JP4703389B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an ink jet type image forming apparatus that quickly performs a return process from an energy saving mode.

  Recently, energy saving (energy saving) has been demanded, and even in image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, printers, copying machines, and multi-function machines, they are consumed in various waiting states such as waiting for receiving, waiting for copying, and waiting for printing. Reduction of electric power is an issue.

  As a method for reducing the power consumption in the image forming apparatus, for example, the machine process is completely stopped during standby, or, in the case of electrical, the process shifts to an energy saving mode in which power to circuits other than the minimum logic circuit is cut off. The method etc. are used.

  The image forming apparatus is also required to reduce the time required for returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, that is, the return time.

  In general, an ink jet image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an inkjet image forming apparatus) has a maintenance / recovery unit disposed at a home position in a non-image forming area. In order to prevent clogging of the nozzle by discharging a thickened recording liquid and a capping mechanism having a cap for capping each nozzle surface of the head, a wiping mechanism having a blade member (wiping blade) for wiping the nozzle surface An empty discharge mechanism having an empty discharge receiver for receiving liquid droplets when performing empty discharge is provided. In addition, the capping mechanism has a suction mechanism in which a tube connected to a suction pump is connected to several caps (usually one cap), and the nozzle surface is sucked to suck unnecessary ink from the recording head. I have.

  When the power is turned off or the energy saving mode is entered, the inkjet image forming apparatus moves the carriage on which the recording head is mounted to the home position, and capping the moisturizing cap on the nozzle surface of the recording head, thereby stopping the ink at the time of stopping. Prevents drying of head nozzles.

  When the main power is turned on or when the energy saving mode returns to the standby state, the inkjet image forming apparatus performs an initialization process. As a part of the initialization process, the maintenance / recovery unit initialization process is performed.

  As the initialization processing of the maintenance / recovery unit, the positions of the individual mechanisms of the maintenance / recovery unit are shifted due to the movement or impact of the image forming apparatus, or the power supply is turned off in an abnormal state. In order to recover from the situation, the movement to the home position or the like is performed as an initialization process.

  However, if this maintenance / recovery unit is implemented every time when returning from the energy saving mode, a long recovery time is required, and as described above, it is impossible to cope with a demand for shortening the recovery time.

  Therefore, the present applicant has previously proposed an image forming apparatus that simplifies the refresh operation for refreshing the ink jet recording unit, that is, the initialization process of the maintenance / recovery unit and shortens the recovery time (Patent Document). 1).

JP 2005-028720 A

  However, in the above prior art, the refresh operation is simplified, but the maintenance / recovery unit includes a capping mechanism, a wiping mechanism, an idle discharge mechanism, and a suction mechanism, and these individual mechanisms need to be initialized. This is not considered, and the necessity of initialization of other individual mechanisms of the image forming apparatus is not considered. There was a need.

  Therefore, the present invention performs initialization processing in consideration of the necessity of initialization processing possessed by individual mechanisms of the maintenance / recovery unit and other individual mechanisms of the image forming apparatus when returning from the energy saving mode. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with good usability by shortening the time required for the conversion processing, shortening the return time from the energy saving mode.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 prints by ejecting ink from nozzles of a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while conveying and moving the paper. During standby, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the print area to wait, and the cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head is moved from the cap home position to the capping position at the home position to prevent the nozzle surface from drying. When the standby state has elapsed for a predetermined period of time, the system shifts to an energy saving mode for stopping or reducing the supply of power to the main components, and when a predetermined return factor occurs in the energy saving mode, a predetermined initialization process is performed. The image forming apparatus returns to the standby state after performing the energy saving mode. During the return, if it is determined whether a predetermined time within the energy-saving mode return that has been set in advance, the predetermined time within the energy-saving mode return, by omitting initialization of the capping mechanism, the object Has achieved.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention prints by ejecting ink from nozzles of a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while conveying and moving the paper. During standby, a carriage is moved to a home position outside the printing area to wait, and a wiping mechanism is provided at the home position to wipe off the nozzle surface of the recording head with a blade member. An image forming apparatus that shifts to an energy saving mode for stopping or reducing the supply of power to the image and returns to a standby state by performing a predetermined initialization process when a predetermined return factor occurs in the energy saving mode. when returning from mode, whether the energy saving mode return within a certain preset time Disconnection and, in the case of energy-saving mode return within the predetermined time, by omitting initialization process of the wiping mechanism, which achieves the above objects.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus prints by ejecting ink from nozzles of a recording head mounted on a carriage that moves in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while conveying and moving the paper. During standby, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the print area to wait, and the suction cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head and performs the suction operation is moved from the suction cap home position to the suction position. Provided with a suction capping mechanism that performs the suction operation of the nozzle surface, when the standby state has elapsed for a predetermined time, it shifts to an energy saving mode for stopping or reducing the supply of power to the main parts, and in the energy saving mode, a predetermined return factor is When generated, the image forming apparatus performs a predetermined initialization process and returns to a standby state. When returning from Nerugi over mode, it is determined whether a predetermined time within the energy-saving mode return that has been set in advance, when the constant time within the energy-saving mode return, eliminating the initialization process of the suction capping mechanism The above-mentioned purpose is achieved.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 4, the image forming apparatus may omit an initialization process of the paper transport mechanism that transports the paper when returning from the energy saving mode.

