JP6613775B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet by an inkjet method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from nozzles is known.

  Among the ink jet recording apparatuses, there is an ink jet type image forming apparatus in which an ink discharge surface of a recording head is covered with a cap when printing is not performed (for example, Patent Document 1). By covering the ink discharge surface with a cap (hereinafter referred to as “capping”), it is possible to prevent ink from being dried on the ink discharge surface of the recording head and causing ink discharge failure. In this image forming apparatus, if it is determined that the print execution information for the next print has not been received before the start of execution of the capping operation associated with the end of printing, the first time from the end of printing. When the time elapses, execution of the capping operation is started. On the other hand, when it is determined that the print execution information has been received before the start of the capping operation, the execution of the capping operation is started when a second time longer than the first time has elapsed.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a cap that rises so as to cover the ink ejection surface in response to the moving force of the recording head and a recording head covered by the cap are restricted from being moved by an external force. There is an ink jet printer provided with a locking member. In this ink jet printer, when printing is finished, the recording head is first moved to perform a capping operation on the cap. Thereafter, the ink jet printer operates the lock member (hereinafter referred to as “lock operation”) after a predetermined time has elapsed since the capping operation, thereby restricting the movement of the recording head.

JP 2013-75396 A

  However, the user sometimes unplugs the power plug of the ink jet recording apparatus from the outlet between the end of printing and the execution of the capping or locking operation. In the inkjet image forming apparatus, if the power plug is removed before capping, the recording head is not capped.

In the ink jet printer, if the power plug is removed before the lock operation is performed, the state in which the movement of the recording head is not restricted is maintained. If the recording head is moved away from the cap by the user, for example, the state in which the recording head is not capped may be maintained.
If the state where the recording head is not capped is maintained, the ink in the nozzles of the recording head may be dried, resulting in ejection failure.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus in which occurrence of defective discharge is suppressed and recording throughput is improved.

  (1) An inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording head that discharges ink to a recording medium from a plurality of nozzles formed on a nozzle forming surface, and the recording head that maintains the ink discharge performance of the recording head. A movable body that is moved between a contact position that makes contact with the recording head and a separated position that is separated from the recording head; and the movable body is moved between the contact position and the separated position. A moving mechanism; an acquisition unit that acquires a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium; a power source unit that acquires power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source; a storage unit; A section. The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time. The control unit, when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit, a recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium, and the recording instruction The moving mechanism is controlled to move the movable body from the separated position to the contact position when the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to When the acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started, the determination process for determining whether or not the moving object is in the contact position, and the determination process When the number of times determined not to be in the contact position is at least one or more times, a change process is executed in which a second time shorter than the first time is stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time.

  When the inkjet recording apparatus is stopped, before the movement process is completed, if the user stops the power plug by unplugging it from the outlet, the next time the acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started, The moving object is not in the contact position. According to the above configuration, when the moving object is in the contact position when the power acquisition by the power supply unit is started, the moving object is moved after the first time has elapsed after the recording process is completed. It is moved to the contact position. If the moving object is in the separated position when the power acquisition by the power supply unit is started at least once, the second time shorter than the first time after the recording process is completed After the elapse, the moving object is moved to the contact position.

  The object to be moved is, for example, a nozzle cap or a regulating member that regulates the movement of the recording head. When the movable body is a cap, the contact position is a position where the cap contacts the recording head and covers the nozzle formation surface, and the separation position is a position where the cap is separated from the nozzle formation surface. When the movable body is a regulating member, the contact position is a position where the regulating member regulates the movement of the recording head, and the separation position is a position where the regulating member does not regulate the movement of the recording head.

  As a result, if the user stops the ink jet recording apparatus by unplugging the power plug from the outlet before the moving process is finished, the nozzles are capped earlier or the movement of the recording head ( Hereinafter, head movement restriction is performed. For this reason, when the ink jet recording apparatus is stopped, there is a high possibility that nozzles are capped or head movement restriction is performed. Therefore, drying of the nozzle is suppressed. When the next recording instruction is received after the recording process is completed and before the predetermined time has elapsed, the next recording is performed without performing capping or head movement restriction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ejection failure and improve the printing throughput.

  According to the present invention, when capping or head movement restriction is not performed when power acquisition is started, capping or head movement restriction is performed when power acquisition is started, and In comparison, since capping or head movement restriction is performed in a shorter time after the recording process is completed, the occurrence of defective ejection is suppressed, and the recording throughput is improved.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. 3A is a plan view of the carriage 23 and the guide rails 43 and 44, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the maintenance mechanism 70, where FIG. 4A shows a state in which the cap 71 is arranged at the uncapped position, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the cap 71 is arranged at the cap position. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the maintenance mechanism 70. 6A and 6B are schematic views of the port switching mechanism 90 as viewed from the bottom, where FIG. 6A shows a Bk suction state, FIG. 6B shows a Co suction state, and FIG. 6C shows an unlock state. 7A and 7B are perspective views of the switching mechanism 170, in which FIG. 7A shows a state where the switching lever 176 is disposed at the first position, FIG. 7B shows a state where the switching lever 176 is disposed at the second position, and FIG. ) Shows a state in which the switching lever 176 is arranged at the third position. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the printer unit 11. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of power-on processing. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of normal processing. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of normal processing according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the direction from the starting point of the arrow to the ending point is expressed as a direction. Further, the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5 are defined on the basis of the state in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed so as to be usable (state in FIG. 1), and the side on which the opening 13 is formed is the front side (front side). 6 and a rear direction 7 are defined, and a left direction 8 and a right direction 9 are defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

[Overall configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction machine 10 includes a printer unit 11 that records an image on a sheet 12 (see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method, a display unit 14, an operation unit 17, and a power supply unit 81 at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feeding unit 15, a feeding tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a transport roller unit 54, a recording unit 24, a discharge roller unit 55, and a platen 42. It has. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multifunction machine 10 is an example of an ink jet recording apparatus.

[Feed tray 20, discharge tray 21]
As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding tray 20 is inserted and removed by the user in the forward direction 6 and the backward direction 7 through an opening 13 formed in the front surface of the printer unit 11. The feeding tray 20 can support a plurality of stacked sheets 12. The discharge tray 21 is disposed on the upper side of the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller unit 55 through the opening 13 formed on the front surface.

[Feeding unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported on the leading end side of the feeding arm 26. The feed roller 25 rotates (hereinafter referred to as “forward rotation”) in a direction in which the paper 12 is transported in the first transport direction 16A by the reverse rotation of the transport motor 102 (see FIG. 8). The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported on a shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The feeding arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or an elastic force by a spring or the like.

