JP5472017B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a liquid cartridge in which a plurality of liquid tanks are integrated.

  In an image forming apparatus that discharges a first liquid such as ink onto a recording medium, a second liquid that aggregates or deposits a component of the first liquid is recorded in order to maintain high print quality and improve image quality. A technique for applying to a medium is known (see Patent Document 1). However, when each of the first liquid and the second liquid is accommodated in a plurality of liquid tanks independent of each other, it is necessary to individually secure a space for arranging the plurality of liquid tanks, which increases the size of the apparatus. There was a problem.

  As means for solving this problem, Patent Document 2 describes a technique for reducing the size of the apparatus by integrating a plurality of liquid tanks. In this technique, a tank unit is configured by integrating a first storage unit that stores ink and a second storage unit that stores recording performance improving liquid, and the entire tank unit is replaced when the ink runs out. It is a thing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-141841 JP-A-8-216391

  In the prior art of Patent Document 2, since the entire tank unit is replaced when the ink in the first storage unit runs out, a lot of the recording performance improving liquid remaining in the second storage unit is wasted. There was a problem of being done.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and when replacing a liquid cartridge in which a plurality of liquid tanks are integrated, the amount of residual liquid that is wasted is reduced as much as possible. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects a liquid cartridge having a plurality of liquid tanks in which different liquids are stored, and a remaining amount of each liquid stored in the plurality of liquid tanks. A liquid tank remaining amount detecting means, a cartridge mounting portion to which the liquid cartridge is mounted, a plurality of liquid using portions that use the different liquids to form an image, the plurality of liquid tanks, and the plurality of the plurality of liquid tanks An image forming apparatus including a plurality of communication passages that communicate with the liquid use unit, the liquid forming unit being provided corresponding to at least one of the plurality of liquid tanks, and storing the liquid stored in the corresponding liquid tank At least one reserve tank to be temporarily stored and liquid transfer for transferring the liquid from the corresponding liquid tank to the reserve tank And a liquid transfer control means for controlling the liquid transfer means, wherein the liquid transfer control means determines that the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid tank is less than a first predetermined amount. When the remaining amount detection means detects, the liquid transfer means is controlled so that the liquid remaining in at least one other liquid tank communicating with the reserve tank is transferred to the reserve tank.

  In this configuration, when the liquid tank remaining amount detecting means detects that the remaining amount of liquid in a certain liquid tank is less than the first predetermined amount, that is, the liquid tank remaining amount is to be replaced. When the detection means detects, the liquid remaining in at least one other liquid tank communicating with the reserve tank is collected in the reserve tank. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge is replaced, the amount of liquid that is wasted can be reduced, and after the liquid cartridge is replaced, the liquid collected in the reserve tank can be reused.

  According to the present invention, when the liquid cartridge in which a plurality of liquid tanks are integrated is replaced, the amount of residual liquid that is wasted can be reduced as much as possible.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an inkjet printer (image forming apparatus) according to a first embodiment. It is a top view which shows the head main body of the ink discharge head (liquid use part) used for an inkjet printer. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the head main body of an ink discharge head. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part used for an inkjet printer. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of a control part (liquid transfer control means). It is a flowchart which shows the control action of a control part (liquid transfer control means). It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of the control part (liquid transfer control means) in 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

A preferred embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
[Overall configuration of inkjet printer]

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an inkjet printer 10 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 10 forms an image on the surface of the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 12 using different liquids R1, R2, and the different liquids R1, R2 A liquid cartridge 16 having a plurality (two in this embodiment) of liquid tanks 14a and 14b to be stored, a cartridge mounting portion 18 for holding the liquid cartridge 16, and a plurality (two in this embodiment) of liquid using portions 20a, 20b, and a plurality of communication passages 22a, 22b for communicating the plurality of liquid tanks 14a, 14b with the plurality of liquid use portions 20a, 20b.

