JP6612202B2 - Ink sticking state detection method and ink jet recording apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink particles, and more particularly, to detection of a fixed state of ink in an ink container.

  In the case of using a pigment ink that is easily fixed as an ink used for printing in an ink jet recording apparatus, it is important to prevent the pigment ink from fixing. In particular, when the ink jet recording apparatus is not operated for a long time, or even during operation, the ink tends to adhere to the lower part or the end part of the ink container where the ink flow is small. Once completely fixed, it is necessary to stop the operation and eliminate the fixing by manually stirring the ink container. Therefore, in order to prevent sticking, it is necessary to stir the ink in the ink container when using pigment ink.

  As background art in this technical field, there is JP-A-2015-71263 (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a vibration detector is provided on the outer wall of the ink container in order to detect the operation status of the stirrer in the ink container, that is, whether the stirrer is rotating normally, out of step, or stopped. The point to arrange is indicated.

JP, 2015-71263, A

  In Patent Document 1, a vibration detector is disposed on the outer wall of the ink container. However, from the viewpoint of vibration, the influence of the usage environment of the target device is large, and this is not considered in terms of accurate detection. For example, when the target device is used in an environment where other large machines are operating and irregular vibrations occur irregularly, or when the operator accidentally hits the target device. There is a possibility of false detection.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink fixing state detection method capable of reducing the influence of the use environment and reducing erroneous detection, and an ink jet recording apparatus using the same.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is, as an example, an ink jet recording apparatus main body including an ink container, a stirring device, and a control circuit for controlling the stirring device, and a print head for printing on a print object. And a conduit connecting the print head and the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the stirrer is a stirrer disposed under the ink container and a magnetic stirrer disposed in the ink container. The stirrer includes a rotating member and a motor that rotates the rotating member, and the stirring device further includes a rotation detecting means for the stirring bar, and is configured to detect the rotation state of the stirring bar by a control circuit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ink fixed state detection method which can reduce the influence of a use environment and can reduce misdetection, and an inkjet recording device using the same can be provided.

1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a main body internal structure of the ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the operation state detection system of the stirring bar in Example 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the rotation state of the stirring bar in Example 1, and the coil for a stirring bar state detection. It is a flowchart of the operation state detection operation | movement of a stirrer using the stirrer state detection coil in Example 1. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the operation state detection system of the stirring bar provided with the FG signal detection circuit of the motor for stirrers in Example 2. FIG. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the FG signal waveform of the motor for stirrs in Example 2, and the operation state of a stirring element. It is a flowchart of the operation state detection operation | movement of the stirring element using the FG signal of the motor for stirrs in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an operating state detection system for a stir bar provided with an electrostatic capacity sensor in an ink container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an operation state detection operation of a stirrer using a capacitance type sensor in Example 3.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is an ink jet recording apparatus main body, 2 is a print head, 3 is an operation display unit, and 4 is a conduit. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an operation display unit 3 in an ink jet recording apparatus main body 1 and a print head 2 outside. The ink jet recording apparatus main body 1 and the print head 2 are connected by a conduit 4.

  The ink jet recording apparatus is installed, for example, on a production line in a factory where food or beverages are produced, and the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1 is installed at a position where the user can operate. Then, according to the signal from the encoder that outputs the belt conveyor feed speed and the signal from the print object sensor, the charged and deflected ink particles are printed while the print object passes near the print head. Print by attaching to the object.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1. In FIG. 2, a control circuit 300 and electrical parts such as a power source 310 that supplies power to the control circuit 300 are arranged in the upper part of the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1, and an operation display unit 3 capable of inputting data on the upper front surface. Is installed. A main ink container 18 and an auxiliary ink container (not shown) that store ink to be supplied to the nozzles are fixed on a container base 622 on the front side of the lower portion of the inkjet recording apparatus main body 1. Here, the auxiliary ink container has the same configuration as the main ink container and performs stirring of the ink, so that the description thereof is omitted. Under the container base 622, a stirrer 52A for agitating ink and a motor 54A for operating the stirrer 52A are installed.

  Further, a circulation system control component such as a flow path board 621, a solenoid valve 34, and a pump 24 is accommodated on the rear side of the lower part of the inkjet recording apparatus main body 1. Are connected to the print head 2.