[Conveyance path 65]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 65 indicates a space formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that are partially opposed to each other at a predetermined interval inside the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path extending from the rear end portion of the feeding tray 20 to the rear side of the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path that makes a U-turn while extending upward from below on the rear side of the printer unit 11 and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the recording unit 24. In the conveyance path 65, the conveyance direction of the paper 12 from the feeding tray 20 side to the discharge tray 21 side is defined as a first conveyance direction 16A. That is, the first transport direction 16A and the second transport direction 16B are opposite to each other, as indicated by a dashed line arrow in FIG.

[Conveying roller unit 54]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller unit 54 is disposed on the upstream side in the first transport direction 16 </ b> A from the recording unit 24. The conveyance roller unit 54 includes a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that face each other. The conveyance roller 60 is driven by the conveyance motor 102. The pinch roller 61 is rotated along with the rotation of the conveyance roller 60. The sheet 12 is nipped between a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that are normally rotated by the normal rotation of the conveyance motor 102 and is conveyed in the first conveyance direction 16A.

[Discharge roller section 55]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller unit 55 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction 16A. The discharge roller unit 55 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 that face each other. The discharge roller 62 is driven by the transport motor 102. The spur 63 is rotated along with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. The sheet 12 is sandwiched between the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 that rotate forward by the forward rotation of the transport motor 102 and is transported in the first transport direction 16A.

[Platen 42]
As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 42 is disposed between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first transport direction 16A. The platen 42 is disposed so as to face the recording unit 24 in the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5, and supports the sheet 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller unit 54 from below.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first conveyance direction 16 </ b> A. The recording unit 24 is disposed so as to face the platen 42 in the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23, a recording head 39, and an encoder sensor 38A. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, an ink tube 32 and a flexible flat cable 33 are extended from the carriage 23. The ink tube 32 supplies ink of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable 33 connects the control board on which the control unit 130 is mounted and the recording head 39.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43 and 44 that extend in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9 at positions spaced apart in the front direction 6 and the rear direction 7, respectively. Yes. The guide rails 43 and 44 are supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. This belt mechanism is driven by a carriage motor 103 (see FIG. 8). That is, the carriage 23 reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the left direction 8 and the right direction 9 via the belt mechanism that moves circumferentially by driving the carriage motor 103.

  The recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23 as shown in FIG. A plurality of nozzles 40 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 ejects ink from the nozzle 40 as fine ink droplets. In the process of moving the carriage 23, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 12 supported by the platen 42. As a result, an image is recorded on the paper 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 44 is provided with a belt-like encoder strip 38 </ b> B extending in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9. The encoder sensor 38A is mounted on the carriage 23. The encoder sensor 38 </ b> A and the encoder strip 38 </ b> B are arranged at positions facing each other in the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5. In the process of moving the carriage 23, the encoder sensor 38 </ b> A reads the encoder strip 38 </ b> B to generate a pulse signal, and outputs the generated pulse signal to the control unit 130. The encoder sensor 38A and the encoder strip 38B constitute the carriage sensor 38 shown in FIG.

[Display unit 14]
The display unit 14 includes a display screen that displays information to be notified to the user as a message or an animation. Although the specific configuration of the display unit 14 is not particularly limited, for example, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or the like can be employed.

[Operation unit 17]
The operation unit 17 is an input interface that receives an instruction input to the multifunction machine 10 from a user. The specific configuration of the operation unit 17 is not particularly limited. For example, the operation unit 17 may include a plurality of push buttons, or may include a touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 14 as illustrated in FIG. You may do it. The operation unit is an example of an acquisition unit.

  The operation unit 17 has a power button 83. The power button 83 is a button for receiving a power-on instruction and a power-off instruction. When the power button 83 is pressed while power is being supplied from the power supply unit 81 to the control unit 130 and the power button 83, the power supply unit 81 supplies power to the entire MFP 10. When it is accepted that the power button 83 has been pressed in a state where power is supplied from the power supply unit 81 to the entire multifunction device 10, after performing a predetermined end operation, the power supply unit 81 controls the control unit 130. In addition, the power supply unit 81 is controlled so that power supply to other than the power button 83 is stopped. The power button 83 is an example of a soft switch.

[Power supply unit 81]
The power supply unit 81 is connected to an AC 100V power source, converts the voltage of power supplied from the AC 100V power source into a predetermined DC voltage, and supplies the DC voltage to each unit of the multifunction machine 10. The AC 100V power source is an example of a power source.

[Communication unit 87]
The communication unit 87 is an interface for communicating with an external device through a communication network. The multifunction machine 10 acquires a print job or fax data from an information processing apparatus which is an external apparatus such as a PC (personal computer) through the communication unit 87. The communication unit is an example of an acquisition unit.

[Maintenance mechanism 70]
The multifunction machine 10 further includes a maintenance mechanism 70 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3A, the maintenance mechanism 70 is located on the right side from a range (hereinafter, referred to as “passing area”) through which the paper 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 passes. It is placed at a position that is off. The passing area is an area where the recording head 39 and the paper 12 on the platen 42 can face each other.

  The maintenance mechanism 70 includes a cap 71, a lift-up mechanism 73, a contact lever 76, a pump 77 (see FIGS. 5 and 8), and a port switching mechanism 90. The maintenance mechanism 70 performs a purge operation for sucking ink and air in the nozzles 40 and foreign matters adhering to the nozzle formation surface (hereinafter collectively referred to as “ink etc.”). The ink and the like removed by suction by the maintenance mechanism 70 is stored in the drainage tank 110 (see FIGS. 3B and 5).

  The cap 71 is made of rubber. The cap 71 is disposed at a position facing the carriage 23 located at the storage position on the right side of the passage area. The cap 71 faces the recording head 39 of the carriage 23 that is in contact with the switching lever 176 (described later) at the second position and the third position shown in FIG. The cap 71 is configured to be movable between a cap position that covers a nozzle forming surface (referred to as “the surface on which the nozzles 40 of the recording head 39 are formed”) and an uncap position that is separated from the nozzle forming surface. Yes. The cap 71 is an example of a moving object. The cap position is an example of a contact position. The uncapping position is an example of a separation position.

  The inside of the cap 71 is partitioned into a Bk cap and a Co cap. The Bk cap covers a region where the nozzle for discharging the black ink is formed and forms a sealed space between the region. The Co cap covers an area where nozzles for discharging color ink are formed and forms a sealed space between the area. The Bk cap is connected to a Bk port 95 described later, and the Co cap is connected to a Co port 96 described later.

  The pump 77 is, for example, a rotary tube pump. The pump 77 forms a flow of fluid (such as ink or air) from the suction port 77A to the discharge port 77B shown in FIG. On the other hand, the forward driving force of the transport motor 102 is not transmitted to the pump 77. A port switching mechanism 90 is connected to the distal end of the tube 91A extending from the suction port 77A. A cap 71 is connected to the distal end of the tube 91 </ b> B extended from the port switching mechanism 90. That is, the cap 71 and the suction port 77A communicate with each other through the tubes 91A and 91B and the port switching mechanism 90. On the other hand, the drainage tank 110 is connected to the tip of the tube 91C extended from the discharge port 77B.