Further, the inkjet printer 10 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of liquid tanks 14a and 14b, and at least one that temporarily stores the liquid stored in the corresponding liquid tanks 14a and 14b (in the present embodiment). Two reserve tanks 24a and 24b, liquid transfer means 26a and 26b for transferring the liquid from the corresponding liquid tanks 14a and 14b to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b, and a controller 30 are provided. .
[Construction of transport mechanism]

The transport mechanism 12 guides the paper P as a “recording medium” accommodated in a paper cassette (not shown) to the liquid use portions 20a and 20b. The transport mechanism 12 includes a pair of pulleys 32a and 32b, a pair of pulleys 32a, An endless belt 34 looped between 32b and a motor 36 for rotating one pulley 32a are provided. The motor 36 is connected to the control unit 30 via a conductive wire (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1). Are electrically connected. The motor 36 is a servo motor, a stepping motor, or the like capable of grasping the rotation speed, and the conveyance speed of the paper P is controlled by the control unit 30 controlling the rotation speed of the motor 36. The liquid use portions 20a and 20b are arranged side by side above the endless belt 34 in the transport mechanism 12, and the paper P placed on the upper surface of the endless belt 34 first passes directly below the liquid use portion 20b. It passes through, and then passes directly under the liquid use part 20a.
[Configuration of liquid cartridge]

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid cartridge 16 is an integrated unit of a first liquid tank 14a for storing ink (black ink in the present embodiment) and a second liquid tank 14b for storing processing liquid. The liquid cartridge 16 is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 18. In the present embodiment, “different liquids” are ink and processing liquid. Therefore, hereinafter, “liquid R1” will be read as “ink R1”, and “liquid R2” will be read as “treatment liquid R2”.

As the processing liquid R2 stored in the second liquid tank 14b, one that agglomerates or deposits the components of the ink R1 stored in the first liquid tank 14a is used. For example, for the pigment-based ink R1 For the dye-based ink R1, those for aggregating pigment pigments are used. As the material of the treatment liquid R2, a liquid containing a cationic compound, in particular, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, a polyvalent metal salt such as a calcium salt or a magnesium salt can be appropriately selected. When the ink R1 lands on the application area of the paper P on which the liquid R2 is applied, the polyvalent metal salt or the like acts on the dye or pigment that is the colorant of the ink R1, and insoluble or hardly soluble metal composites aggregate. Alternatively, it is formed by precipitation. As a result, the degree of penetration of the ink R1 into the paper P is reduced, and the ink R1 is easily fixed on the paper P.
[Configuration of liquid use section]

