, and an ink droplet discharging unit that does not perform preliminary discharge before suction. Inkjet recording device.
(5) The ink droplet ejection means is provided for each of a plurality of ejection units for ejecting ink and a corresponding ejection unit, and causes a state change due to heat in the ink to cause the ink to be discharged from the ejection unit based on the state change. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of the above items (1) to (4), further comprising: thermal energy generating means for forming a flying droplet by discharging.
(6) An ink droplet ejecting means for recording an image having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, a plurality of flow paths respectively communicating with the plurality of ejection ports, and a common liquid chamber communicating with the plurality of flow paths. And a suction unit having a cap and a suction pump for sucking and discharging the ink in the ink droplet discharging unit to the outside, and a suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink droplet discharging unit transfers the ink from the ink droplet discharging unit to a non-image area. When the sum of the volumes of the ink droplets is equal to or greater than all the internal volumes of the plurality of flow paths, And the sum of the internal volume and the internal volume of the common liquid chamber A suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the suction means is operated after the ink is discharged.
(7) The suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (6), wherein the ink droplets are ejected into a cap of the suction means.
(8) The ink droplet ejection means is a set of ink droplet ejection means for ejecting a plurality of different inks, and the suction means integrally caps and sucks the set of ink droplet ejection means. The suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to the above mode (6) or (7).
(9) a step in which a plurality of the ink droplet discharging means are provided, and a step of discharging ink droplets to a non-image area from only some of the plurality of ink droplet discharging means; Operating the apparatus to perform suction from the plurality of ink droplet ejection units, wherein the suction recovery method of the inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the above modes (6) to (8), comprises:
[0025]
[Action]
With the configuration of the present invention as described above, an ink jet recording apparatus having a recovery method effective for eliminating the ink separation state is configured, thereby achieving compactness, low running cost, high speed, high quality, high resolution recording, and high speed fixing. Can be provided.
[0026]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on a plurality of examples.
[0027]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an operation sequence flowchart illustrating a suction recovery method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the suction recovery operation is instructed, the carriage 22 (see FIG. 6) moves to a position where the ejection port faces the preliminary ejection receiving unit (Step S101), and performs preliminary ejection to the preliminary ejection receiving unit (Step S102).
[0028]
Next, the carriage 22 moves to the home position (HP) (Step S103), and the capping means covers the discharge port surface to complete the capping (Step S104). Next, the suction pump is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the cap, ink is sucked from the discharge port, and a suction operation is performed. At a predetermined time, the operation is stopped and the suction operation is completed (step S105). Next, the cap of the capping means is detached from the discharge port surface, and the inside of the cap is connected to the atmosphere (step S106).
[0029]
Next, the suction pump operates again to remove the ink in the pump, tube, and cap (step S107). Next, the wiping blade advances in the direction of the discharge port surface (step S108), and further, the carriage moves in the blade direction, and the discharge port surface and the wiping blade slide and wiping is performed. It is removed (step S109). Further, the carriage continues to move in the same direction and performs preliminary ejection when the ejection port reaches a position facing the preliminary ejection receiving portion (step S110), and discharges unnecessary ink, small bubbles, and the like in the nozzles.
[0030]
When the preliminary ejection operation is performed before the suction as described above, when the ink divided state as shown in FIG.
(A) The ink meniscus of the discharge port is broken, and most of the ink in the common liquid chamber 212 and the flow path returns to the tank due to the negative pressure of the ink tank (FIG. 2A).
(B) The amount of the discharged ink droplets in the volume integrating liquid chamber decreases, and a large gap is formed in the common liquid chamber 212 (FIG. 2B).
Will be. Next, when suction is performed, in the case of (a), since there is no pressure loss in the nozzle 211 / common liquid chamber 212, the suction negative pressure is directly applied to the ink in the flow path, and the suction is performed with a stronger pressure than the conventional example. In the meantime, the ink divided state is effectively eliminated.
[0031]
In the case of (b), the ink near the nozzle is removed at the initial stage of the suction, and thereafter, as in the case of (a), the suction negative pressure is directly applied to the ink in the flow path, and is stronger than the conventional example. Because of the pressure, the ink break state is effectively eliminated. As described above, in any case, according to the suction method of the present invention in which the preliminary ejection is performed before the suction and then the suction is performed, the ink separation state is remarkably effective as compared with the conventional suction method.
[0032]
Furthermore, the number of preliminary discharges performed at this time is such that when all the preliminary discharges are completely executed without non-discharge, the sum of the ink droplet volumes is equal to or greater than the total nozzle internal volume and the sum of the total nozzle internal volume and the common liquid chamber volume. It is preferable that the setting is made to be about the same. This is because if the total volume of the ink droplets is smaller than the total volume in all the nozzles, the probability of inducing the above-described ink meniscus breakage becomes extremely low, so that effective recovery is not performed. If the volume is extremely larger than the sum of the volume and the volume of the common liquid chamber, the ink ejection drive is performed in a state where there is no ink in the nozzle, and the probability of damaging the recording element due to heat generation or the like increases.
