JP5251375B2 - Discharge inspection device, fluid discharge device including the same, and discharge inspection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge inspection apparatus, a fluid discharge apparatus including the discharge inspection apparatus, and a discharge inspection method.

Conventionally, as a discharge inspection device for a discharge head, in a periodic automatic cleaning during a period of non-use of a printing device, prior to cleaning, the presence or absence of ink droplet discharge from each nozzle is inspected, and non-operating nozzles are detected In this case, there has been proposed a method for cleaning the nozzles (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 can suppress clogging caused by cleaning by suppressing the frequency of nozzle cleaning.
JP 2002-76993 A

  However, in the ejection inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the nozzle cleaning frequency is suppressed by performing the nozzle ejection inspection. However, if the cleaning frequency is suppressed, the printing process is executed in a defective ejection state. In some cases, the reliability with which ink is ejected decreases. Further, for example, when the frequency of the ejection inspection increases, the execution of the ejection inspection and the execution of the printing process may overlap, and the time until the end of the printing process may become longer. Further, since the amount of ink consumed by cleaning is relatively large, it is also desired to suppress the amount of ink consumed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and further suppresses the consumption of fluid, shortens the time until the fluid ejection processing is completed, and ensures more reliable fluid ejection processing. It is a main object of the present invention to provide a discharge inspection device capable of performing the above, a fluid discharge device including the same, and a discharge inspection method.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The discharge inspection apparatus of the present invention is
A discharge inspection apparatus that inspects a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
Cleaning means for cleaning the ejection head;
An ejection head inspection unit that performs an ejection inspection as to whether or not the fluid has been ejected when the ejection head is driven to eject the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the ejection head; ,
The ejection head and the ejection head inspection means are controlled to execute the ejection inspection during a predetermined non-ejection process not related to the fluid ejection process, and the cleaning of the ejection head is suspended, and the fluid is retained after the cleaning is suspended. Control means for controlling the ejection head and the cleaning means so as to execute the ejection inspection as the ejection process is performed, and when ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result; ,
It is equipped with.

  In this ejection inspection device, during a predetermined non-ejection process not related to the fluid ejection process, a ejection inspection is performed to determine whether or not fluid has been ejected from the nozzles, and cleaning of the ejection head is suspended, and after this cleaning is suspended, When performing the ejection process, the ejection inspection is performed, and when ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result, the ejection head is cleaned. As described above, since the cleaning is suspended during the non-ejection process, the consumption of the fluid can be further suppressed as compared with the case where the cleaning is executed during the ejection inspection during the non-ejection process. Moreover, since the frequency of the discharge inspection during the fluid discharge process can be further suppressed by performing the discharge inspection at a time other than the fluid discharge process (during the non-discharge process), the time until the fluid discharge process is completed It can be shortened more. Further, since the discharge inspection is performed again during the fluid discharge process and the cleaning is performed when the discharge failure is not recovered, a more reliable fluid discharge process can be ensured.

  Here, the “fluid” is not particularly limited as long as it can be discharged from the nozzle, and may be a gas, a liquid (for example, a solution or gel containing a dye or a pigment), or a solid (for example, a powder such as toner). Good. The “target” is not particularly limited as long as it receives a fluid, and includes, for example, a printing medium such as paper, a film, an iron plate, and a substrate. Further, the “fluid ejection process” includes a printing process in which an image is formed on a print medium as a target by ejecting a recording liquid as a fluid.

  In the discharge inspection apparatus of the present invention, at the time of the non-discharge process, at the time of starting the apparatus immediately after turning on the power, at the time of filling the fluid immediately after replacement of the container storing the fluid, the replacement of the container storing the fluid Immediately after the apparatus start-up process after the fluid filling process is interrupted, at the start-up process after the operation is stopped due to the discharge head being over a predetermined temperature, at the time of the apparatus start-up process after the apparatus is stopped during the cleaning operation, At least one of a predetermined time that is executed when a predetermined time elapses from the discharge inspection and a cumulative time that is executed when the fluid discharge process is accumulated for a predetermined time may be included. Further, the discharge inspection apparatus of the present invention may be provided with a reading unit that is disposed in a housing so as to be openable and closable and reads an image, and the non-ejection process may include the opening and closing process of the reading unit. Note that the “ejection inspection performed at the time of non-ejection processing” refers to an ejection inspection other than the ejection inspection performed when the fluid ejection processing is performed.

  In the ejection inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit does not perform the cleaning of the ejection head when no ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result of the ejection inspection during the fluid ejection process after the cleaning is suspended. Further, the ejection head may be controlled to execute the fluid ejection process. In this way, when the ejection inspection is performed again during the fluid ejection process and the ejection failure is recovered, the fluid ejection process is performed as it is, so that the time until the fluid ejection process is completed can be further shortened and cleaning can be performed. The frequency can be suppressed and the consumption of fluid can be further suppressed.

  In the ejection inspection apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit performs the ejection inspection during the non-ejection process, and performs the fluid ejection process after no ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result. The ejection head may be controlled to execute the fluid ejection process without performing the ejection inspection. In this way, the frequency of discharge inspection can be suppressed.

  In the ejection inspection apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit does not perform the ejection inspection performed during the non-ejection process until the cleaning inspection is performed after the cleaning is suspended and before the ejection inspection is performed as the fluid ejection process is performed. It may be a thing. In this way, the frequency of discharge inspection can be suppressed.