For example, as described in claim 5, the image forming apparatus adjusts the carriage to the home position when returning from the energy saving mode when the energy saving mode is returned within the predetermined time. The carriage initialization process may be omitted.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, the image forming apparatus performs a carriage initialization process for adjusting the movement of the carriage to the home position after executing the first printing operation after returning from the energy saving mode. You may go.

For example, as described in claim 7, the image forming apparatus performs initialization processing of the capping mechanism and the wiping when the energy saving mode is restored within the predetermined time when returning from the energy saving mode. The mechanism initialization process, the suction capping mechanism initialization process, the paper transport mechanism initialization process, and the carriage initialization process may be omitted.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when returning from the energy saving mode, the cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head is moved from the cap home position to the capping position to prevent the nozzle surface from being dried. Initializing a wiping mechanism that wipes the nozzle surface with a blade member or a suction capping mechanism that moves the suction cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head to perform the suction operation from the suction cap home position to the suction position and performs the suction operation of the nozzle surface Since the processing is omitted, the return time from the energy saving mode can be shortened while maintaining the print quality, and the usability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 6 are views showing a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer 1 to which the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. is there.

  In FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 1 includes a paper feed unit 3, a paper transport unit 4, a carriage 5, a large-capacity ink cartridge 6, a paper discharge unit 7, a switching claw 8, a reversing unit 9, and a double side unit in a main body housing 2. 10 and the like are stored, a paper discharge tray 11 is formed on the upper portion of the main body housing 2, and a manual paper feed unit 12 is disposed on the side surface of the main body housing 2.

  The paper feed unit 3 stores a plurality of papers P, and is separated one by one by a paper feed roller 21 and sent out to the paper transport unit 4. The manual paper feed unit 12 feeds the paper P set on the manual paper feed unit 12 to the paper transport unit 4 one by one by the manual paper feed roller 22.

  The sheet conveyance unit 4 includes a registration sensor 30, a registration roller 31, a conveyance belt 33 stretched over a plurality of conveyance rollers 32, a plurality of horizontal conveyance rollers 34, a spur 35 disposed to face the horizontal conveyance rollers 34, and the like. The paper P sent out from the paper feed unit 3 or the manual paper feed unit 12 is temporarily stopped at the position of the registration sensor 30 by the registration roller 31, the leading edge of the paper P is aligned, and the image output timing After the timing adjustment, the sheet is fed to the conveyor belt 33. The transport belt 33 is transported in the counterclockwise direction (sub-scanning direction) in FIG. 1 by the transport roller 32, and is charged in a horizontal direction while electrostatically attracting the paper P sent from the registration roller 31. It conveys in the direction of the conveyance roller 34 and the spur 35.

  A carriage 5 is disposed on the conveyance belt 33 so as to be movable in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 33. As shown in FIG. A head 41 provided for each color of magenta and black, a sub tank 42 for supplying ink to the head 41 of each color, and the like are mounted. Each sub tank 42 of the carriage 5 is replenished with ink from the large capacity ink cartridge 6 through the ink refill tube 43.