[0033]
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 3 is an operation sequence flowchart illustrating a suction recovery method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. When the suction recovery operation is instructed, the carriage moves to the home position (HP) (step S301), performs preliminary ejection (step S302), and thereafter, capping means covers the ejection port surface, and capping is completed (step S303). ). Next, the suction pump is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the cap, ink is sucked from the discharge port, and a suction operation is performed. At a predetermined time, the operation is stopped and the suction operation is completed (step S304). Next, the cap of the capping unit is separated from the discharge port surface, and the inside of the cap is connected to the atmosphere (step S305). Next, the suction pump operates again to remove the ink in the pump, tube, and cap (step S306).
[0034]
Next, the wiping blade moves forward in the direction of the ejection port surface (step S307), and further, the carriage moves in the blade direction, and the ejection port surface and the wiping blade rub against each other, and wiping is performed. It is removed (step S308). Further, the carriage continues to move in the same direction and executes a preliminary ejection when the ejection port reaches a position facing the preliminary ejection receiving portion (step S309), and discharges unnecessary ink, small bubbles, and the like in the nozzles.
[0035]
If the preliminary ejection is performed in the cap before the suction as described above, the volume in the cap at the time of the suction is reduced by the volume of the pre-discharged ink droplet, and the initial suction volume is reduced. ) Is effectively increased. Therefore, the effect of increasing the suction negative pressure is added to the effect described in the first embodiment, and the effect of eliminating the ink divided state is further enhanced.
[0036]
(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a description will be given of a third embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a cartridge (referred to as a multi-color integrated cartridge) having means for discharging and recording ink of a plurality of colors. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the ink separation state of the multicolor integrated cartridge (in this drawing, an example of a two-color integrated cartridge is shown).
[0037]
In FIG. 4, reference numerals 211A and 211B denote nozzles each having an ink discharge port at an end, and a drive unit for discharging ink is provided inside. 212A and B are liquid chambers (referred to as common liquid chambers) common to the nozzles, 213A and B are ink flow paths, and are used as absorbers 214A and 214B filled with ink and common liquid chambers 212A and 212B, respectively. Connected.
[0038]
Recording means 211A, 212A, 213A, 214A for discharging ink of ink color A (the above is referred to as recording means A) and recording means 211B, 212B, 213B, 214B for discharging ink of ink color B (the above is recording means B) ) Are provided in the cartridge in a state where they are separated by a partition, and the ejection ports 211A and 211B are opened on the same ejection port surface.
[0039]
In FIG. 4, the solid-painted portion shows a state in which ink is filled, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the recording unit A has no ink division state and the recording unit B has an ink division state. . In FIG. 4, reference numeral 313 denotes a capping unit for suction, which integrally seals the discharge port surfaces including the discharge ports 211A and 211B, and recovers the recording units A and B integrally by suction.
[0040]
In the recording means B in the ink filled state as shown in FIG. 4, printing cannot be continued and suction recovery is required. However, in the integrated suction method having such a configuration, the recording means A having no ink division state Is easily sucked, and the negative pressure in the cap due to the suction starts to be eliminated by the ink A, so that a sufficient magnitude of the negative pressure is not applied to the recording means B, and a situation occurs in which the ink divided state of the recording means B cannot be eliminated at all. .
[0041]
In particular, in the case of a four-color integrated full-color cartridge that records four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (BK),
(1) C, M, and Y inks use low surface tension inks that dry quickly to prevent color bleeding in each color.
(2) BK uses high surface tension ink for emphasizing density, and makes the ejection port larger than the C, M, and Y ink ejection ports to increase the ink droplet volume.
With such a configuration, the ink separation state is likely to occur in the C, M, and Y ink recording means, and the situation shown in FIG. 4, which does not occur in the BK ink, is likely to occur. Since it is small, the BK ink is easily sucked, and the divided state of the Y, M, and C inks is very difficult to be eliminated.
[0042]
FIG. 5 shows an operation sequence flowchart illustrating a suction recovery method when the present invention is applied to such a four-color integrated cartridge;
When the suction recovery operation is instructed, the carriage moves to a position where the ejection port faces the preliminary ejection receiving portion (step S501), and the preliminary ejection is performed by the Y, M, and C ink recording means on the preliminary ejection receiving portion (step S501). Step 502). Next, the carriage moves to the home position (HP) (Step S503), and the capping means covers the discharge port surface to complete the capping (Step S504).
[0043]
Next, the suction pump is operated, a negative pressure is generated in the cap, ink is sucked from the discharge port, and a suction operation is performed. At a predetermined time, the operation is stopped and the suction operation is completed (step S505). Next, the cap of the capping unit is separated from the discharge port surface, and the inside of the cap is connected to the atmosphere (step S506). Next, the suction pump operates again to remove the ink in the pump, tube, and cap (step S507).
[0044]
Next, the wiping blade advances in the direction of the discharge port surface (step S508), and further, the carriage moves in the blade direction, and the discharge port surface and the wiping blade rub against each other to perform wiping. It is removed (step S509). Further, the carriage continues to move in the same direction, and when the ejection port reaches a position facing the preliminary ejection receiving portion, preliminary ejection is performed by the Y, M, C, and BK recording means (step S510), and unnecessary nozzles inside the nozzles are unnecessary. Discharges ink, small bubbles, etc.