  Each of the liquid using portions 20a and 20b is a portion that uses different ink R1 and processing liquid R2 to form an image. The “liquid use part” is a concept including not only a part that directly contributes to image formation but also an auxiliary contribution part. In this embodiment, one liquid use part 20a directly contributes to image formation. The “ink discharge head” is a “processing liquid discharge head” in which the other liquid use portion 20b contributes to image formation. Therefore, in the following description, “liquid use part 20a” is read as “ink discharge head 20a”, and “liquid use part 20b” is read as “treatment liquid discharge head 20b”.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an ink discharge head 20a used in the ink jet printer 10, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a head body 42 of the ink discharge head 20a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ejection head 20 a ejects ink R <b> 1 onto the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 12, and the transport direction of the paper P (hereinafter referred to as “sub-scanning direction”). The head holder 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a “main scanning direction”). A head main body 42 that discharges the ink R1 is attached to the lower surface of the head holder 40. That is, the ink jet printer 10 of this embodiment is a line type printer.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head main body 42 includes a flow path unit 44 and an actuator unit 46 joined to the upper surface thereof. The flow path unit 44 is a laminated body made of a plurality of metal plates made of stainless steel, and the lower surface of the nozzle plate 44a constituting the lowermost layer is a discharge surface 48. A plurality of nozzles 50 are formed on the ejection surface 48 so that the ink R1 can be ejected at an interval of 600 dpi in the main scanning direction. Further, a manifold 52 (FIG. 2) and a sub-manifold 52a are formed in the flow path unit 44, and a plurality of individual ink flows from the sub-manifold 52a through the aperture 54 and the pressure chamber 56 to the nozzle 50 are formed. A path 58 is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ink supply ports 52 b communicating with the manifold 52 are formed on the upper surface 44 b of the flow path unit 44. A reserve unit (not shown) communicating with the ink supply port 52b is disposed above the head main body 42, and the reserve unit is connected to the liquid tank 14a of the liquid cartridge 16 via the communication path 22a. (Fig. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the actuator unit 46 has a plurality of actuators (not shown) corresponding to the pressure chambers 56 of the plurality of individual ink flow paths 58. Each of the plurality of actuators includes a piezoelectric layer and electrodes arranged so as to sandwich the piezoelectric layer, and by applying a voltage to the electrodes, it is possible to apply ejection energy to the ink R1 inside the pressure chamber 56. It is composed. Although not shown, one end of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) on which a driver IC is mounted is electrically connected to the electrode, and the other end of the FPC is controlled. It is electrically connected to the part 30 (FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, the resolution in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the ink discharge head 20a is both 600 dpi, and the actuator unit 46 has a dot interval of the ink R1 discharged from the nozzle 50 of 600 dpi in the sub-scanning direction. In this manner, the control unit 30 controls the operation. Therefore, on the paper P, grid-like unit areas are defined that are partitioned at intervals of 1/600 inch in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the processing liquid discharge head 20b discharges the processing liquid R2 on the upstream side of the ink discharge head 20a onto the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 12, and a liquid tank is provided in the flow path unit 44. The configuration is the same as that of the ink discharge head 20a except that 14b is connected. That is, the processing liquid discharge head 20b has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped head holder 40 that is long in the main scanning direction, and a head main body 42 that discharges the processing liquid R2 is mounted on the lower surface of the head holder 40. A reserve unit communicating with the processing liquid supply port is disposed above the head body 42.

The actuator unit 46 of the treatment liquid discharge head 20b has a plurality of actuators having a piezoelectric layer and electrodes arranged so as to sandwich the piezoelectric layer, and one end of an FPC on which a driver IC is mounted is connected to the electrodes. The other end portion of the FPC is electrically connected to the control unit 30. The resolution in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction in the processing liquid ejection head 20b is 600 dpi, as in the ink ejection head 20a. Thus, the processing liquid R2 ejected from the processing liquid ejection head 20b is transferred to the unit area. Can be landed accurately. In order to accurately match the landing position of the processing liquid R2 on the paper P and the landing position of the ink R1, the processing liquid discharge head 20b and the ink discharge head 20a have the same positional conditions (distance, discharge) with respect to the paper P. Corners etc.).
[Configuration of communication paths, etc.]

  The communication path 22a is a flow path of the ink R1 that allows the liquid tank 14a and the ink discharge head 20a to communicate with each other, and is configured by a flexible tube in the present embodiment. A reserve tank 24a is connected in the middle of the communication path 22a via a branch path 60a, and a switching valve 62a for switching the flow path is provided at a connection portion between the communication path 22a and the branch path 60a. It has been. In addition, a pump 64a is provided in the communication path 22a or the branch path 60a (the communication path 22a in the present embodiment) on the upstream side of the switching valve 62a. The switching valve 62a and the pump 64a are electrically connected to the control unit 30 via conductive wires, and these operations are controlled by the control unit 30.

  The communication path 22b is a flow path for the processing liquid R2 that allows the liquid tank 14b and the processing liquid discharge head 20b to communicate with each other. In the present embodiment, the communication path 22b includes a flexible tube. A reserve tank 24b is connected to the middle of the communication path 22b via a branch path 60b, and a switching valve 62b for switching the flow path is provided at a connection portion between the communication path 22b and the branch path 60b. It has been. A pump 64b is provided in the communication path 22b or the branch path 60b (the communication path 22b in this embodiment) on the upstream side of the switching valve 62b. The switching valve 62b and the pump 64b are electrically connected to the control unit 30 via conductive wires, and these operations are controlled by the control unit 30.