  The lift-up mechanism 73 includes a link 74 as shown in FIG. By rotating the link 74 in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 23, the holder 75 is moved between the position shown in FIG. 4A and the position shown in FIG. The holder 75 holds a cap 71 and a contact lever 76 protruding vertically upward. The contact lever 76 extends in the upward direction 4 up to the moving range of the carriage 23. The lift-up mechanism 73 is an example of a moving mechanism.

  The carriage 23 that moves in the right direction 9 presses the contact lever 76 and moves it in the right direction 9. The holder 75 that holds the contact lever 76 rises in conjunction with the movement of the contact lever 76 in the right direction 9 and moves the cap 71 to the cap position. On the other hand, the carriage 23 moved in the left direction 8 is separated from the contact lever 76. The contact lever 76 separated from the carriage 23 moves in the left direction 8. Then, the holder 75 descends in conjunction with the movement of the contact lever 76 in the left direction 8, and moves the cap 71 to the uncapped position. Hereinafter, a state where the cap 71 is in the cap position (see FIG. 4B) is referred to as a “cap state”, and a state where the cap 71 is in the uncapped position (see FIG. 4A) is referred to as an “uncapped state”. May be written.

[Port switching mechanism 90]
The port switching mechanism 90 switches the communication state between the cap 71 and the pump 77. As shown in FIG. 6, the port switching mechanism 90 includes a cylinder 99 having a bottomed cylindrical body and a columnar rotating body 92 disposed inside the cylinder 99. An intake port 93, a Bk port 95, a Co port 96, and atmospheric ports 97 and 98 are formed in the cylinder 99. Specifically, the port switching mechanism 90 is in a Bk suction state shown in FIG. 6 (A), a Co suction state shown in FIG. 6 (B), and an unlocked state shown in FIG. 6 (C). Switching is possible.

  The intake port 93 is formed on the bottom wall of the cylinder 99. The other four ports 95 to 98 are formed on the side wall of the cylinder 99 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The Bk port 95 communicates with the internal space of the Bk cap via the tube 91B. The Co port 96 communicates with the internal space of the Co cap via the tube 91B. Atmospheric ports 97 and 98 are open to the atmosphere. One end of the tube 91 </ b> A is connected to the intake port 93, and the other end is connected to the suction port 77 </ b> A of the pump 77.

  The rotating body 92 rotates inside the cylinder 99 by the forward rotation of the transport motor 102 (in this embodiment, rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6). As the rotating body 92 rotates inside the cylinder 99, the communication states of the ports 93 and 95 to 98 formed in the cylinder 99 are alternately changed. On the other hand, the reverse driving force of the conveyance motor 102 is not transmitted to the rotating body 92. The Bk suction state shown in FIG. 6A is a state where the intake port 93 communicates with the Bk port 95. The Co suction state shown in FIG. 6B is a state where the intake port 93 communicates with the Co port 96. The unlocked state shown in FIG. 6C is a state where the intake port 93 communicates with the Bk port 95, the Co port 96, and the atmospheric port 98.

  Further, the maintenance mechanism 70 includes a lock portion that fixes the carriage 23 at a position facing the cap 71. The lock portion includes a lock pin 85 (see FIG. 8) that can move in the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5 as the rotating body 92 rotates. The lock pin 85 is configured to be movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The lock position is a position where the lock pin 85 is raised so as to enter the recess formed in the carriage 23 and restrict the movement of the carriage 23 in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9. The unlock position is a position where the lock pin 85 is lowered to allow the carriage 23 to move in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9 apart from the carriage 23. The lock pin 85 is an example of a body to be moved. Hereinafter, a state in which the lock pin 85 is located at the lock position may be referred to as a “lock state”. The lock pin 85 is an example of a restricting member. The lock position is an example of a contact position and a restriction position. The unlock position is an example of a separation position and a non-regulating position.

  When the pump 77 is driven in the Bk suction state shown in FIG. 6A, the ink or the like in the Bk cap is discharged to the drainage tank 110 through the tubes 91 </ b> A to 91 </ b> C, the port switching mechanism 90, and the pump 77. When the port switching mechanism 90 is in the Bk suction state, the lock pin 85 is disposed at the lock position. Further, when the pump 77 is driven in the Co suction state shown in FIG. 6B, the ink and the like in the Co cap are discharged to the drainage tank 110 through the tubes 91 </ b> A to 91 </ b> C, the port switching mechanism 90, and the pump 77. When the port switching mechanism 90 is in the Co suction state, the lock pin 85 is disposed at the lock position. Furthermore, the unlocked state shown in FIG. 6C is a state in which the above-described lock pin 85 is arranged at the unlocked position.

[Driving force transmission mechanism 104]
A driving force transmission mechanism 104 shown in FIG. 8 transmits the driving force of the conveyance motor 102 to the feeding roller 25, the conveyance roller 60, the discharge roller 62, and the maintenance mechanism 70. The driving force transmission mechanism 104 is configured by combining all or part of a gear, a pulley, an endless annular belt, a planetary gear mechanism (pendulum gear mechanism), a one-way clutch, and the like. Further, the driving force transmission mechanism 104 includes a switching mechanism 170 that switches a transmission destination of the driving force of the transport motor 102.

[Switching mechanism 170]
The switching mechanism 170 is configured to be switchable between a first drive state and a second drive state. The first driving state is a state in which the driving force of the conveying motor 102 transmitted through the conveying roller 60 is transmitted to the feeding roller 25 and not transmitted to the maintenance mechanism 70. The second driving state is a state in which the driving force of the transport motor 102 transmitted through the transport roller 60 is transmitted to the maintenance mechanism 70 without being transmitted to the feeding roller 25. As shown in FIG. 3A, the switching mechanism 170 is provided on the right side of the platen 42 (that is, the position deviated to the right from the passage region). As shown in FIG. 7, the switching mechanism 170 includes a switching gear 171, two receiving gears 172 </ b> A and 172 </ b> D, a holding portion 173, a pressing member 175, a switching lever 176, and a guide portion 177.

  The switching gear 171 can rotate about the support shaft 174 and can move along the axial direction of the support shaft 174 (that is, the left direction 8 and the right direction 9). The support shaft 174 is held by the maintenance mechanism 70. The driving force of the conveyance motor 102 is transmitted to the switching gear 171 through the conveyance roller 60. The receiving gears 172A and 172D can rotate coaxially along the left direction 8 and the right direction 9 on the lower side of the support shaft 174, and can be engaged with the switching gear 171. That is, the switching gear 171 meshes with one of the receiving gears 172A and 172D by moving in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9. The receiving gear 172 </ b> A is a gear that transmits the driving force of the transport motor 102 to the feeding roller 25. On the other hand, the receiving gear 172 </ b> D is a gear that transmits the driving force of the transport motor 102 to the maintenance mechanism 70.