  In the ejection inspection apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the ejection head inspection unit includes an inspection region that receives fluid ejected from the plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generation unit that generates a predetermined potential difference between the ejection head and the inspection region. And an electrical change detecting means for detecting an electrical change of the inspection area or the ejection head, and the control means provides a predetermined gap between the ejection head and the inspection area in the potential difference generating means. Whether or not the fluid is ejected from each nozzle based on the detection result of the electrical change detection means by driving the ejection head to eject the fluid from the nozzle to the inspection region in a state where the potential difference is generated The discharge inspection may be executed. In this way, the state of the ejection head can be inspected relatively easily by detecting an electrical change in the ejection head or the inspection area.

Alternatively, the fluid ejection device of the present invention is
A discharge inspection apparatus that inspects a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
Cleaning means for cleaning the ejection head;
An ejection head inspection unit that performs an ejection inspection as to whether or not the fluid has been ejected when the ejection head is driven to eject the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the ejection head; ,
The ejection head and the ejection head inspection means are controlled to execute the ejection inspection during a predetermined non-ejection process not related to the fluid ejection process, and the cleaning of the ejection head is suspended, and the fluid is retained after the cleaning is suspended. Control means for controlling the ejection head and the cleaning means so as to perform cleaning of the ejection head by the cleaning means when performing the ejection processing;
It is good also as a thing provided.

  In this ejection inspection device, cleaning is suspended during non-ejection processing, so that the consumption of fluid can be further suppressed as compared with a device that performs cleaning during ejection inspection during non-ejection processing. Moreover, since the frequency of the discharge inspection during the fluid discharge process can be further suppressed by performing the discharge inspection at a time other than the fluid discharge process (during the non-discharge process), the time until the fluid discharge process is completed It can be shortened more. Furthermore, since cleaning is performed during the fluid ejection process, a more reliable fluid ejection process can be ensured. In this discharge inspection apparatus, various aspects of the above-described discharge inspection apparatus may be adopted.

  A fluid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a ejection head that includes a plurality of nozzles and that performs fluid ejection processing for ejecting fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target, and the ejection inspection apparatus according to any one of the above-described ones. , With. The discharge inspection apparatus according to the present invention further suppresses the consumption of fluid, shortens the time until the fluid discharge process is completed, and ensures more reliable fluid discharge process. A fluid discharge device equipped with the same effect can be obtained.

The discharge inspection method of the present invention includes:
A discharge inspection method for inspecting a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
(A) When the discharge head is driven to discharge the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the discharge head during a predetermined non-discharge process not related to the fluid discharge process. Performing a discharge test of whether or not the fluid has been discharged and deferring cleaning of the discharge head;
(B) The discharge inspection is executed as the fluid discharge process is performed after the cleaning is suspended in the step (a), and the discharge head is cleaned when a discharge failure is detected in the discharge head based on the execution result. Steps to perform;
Is included.

  In this ejection inspection method, as with the above-described ejection inspection apparatus, cleaning is suspended during non-ejection processing, so that the consumption of fluid is further suppressed compared to the case where cleaning is performed during ejection inspection during non-ejection processing. Can do. Moreover, since the frequency of the discharge inspection during the fluid discharge process can be further suppressed by performing the discharge inspection at a time other than the fluid discharge process (during the non-discharge process), the time until the fluid discharge process is completed It can be shortened more. Further, since the discharge inspection is performed again during the fluid discharge process and the cleaning is performed when the discharge failure is not recovered, a more reliable fluid discharge process can be ensured. In this discharge inspection method, various aspects of the above-described discharge inspection apparatus may be adopted, and steps for realizing each function of the above-described discharge inspection apparatus may be added.

  Moreover, it is good also as a program which implement | achieves each step of the discharge inspection method mentioned above in 1 or several computer. If this program is executed by one computer or if each computer is assigned to each step and executed, each step of the above-described discharge inspection method is executed. can get.

  Next, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the FAX apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the capping apparatus 16, the print head 36, and the nozzle inspection apparatus 50. The FAX apparatus 10 has a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, and a FAX function. The FAX apparatus 10 is capable of displaying information to a user and inputting a user instruction, and a scanner unit 20 that reads an original M, a printer unit 30 that ejects ink as a fluid onto a recording sheet S as a target. Electric power input via the operation panel 40, a nozzle inspection device 50 for inspecting whether ink droplets are normally ejected from the print head 36, a plug 66 and a power cord 64 connected to an external commercial AC power source Is provided to the entire apparatus, and a controller 70 that controls the entire FAX apparatus 10 is provided. The FAX apparatus 10 includes a FAX interface (I / F) 78 capable of transmitting / receiving signals to / from devices connected to a telephone line as a telecommunication line via a telephone line cable 78a. The scanner unit 20, printer unit 30, operation panel 40, nozzle inspection device 50, controller 70, and FAX-I / F 78 are electrically connected by a bus 79.

  In the FAX apparatus 10, a space 12 is provided in the central portion of the housing 11, and a printer unit 30 that performs printing processing is disposed below the space 12. A lid member 14 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11 so as to be pivotable upward with the upper rear end of the housing 11 as a fulcrum, and closes and opens the space 12. A scanner unit 20 is disposed on the lid member 14. Further, a cover sensor 48 that detects whether or not the lid member 14 opens the space 12 is disposed on the upper surface of the housing 11. The cover sensor 48 is configured as a contact-type sensor that outputs an opening signal to the controller 70 when the lid member 14 is separated from the upper surface of the housing 11. As described above, the FAX apparatus 10 is configured such that when the lid member 14 is rotated upward, the printer unit 30 provided therein can be confirmed from the opening of the space 12.

  The scanner unit 20 includes a scanner ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 32 that is an IC chip that controls the scanner mechanism 21. The scanner mechanism 31 is a so-called flatbed type, and includes a glass surface 23 on which an original M for reading an image is placed, a reading sensor 24 for reading reflected light after being emitted toward the original M into each color, and an original. And a moving unit 26 that scans the reading sensor 24 when reading M.