[0045]
As described above, if the preliminary ejection of only the Y, M, and C inks is performed before the suction, the ink divided state can be effectively eliminated by the effect described in the first embodiment. Since BK ink, which is difficult and has a large ink droplet volume, is not preliminarily ejected, there is an advantage that the effect of suppressing ink consumption is high.
[0046]
(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the suction operation is performed immediately after the preliminary discharge before the suction. However, the suction operation may be performed after a predetermined standby time is provided after the preliminary discharge. When the waiting time is provided in this manner, a sufficient time for the ink to return to the tank can be provided, so that the probability of the ink divided state in the flow path being smaller than when there is no waiting time is increased, and the effect of suction is improved. It is possible to further increase.
[0047]
Further, the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and needless to say, various modified configurations / methods are included as long as the configurations / methods are included in the claims.
[0048]
(The present invention and related technologies)
The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus using a thermal energy among ink jet recording methods.
[0049]
Regarding the representative configuration and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to a sheet or a liquid path holding a liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and a recording head is generated. This is effective because it is possible to form a bubble in the liquid (ink) by one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal as a result of film boiling on the heat acting surface. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.
[0050]
As a configuration of the recording head, in addition to a combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angle liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which a is bent, is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal transducer for a plurality of electrothermal transducers, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is also effective when the configuration is based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration corresponding to the discharge unit.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention as described above,
In an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink droplet discharging means for discharging an ink droplet to perform image recording, and a suction means having a cap and a suction pump for sucking and discharging the ink in the ink droplet discharging means to the outside, the ink is formed in a non-image area. By providing a pre-suction pre-ejection recovery mode in which the suction means is operated after ejecting the droplet, an ink jet recording apparatus having an effective recovery method for eliminating the ink divided state is configured, and therefore, is small in size, low running cost, and high speed. Provided is an inkjet recording apparatus which achieves high-quality, high-resolution recording and high-speed fixing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a suction recovery operation sequence according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an ink filling state of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a suction recovery operation sequence according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a multi-color integrated cartridge according to a third embodiment in which ink is divided.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a suction recovery operation sequence according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part configuration of a conventional device.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example of a conventional suction recovery operation sequence;
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cartridge.
FIG. 9 is a state diagram at the start of suction.
[Explanation of symbols]
21 Recording cartridge
22 carriage
211A, 211B nozzle
212A, 212B Common liquid chamber
313 Capping means

Claims (9)

An ink droplet ejecting means for recording an image having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, a plurality of flow paths respectively communicating with the plurality of ejection ports, and a common liquid chamber communicating with the plurality of flow paths, An ink jet recording apparatus having a suction unit having a cap and a suction pump for suctioning and discharging the ink in the ink droplet ejection unit to the outside,
Ink droplets from the ink droplet ejection means to the non-image area, the sum of the volumes of the ink droplets is equal to or greater than all the internal volumes of the plurality of flow paths and the sum of the internal volume and the internal volume of the common liquid chamber. An ink jet recording apparatus having a pre-suction pre-ejection recovery mode in which the suction means is operated after ejection is performed. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-image area where the ink droplet is ejected is in a cap of the suction unit. 2. The ink droplet ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the ink droplet ejection device is a set of ink droplet ejection devices that eject a plurality of different inks, and the suction device integrally caps and sucks the set of ink droplet ejection devices. Or the inkjet recording apparatus according to 2. Having a plurality of the ink droplet ejection means,
The plurality of ink droplet ejection means, before operating the suction means to perform suction from the plurality of ink droplet ejection means, perform an ink droplet ejection means for performing pre-suction preliminary ejection of ejecting ink droplets to a non-image area; 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an ink droplet discharging unit that does not perform the preliminary discharge before suction. The ink droplet ejection unit is provided for each of a plurality of ejection units that eject ink and a corresponding ejection unit, causes a state change due to heat in the ink, and ejects the ink from the ejection unit based on the state change. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: thermal energy generating means for forming flying droplets. An ink droplet ejecting means for recording an image having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink droplets, a plurality of flow paths respectively communicating with the plurality of ejection ports, and a common liquid chamber communicating with the plurality of flow paths, A suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a suction unit having a suction pump and a cap that suctions and discharges ink in an ink droplet ejection unit to the outside,
Ink droplets from the ink droplet ejection means to the non-image area, the sum of the volumes of the ink droplets is equal to or greater than all the internal volumes of the plurality of flow paths and the sum of the internal volume and the internal volume of the common liquid chamber. A suction recovery method for the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the suction means is operated after the ink is discharged. 7. The suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein ink droplets are discharged into a cap of the suction unit. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the ink droplet ejection unit is a set of ink droplet ejection units that eject a plurality of different inks, and the suction unit integrally caps and sucks the set of ink droplet ejection units. Or a suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to item 7. A plurality of the ink droplet ejection means are provided,
A step of discharging ink droplets to the non-image area only from a part of the plurality of ink droplet discharging means,
Next, operating the suction unit to perform suction from the plurality of ink droplet ejection units,
The suction recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising:

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