  The large-capacity ink cartridge 6 is provided for each color of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black, and can be replaced for each color. Each color large-capacity ink cartridge 6 is connected to an ink supply pump 44, and the ink refill tube 43 is connected to the corresponding color ink supply pump 44. The large-capacity ink cartridge 6 for each color is provided with an ink remaining amount detection sensor, and the ink jet printer 1 includes an ink cartridge 6 in the large-capacity ink cartridge 6 for each color based on the detection signal of the ink remaining amount detection sensor. The remaining ink amount is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 5 moves in the main scanning direction (carriage operation direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the paper P, and ink of each color is supplied from the head 41 of each color to the paper P. In this way, an image is formed (printed) on the paper P, and a home position (filling work position) is provided outside the image forming area on one side in the carriage operation direction. Although not shown, the ink jet printer 1 is provided with a sub tank ink amount detection sensor for detecting the ink amount in the sub tank 42 at this home position, and a maintenance / recovery unit. Although not shown, this maintenance / recovery unit discharges the thickened recording liquid, a capping mechanism having a cap for capping each nozzle surface of the head 41, a wiping mechanism having a blade member (wiping blade) for wiping the nozzle surface, and In order to prevent clogging of the nozzles, an empty discharge mechanism having an empty discharge receiver for receiving droplets when empty discharge is provided. Also, the capping mechanism has a suction capping mechanism in which a tube connected to a suction pump is connected to several caps (usually one cap) and sucks unnecessary ink from the recording head by sucking the nozzle surface. I have. Further, the capping mechanism uses the rotation of the cam to move the cap in the nozzle direction to perform capping, and to move the cap away from the nozzle to release capping. A home position sensor for detection is provided.

  The ink-jet printer 1 moves the carriage 5 to the home position during standby, power-off, and energy saving mode, and performs printing of a predetermined amount (density and number of data). Therefore, the carriage 5 is moved to the home position, and the ink amount in the sub tank 42 is confirmed by the sub tank ink amount detection sensor. If necessary, the ink supply pump 34 for the corresponding color is turned on. By driving, the sub tank 42 is replenished with ink from the large-capacity ink cartridge 6. In addition, the ink jet printer 1 moves the carriage 5 to the home position to prevent clogging of the nozzles of the head 41 corresponding to the color that has not been used for a predetermined period of time when the ink is filled. Ink is ejected idly by the idling mechanism, or the wiping mechanism is driven to wipe each nozzle surface of the head 41 with the blade member.

  In FIG. 1 again, the inkjet printer 1 forms (prints) an image on the paper P transported by the transport belt 33 by ejecting ink from the head 41 mounted on the carriage 5, and performs the printing. P is conveyed between the horizontal conveying roller 34 and the spur 35 and is sent to the switching claw 8 by the horizontal conveying roller 34 and the spur 35.

  The switching claw 8 swings between the lower solid line position in FIG. 1 and the upper broken line position, and when it is in the solid line position, it feeds the conveyed paper P toward the paper discharge unit 7 and is in the broken line position. Sometimes, the conveyed paper P is sent in the direction of the reversing unit 9.

  The paper discharge unit 7 includes a plurality of paper discharge rollers 51, and discharges the paper P sent by the switching claw 8 onto the paper discharge tray 11.

  The reversing unit 9 includes a conveying roller 61 and a plurality of reversing rollers 62. The reversing unit 9 sends the paper P sent by the switching claw 8 to the reversing roller 62 by the conveying roller 61. It is reversed and sent out to the double-sided part 10.

  The double-sided portion 10 includes a plurality of double-sided conveyance rollers 71, and the paper P that has been turned upside down by the reversing unit 9 is sequentially conveyed by the plurality of double-sided conveyance rollers 71 and is sent out again to the registration rollers 31. The ink jet printer 1 adjusts the timing of the paper P sent from the double-sided portion 10 to the registration roller 31 by the registration roller 31 and then transports the ink from the head 41 mounted on the carriage 5 while transporting the paper P by the transport belt 33. Is printed on the back surface of the paper P.