  The pressing member 175 is disposed on the right side of the switching gear 171 and is inserted through the support shaft 174 so as to be slidable in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9. The switching lever 176 protrudes upward 4 from the pressing member 175 and extends to the movement path of the carriage 23 through the holding portion 173. The switching gear 171 is urged in the right direction 9 by the first spring, and the pressing member 175 is urged in the left direction 8 by the second spring. Further, the biasing force of the second spring is larger than the biasing force of the first spring. As a result, the switching gear 171 and the pressing member 175 shown in FIG. 7 are urged in the left direction 8.

  When the switching lever 176 is held by the holding portion 173 at the first position shown in FIG. 7A, the switching gear 171 meshes with the receiving gear 172A. The switching lever 176 in contact with the carriage 23 that moves in the right direction 9 moves the pressing member 175 to the right. At this time, the switching gear 171 moves in the right direction 9 with the movement of the pressing member 175 by the biasing force of the first spring. When the switching lever 176 is located at the second position shown in FIG. 7B, the switching gear 171 meshes with the receiving gear 172D.

  Further, the switching lever 176 moved to the third position shown in FIG. 7C by the carriage 23 and separated from the carriage 23 is moved to the first position shown in FIG. 7A by the urging force of the second spring. Return. In addition, since the switching lever 176 that moves from the third position to the first position is guided by the guide portion 177, the holding portion 173 does not prevent the return to the first position. The second position is a position farther from the passage area than the first position, and the third position is a position farther from the passage area than the first position and the second position.

  Further, the switching gear 171 does not move in the right direction 9 from the meshing position with the receiving gear 172D shown in FIG. That is, when the switching lever 176 is disposed at the second position and the third position, the switching gear 171 and the pressing member 175 are separated from each other. Further, the switching gear 171 is pressed by the pressing member 175 returning from the third position to the first position together with the switching lever 176, and moves to the meshing position with the receiving gear 172A shown in FIG.

  In a state where the switching gear 171 and the receiving gear 172A are engaged with each other (that is, in the first driving state shown in FIG. 7A), the driving force transmission mechanism 104 applies the driving force of the transport motor 102 to the feeding roller 25. And not to the maintenance mechanism 70. On the other hand, in a state where the switching gear 171 and the receiving gear 172D are meshed (that is, in the second driving state shown in FIG. 7B), the driving force transmission mechanism 104 uses the driving force of the transport motor 102 as a maintenance mechanism. 70 and not to the feeding roller 25.

  In addition, the driving force transmission mechanism 104 in which the switching mechanism 170 is in the first driving state does not transmit the forward driving force of the transport motor 102 to the feed roller 25, but rotates the feed roller 25 forward by the reverse rotation of the transport motor 102. Let In addition, the driving force transmission mechanism 104 in which the switching mechanism 170 is in the second driving state rotates the rotating body 92 by the normal rotation of the transport motor 102 and drives the pump 77 by the reverse rotation of the transport motor 102. These can be realized by a one-way clutch, a pendulum gear mechanism, an electromagnetic clutch mechanism, or the like provided in a driving force transmission path between the conveyance motor 102, the feeding roller 25, the rotating body 92, and the pump 77. Further, the discharge roller 62 is connected to the transport roller 60 via a belt or the like. That is, the transport roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 in the present embodiment rotate forward by the forward rotation of the transport motor 102 and reversely rotate by the reverse rotation of the transport motor 102 regardless of the state of the switching mechanism 170.

  Both the contact lever 76 of the maintenance mechanism 70 and the switching lever 176 of the switching mechanism 170 are moved by being pressed by the carriage 23 located to the right of the passage region. When the switching lever 176 is located at the first position shown in FIG. 7A (in other words, when the carriage 23 is separated from the switching lever 176 and the contact lever 76), the contact lever 76 is 4 (A). At this time, the cap 71 is located at the uncapping position. Further, the carriage 23 that contacts the switching lever 176 at the third position shown in FIG. 7C moves the contact lever 76 to the position shown in FIG. 4B. The cap 71 at this time is located at the cap position. Furthermore, the carriage 23 that contacts the switching lever 176 in the second position shown in FIG. 7B moves the contact lever 76 to a position between FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. At this time, the cap 71 is located at the uncapping position.

[Control unit 130]
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 130 includes a CPU 131, a ROM 132, a RAM 133, an EEPROM 134, and an ASIC 135, which are connected by an internal bus 137. The ROM 132 stores a program for the CPU 131 to control various operations. The RAM 133 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data and signals used when the CPU 131 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 134 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off. The ROM 132, the RAM 133, and the EEPROM 134 are examples of a storage unit.

  A transport motor 102 and a carriage motor 103 are connected to the ASIC 135. The ASIC 135 generates a drive signal for rotating each motor, and controls each motor based on this drive signal. Each motor rotates normally or reversely according to a drive signal from the ASIC 135. For example, the control unit 130 controls the driving of the transport motor 102 to drive the rollers 25, 60 and 62 or the maintenance mechanism 70. The control unit 130 controls the recording head 39 to eject ink from the nozzles 40. In addition, the control unit 130 displays a message or animation on the display unit 14.

  In addition, a carriage sensor 38 is connected to the ASIC 135. The control unit 130 detects the position of the carriage 23 based on the pulse signal output from the carriage sensor 38. In addition, the control unit 130 acquires various instructions from the user through the operation unit 17. Further, the control unit 130 controls the drive of the carriage motor 103 via the ASIC 135 based on the detected position of the carriage 23 to reciprocate the carriage 23.

  The EEPROM 134 stores a maintenance time, an abnormal end counter, an abnormal end flag, a normal end flag, a normal end counter, and an acquisition number counter.

  The maintenance time is the time from the end of the recording process related to the recording instruction to the start of the capping process. As an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10, for example, a first time, for example, 5 seconds is stored as the maintenance time.

  The abnormal end counter is a counter indicating the number of times of abnormal end following the normal end of the multifunction device 10. The normal end means that the power supply to the multifunction machine 10 is stopped after the locked state. Abnormal termination means that the power supply to the multifunction machine 10 is stopped before the locked state (that is, when the unlocked state remains). For example, 0 is stored in the abnormal end counter as an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10.