  The printer unit 30 includes a printer ASIC 32 that is an IC chip that controls the printer mechanism 31. The printer mechanism 31 includes an ink cartridge 34 that individually stores ink of each color, a carriage 35 that is mounted with the ink cartridge 34 and moves in a predetermined movement direction (carriage movement direction), and an ink disposed on the lower surface side of the carriage 35. A print head 36 that applies pressure to each ink supplied from the cartridge 34 by deformation of the piezoelectric element, and a conveyance roller 38 that conveys the recording paper S are provided. The ink cartridge 34 individually contains, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) inks. The carriage 35 is configured as a so-called on-carriage type on which the ink cartridge 34 is detachably mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 35 has a carriage belt 83 installed between a carriage motor 81 attached to the right side of the housing 11 in the drawing and a driven roller 82 attached to the left side of the housing 11. As it is driven by the carriage motor 81, it moves in the left-right direction (carriage movement direction) in the figure. On the lower surface side of the print head 36, a plurality of nozzles 33 that eject ink of each color pressurized by the print head 36 onto the recording paper S are formed. The nozzles 33 are provided in a state of being arranged as a nozzle row of each color. A temperature sensor 49 that detects the temperature of the print head 36 is connected to the print head 36. The temperature sensor 49 is electrically connected to the controller 70, and outputs a high temperature signal to the controller 70 when the temperature of the print head 36 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, a temperature slightly lower than the allowable operation temperature of the print head 36). Output. The carriage 35 may be an off-carriage type that supplies ink from a cartridge provided on the housing 11 side with a tube. Further, the print head 36 may press the ink by bubbles generated by the heat of the heater, for example.

  The operation panel 40 is a device for the user to input various instructions to the FAX apparatus 10, and includes a display unit 42 configured by a color liquid crystal panel on which characters and images corresponding to the various instructions are displayed, An operation unit 44 for performing various operations is provided. The operation unit 44 is provided with a power switch 46 that is pressed when the user turns on the FAX apparatus 10. The power switch 46 is electrically connected to the controller 70 and the power supply unit 60 and is configured as an electronic button that outputs a signal to the controller 70 and the power supply unit 60 when pressed by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle inspection device 50 has an inspection area 52 that can receive ink droplets flying from the nozzles 33 of the print head 36, and the print head 36 and the inspection area 52 by setting the inspection area 52 to a predetermined potential. A voltage application circuit 53 that generates a predetermined potential difference with the region 52 and a voltage detection circuit 54 that detects a voltage change in the inspection region 52 are provided. The inspection area 52 is disposed inside the capping device 16 that seals the print head 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the inspection area 52 is formed as a rectangular area, and the upper ink absorber 55 on which ink droplets directly land and the ink that has permeated downward after landing on the upper ink absorber 55. A lower ink absorber 56 that absorbs droplets and a mesh electrode member 57 disposed between the upper ink absorber 55 and the lower ink absorber 56 are configured. The upper ink absorber 55 is formed of a conductive sponge so as to have the same potential as the electrode member 57, and the surface thereof serves as an inspection region 52. This sponge is highly permeable so that the landed ink droplets can move downward quickly, and here, an ester urethane sponge is used. The lower ink absorber 56 has higher ink retention than the upper ink absorber 55, and is made of a nonwoven fabric such as felt. The electrode member 57 is formed as a grid-like mesh made of a metal made of stainless steel (for example, SUS). Therefore, the ink once absorbed by the upper ink absorber 55 is absorbed by the lower ink absorber 56 through the gap between the grid-like electrode members 57. Here, since the electrode member 57 is in contact with the conductive upper ink absorber 55, the surface of the upper ink absorber 55, that is, the inspection region 52 has the same potential as the electrode member 57.

  The voltage application circuit 53 is connected to the electrode member 57 in the inspection region 52, and the voltage of the electrical wiring of several volts drawn inside the FAX apparatus 10 is several tens to several hundreds volts through a booster circuit (not shown). The boosted DC voltage Ve (for example, 400 V) is applied to the inspection region 52 via the resistance element R1 (for example, 1 MΩ) and the switch SW. The voltage detection circuit 54 is connected to the electrode member 57 in the inspection area 52 and detects a voltage change in the inspection area 52 that occurs when the ink has landed. The voltage detection circuit 54 integrates and outputs the voltage signal of the print head 36. An integration circuit 54a, an inverting amplification circuit 54b that inverts and amplifies the signal output from the integration circuit 54a, and A / D converts the signal output from the inverting amplification circuit 54b and outputs it to the controller 70. / D conversion circuit 54c. Since the voltage change due to the flying / landing of one ink droplet is weak, the integrating circuit 54a integrates the voltage change due to the flying / landing of a plurality of ink droplets ejected from the same nozzle 33 to obtain a large voltage change. Output. The inverting amplifier circuit 54b inverts the sign of the voltage change and amplifies and outputs the signal output from the integrating circuit at a predetermined amplification factor determined by the circuit configuration. The A / D conversion circuit 54 c converts the analog signal output from the inverting amplification circuit 54 b into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the controller 70.

  The capping device 16 is a casing made of an insulating member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and opened at the top, and is disposed at an initial position (home position) of the carriage 35. A sealing member 16 a made of an insulator such as silicon rubber is provided at the opening edge of the capping device 16. The capping device 16 is supported by an elevating mechanism 17 so as to be movable up and down. The capping device 16 is used for a cleaning process for sucking out ink clogged in the nozzles 33, and for preventing the nozzles 33 from being dried during a printing pause. It is also used when the nozzle 33 is sealed. A suction pump 18 and an opening / closing valve 19 are separately connected to the capping device 16, and a negative pressure is generated in the internal space of the capping device 16 when the suction pump 18 is operated when the opening / closing valve 19 is closed. By generating this negative pressure when the capping device 16 seals the nozzle 33, the ink in the nozzle 33 is forcibly sucked out.