  The reserve tanks 24a and 24b are containers for temporarily storing the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 transferred from the liquid tanks 14a and 14b, and the capacity of the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is the liquid tanks 14a and 24b connected to them. Designed to be the same as the capacity of 14b.

  The liquid transfer means 26a and 26b are for transferring the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 from the corresponding liquid tanks 14a and 14b to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b. In this embodiment, the control unit 30 is switched. Liquid transfer means 26a and 26b are constituted by the valves 62a and 62b and the pumps 64a and 64b. That is, by operating the switching valves 62a and 62b in the control unit 30, a flow path for communicating the liquid tanks 14a and 14b and the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is secured, and then the pumps 64a and 64b are driven by the control unit 30. As a result, the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b are transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b.

In the present embodiment, the liquid tanks 14a and 14b and the reserve tanks 24a and 24b are disposed above the ink discharge head 20a and the processing liquid discharge head 20b, and the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 are contained in the ink discharge head 20a and the processing liquid. The liquid discharge head 20b is naturally supplied by a water head difference. Here, the pumps 64a and 64b are configured to allow passage of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 even if they are not operating.
[Configuration of control unit]

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 30 used in the inkjet printer 10.

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores a control program executed by the CPU and various data in a rewritable manner, and temporarily stores data when the program is executed. It has RAM (Random Access Memory) to memorize. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the control program is executed by the CPU, so that the head control unit 70, the image data storage unit 72, the processing liquid discharge data storage unit 74, the processing liquid discharge data creation unit 76, the processing liquid discharge A data change unit 78, a conveyance control unit 80, a liquid transfer control unit 82, and a remaining amount detection unit 84 are realized.

  The head control unit 70 includes an ink discharge head control unit 70 a that controls the actuator of the ink discharge head 20 a based on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 72, and a processing liquid stored in the processing liquid discharge data storage unit 74. And a processing liquid discharge head controller 70b that controls the actuator of the processing liquid discharge head 20b based on the discharge data. Here, the image data indicates the amount of ink R1 ejected from the ink ejection head 20a to each unit area on the paper P in four stages: zero, small droplet, medium droplet, and large droplet. The data indicates the amount of the processing liquid R2 discharged from the processing liquid discharge head 20b to each unit area on the paper P in four stages: zero, small droplet, medium droplet, and large droplet. Therefore, the remaining amount detection unit 84 can determine the consumption amounts of the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 based on the number of dots and the dot size of the droplets included in the image data and the treatment liquid ejection data.

  The processing liquid discharge data creating unit 76 creates processing liquid discharge data based on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 72, and the processing liquid discharge data changing unit 78 is a processing liquid discharge data storage unit 74. The processing liquid discharge data stored in the above is appropriately changed on the basis of information input from the operation panel 86 or the like.

  The liquid transfer control unit 82 has a function as a “liquid transfer control unit” that controls the switching valves 62 a and 62 b and the pumps 64 a and 64 b constituting the liquid transfer units 26 a and 26 b, and is controlled by the liquid transfer control unit 82. The states of the switching valves 62a and 62b and the pumps 64a and 64b are grasped. Therefore, it is possible to determine the transfer amounts of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 by the liquid transfer means 26a and 26b based on the signals relating to the pump capacity and operation time output from the liquid transfer control unit 82, and the remaining amount detection. In the section 84, the remaining amounts of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b can be obtained based on these transfer amounts.

  The remaining amount detection unit 84 is provided with a function of detecting the remaining amount of the ink R1 stored in the liquid tank 14a based on the image data provided from the image data storage unit 72 and the processing liquid ejection data storage unit 74. Based on the function of detecting the remaining amount of the processing liquid R2 stored in the liquid tank 14b based on the processed liquid discharge data and the signal given from the liquid transfer control unit 82, it is stored in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b. And the function of detecting the remaining amount of the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2. That is, the remaining amount detection unit 84 functions as “liquid tank remaining amount detection means” for detecting the remaining amount of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b, and “reserve tank remaining amount detection” for detecting the remaining amounts of the reserve tanks 24a and 24b. It has a function as “means”.