  The abnormal end flag is a flag that is turned on when it is determined that the power supply to the multi-function device 10 has been shut off before the capping process is completed when the multi-function device 10 was previously terminated. For example, OFF is stored in the abnormal end flag as an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10. The normal end flag is a flag that is turned on when it is determined that the power supply to the multi-function device 10 has been cut off after the capping process has been completed when the multi-function device 10 was previously terminated. For example, ON is stored in the normal end flag as an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10.

  The normal end counter is a counter that indicates the number of times that the multifunction device 10 has been normally terminated after the normal termination at the next stop after abnormal termination. For example, 0 is stored in the normal end counter as an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10. The acquisition number counter is a counter that indicates the number of times that the next recording instruction is given during a predetermined time described later. For example, 0 is stored in the acquisition number counter as an initial value at the time of shipment of the multifunction machine 10.

[Processing at power-on]
With reference to FIG. 9, the power-on process in the present embodiment will be described. This power-on process is executed by the CPU 131 of the control unit 130. The following processes may be executed by the CPU 131 reading out and executing a program stored in the ROM 132, or may be realized by a hardware circuit mounted on the control unit 130.

  The control unit 130 executes the power-on process shown in FIG. 9 in response to the power being supplied to the multifunction machine 10. Turning on the power to the multifunction device 10 indicates the following two cases. The first is a case where a power-on instruction by the power button 83 is received in a state where the power plug is inserted into the outlet. Second, in a state where power is supplied to the multifunction device 10, the power supply to the multifunction device 10 is stopped by removing the power plug from the outlet without performing the shutdown process described later, The case where the power plug is inserted into the outlet is shown.

  First, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the carriage 23 is in a locked state (S11). Specifically, the control unit 130 operates the carriage motor 103 to move the carriage 23 in order to determine whether the carriage 23 is in a locked state. At this time, the control unit 130 determines whether the carriage 23 has moved based on a signal input from the carriage sensor 38. When the carriage 23 has moved, the control unit 130 determines that the carriage 23 is not locked (S11: No). If the carriage 23 has not been moved, the control unit 130 determines that the carriage 23 is in a locked state (S11: Yes). For example, a dimension obtained by subtracting the width of the lock pin 85 from the width in the left direction 8 and the right direction 9 of the recess formed in the carriage 23 for the lock pin 85 to enter, that is, the lock pin 85 moves in the left direction in the recess. It is assumed that the distance that can be moved in 8 and the right direction 9 is 10 enc (encoder). 1 enc corresponds to a predetermined rotation angle in the rotation of the carriage motor 103. Accordingly, 1enc represents a predetermined moving distance of the carriage 23. In this case, the control unit 130 determines that the carriage 23 is in the locked state when the movement of the carriage 23 is stopped within 10 enc, and determines that the carriage 23 is in the unlocked state when the carriage 23 moves 10 enc or more. If the carriage 23 is in the locked state, it indicates that it is in the capped state, and if the carriage 23 is not in the locked state, it indicates that it is not in the capped state. The process of step S11 is an example of a determination process.

  When it is determined that the carriage 23 is not in the locked state (S11: No), the control unit 130 turns on the abnormal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 (S12). Then, the control unit 130 causes the EEPROM 134 to store a value obtained by incrementing the value of the abnormal end counter stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the abnormal end counter (S13). The process of step S13 is an example of a count process. Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the value of the abnormal end counter is equal to or greater than a threshold, for example, 10 (S14). When the value of the abnormal end counter is less than the threshold, for example, 9 or less (S14: No), the control unit 130 determines whether or not the value of the abnormal end counter is a predetermined value, for example, a multiple of two (S15). .

  When the value of the abnormal end counter is a predetermined value, for example, a multiple of 2 (S15: Yes), the control unit 130 decreases the first value within a range that does not become a negative value from the maintenance time value stored in the EEPROM 134. A value obtained by reducing the width, for example, 1 second is stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new maintenance time (S16). The new maintenance time is an example of the second time. The process of step S16 is an example of a change process.

  Then, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the value of the acquisition number counter stored in the EEPROM 134 is a predetermined number of times, for example, 5 or more (S17). When the value of the acquisition number counter is a predetermined number of times, for example, 5 or more (S17: Yes), the control unit 130 sets the maintenance time value stored in the EEPROM 134 to a predetermined number of seconds within a range not exceeding 5 seconds. The value is increased by 1 second and stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new maintenance time (S18), and the power-on process is terminated. The process of step S18 is an example of a change process. When the value of the acquisition number counter is less than the predetermined number of times, for example, 4 or less (S17: No), the control unit 130 ends the power-on process without changing the maintenance time (step S18 is skipped).

  In the process of step S15, when the value of the abnormal end counter is not a predetermined value, for example, a multiple of 2 (S15: No), the control unit 130 does not change the maintenance time (skip of step S16) and performs the process of step S17. Execute.

  In the process of step S14, when the value of the abnormal end counter is equal to or greater than a threshold value, for example, 10 or greater (S14: Yes), the control unit 130 is a range that does not become a negative value from the maintenance time value stored in the EEPROM 134. Then, a second reduction width larger than the first reduction width, for example, a value obtained by reducing 5 seconds is stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new maintenance time (S19), and the process proceeds to step S17. The new maintenance time is an example of a second time. The process of step S19 is an example of a change process.

  When it is determined in step S11 that the carriage 23 is in the locked state (S11: Yes), the control unit 130 determines whether or not the abnormal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 is turned on ( S20). When it is determined that the abnormal end flag is turned on (S20: Yes), the control unit 130 stores an initial value, for example, 0, in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the abnormal end counter stored in the EEPROM 134 ( S21). Then, the control unit 130 turns on the normal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 (S22). Further, the control unit 130 stores an initial value, for example, 0, in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the normal end counter stored in the EEPROM 134 (S23). Then, the control unit 130 turns off the abnormal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 (S24), and executes the process of step S17.

  In the process of step S20, when the abnormal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 is not turned on (S20: No), the control unit 130 skips the processes of steps S21 to S24 and executes the process of step S17. To do.

[Normal processing]
With reference to FIG. 10, the normal process in this embodiment is demonstrated. The normal process is repeatedly executed while the multifunction device 10 is powered on.

  The control unit 130 determines whether a recording instruction has been acquired (S41). The acquisition destination of the recording instruction is not particularly limited. For example, the recording instruction may be acquired through the operation unit 17 included in the multifunction machine 10 or may be acquired from an external device through a communication network. When the recording instruction is acquired (S41: Yes), the control unit 130 executes a recording process (S42). The control unit 130 controls the operations of the rollers 25, 60, and 62, the carriage 23, and the recording head 39 according to the recording instruction acquired in step S41, and executes image recording on the paper 12.

  After the recording process (S42) is completed, the control unit 130 starts measuring time (S43). Then, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the time when the time measurement is started in step S43 has passed the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 (S44). On the other hand, when the recording instruction is not acquired in the process of step S41 (S41: No), the control unit 130 executes the process of step S44.