  The power supply unit 60 has a function of converting input AC to DC, a function of cutting power input from a commercial AC power supply, and a function of holding a voltage by a capacitor (not shown) for a predetermined short time (several seconds) when power supply is abnormal. And have. The power supply unit 60 is connected to a power supply monitoring unit 62 that detects an abnormal stop state of power supply, such as a power failure or pulling out an outlet, based on a decrease in input voltage. The power supply monitoring unit 62 is configured as a circuit that outputs a voltage drop signal to the controller 21 when the input voltage falls below a predetermined threshold.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the controller 70 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU 72, and stores a ROM 74 that stores various processing programs, and temporarily stores data and stores data. A RAM 76, a flash memory 77 capable of storing and erasing data, and an input / output port (not shown) are provided. The ROM 74 stores processing programs such as a printing processing control routine, a nozzle inspection routine, a cleaning processing routine, and a printing processing routine, which will be described later. The RAM 76 is provided with a scanner buffer area and a print buffer area. In this scanner buffer area, image data read by the scanner unit 20 is stored. The print buffer area stores print data sent from an external device via an interface (not shown). The flash memory 77 has an abnormal end flag G that is turned on when an abnormal end (also referred to as an abnormal end), which will be described later, and a hold flag F that is turned on when the cleaning of the print head 36 is put on hold. Saved. The controller 70 operates upon receiving power supply from the power supply unit 60, and the voltage signal output from the voltage detection circuit 54 of the nozzle inspection device 50, the open signal from the cover sensor 48, the high temperature signal from the temperature sensor 49, In addition to inputting a voltage drop signal from the power supply monitoring unit 62 via an input port (not shown), a print job output from an external device (such as a personal computer) not shown is input. Further, the controller 70 outputs a control signal to the print head 36, a control signal to the nozzle inspection device 50, a drive signal to the carriage motor 81, and the like via an output port (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the FAX apparatus 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, a print processing control routine will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing control routine executed by the CPU 72 of the controller 70. This routine is stored in the ROM 74 and executed after the power switch 46 is pressed. When this routine is started, the CPU 72 first determines whether or not a value 1 is set in the abnormal end flag G (step S100). This abnormal end flag G is stored in the flash memory 77, and is a flag that is set to a value 1 when the power supply is stopped due to some abnormality during the operation of the print head 36. The initial value is a value 0. is there. The abnormal end flag G is output from the print head 36 when, for example, the temperature of the print head 36 detected by the temperature sensor 49 is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher and the apparatus is stopped (when the heating is stopped), or during printing processing or cleaning processing. When the power supply from the power supply unit 60 is interrupted due to pulling out of the plug 66 or power failure during the initial ink filling process when the ink cartridge 34 is replaced or when the ink cartridge 34 is replaced (when the power supply is stopped abnormally) ) To a value of 1. At the time of this abnormal power supply stop, the CPU 72 sets a value 1 to the abnormal end flag G and writes it to the flash memory 77 when the power supply from the power supply unit 60 decreases and a voltage drop signal from the power supply monitoring unit 62 is received. It was.

  When the abnormal end flag G is the value 1, the CPU 72 executes a cleaning process (step S110), and sets the value 0 to the abnormal end flag G and the hold flag F (step S120). Here, when the abnormal end flag G is the value 1, the cleaning process is performed by cooling the temperature of the print head 36 that has risen due to ink bombardment, the interrupted printing process, the cleaning process, and the initial filling. This is to eliminate nozzle clogging and bubbles that occur during processing. Here, in the cleaning process, the carriage motor 81 is driven to move the print head 36 to a position facing the capping device 16, and the capping device 16 and the print head 36 are brought into contact with each other by the elevating mechanism 17, thereby opening and closing the valve 19. Then, the suction pump 18 is driven to make the inside of the capping device 16 have a negative pressure, and the ink is sucked and discharged from the nozzle 33. The hold flag F is a flag that is set to a value 1 so that the cleaning process is not executed (pending) when a nozzle ejection failure is detected in nozzle inspection other than printing, and the initial value is 0. It is. Here, since the value 1 is set to the abnormal end flag G and the cleaning process is executed, the hold flag F for holding the cleaning process is cleared.

  On the other hand, when the abnormal end flag G is not 1 in step S100, the CPU 72 determines whether or not nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are satisfied (step S130). Here, the nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are as follows: the startup process immediately after power-on when the power switch 46 is pressed, the initial ink filling process immediately after the ink cartridge 34 is replaced, and the elapsed time since the previous nozzle inspection. The lid member of the scanner unit 20 when an interval exceeding a predetermined time (for example, 8 hours) elapses, or when an accumulated time for printing processing for ejecting ink from the nozzles 33 exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour). It was established when any one of the opening and closing operations with 14 closed was satisfied. Here, in order to confirm the operation when the apparatus is activated during the activation process, to confirm whether ink has been supplied to the print head 36 during the initial filling, to confirm the operation in the always activated state when the interval elapses, and to print when the accumulated time has elapsed In order to confirm the operation by continuing the processing, the condition of the nozzle inspection is established in order to confirm the influence of the impact when the lid member 14 is opened and closed. The opening / closing of the lid member 14 is detected by an opening signal from the cover sensor 48. Although details will be described later, since the nozzle inspection is performed immediately before the printing process is executed, this determination is made here to distinguish from the nozzle inspection. Note that “when nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are satisfied” is also referred to as non-ejection processing. The non-ejection process includes the above-described start process after the heating stop and the start process after the abnormal power stop.