The operation panel 86 is based on a function as “information input means” for inputting various information to the processing liquid discharge data changing unit 78 and the remaining amount detecting unit 84 and a signal given from the remaining amount detecting unit 84. It has a function as “notification means” for notifying that the liquid cartridge 16 should be replaced. The remaining amount as the “liquid tank remaining amount detecting means” means that the remaining amount of the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 in a certain liquid tank 14a, 14b is smaller than a predetermined amount (first predetermined amount) set in advance. When the detection unit 84 detects, the operation panel 86 displays characters or the like on the display unit (not shown) so as to notify that the liquid cartridge 16 should be replaced.
[Control operation of control unit]

  The control operation of the control unit 30 as “liquid transfer control means” will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  The liquid transfer control by the control unit 30 is executed in parallel with the printing operation of the inkjet printer 10. During the printing operation, in step S1, the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b are supplied to the ink ejection head 20a and the treatment liquid ejection head 20b due to the water head difference, and the ink R1 and the treatment liquid are supplied. R2 is used for image formation.

  When the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 are used in the printing operation, the remaining amount of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b decreases. Therefore, when the remaining amount of one of them disappears, the liquid cartridge 16 needs to be replaced. There is. Therefore, in steps S3 to S13, liquid transfer control for cartridge replacement is executed.

  That is, in step S3, the remaining amount of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b is detected by the remaining amount detection unit 84. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of ink R1 or processing liquid R2 in a certain liquid tank 14a, 14b is less than the “first predetermined amount”. If it is determined “NO”, the process proceeds to step S1. When the routine returns and normal liquid supply is continued and it is determined “YES”, the use of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 is stopped (that is, the printing operation is stopped), and step S7 is executed. In step S7, the liquid transfer means 26a and 26b are controlled so as to transfer the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 remaining in the other liquid tanks 14a and 14b to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b. In step S9, it is determined whether or not the transfer in step S7 is completed. If “NO” is determined, the process returns to step S7 to continue the transfer operation. If “YES” is determined, step S11 is performed. Executed. For example, the control unit 30 determines that the transfer has been completed when the operating time of the pumps 64a and 64b has reached a time required to transfer the ink R1 or the treatment liquid R2 remaining in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b. In step S11, the operation panel 86 serving as “notification means” is notified that the liquid cartridge 16 should be replaced. In step S13, it is determined whether or not cartridge replacement has been completed. If "NO" is determined, the process waits as it is, and if "YES" is determined, step S15 of FIG. 6 is executed.

  After the cartridge replacement is completed, it is necessary to reuse the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b when the cartridge is replaced. Therefore, in steps S15 to S25, liquid supply control for reusing the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 is executed.

That is, in step S15, the remaining amount of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is detected by the remaining amount detection unit 84. In step S17, it is determined whether or not the remaining amounts of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b are equal to or greater than the “second predetermined amount”. If it is determined “NO”, the process proceeds to step S27. If "YES" is determined, steps S19 and S21 are executed in this order. In step S19, the switching valve 62a as the “communication means” is connected so that the reserve tanks 24a and 24b determined as “YES” in step S17 communicate with the corresponding ink discharge head 20a or the treatment liquid discharge head 20b. , 62b are controlled by the control unit 30 as "communication control means", and the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a, 24b is supplied to the ink discharge head 20a or the processing liquid discharge head 20b. In step S21, the remaining amount of the reserve tanks 24a, 24b is detected by the remaining amount detection unit 84, and in step S23, it is determined whether the remaining amount of the reserve tanks 24a, 24b is less than the “second predetermined amount”. If “NO” is determined, the process returns to step S19. If “YES” is determined, step S25 is executed. In step S25, switching as “communication means” is performed so as to block communication between the reserve tanks 24a and 24b determined as “YES” in step S23 and the corresponding ink discharge head 20a or processing liquid discharge head 20b. The valves 62a and 62b are controlled by the control unit 30 as "communication control means", and the supply of the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 from the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is stopped. In step S27, it is determined whether or not the liquid transfer control by the control unit 30 is to be terminated. If “NO” is determined, the process returns to step S1 to perform normal liquid supply, and “YES” is determined. Then, the liquid transfer control is finished.
[Effect of the first embodiment]