  The inkjet printer 1 is configured as a block as shown in FIG. 4, and includes a control unit 100, an operation unit 110, a write control unit 111, an HDD controller 112, an HDD (hard disk) 113, and an image RAM (Random Access Memory). 114, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 115, various sensor units 116, various load units 117, and the like. The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a non-volatile RAM 104, an IO control unit 105, and the like. The CPU 101 is connected to the data bus 106 and the address bus 107, and is directly connected to the operation unit 110 and the HDD controller 112. The NCU 115 is connected to the data bus 106 and the address bus 107.

  The ROM 102 stores various programs such as a basic processing program of the inkjet printer 1 and an energy saving return control processing program described later, and various kinds of programs necessary for executing these basic processing program and energy saving return control processing program. Data, system data, etc. are stored.

  The CPU 101 controls each part of the ink jet printer 1 based on a program in the ROM 102 while using the RAM 103 as a work memory, executes basic processing as the ink jet printer 1, and executes energy saving return control processing described later.

  The non-volatile RAM (storage means) 104 retains the stored contents even when the power of the inkjet printer 1 is off, and includes an adjustment value for control, timing, etc., registered print mode setting, etc., in particular, an energy saving return control process described later. Stores various information necessary for.

  The IO control unit 105 includes various sensor units 116 such as a paper sensor, a door sensor, the registration sensor 30, an ink remaining amount detection sensor, a sub-tank ink amount detection sensor, a home position sensor, and a capping function home position sensor, and a conveyance roller 61. Are connected to various load units 117 such as a separation claw 8, a carriage 5, and an ink supply pump 34. The IO control unit 105 receives and receives signals from these various sensor units 116. In addition to outputting the received signal to the CPU 101, a control signal from the CPU 101 is output to the load unit 117 to control the operation of the load unit 117.

  The operation unit 110 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, and a function key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display), and various commands such as a print mode are input from the operation keys. Various information notified from the inkjet printer 1 to the operator is displayed.

  The HDD controller 112 performs operation settings according to the command received from the CPU 101, reads the status of the HDD 113, and transfers data. Also, the HDD controller 112 transmits status information for informing the state to the CPU 101.

  The HDD 113 is a large-capacity storage device, and is used as a secondary storage device that secondary stores image data.

  Connected to the writing control unit 111 is an engine including the paper feeding unit 3, the paper transport unit 4, the carriage 5, the large-capacity ink cartridge 6, the paper discharge unit 7, the switching claw 8, the reversing unit 9, the double-side unit 10, and the like. Then, under the control of the CPU 101, the engine is controlled so that the image data received via the NCU 115 is recorded and output on the paper P as described above, and various reports are recorded and output on the recording paper.

  An external personal computer (PC) 200 is connected to the NCU 115. The NCU 115 exchanges commands with the external personal computer 200 and exchanges control commands and image data under the control of the CPU 101 of the control unit 100.

  The inkjet printer 1 temporarily stores image data received from the external personal computer 200 via the NCU 115 in the image RAM 114, develops it as print data by the CPU 101, and then stores the image data in the HDD 113 via the HDD control 112. In the inkjet printer 1, the CPU 101 reads out the print data stored in the HDD 113 at a predetermined timing in accordance with the conveyance of the paper P and passes it to the write control unit 111, and the write control unit 111 sends the print data sent thereto. Is converted into the ink ejection operation of the head 41 and printing is performed on the paper P.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs initialization control processing for each function of the maintenance / recovery unit in the initialization processing at the time of return from the energy saving mode. An initialization control process is performed to shorten the return time while optimizing functions.

  In other words, when the standby state continues for a predetermined time, the inkjet printer 1 supplies power only to necessary portions, and shifts to the energy saving mode for stopping or reducing power supply to other portions, In this energy saving mode, when a request for returning to the energy saving mode such as the generation of a printing request occurs, necessary parts are initialized and the mode returns to the normal mode.

  As one of the initialization processes, there are a carriage initialization process for adjusting the position of the carriage 5 to the home position, an initialization process for each function of the capping mechanism, the wiping mechanism, the idle ejection mechanism, and the suction mechanism of the maintenance / recovery unit. The inkjet printer 1 omits the initialization process for the initialization process of the functions of the carriage initialization process, the capping mechanism of the maintenance and recovery unit, the wiping mechanism, the idle ejection mechanism, and the suction mechanism when returning from the energy saving mode. .