  When nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are satisfied, the CPU 72 determines whether or not the value 1 is set in the hold flag F (step S140). When the hold flag F is not 1 or after step S120, the CPU 72 performs a nozzle inspection process (step S150). Note that when the hold flag F is not 1 in step S140, the nozzle inspection condition for the non-ejection process is satisfied, and therefore, after step S120, the nozzle inspection routine is executed to confirm the cleaning result in step S110. To do.

  Here, the nozzle inspection routine will be described. This routine is a process for inspecting whether all the nozzles 33 arranged in the print head 36 are clogged. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the nozzle inspection routine. When this routine is started, the CPU 72 first turns on the switch SW of the voltage application circuit 53 (step S300), and drives the carriage motor 81 to dispose the carriage 35 at the inspection position. Move to the home position (step S310). Next, the CPU 72 discharges charged ink droplets from one nozzle 33 (also referred to as inspection target nozzle) to be inspected (step S320). Note that the inspection target nozzles are set in the order of black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and the smallest nozzle number, for example. Here, the principle of nozzle inspection will be described. An experiment in which an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 33 in a state where a potential difference is generated between the print head 36 and the inspection region 52 is actually performed by grounding the print head 36. The output signal waveform appeared as a sine curve. Although the principle of obtaining such an output signal waveform is not clear, it is considered that the induced current flows due to electrostatic induction as the charged ink droplet approaches the inspection region 52. In addition, the amplitude of the output signal waveform output from the voltage detection circuit 54 tended to increase as the distance from the print head 36 to the upper ink absorber 55 (inspection region 52) decreased, and the flying ink droplets increased. The larger the value, the larger the tendency. For this reason, when the nozzle 33 is clogged and the ink droplet does not fly or the ink droplet is smaller than a predetermined size, the amplitude of the output signal waveform is smaller than that in the normal state or becomes substantially zero. Whether or not the nozzle 33 is clogged can be determined based on whether the amplitude is below a predetermined threshold. In this embodiment, even if the ink droplet has a predetermined size, the amplitude of the output signal waveform by the ink droplet for one shot is weak, so that the operation of ejecting a large dot is performed 8 times and a larger amount of ink is discharged. Drops were discharged. As a result, the output signal becomes an integrated value of eight ink droplets, so that a sufficiently large output signal waveform was obtained from the voltage detection circuit 54. The number of ink ejections can be arbitrarily set so as to be the number of ejections that can ensure inspection accuracy.

  When the ink droplets are ejected from the inspection target nozzle, the CPU 72 determines whether or not the electrical change that is the amplitude of the signal waveform detected by the voltage detection circuit 54, that is, whether the output voltage Vop is lower than the threshold value Vthr ( Step S330). The threshold Vthr is set so that the output voltage Vop (peak value) of the output signal waveform when the ink for eight large dots is ejected normally is equal to or greater than the threshold Vthr, and eight large dots are ejected. This value is determined empirically so that when the minute amount of ink is not ejected normally, it becomes less than this threshold value Vthr due to noise or the like. When the output voltage Vop is less than the threshold value Vthr in step S330, it is considered that an abnormality such as clogging has occurred in the nozzle 33, and information for identifying the nozzle 33 (for example, information indicating which nozzle in which nozzle row is located) ) Is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 76 (step S340).

  After step S340 or when the output voltage Vop is greater than or equal to the threshold value Vthr in step S330 (that is, when the current nozzle to be inspected is normal), the CPU 72 determines whether or not all nozzles 33 in the current nozzle row have been inspected. (Step S350), and when there is an uninspected nozzle 33 in the current nozzle row, the nozzle 33 to be inspected is updated to an uninspected nozzle (step S360), and the processing after step S320 is performed again. . At this time, ink droplets are ejected to the inspection region 52, and an electrical change is output by the voltage detection circuit 54 (see FIG. 2). On the other hand, when all the nozzles 33 in the current nozzle row have been inspected in step S350, it is determined whether or not all the nozzle rows have been inspected (step S370). The CPU 72 updates the nozzle row to be inspected (step S380), and executes the processing after step S320 described above. On the other hand, when all the nozzles 33 included in the print head 36 have been inspected in step S370, the CPU 72 turns off the switch SW of the voltage application circuit 53 (step S390) and ends this routine. By executing this routine, if a predetermined area of the RAM 76 includes a nozzle that is clogged among all the nozzles 33 arranged in the print head 36 (also referred to as an ejection failure nozzle), the nozzle 33 Is stored, and nothing is stored when there is no nozzle 33 in which nozzle clogging has occurred. The nozzle inspection requires only a few drops of ink ejected from each nozzle, so that the amount of ink consumption is extremely small compared to cleaning of the print head 36 that pulls out ink in a liquid state by suction.

  After executing the nozzle inspection routine in step S150, the CPU 72 determines whether or not there is a defective discharge nozzle based on the information stored in the RAM 76 (step S160). A value 1 is set to the hold flag F to hold the process (step S170). After step S170, or when nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are not satisfied in step S130, or when the hold flag F is a value of 1 in step S140, or when there is no ejection failure nozzle in step S160, the CPU 72 It is determined whether a print job has been received (step S180). As described above, when the value 1 is set in the hold flag F (that is, when a defective ejection nozzle is detected) once the steps S100 to S170 are repeatedly executed, it is assumed that nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are satisfied. In step S140, the nozzle inspection is set not to be executed.