  According to the first embodiment, when the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 stored in one of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b is consumed and the cartridge needs to be replaced, it remains in the other of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b. Since the ink R1 or the treatment liquid R2 can be transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b, the amount of the residual liquid that is wasted can be reduced. In addition, since the capacity of the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is designed to be the same as the capacity of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b communicated therewith, the ink R1 remaining in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b or the ink R1 or All of the processing liquid R2 can be completely transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b, and the amount of residual liquid that is wasted can be further reduced.

  Further, the remaining amounts of the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b can be detected easily and accurately based on the number of dots and the dot size of the droplets read from the image data and the treatment liquid discharge data. At the same time, the remaining amounts of the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b can be detected easily and accurately based on the transfer amount calculated from the capacity and operating time of the pump.

Further, the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b by the liquid transfer means 26a and 26b is preferentially supplied directly to the ink discharge head 20a or the processing liquid discharge head 20b. It is possible to prevent the old ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 from being mixed into the new ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b, and the quality of the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 can be stabilized.
(Second Embodiment)

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the inkjet printer 100 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the control unit 30 (liquid transfer control means) in the inkjet printer 100.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the inkjet printer 100 according to the second embodiment, the reserve tanks 24a and 24b are directly connected to the liquid tanks 14a and 14b via the communication passages 112a and 112b, and are connected to the communication passages 112a and 112b. Pumps 114a and 114b are provided. In the liquid transfer control by the control unit 30, steps S35 to S45 shown in FIG. 8 are executed instead of steps S15 to S27 shown in FIG. 6, and the ink R1 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is replaced after the cartridge replacement. And the processing liquid R2 is replenished to the liquid tanks 14a and 14b.

That is, in step S35, the remaining amount of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b is detected by the remaining amount detection unit 84. In step S37, it is determined whether or not the remaining amounts of the ink R1 and the processing liquid R2 in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b are equal to or greater than the “second predetermined amount”. If it is determined “NO”, the process proceeds to step S45. If "YES" is determined, the remaining amount of the liquid tanks 14a and 14b is detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 84 in step S39. In step S41, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 in the liquid tanks 14a and 14b is less than the “third predetermined amount”. If it is determined “NO”, the process proceeds to step S45. If "YES" is determined, step S43 is executed. In step S43, the pumps 114a and 114b are controlled to replenish the liquid tanks 14a and 14b with the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 stored in the reserve tanks 24a and 24b. In step S45, it is determined whether or not the liquid transfer control by the control unit 30 is to be terminated. If “NO” is determined, the process returns to step S1 to perform normal liquid supply, and “YES” is determined. Then, the liquid transfer control is finished.
(Third embodiment)

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer 110 according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the inkjet printer 110 according to the third embodiment, the “liquid use part” that uses the ink R1 is the ink discharge head 20a that discharges the ink R1, and the “liquid that uses the processing liquid R2”. The “use section” includes an application roller 122 that applies the treatment liquid R2 to the surface of the paper P. The application roller 122 is rotatably disposed inside a processing liquid tank 124 that stores the processing liquid R2, and a sub tank 126 that stores the processing liquid R2 is connected to the processing liquid tank 124. Further, the downstream end of the communication path 22 b is connected to the sub tank 126. Accordingly, the processing liquid R2 in the liquid tank 14b is attached to the surface 122a of the application roller 122 via the communication path 22b, the sub tank 126, and the processing liquid tank 124, and is applied from the surface 122a to the surface of the paper P. Therefore, the transport mechanism 12 has a curved transport path 12 a for bringing the surface of the paper P into contact with the surface 122 a of the application roller 122.
(Fourth embodiment)