  When the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 has elapsed in the process of step S44 (S44: Yes), the control unit 130 determines whether or not the lock process has been completed (S45). In the lock process, the control unit 130 controls the transport motor 102 to rotate the rotating body 92. As a result, the lock pin 85 is moved to the lock position, and the lock state is established. The lock process is completed when the lock state is reached. When the lock process is not completed (S45: No), the control unit 130 executes the capping process (S46). Specifically, the control unit 130 controls the carriage motor 103 to move the carriage 23 to the storage position. As a result, the cap 71 is moved to the cap position. The capping process is an example of a movement process. And the control part 130 performs a lock process (S47). The capping process (S46) is not executed until the maintenance time has elapsed (S44: Yes) by the determination process in the process of step S44. Thereby, when the recording instruction is acquired before the maintenance time has elapsed (S41: Yes), the image recording can be started without uncapping the nozzle 40. Therefore, the start time of image recording can be advanced.

  Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the next recording instruction has been acquired within a predetermined time (S48). The predetermined time is, for example, a time that starts when a recording instruction is acquired and ends when a first time, for example, 5 seconds elapses after the recording process ends. Also, for example, it is a time that is started when capping is executed after the recording process is completed, and is ended when a first time, for example, 5 seconds elapses after the recording process is completed. Further, the maintenance time used in the process of step S44 may be the first time. In this case, the maintenance time is, for example, 5 seconds.

  When it is determined that the next recording instruction has been acquired within the predetermined time (S48: Yes), the control unit 130 uses the incremented value of the acquisition number counter stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new acquisition number counter. The data is stored in the EEPROM 134 (S49). The process of step S49 is an example of an acquisition number counting process. Then, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the power button 83 is turned off (S50).

  If the maintenance time has not elapsed in step S44 (S44: No), control unit 130 skips steps S45 to S49 and executes step S50. When the lock process is completed in the process of step S45 (S45: Yes), the control unit 130 skips the processes of steps S46 to S49 and executes the process of step S50. When the next recording instruction has not been acquired within the predetermined time in the process of step S48 (S48: No), the control unit 130 does not increment the acquisition number counter (skip step S49) and performs the process of step S50. Execute.

  If it is determined in step S50 that the power button has been turned off (S50: Yes), the controller 130 determines whether the carriage 23 is locked (S51). The process of step S51 is the same as the process of step S11 in the power-on process shown in FIG. The process of step S51 is an example of a determination process. When it is determined that the carriage 23 is not locked (S51: No), the control unit 130 executes a capping process (S52). The process in step S52 is the same as the process in step S46. And the control part 130 performs a lock process (S53). The process in step S53 is the same as the process in step S47.

  And the control part 130 performs a shutdown process (S54). In the shutdown process, for example, when data that needs to be stored is stored in the RAM 133, the data is stored in the EEPROM 134, and then the supply of power to each unit other than the control unit 130 and the power button 83 is stopped. It is a process to make. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S51 that the carriage 23 is locked (S51: Yes), the control unit 130 skips the capping process and the locking process (S52 and S53 are skipped), and executes the shutdown process. (S54).

  After executing the shutdown process, the control unit 130 stores the incremented value of the normal end counter stored in the EEPROM 134 in the EEPROM 134 as a new normal end counter value (S55). The process in step S55 is an example of a normal end count process. Then, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the value of the normal end counter stored in the EEPROM 134 is a predetermined number of times, for example, 3 (S56). When the value of the normal end counter is a predetermined number of times, for example, 3 (S56: Yes), the control unit 130 turns off the normal end flag stored in the EEPROM 134 (S57).

  Then, the control unit 130 stores the first time, for example, 5 seconds in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 (S58), and ends the normal processing. The process of step S58 is an example of a change process. In step S56, when the value of the normal end counter is not a predetermined number of times (S56: No), the control unit 130 does not change the normal end flag and does not change the maintenance time (skipping step S55 and step S56). Normal processing ends.

  In step S50, when it is determined that the power button 83 is not turned off (S50: No), the control unit 130 ends the normal process.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
When the multifunction machine 10 is stopped, before the capping is completed, if the user stops the power supply by unplugging the power plug from the outlet or the like, the next time power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started, The cap 71 is not in the cap position (in other words, the uncapped state). If the uncapped state does not occur when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started, the nozzle 40 is capped by the cap 71 after the first time has elapsed since the recording process was completed. When the acquisition of power by the power supply unit 81 is started and the case where it was in the uncapped state is at least once, the second time shorter than the first time has elapsed since the recording process was completed. Thereafter, the nozzle 40 is capped.

  As a result, before the capping is completed, if the user stops the MFP 10 by removing the power plug from the outlet, the nozzle 40 is capped at an earlier time. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the nozzle 40 is capped when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped. Therefore, drying of the nozzle 40 is suppressed. When the next recording instruction is received after the recording process is completed and before a predetermined time has elapsed, the next recording process is executed without capping. Therefore, it is possible to improve the printing throughput within a range where no ejection failure occurs.

  The controller 130 counts the number of times it is determined that the cap 71 is not at the cap position by incrementing the abnormal end counter. Then, every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of the predetermined value, the control unit 130 causes the EEPROM 134 to store a time shorter than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 as a maintenance time. Thereby, when the acquisition of power by the power supply unit 81 is started and there are a plurality of times of being in the uncapped state, when the number of times of the uncapped state is larger, the recording process is completed. The nozzle 40 is capped in a short time. Therefore, when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped, the possibility that the nozzle 40 is capped is further increased.

  When the value of the abnormal end counter is less than the threshold, the control unit 130 increases the predetermined first decrease from the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of the predetermined value. The subtracted value is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. On the other hand, when the value of the abnormal end counter is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 130 increases the first decrease width from the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of a predetermined value. A value obtained by subtracting the larger second reduction width is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time.

  As a result, if it is often in the uncapped state when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started, the time until the capping is performed after the recording process is completed is significantly shortened. This further increases the possibility that the nozzle 40 will be capped when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped.

  The control unit 130 counts the number of times that the recording instruction is acquired within a predetermined time after the recording process related to the recording instruction is started, using an acquisition number counter. For example, when the control unit 130 receives a copy start instruction from the operation unit 17 and receives a print job or a fax via the communication unit 87, the control unit 130 counts the number of times the recording instruction is acquired. Then, when the value of the acquisition number counter reaches a predetermined number of times, the control unit 130 causes the EEPROM 134 to store a time longer than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time.

  It is preferable that capping is not performed when the next recording instruction is received during execution of the recording process, or when the next recording instruction is received within a predetermined relatively short time after the end of the recording process. Therefore, the number of times the recording instruction is acquired within a predetermined time after the recording process is started (that is, from when the recording process is started until the relatively short time elapses after the recording process is completed). Is reached a predetermined number of times, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time. As a result, when the recording process is continuously performed, the possibility of capping being reduced.