  When the print job is received in step S180, the CPU 72 determines whether or not the value 1 is set in the hold flag F (step S190). When the value 1 is set in the hold flag F, the CPU 72 performs step S150. A similar nozzle inspection routine is executed (step S200). Here, when the value 1 is set in the hold flag F, the nozzle inspection routine is executed because, for example, a discharge failure caused by bubbles in the initial filling may naturally recover over time. Therefore, it is for inspecting whether or not the ejection state has been recovered over time from the previous nozzle inspection. When the nozzle inspection routine is executed, the CPU 72 determines whether or not there is a defective discharge nozzle (step S210). If there is a defective discharge nozzle, the CPU 72 executes a cleaning process routine similar to step S110 (step S220). Eliminate the discharge failure state from On the other hand, when there is no defective ejection nozzle in step S210, the cleaning process is not executed assuming that the defective ejection of the nozzle has been recovered. In this way, the execution of the cleaning process is suppressed as much as possible.

  After step S220 or when there is no defective ejection nozzle in step S210, the hold flag F is set to 0 (step S230), and the received print job is printed (step S240). On the other hand, when the value 1 is not set in the hold flag F in step S190, that is, when there is no ejection failure nozzle in the previous nozzle inspection, the CPU 72 performs printing without performing the nozzle inspection and cleaning processing in steps S200 to S230. Processing is executed (step S240). As described above, when the nozzle inspection is performed at a time other than the printing, and there is no defective nozzle as a result, the print job is directly printed without performing the nozzle inspection and the cleaning process, and the time until the end of the printing process. Is shortened. In the print processing routine of step S240, the CPU 72 moves the carriage 35 to the ink discharge position by driving the carriage motor 81 and discharges ink from the print head 36 to the recording paper S based on the raster data included in the print job. . At this time, the conveyance roller 38 is rotationally driven to convey the recording paper S in a predetermined conveyance direction. When printing of the page being printed is completed, the CPU 72 repeatedly executes this process until there is no next print page.

  After step S240 or when a print job is not received in step S180, it is determined whether or not the job ends abnormally (step S250). For abnormal termination, for example, the temperature of the print head 36 is heated to a predetermined temperature or more and the apparatus is stopped, or the plug 66 is pulled out or a power failure occurs during the printing process, the cleaning process, or the initial filling. It is included that the power supply is interrupted and the apparatus is stopped. Here, although it has been described that it is determined whether or not to end abnormally in step S250, this is for convenience, and it is always monitored whether or not it ends abnormally. When the process ends abnormally, the CPU 72 sets a value 1 to the abnormal end flag G (step S260) and ends the routine as it is. If not abnormally terminated in step S250, it is determined whether or not the process is terminated after the power is turned off based on whether or not the power switch 46 is pressed (step S270). When not finished, the processing from step S100 is repeatedly executed. When the power switch 46 is pressed and finished, the power supply from the power supply unit 60 is finished, and this routine is finished as it is. As described above, the FAX apparatus 10 executes the nozzle inspection routine again only when the hold flag F is the value 1, and executes the cleaning process when an ejection failure nozzle is detected as a result of this execution.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The capping device 16 of this embodiment corresponds to the cleaning means of the present invention, the nozzle inspection device 50 corresponds to the ejection head inspection means, the controller 70 corresponds to the control means, the inspection area 52 corresponds to the inspection area, and the voltage The application circuit 53 corresponds to a potential difference generation unit, and the voltage detection circuit 54 corresponds to an electrical change detection unit. Further, the ink corresponds to a fluid, the recording paper S corresponds to a target, the printing process corresponds to a fluid discharge process, and the nozzle inspection corresponds to a discharge inspection. In the present embodiment, an example of the ejection inspection method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the FAX apparatus 10.

  According to the FAX apparatus 10 of the present embodiment described in detail above, during the non-ejection process not related to the printing process, the nozzle inspection is performed, the cleaning of the print head 36 is suspended, and the printing process is performed after the cleaning is suspended. Accordingly, a nozzle inspection is performed, and when a defective ejection nozzle is detected as a result of the execution, cleaning is performed, while when a defective ejection nozzle is not detected, the printing process is performed as it is. As described above, since the cleaning is suspended during the non-ejection process, the consumption of ink can be further suppressed as compared with the case where the cleaning is performed in accordance with the nozzle inspection during the non-ejection process. In addition, by performing ejection inspection at times other than printing processing (during non-ejection processing), the frequency of nozzle inspection at the time of printing processing can be further suppressed, so the time until the printing processing is completed is further shortened. be able to. Furthermore, since the nozzle inspection is performed again during the printing process and the cleaning is performed when the ejection failure is not recovered, a more reliable fluid ejection process can be ensured. In addition, when the nozzle inspection is performed again during the printing process and the ejection failure is recovered, the printing process is performed as it is, so that the time until the printing process is completed can be further shortened and the frequency of cleaning can be suppressed. Ink consumption can be further suppressed.

  Further, as a result of performing the nozzle inspection during the non-ejection process, when the printing process is performed after no ejection failure is detected in the print head 36, the printing process is performed without performing the nozzle inspection. Can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the nozzle inspection is not performed until the nozzle inspection that is executed in association with the printing process is performed after the cleaning is suspended, the frequency of the nozzle inspection can be suppressed. Furthermore, the nozzle inspection device 50 includes an inspection region 52 that receives ink, a voltage application circuit 53 that generates a predetermined potential difference between the print head 36 and the inspection region 52, and a voltage that detects an electrical change in the inspection region. Since the detection circuit 54 is provided, the state of the print head 36 can be inspected relatively easily by detecting an electrical change in the inspection region 52. The nozzle inspection apparatus 50 can be applied to the FAX apparatus 10 because it further suppresses ink consumption, shortens the time until the printing process is completed, and ensures a more reliable ink ejection process. High significance to do.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, after setting the value 1 to the hold flag F in step S170 to hold the cleaning, the print job is received in steps S190 to S210, and the nozzle inspection routine is executed when the hold flag F is the value 1. Although executed, the processing in steps S190 to S210 may be omitted. Specifically, the value 1 may be set in the hold flag F in step S170, and after the print job is received in step S180, the print head 36 may be cleaned as it is to execute the printing process. In this case, cleaning is executed regardless of whether or not the nozzle ejection failure is recovered before the printing process is executed after the value 1 is set in the hold flag F. Therefore, the cleaning frequency is higher than that in the above-described embodiment. Although it increases slightly, the time until the end of the printing process can be further shortened by further reducing the frequency of nozzle inspection. Even in this case, as in the above-described embodiment, since the cleaning is suspended during the non-ejection process, ink consumption can be further suppressed. Further, by performing the nozzle inspection at a time other than the printing process, the frequency of the nozzle inspection at the time of the printing process can be further suppressed, so that the time until the printing process is completed can be further shortened. Furthermore, since cleaning is performed during the printing process, a more reliable ink ejection process can be ensured.