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an inkjet printer 120 according to the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the inkjet printer 120 according to the fourth embodiment, the different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks 14a, 14b, 14c are ink R1, processing liquid R2, and humidifying liquid R3. The “liquid use part” using the ink R1 is the ink discharge head 20a, and the “liquid use part” using the processing liquid R2 is the processing liquid discharge head 20b, and uses the humidifying liquid R3. The “use section” includes a vaporizing section 132 that vaporizes the humidifying liquid R3, and a humidifying liquid supply section 134 that supplies the humidifying liquid R3 vaporized by the vaporizing section 132 to the ink discharge head 20a and the processing liquid discharge head 20b. . In the inkjet printer 120, a plurality of components related to the liquid tank 14c are added with the addition of the liquid tank 14c, but these components are similar to the components related to the liquid tanks 14a and 14b. The duplicated explanation is omitted.

The vaporizing unit 132 includes a humidifying liquid tank 136 that stores the humidifying liquid R3, and a vaporizer (such as an ultrasonic generator) 138 disposed inside the humidifying liquid tank 136. The downstream end of the communication path 22c is connected. Therefore, the humidifying liquid R3 in the liquid tank 14c is stored in the humidifying liquid tank 136 via the communication path 22c and is vaporized by the vaporizer 138. The humidification liquid supply unit 134 includes caps 140a and 140b that cover the respective ejection surfaces 48 of the ink ejection head 20a and the treatment liquid ejection head 20b, and an annular humidification flow path 142 that connects the humidification liquid tank 136 and the caps 140a and 140b. And a pump 144 and a check valve 146 provided in the humidification channel 142. Therefore, when the pump 144 is driven by the control unit 30, the humidifying liquid R3 vaporized in the humidifying liquid tank 136 is supplied to the caps 140a and 140b through the humidifying channel 142, and drying of the discharge surfaces 48 is prevented.
(Other embodiments)

  In each of the embodiments described above, the remaining amount detection unit 84 of the control unit 30 is used as a “liquid tank remaining amount detection unit” and a “reserve tank remaining amount detection unit”, but in other embodiments, the liquid tanks 14a, The liquid level sensor attached to 14b may be used as “liquid tank remaining amount detecting means”, and the liquid level sensor attached to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b may be used as “reserved tank remaining amount detecting means”. Good.

  In another embodiment, the fact that the liquid cartridge 16 should be replaced may be notified by lamp lighting or audio output. In these cases, the lamp and the sound generator serve as “notification means”.

  In another embodiment, the different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks may be inks of a plurality of colors, and a plurality of “liquid use units” that use each ink receive the corresponding ink. An ink discharge head for discharging may be used. In this case, the at least one ink may be a frequently used black ink, and the black ink remaining in the liquid tank may be mainly transferred to the reserve tank and reused.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the ink R1 and the treatment liquid R2 are supplied to the ink discharge head 20a, the treatment liquid discharge head 20b, and the like using a water head difference. In other embodiments, these are used. May be forcibly supplied using a pump.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the ink R1 or the processing liquid R2 transferred to the reserve tanks 24a and 24b by the liquid transfer means 26a and 26b is preferentially supplied to the ink discharge head 20a or the processing liquid discharge head 20b. However, all the passages that communicate with the switching valve 62a or 62b are in communication, and the ink R1 or the treatment liquid R2 is transferred from both the reserve tanks 24a and 24b and the liquid tanks 14a and 14b to the ink ejection head 20a or the treatment liquid ejection head 20b. May be supplied. In this case, the liquid cartridge needs to be replaced when the liquid tanks 14a and 14b are less than the “first predetermined amount” and the reserve tanks 24a and 24b are less than the “second predetermined amount”.