  Further, the main ink container 18 and the auxiliary ink container can be taken out from the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1 by opening the front door 600 at the lower part of the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1. It is configured to facilitate maintenance.

  Next, the structure of the ink container and the stirrer and the operation state detection system of the stirrer in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the operation state detection system of the stirring bar in the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, an ink container 61 (showing a longitudinal sectional view) has a circular ink container bottom surface 61A, and is provided with a stirrer 51 at the top of the ink container bottom surface 61A. 7A is accommodated. The ink container 61 is installed on the upper part of the container base 622, and the stirrer 52 is installed on the lower part of the container base 622. The pigment ink 7A in the ink container 61 is agitated by the stirrer 52. The stirrer 52 includes a rotating member 53 made of a magnetic material and a motor 54 that rotates the rotating member 53, and the motor 54 and the rotating member 53 connected to the motor 54 are disposed inside the ink jet recording apparatus main body 1. The ink container 61 is provided on the container base 622 such that the stirring bar 51 is disposed on the rotating member 53. If the ink container 61 is left standing while containing the pigment-based ink 7A, the pigment component of the pigment-based ink 7A settles and deposits on the bottom surface 61A of the ink container near the center of the container. Therefore, the rotating member 53 is rotated by driving the motor 54. Thereby, the magnetic body arranged on the rotating member rotates. A permanent magnet or the like is used as the magnetic material. In response to the magnetic field of the magnet, the stirrer 51 formed by the magnet also rotates in conjunction with it, causing convection in the ink and stirring the pigment-based ink 7A in the ink container.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a stirrer state detection coil that is a means for detecting the rotation of the stirrer 51 disposed in the vicinity of the stirrer 51, and 106 denotes an induced current detection circuit that detects an induced current generated in the stirrer state detection coil 110. is there. 100 is an MPU that controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus, 101 is a rewritable RAM that temporarily stores data from the induced current detection circuit 106, and 102 is a necessary program such as a control program or data for controlling the rotation of a stirrer motor. ROM is stored in advance, 103 is a panel interface, 104 is an operation display unit, and inputs data. A motor control circuit 105 controls the stirrer motor.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the relationship between the rotating state of the stirrer 51 and the stirrer state detection coil 110 of this embodiment. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the stirrer 51 is rotating normally, and an induced current is generated in the stirrer state detection coil 110 attached in the vicinity of the stirrer by the rotation of the stirrer 51. The rotating state of the stirring bar can be detected by the current value. FIG. 4B shows a state when the ink is fixed, and since the stirrer 51 cannot rotate, no induced current is generated in the stirrer state detection coil 110 and the stirrer 51 is not rotating. Can be detected.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation state detection operation of the stirrer using the stirrer state detection coil 110. When the stirrer rotates, an induced current I1 is generated because the magnetic field penetrating the stirrer state detection coil 110 changes. The induced current generated at this time is periodically monitored by the induced current detection circuit 106 and the MPU 100 to detect the rotation state. Specifically, the absolute values of the induced current thresholds ThI1 and ThI2 (ThI2> ThI1) set on the apparatus side and the induced current I1 are compared.

  In FIG. 5, first, the motor 54 is operated at the rotational speed R1 in step S10, and the induced current I1 is detected in step S11. Next, ThI1 and I1 are compared in step S12. If ThI1 ≧ I1 (No), the MPU 100 determines that the stirrer is fixed and does not rotate and cannot be stirred, and in step S13. An error message is displayed and, for example, the apparatus user is instructed to stir ink with a stir bar. If ThI1 <I1, ThI2 (ThI2> ThI1) is compared with I1 in step S14. If ThI2 ≧ I1 (No), it is determined in step S15 that the stirrer is about to stick to MPU100. By fixing the motor rotation speed from R1 to R2 (R2> R1), sticking is prevented in advance. If ThI2 <I1, the rotation is continued at the motor rotation number R1 in step S16. As described above, it is possible to detect sticking and prevent sticking.

  In addition, since the magnetic field which penetrates the stirring element state detection coil 110 comes alternately by N / S by rotation of the stirring element 51, the direction of the electric current induced by it changes. Therefore, the number of rotations of the stirrer 51 is also known by the number of changes per unit time of the magnetic field change due to the rotation of the stirrer 51, that is, the number of changes in the induced current. Therefore, it can be detected from the number of changes in the current that the sticking is about to occur.