  In the above-described embodiment, after the print job is received without setting the value 1 to the hold flag F in step S170, the print processing is executed without executing the nozzle inspection routine. However, the hold flag is set in step S170. After a print job is received without setting the value 1 to F, the nozzle inspection routine may be executed to execute the printing process (execute the processes after step S200). In other words, after receiving a print job, the nozzle inspection routine may always be executed to execute the printing process. By doing so, the frequency of execution of the nozzle inspection routine is slightly increased, but a more reliable ink ejection process can be ensured in the subsequent printing process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the nozzle inspection performed during the non-ejection process is not performed until the nozzle inspection that is performed as the printing process is performed after the cleaning is suspended (step S140). The nozzle inspection performed during the non-ejection process may be performed after the cleaning is suspended and before the nozzle inspection that is performed along with the printing process is performed. Even if this is done, the frequency of nozzle inspection will increase, but the frequency of cleaning processing will be suppressed to further reduce ink consumption, and the time required to complete the printing process will be shortened and more reliable ink ejection will be possible. Processing can be secured.

  In the embodiment described above, when nozzle inspection conditions other than during printing are satisfied (during non-ejection processing), during startup processing after heating stop, during startup processing after abnormal power stop, during startup processing after power on, It is assumed that it is one of the initial ink filling process, the interval elapses, the accumulated time elapses, and the lid member 14 opening / closing, but if it includes at least one or more of these, the other is not included It is good also as a thing, and it is good also as what adds the time of other non-ejection processes. In addition, the abnormal power stop includes the abnormal power stop during the printing process, the abnormal power stop during the cleaning process, and the abnormal power stop during the initial ink filling process. If it contains, it is good also as what does not contain other than that, and it is good also as what adds the time of other power supply abnormal stop.

  In the above-described embodiment, the nozzle inspection is performed after the print head 36 is cleaned when the abnormal end flag G is 1. However, this cleaning is omitted, and the cleaning is performed as the printing process is performed. It is good also as what to do. Even in this case, since the cleaning is executed as the printing process is performed, a more reliable ink ejection process can be secured.

  In the embodiment described above, the nozzle inspection device 50 generates a potential difference between the print head 36 and the inspection region 52 by applying a voltage to the inspection region 52. However, the inspection region 52 is connected to the ground. A potential difference may be generated between the print head 36 and the inspection region 52 by applying a voltage to the print head 36. Even in this case, the waveform can be detected by the voltage detection circuit 54 when the ink droplets are ejected from the print head 36. In the above-described embodiment, the voltage detection circuit 54 is connected to the inspection region 52 to detect an electrical change associated with the ejection of ink droplets. However, the voltage detection circuit 54 is connected to the print head 36 and the ink is discharged. It is also possible to detect an electrical change that accompanies droplet ejection. Even in this case, the waveform can be detected by the voltage detection circuit 54 when the ink droplets are ejected from the print head 36. Note that there are four combinations of the connection destination of the voltage application circuit 53 (print head 36 and inspection region 52) and the connection destination of the voltage detection circuit 54 (print head 36 and inspection region 52). Can be detected by the voltage detection circuit 54 when the ink is ejected from the print head 36.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inspection area 52 is provided inside the capping device 16, but is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the inspection area 52 may be periodically or in order to prevent the ink from drying and solidifying. It may be provided in a flushing area in which ink droplets are ejected at a predetermined timing regardless of print data, or may be newly provided in an area where the print head 36 is movable.

  In the embodiment described above, the nozzle inspection device 50 detects the electrical change in the inspection area 52 that receives ink, the voltage application circuit 53 that generates a predetermined potential difference between the print head 36 and the inspection area 52, and the inspection area. However, the present invention is not particularly limited as long as ink discharge from the print head 36 can be detected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink is discharged from the nozzle 33 of the print head 36. A light emitting unit 153 and a light receiving unit 154 are provided at a position on the inspection region 152 where the ink droplets pass, and the light receiving unit 154 determines whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit 153 is blocked by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle 33. It is also possible to use the nozzle inspection apparatus 150 that performs the ink ejection inspection by detecting the ink ejection. In this way, it is possible to further suppress the ink consumption and reduce the time until the printing process is completed and to ensure a more reliable ink ejection process for the nozzle inspection using the light beam. .