  That is, the maintenance / recovery unit includes a cam whose capping mechanism moves the cap in a direction to come in contact with and away from the nozzle as described above, and in order to properly perform the capping operation, a home provided on the cam is provided. Based on the detection result of the position sensor, it is necessary to perform an initialization process for moving the cam, that is, the cap to the home position.

  In addition, since it is unknown whether the inkjet printer 1 is in a large movement, impact, tilt, or the like during the power-off period, even if the power is normally turned off. However, when the power is turned on, an initialization process is performed to detect the home position sensor by rotating the cam.

  However, in the energy saving mode, the inkjet printer 1 is in an energized state as a whole system, so that a large change in the situation as when the power is turned off does not occur, and the home position of the maintenance / recovery unit itself is displaced. There is nothing.

  As described above, in the energy saving mode, the home position of the maintenance / recovery unit does not shift. Therefore, the printing performance is maintained even if the time-consuming initialization process is omitted when returning to the energy saving mode. be able to.

  In addition, when the conveyor belt 33 is not used for a long time, an initialization process is required to rotate the conveyor belt 33 in order to restore the belt offset and the roller shape. Since it is shorter than the off-time, the belt is less likely to stick to the conveyor belt or the roller is stuck, and the initialization process can be omitted.

  Therefore, in the energy saving mode, the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment omits the initialization process of each function of the capping mechanism, the wiping mechanism, the idle ejection mechanism, and the suction mechanism of the maintenance / recovery unit and the initialization process of the conveyance belt 33. Yes.

  Therefore, the return time from the energy saving mode can be shortened while maintaining the print quality, and the usability can be improved.

  Also, when the initialization process is omitted, it may be controlled whether or not the initialization process is omitted as shown in FIG. 5 in consideration of the period of the energy saving mode.

  For example, regarding the initialization of the maintenance / recovery unit, as shown in FIG. 5, when the control unit 100 starts supplying power to the engine, the control unit 100 starts supplying power within a predetermined time. It is determined whether the power is supplied by returning to the energy saving mode or whether the power is supplied by turning on the power of the inkjet printer 1 or returning to the energy saving mode exceeding a predetermined time (step S101).

  The determination as to whether or not the energy saving mode has been restored within a certain period of time may be made by the control unit 100 based on a command from the write control unit 111 connected to the engine, or dedicated for determination. It may be determined by providing a signal line.

  In step S101, when the power supply is not due to the energy saving mode return within a certain time, that is, when the power supply of the inkjet printer 1 is turned on or the power saving is caused by the energy saving mode recovery exceeding a certain time, the control unit 100 initializes the maintenance / recovery unit. Is executed (step S102), the homing process of the carriage 5 for moving and adjusting the carriage 5 to the home position is performed, and the initialization process is ended (step S103).

  If it is determined in step S101 that the energy saving mode has been restored within a predetermined time, the control unit 100 omits the initialization process of the maintenance / recovery unit and the homing process of the carriage 5, and ends the initialization process.

  In the above description, the initialization process of the maintenance / recovery unit has been described. The same applies to the initialization process of the transport belt 33.

  As described above, controlling whether or not the initialization process is performed according to the duration of the energy saving mode can reduce the initialization time and improve the print quality while optimizing each mechanism. It is possible to improve usability.

  In addition, in the above processing, in the case of returning to the energy saving mode within a certain time, initialization of the maintenance / recovery unit and homing processing of the carriage 5 are omitted, but the homing processing of the carriage 5 itself is performed in a short time. When the maintenance / recovery unit is not initialized so that the cap is removed, only the initialization process may be omitted, and the homing process of the carriage 5 may be performed immediately before printing. Then, the initialization time can be further shortened, and the usability can be further improved.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the initialization of the maintenance / recovery unit and the homing process of the carriage 5 are omitted in the return to the energy saving mode within a certain time, the control unit 100 receives a print request (step S201). Then, it is checked whether the print request is the first print request after returning to energy saving (step S202).

  In step S202, if it is the first print request after returning to energy saving, the control unit 100 performs homing processing for adjusting the carriage 5 to move to the home position (step S203), and then performs printing processing (step S204).

  In step S202, if the print request is not for the first time but after the return of energy saving, the control unit 100 executes the print process without performing the homing process for the carriage 5 (step S204).