  After the recording process related to the recording instruction is started and between the time when the recording instruction is acquired and the time when the first time elapses after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed. When the next recording instruction is acquired, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time. In addition, the next recording instruction is acquired from the time when the capping is executed after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed to the time when the first time elapses after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed. If so, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time.

  When the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a predetermined plurality of values (in other words, abnormal end is performed a plurality of times), the control unit 130 stores the time shorter than the first time in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. Then, after determining that the cap 71 is not in the cap position, the control unit 130 determines whether the cap 71 is in the cap position when the MFP 10 is turned on next time. If it is determined that the position is in the position, the value of the abnormal end counter is reset to the initial value.

  Being in the uncapped state when the acquisition of power by the power supply unit 81 is started is not only when the power plug is removed by the user before capping, but also when, for example, a power failure occurs in the uncapped state Occur. When the uncapping state occurs due to a low frequency event such as a power failure, the controller 130 determines that the cap 71 is not in the cap position, and then powers on the multifunction device 10 next time. It is determined that the cap 71 is at the cap position by determining whether the cap 71 is at the cap position. When an uncapped state occurs due to such an accident, the abnormal end counter is reset to the initial value, so that the change of the maintenance time is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the maintenance time from being unnecessarily shortened.

  After determining that the cap 71 is not in the cap position, the control unit 130 determines whether the cap 71 is in the cap position when the MFP 10 is powered on next time. If it is determined that the maintenance time is in the EEPROM 134, the time longer than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. Thereby, when it is a cap state when acquisition of the electric power by the power supply part 81 is started, a maintenance time is changed into longer time. Therefore, the maintenance time becomes an appropriate value while the use of the multifunction machine 10 is repeated. In addition, the maintenance time is prevented from being shortened by an event with low occurrence frequency such as a power failure.

  When the power-off operation of the power button 83 is received, the control unit 130 controls the carriage 23 to move the cap 71 from the uncap position to the cap position. After that, when stopping the supply of power to the multifunction device 10, the control unit 130 normally ends the supply of power to the multifunction device 10 being stopped when the power-off operation of the power button 83 is accepted. Count by the counter. Then, after it is determined that the cap 71 is not in the cap position, it is determined whether or not the cap 71 is in the cap position when the MFP 10 is turned on next time. If it is determined by this determination that the cap 71 is at the cap position, then the control unit 130 stores the first time in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time when the normal end counter is counted up a predetermined number of times.

  As a result, when an instruction to stop power supply to the multifunction device 10 is received by turning off the power button 83, the power supply to the multifunction device 10 is stopped after capping. When the power supply to the multifunction device 10 is stopped after capping (hereinafter referred to as “normal end”) a predetermined number of times, the maintenance time is changed to the first time. Therefore, when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started due to an event with a low occurrence frequency such as a power failure, the maintenance time is reset to the first time when it is normally terminated for a predetermined number of times. Is done. Thereby, it is suppressed that maintenance time is shortened unnecessarily.

  The controller 130 determines that the cap 71 is in the cap position when the movement of the carriage 23 is restricted, and the cap 71 is in the uncapped position when the movement of the carriage 23 is not restricted. Is determined.

[Second Embodiment]
Instead of the normal process shown in FIG. 10, the normal process shown in FIG. 11 may be executed. The processing content of each step in the normal processing shown in FIG. 11 is the same as the processing content of each step of the normal processing shown in FIG. 11, steps having the same processing contents as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same step numbers as in FIG. Therefore, the description of the processing content of each step is omitted, and only the difference in the order of the processing steps will be described.

  In the normal process shown in FIG. 10, when the lock process is not completed after the maintenance time has elapsed in step S44 (S45: No), the capping process (S46) is executed, and then the lock process. (S47) was executed. On the other hand, in the normal process shown in FIG. 11, the capping process is executed (S46) after the recording process (S42) is completed and the timing is started (S43). That is, the capping process is performed immediately after the end of the recording process. Then, after the maintenance time has elapsed (S44: Yes), when the lock process is not completed (S45: No), the lock process (S47) is executed. In the present embodiment, the lock process is an example of a movement process.

  Further, since the capping process (S46) is executed immediately after the recording process (S42) is finished, when the power button 83 is turned off, it is already in the cap state. Therefore, when the power button 83 is turned off, the capping process is not executed and the lock process (S53) is executed.

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
When the multifunction machine 10 is stopped, if the user stops the movement of the carriage 23 by the lock pin 85 before it is stopped, for example, by removing the power plug from the outlet, When acquisition is started, the lock pin 85 is not in the locked position (in other words, unlocked). Therefore, the cap 71 may be moved by a user or the like. When the cap 71 is moved, the cap 71 is not in the cap position. If the unlock state does not occur when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started, the lock pin 85 is moved to the lock position after the first time has elapsed since the recording process was completed. If the lock pin 85 is in the unlocked position at least once when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started, the second shorter than the first time after the recording process is completed. After the time has elapsed, the lock pin 85 is moved to the lock position.

  Thus, if the user stops the multifunction machine 10 by unplugging the power plug from the outlet before the carriage pin movement restriction by the lock pin 85, the carriage 23 movement restriction is performed earlier. Will be. Therefore, when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped, the possibility that the lock pin 85 is in the locked position increases. Therefore, the movement of the carriage 23 is not restricted, so that the cap 71 is separated from the nozzle forming surface and the nozzle 40 is prevented from drying. In addition, when the next recording instruction is received before the predetermined time has elapsed after the recording process is completed, the movement restriction of the carriage 23 is not performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the lock pin 85 to the unlock position, and only the uncapping is performed and the next recording is performed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the printing throughput within a range where no ejection failure occurs.

  The control unit 130 counts the number of times it is determined that the lock pin 85 is not in the locked position by incrementing the abnormal end counter. Then, every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of a predetermined value, the control unit 130 causes the EEPROM 134 to store a time shorter than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 as a maintenance time. Thereby, when the acquisition of power by the power supply unit 81 is started and there are a plurality of times when the unlocking state has occurred, when the number of times of the unlocking state is larger, the recording process is completed. The carriage 23 is restricted from moving in a short time. Therefore, when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped, the possibility that the carriage 23 is restricted from moving is further increased.

  When the value of the abnormal end counter is less than the threshold, the control unit 130 increases the predetermined first decrease from the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of the predetermined value. The subtracted value is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. Then, when the value of the abnormal end counter is equal to or greater than the threshold, the control unit 130 calculates the first decrease from the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 every time the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a multiple of a predetermined value. A value obtained by subtracting the large second reduction width is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. As a result, if the power supply unit 81 is often in an unlocked state when the acquisition of power is started, the time until the carriage 23 is restricted after the recording process is completed is significantly shortened. This further increases the possibility that the carriage 23 is restricted in movement when the multifunction machine 10 is stopped.