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the printing apparatus is embodied in the FAX apparatus 10 is shown. However, a liquid (dispersion liquid) in which particles of liquid other than ink or functional material particles are dispersed, a flow such as a gel. The present invention may be embodied in a printing apparatus that ejects a solid body or the like, or may be embodied in a printing apparatus that ejects a solid that can be ejected as a fluid. For example, a liquid discharge device that discharges a liquid in which a material such as an electrode material or a color material used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a surface emitting display, and a color filter is dissolved, or a liquid material in which the material is dispersed It is good also as a liquid discharge apparatus which discharges the liquid used as a liquid material discharge apparatus which discharges, and a sample used as a precision pipette. Also, a liquid ejection device that ejects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin on a substrate to form a micro hemispherical lens (optical lens) used for an optical communication element or the like, a fluid ejection device that ejects a gel, A powder discharge type recording apparatus that discharges powder such as toner may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the FAX apparatus 10 has been described as the fluid ejection apparatus of the present invention. However, a multifunction printer including the scanner unit 30 that does not have a FAX function or a printer that does not include the scanner unit 30 may be used. Furthermore, although the aspect of the FAX apparatus 10 has been described, it may be the aspect of the nozzle inspection apparatus 50, the aspect of the ejection inspection method, or the aspect of the program of this method.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a FAX apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a capping device 16, a print head 36, and a nozzle inspection device 50. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print processing control routine. The flowchart of a nozzle test routine. Explanatory drawing of the nozzle test | inspection apparatus 150. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 FAX apparatus, 11 Case, 12 Space, 14 Lid member, 16 Capping apparatus, 16a Sealing member, 17 Lifting mechanism, 18 Suction pump, 19 Open / close valve, 20 Scanner unit, 21 Scanner mechanism, 22 Scanner ASIC, 23 Glass surface , 24 Reading sensor, 26 Moving unit, 30 Printer unit, 31 Printer mechanism, 32 Printer ASIC, 33 Nozzle, 34 Ink cartridge, 35 Carriage, 36 Print head, 38 Transport roller, 40 Operation panel, 42 Display unit, 44 Operation unit , 46 Power switch, 48 Cover sensor, 49 Temperature sensor, 50, 150 Nozzle inspection device, 52 Inspection region, 53 Voltage application circuit, 54 Voltage detection circuit, 54a Integration circuit, 54b Inversion amplification circuit, 54c A / D conversion circuit, 5 Upper ink absorber, 56 Lower ink absorber, 57 Electrode member, 60 Power supply unit, 62 Power supply monitoring unit, 64 Power cord, 66 Plug, 70 Controller, 72 CPU, 74 ROM, 76 RAM, 77 Flash memory, 78 FAX -Interface (I / F), 78a Telephone line cable, 79 bus, 81 Carriage motor, 82 Driven roller, 83 Carriage belt, 153 Light emitting part, 154 Light receiving part, F Hold flag, G Abnormal end flag, M Original, S record Paper, SW switch.

Claims (8)

A discharge inspection apparatus that inspects a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
Cleaning means for cleaning the ejection head;
An ejection head inspection unit that performs an ejection inspection as to whether or not the fluid has been ejected when the ejection head is driven to eject the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the ejection head; ,
The ejection head and the ejection head inspection means are controlled to execute the ejection inspection during a predetermined non-ejection process not related to the fluid ejection process, and the cleaning of the ejection head is suspended, and the fluid is retained after the cleaning is suspended. Control means for controlling the ejection head and the cleaning means so as to execute the ejection inspection as the ejection process is performed, and when ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result; ,
A discharge inspection apparatus comprising:   The control means executes the fluid ejection process without performing the cleaning of the ejection head when no ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result of the ejection inspection during the fluid ejection process after the cleaning is suspended. The discharge inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge head is controlled.   The control means executes the ejection inspection during the non-ejection process, and performs the fluid ejection process when the fluid ejection process is performed after no ejection failure is detected in the ejection head based on the execution result. The ejection inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection head is controlled to perform the fluid ejection process without performing the ejection inspection.   4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not execute the discharge inspection performed during the non-discharge process until the discharge inspection is performed as the fluid discharge process is performed after the cleaning is suspended. The discharge inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The discharge head inspection unit includes: an inspection region that receives fluid discharged from the plurality of nozzles; a potential difference generation unit that generates a predetermined potential difference between the discharge head and the inspection region; and the inspection region or the discharge region. An electrical change detecting means for detecting an electrical change of the head, and
The control unit drives the discharge head to discharge the fluid from the nozzle to the inspection region in a state where the potential difference generation unit generates a predetermined potential difference between the discharge head and the inspection region. The discharge inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge inspection is performed to determine whether or not fluid has been discharged from each nozzle based on a detection result of the electrical change detection unit. A discharge inspection apparatus that inspects a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
Cleaning means for cleaning the ejection head;
An ejection head inspection unit that performs an ejection inspection as to whether or not the fluid has been ejected when the ejection head is driven to eject the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the ejection head; ,
The ejection head and the ejection head inspection means are controlled to execute the ejection inspection during a predetermined non-ejection process not related to the fluid ejection process, and the cleaning of the ejection head is suspended, and the fluid is retained after the cleaning is suspended. Control means for controlling the ejection head and the cleaning means so as to perform cleaning of the ejection head by the cleaning means when performing the ejection processing;
A discharge inspection apparatus comprising: An ejection head that includes a plurality of nozzles and that performs fluid ejection processing for ejecting fluid from the nozzles to form an image on the target;
A fluid ejection device comprising: the ejection inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A discharge inspection method for inspecting a discharge state of a discharge head that includes a plurality of nozzles and performs a fluid discharge process for discharging a fluid from the nozzles to form an image on a target,
(A) When the discharge head is driven to discharge the fluid from the nozzle to a predetermined inspection region for each of the plurality of nozzles of the discharge head during a predetermined non-discharge process not related to the fluid discharge process. Performing a discharge test of whether or not the fluid has been discharged and deferring cleaning of the discharge head;
(B) The discharge inspection is executed as the fluid discharge process is performed after the cleaning is suspended in the step (a), and the discharge head is cleaned when a discharge failure is detected in the discharge head based on the execution result. Steps to perform;
A discharge inspection method including:

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