  Furthermore, in another embodiment, the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus that discharges liquid other than ink, or may be applied to an image forming apparatus other than a printer such as a facsimile and a copier. Further, as a liquid discharge method, a method of discharging using a pressure when the volume of the liquid is expanded by a heating element may be used instead of the actuator method.

P ... Paper R1 ... Ink (liquid)
R2 ... Treatment liquid (liquid)
R3 ... Humidifying liquid (liquid)
10. Inkjet printer (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Conveyance mechanism 14a, 14b, 14c ... Liquid tank 16 ... Liquid cartridge 18 ... Cartridge mounting part 20a ... Ink discharge head (liquid use part)
20b ... Treatment liquid discharge head (liquid use part)
22a, 22b, 22c ... communication passages 24a, 24b ... reserve tanks 26a, 26b ... liquid transfer means 30 ... control unit (liquid tank remaining amount detection means, liquid transfer control means, reserve tank remaining amount detection means, communication control means)
60a, 60b ... Branch 62a, 62b ... Switching valve (communication means)
64a, 64b ... Pump 86 ... Operation panel (notification means)

Claims (8)

A liquid cartridge having a plurality of liquid tanks in which different liquids are stored;
Liquid tank remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of each liquid stored in the plurality of liquid tanks;
A cartridge mounting portion to which the liquid cartridge is mounted;
A plurality of liquid using portions that use the different liquids to form an image;
A plurality of communication passages for communicating the plurality of liquid tanks with the plurality of liquid use sections;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
At least one reserve tank that is provided corresponding to at least one of the plurality of liquid tanks and temporarily stores the liquid stored in the corresponding liquid tank;
Liquid transfer means for transferring liquid from the corresponding liquid tank to the reserve tank;
A liquid transfer control means for controlling the liquid transfer means,
The liquid transfer control means, when the liquid tank remaining amount detecting means detects that the remaining amount of the liquid in a certain liquid tank is less than a first predetermined amount, at least another liquid communication with the reserve tank. The image forming apparatus, wherein the liquid transfer unit is controlled to transfer the liquid remaining in one liquid tank to the reserve tank.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a capacity of the reserve tank is the same as a capacity of the liquid tank communicated therewith.   Informing means for informing that the liquid cartridge should be replaced when the liquid tank remaining amount detecting means detects that the remaining amount of liquid in a certain liquid tank is less than the first predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks are inks of a plurality of colors,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of liquid using portions that use each ink are ink discharge heads that discharge the corresponding ink. 5. The different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks are treatment liquids that aggregate or deposit ink and ink components;
The liquid use part that uses ink is an ink discharge head that discharges ink;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid using unit that uses the processing liquid is a processing liquid discharge head. The different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks are treatment liquids that aggregate or deposit ink and ink components;
The liquid use part that uses ink is an ink discharge head that discharges ink;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid using unit that uses the processing liquid includes a coating roller that applies the processing liquid to a surface of the recording medium. 5. The different liquids stored in each of the plurality of liquid tanks are ink and humidifying liquid,
The liquid use part that uses ink is an ink discharge head that discharges ink;
The liquid use unit that uses a humidifying liquid includes a vaporizing unit that vaporizes the humidifying liquid, and a humidifying liquid supply unit that supplies the ink discharge head with the humidified liquid vaporized by the vaporizing unit. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The reserve tank is connected to the communication path via a branch path;
A reserve tank remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of liquid stored in the reserve tank;
A communication means provided in the communication path or the branch path, for communicating the reserve tank corresponding to the liquid use section, or for blocking the communication;
Communication control means for controlling the communication means,
The communication control means includes
When the remaining amount of the liquid detected by the reserve tank remaining amount detecting means is a second predetermined amount or more, the communicating means is controlled to communicate the reserve tank and the liquid using portion corresponding thereto; Controlling the communication means so as to block communication between the reserve tank and the corresponding liquid use section when the remaining amount of liquid detected by the reserve tank remaining amount detection means is less than a second predetermined amount; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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