  If it does in this way, the initialization time at the time of energy-saving return can be shortened further, and usability can be improved further.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to an ink jet type image forming apparatus in general that performs initialization processing of a maintenance / recovery unit or the like when energy saving is restored.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a carriage and a large-capacity ink cartridge of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a carriage movement direction, a home position, and a sheet conveyance direction of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. The flowchart which shows the initialization control process at the time of energy-saving return by the inkjet printer of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing carriage homing operation control processing after energy-saving return by the inkjet printer of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Main body housing | casing 3 Paper feed part 4 Paper conveyance part 5 Carriage 6 Large capacity ink cartridge 7 Paper discharge part 8 Switching claw 9 Reversing part 10 Both sides 11 Paper discharge tray 12 Manual paper feed part 21 Paper feed roller 22 Manual paper feed Feed roller 30 Registration sensor 31 Registration roller 32 Transport roller 33 Transport belt 34 Horizontal transport roller 35 Spur 41 Head 42 Sub tank 43 Ink supply tube 44 Ink supply pump P Paper 100 Control unit 110 Operation unit 111 Write control unit 112 HDD controller 113 HDD (Hard Disk)
114 Image RAM
115 NCU
116 Sensor unit 117 Load unit

Claims (7)

Ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head mounted on the carriage that moves in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while transporting and moving the paper, and at the time of standby, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the printing area. A capping mechanism that moves the cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head from the cap home position to the capping position to prevent the nozzle surface from drying is provided at the home position, and the standby state has elapsed for a predetermined time. Then, the image forming apparatus shifts to an energy saving mode for stopping or reducing the supply of power to each main part, and performs a predetermined initialization process to return to a standby state when a predetermined return factor occurs in the energy saving mode. There ,
When returning from the previous SL energy saving mode, when a predetermined saving energy mode return within a predetermined time it is determined whether or not it is, energy saving mode return within the predetermined time, the initialization of the capping mechanism An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is omitted. Ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head mounted on the carriage that moves in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while transporting and moving the paper, and at the time of standby, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the printing area. An energy saving mode that includes a wiping mechanism that moves and waits, and wipes the nozzle surface of the recording head with a blade member at the home position, and stops or reduces the supply of power to each main part when the standby state has elapsed for a predetermined time The image forming apparatus returns to a standby state by performing a predetermined initialization process when a predetermined return factor occurs in the energy saving mode .
When returning from the previous SL energy saving mode, when a predetermined saving energy mode return within a predetermined time it is determined whether or not it is, energy saving mode return within the predetermined time, the initialization of the wiping mechanism An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is omitted. Ink is ejected from the nozzles of the recording head mounted on the carriage that moves in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the paper movement direction while transporting and moving the paper, and at the time of standby, the carriage is moved to the home position outside the printing area. A suction capping mechanism that moves the standby position to the home position and moves the suction cap that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head to perform the suction operation from the suction cap home position to the suction position and performs the suction operation of the nozzle surface; When the standby state has elapsed for a predetermined time, the system shifts to an energy saving mode that stops or reduces the supply of power to the main components, and when a predetermined recovery factor occurs in the energy saving mode, performs a predetermined initialization process and waits. An image forming apparatus that returns to a state ,
When returning from the previous SL energy saving mode, it is determined whether a predetermined time within the energy-saving mode return that has been set in advance, when the constant time within the energy-saving mode return, the initialization processing of the suction capping mechanism An image forming apparatus characterized in that is omitted.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus omits an initialization process of the sheet transport mechanism that transports and moves the sheet when returning from the energy saving mode. apparatus. The image forming apparatus omits a carriage initialization process for adjusting the movement of the carriage to the home position when the energy saving mode is restored within the predetermined time when the image forming apparatus is restored from the energy saving mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus performs a carriage initialization process for adjusting the movement of the carriage to the home position after executing the first printing operation after returning from the energy saving mode. apparatus. The image forming apparatus is configured to initialize the capping mechanism, initialize the wiping mechanism, and initialize the suction capping mechanism when the energy saving mode is restored within the predetermined time when returning from the energy saving mode . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein processing, initialization processing of the paper transport mechanism, and carriage initialization processing are omitted.

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