  As described above, in this embodiment, not the physical vibration detection but the operation state of the stirrer is detected using the means for detecting the rotation of the stirrer. Specifically, a change in the magnetic field due to the rotation of the stirring bar is detected by a coil, and the operation state of the stirring bar is electrically detected. That is, it is possible to detect the sticking of the pigment ink by a system that detects the induced current flowing in the stirring bar state detection coil 110 in which the rotation state of the stirring bar 51 is arranged in the vicinity of the stirring bar. Moreover, sticking can be prevented by controlling the rotation speed of the motor.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an ink fixing state detection method capable of reducing the influence of the use environment and reducing erroneous detection, and an ink jet recording apparatus using the same.

  In this embodiment, an example in which ink sticking can be detected by detecting a difference in FG signals output from a motor 54 that drives the stirrer 51 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the operation state detection system of the stirring bar in the present embodiment. The same functions as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. 3 is different from FIG. 3 in that an FG signal detection unit that detects and detects an FG signal of a motor 54 (not shown) that is a rotation detection means of the stirring bar without using the stirring bar state detection coil 110 and the induced current detection circuit 106, and an FG This is a point having an FG signal detection circuit 108 for calculating a signal from the signal detection unit. The FG signal is a fixed number of pulse signals generated when the motor 54 makes one rotation, and the cycle of the pulse varies depending on the speed of rotation. For example, the faster the rotation, the shorter the cycle.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the FG signal waveform of the stirrer driving motor 54 when there is no ink sticking and when there is no ink sticking. FIG. 7A shows the case where there is no ink fixation, and FIG. 7B shows the case where there is ink fixation. In FIG. 7A, when the ink is not fixed, the stirrer normally rotates following the rotation of the motor 54. Therefore, the motor 54 rotates without being affected by the magnetic force from the stirrer, and the FG signal is It becomes a constant pulse with a period T1. On the other hand, in FIG. 7B, when there is ink sticking, the stirrer does not follow the rotation of the motor 54 for driving the stirrer, and the motor 54 is momentarily accelerated / decelerated due to the magnetic force of the stirrer. To do. Therefore, the FG signal has a larger jitter width than the FG signal shown in FIG. 7A when there is no ink fixation, and becomes a pulse having a cycle T2.

  FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the operation state detection operation of the stirring bar using the FG signal of the motor 54. In FIG. 8, first, the motor 54 is operated at the rotational speed R1 in step S20, and the FG signal output from the motor 54 is detected by the FG signal detection circuit 108 in step S21. At this time, Tth (Tth = | T2-T1 |) is calculated by T1 (pulse period in the normal state without sticking) and T2 (part where Tth is the maximum in the pulse period in actual operation), and the apparatus side The threshold values Tth1 and Tth2 (Tth2 <Tth1) of the jitter width set in the above are compared. First, Tth and Tth1 are compared in step S22. If Tth ≧ Tth1 (No), the MPU 100 determines that the stirring bar is stuck and cannot be rotated without stirring in step S23, and an error occurs. A message is displayed, and for example, the apparatus user is instructed to stir ink with a stir bar. If Tth <Tth1, Tth2 (Tth2 <Tth1) is compared with Tth in step S24. If Tth ≧ Tth2, it is determined in step S25 that the rotor is getting stuck in MPU100, and the motor speed is set. By changing from R1 to R2 (R2> R1), sticking is prevented in advance. If Tth <Tth2, the rotation is continued at the motor rotation number R1 in step S26. As described above, it is possible to detect sticking and prevent sticking.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the operation state of the stirrer is electrically detected by using the FG signal of the motor as means for detecting the rotation of the stirrer, not detecting physical vibration.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an ink fixing state detection method capable of reducing the influence of the use environment and reducing erroneous detection, and an ink jet recording apparatus using the same.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the sticking of the pigment ink can be detected by detecting the difference in the ink liquid level in the ink container when the stirrer is rotated will be described. That is, when the stirrer rotates, the pigment ink in the ink container flows, and the liquid level inside the container side surface becomes higher than when the stirrer does not rotate.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of the operating state detection system of the stirring bar in the present embodiment. The same functions as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. 3 is different from FIG. 3 in that a stirrer state detection coil 110 and an induced current detection circuit 106 are not used, and a capacitive sensor 111 for detecting the ink liquid level and a liquid level detection circuit 109 are provided. . That is, the liquid level height when the stirrer is not rotated is periodically monitored by the capacitance type sensor 111 attached to the outside of the side surface of the ink container, and stirring is performed depending on whether or not the liquid level height varies when the stirrer is rotated. Detects the stuck state of the child.

  FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the operation state detection operation of the stirrer using the capacitance type sensor 111 in the ink container. In FIG. 10, first, in step S <b> 30, the liquid level height H <b> 1 when the motor 54 is not rotated is detected by the capacitive sensor 111. Next, in step S31, the motor 54 is operated at the rotational speed R1, and in step S32, the liquid level height H2 at that time is detected by the capacitance sensor 111. Thereafter, in step S33, the MPU 100 compares H1 and H2. If H2 ≦ H1 (No), the MPU 100 determines in step S34 that the stirrer is stuck and does not rotate and cannot be stirred, and an error message is displayed. Ink the ink at If H2> H1, in step S35, the threshold value Hth (a value slightly larger than H1 calculated from the liquid level height when the motor is not rotating) is compared with H2. If H2 <Hth (No), it is determined in step S36 that the rotor is about to be stuck by the MPU 100, and the motor rotational speed is changed from R1 to R2 (R2> R1) to prevent the sticking. If H2> Hth, in step S37, the rotation of the motor is continued at R1. As described above, it is possible to detect sticking and prevent sticking.

  Even when the liquid level changes after ink replacement, the liquid level information is periodically updated via the liquid level detection circuit 109 by monitoring the liquid level when the stirrer is not rotated, and the RAM 101 It is possible to prevent false detections by temporarily storing them.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

  Each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Each of the above-described configurations, functions, and the like may be realized by software by interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function by the processor. Information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in a recording device such as a memory, a hard disk, or an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.

  Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

1: ink jet recording apparatus main body, 2: print head, 3, 104: operation display unit, 4: conduit, 7A: pigment-based ink, 18: main ink container, 61: ink container, 24: pump, 51: stirrer, 52, 52A: Stirrer, 53: Rotating member, 54, 54A: Motor, 61A: Bottom surface of ink container, 100: MPU, 101: RAM, 102: ROM, 103: Panel interface, 105: Motor control circuit, 106: Induced current Detection circuit 107: Warning light / alarm 108: FG signal detection circuit 109: Liquid level detection circuit 110: Stirring bar state detection coil 111: Capacitance type sensor 300: Control circuit 310: Power supply 600: Door, 622: Container base

Claims (2)

An ink jet recording apparatus main body provided with an ink container and an agitating device and a control circuit for controlling the agitating device, a print head for printing on a print object, and a conduit connecting the print head and the ink jet recording apparatus main body. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:
The stirrer has a stirrer disposed under the ink container and a magnetic stirrer disposed in the ink container, and the stirrer includes a rotating member and a motor that rotates the rotating member, The stirring device has a rotation detecting means of the stirring bar,
The control circuit detects the rotation state of the stirring bar ,
The rotation detection means is an FG signal detector that detects an FG signal of the motor,
The control circuit includes an FG signal detection circuit that calculates a signal from the FG signal detection unit, and in the FG signal detection circuit, a pulse period T1 in a state where the FG signal of the motor is not fixed and a pulse period in actual operation An ink jet recording apparatus , wherein the rotational state of the stirrer is detected by comparing a difference with T2 with a predetermined threshold . An ink fixing state detection method for an ink jet recording apparatus for detecting an ink fixing state in an ink container,
The ink jet recording apparatus includes a stirrer disposed under the ink container and a magnetic stirrer disposed in the ink container, and the stirrer includes a rotating member and a motor that rotates the rotating member.
Detecting the number of rotations of the stirrer, and detecting the fixed state of the ink in the ink container from the number of rotations;
The number of rotations of the stirrer is detected by comparing a difference between a pulse cycle T1 of the motor in which the FG signal is not fixed and a pulse cycle T2 during actual operation with a predetermined threshold value. A method for detecting an ink fixing state of a recording apparatus.

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