  The control unit 130 counts the number of times that the recording instruction is acquired within a predetermined time after the recording process related to the recording instruction is started, using an acquisition number counter. For example, when the control unit 130 receives a copy start instruction from the operation unit 17 and receives a print job or a fax via the communication unit 87, the control unit 130 counts the number of times the recording instruction is acquired. Then, when the value of the acquisition number counter reaches a predetermined number of times, the control unit 130 causes the EEPROM 134 to store a time longer than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time.

  When the next recording instruction comes during execution of the recording process, or when the next recording instruction comes within a predetermined relatively short time after the end of the recording process, the movement of the carriage 23 is not restricted. It is preferable. Therefore, the number of times the recording instruction is acquired within a predetermined time after the recording process is started (that is, from when the recording process is started until the relatively short time elapses after the recording process is completed). Is reached a predetermined number of times, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time. As a result, when the recording process is continuously performed, the possibility that the movement of the carriage 23 is restricted is reduced.

  After the recording process related to the recording instruction is started and between the time when the recording instruction is acquired and the time when the first time elapses after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed. When the next recording instruction is acquired, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time. In addition, after the movement restriction of the carriage 23 is executed after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed, the next time from when the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed to when the first time elapses is performed. When the recording instruction is acquired, the maintenance time is changed to a longer time.

  When the value of the abnormal end counter reaches a predetermined plurality of values (in other words, abnormal end is performed a plurality of times), the control unit 130 stores the time shorter than the first time in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. Then, after determining that the lock pin 85 is not in the lock position, the control unit 130 determines whether the lock pin 85 is locked by determining whether or not the carriage 23 is locked when the power is next applied to the multifunction machine 10. If it is determined that the lock position is reached, the value of the abnormal end counter is reset to the initial value.

  The unlocked state when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started not only occurs when the user unplugs the power plug before the carriage 23 movement is restricted, but, for example, a power failure occurs in the unlocked state. It also occurs in the case of. When the unlock state occurs due to a low frequency event such as a power failure, the control unit 130 determines that the lock pin 85 is not in the locked position and then powers on the MFP 10 next time. By determining whether the carriage 23 is locked, it is determined that the lock pin 85 is in the locked position. When an unlock state occurs due to such an accident, the abnormal end counter is reset to the initial value, so that the change of the maintenance time is not affected. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the maintenance time from being unnecessarily shortened.

  After determining that the lock pin 85 is not in the lock position, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the lock pin 85 is locked by determining whether or not the carriage 23 is locked when the power is supplied to the multifunction device 10 next time. When it is determined that the current position is in the position, a longer time than the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134 is stored in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time. Thereby, when it is in a locked state when acquisition of the electric power by the power supply part 81 is started, a maintenance time is changed into longer time. Therefore, the maintenance time becomes an appropriate value while the use of the multifunction machine 10 is repeated. In addition, the maintenance time is prevented from being shortened by an event with low occurrence frequency such as a power failure.

  When the power-off operation of the power button 83 is accepted, the control unit 130 controls the port switching mechanism 90 to move the lock pin 85 from the unlock position to the lock position. Thereafter, when the control unit 130 stops the supply of power to the multifunction device 10, the normal end counter indicates that the supply of power to the multifunction device 10 is stopped by accepting the power-off operation of the power button 83. Count by. Then, after it is determined that the lock pin 85 is not in the locked position, it is determined whether or not the carriage 23 is locked when the multifunction device 10 is next powered on. If it is determined by this determination that the lock pin 85 is in the locked position, then the control unit 130 stores the first time in the EEPROM 134 as the maintenance time when the normal end counter is counted up a predetermined number of times.

  As a result, when an instruction to stop power supply to the multifunction device 10 is received by turning off the power button 83, the carriage 23 is restricted from moving, and then the power supply to the multifunction device 10 is stopped. . When the power supply to the multifunction device 10 is stopped after the carriage 23 is restricted from moving (hereinafter referred to as “normal end”) a predetermined number of times, the control unit 130 determines the maintenance time. To the first hour. Therefore, when the power acquisition by the power supply unit 81 is started due to an event with a low occurrence frequency such as a power failure, the maintenance time is reset to the first time when it is normally terminated for a predetermined number of times. Is done. Thereby, it is suppressed that maintenance time is shortened unnecessarily.

  The control unit 130 determines that the lock pin 85 is in the lock position when the movement of the carriage 23 is restricted, and the lock pin 85 is in the unlock position when the movement of the carriage 23 is not restricted. It is determined that

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, when the value of the abnormal end counter is not less than the threshold, for example, not less than 10, for example, in the process of step S14 (S14: Yes), the control unit 130 calculates the maintenance time value from the first decrease width. A large second reduction width, for example, a value obtained by reducing 5 seconds is stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new maintenance time (S19). However, instead of the processing in step S19, 0 may be stored in the EEPROM 134 as the value of the maintenance time stored in the EEPROM 134. As a result, if the value of the abnormal end counter exceeds the threshold value, the maintenance time immediately becomes zero.

  In the above-described embodiment, when it is determined in step S20 that the abnormal end flag is turned on (S20: Yes), an initial value, for example, 0 is stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the abnormal end counter. Stored (S21). Then, the normal end flag is turned on (S22), and an initial value, for example, 0 is stored in the EEPROM 134 as a new value of the normal end counter (S23). However, instead of the processing in steps S21, S22, and S23, the value obtained by increasing the maintenance time value stored in the EEPROM 134 by 1 second within a range not exceeding the first time, for example, 5 seconds, is set as the new maintenance time. May be stored. As a result, after the multifunction device 10 is abnormally terminated, when it is normally terminated at the next stop, it is highly possible that the multifunction device 10 has abnormally terminated due to a power failure or the like. Increased seconds.

  In the above-described embodiment, whether the cap 71 is in the cap position and whether the lock pin 85 is in the lock position is determined by operating the carriage motor 103 to move the carriage 23 and moving the carriage 23. Judgment by whether or not. However, for example, it may be determined whether or not the cap 71 is in the cap position by a sensor that detects whether or not the cap 71 is in the cap position. Further, whether or not the lock pin 85 is in the lock position may be determined by a sensor that detects whether or not the lock pin 85 is in the lock position.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cap 71 is moved up by the lift-up mechanism 73 in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 23 to the storage position, and the movement of the carriage 23 away from the storage position. Then, the cap 71 was lowered. However, the movement of the cap 71 between the cap position and the uncapping position is not necessarily linked to the movement of the carriage 23. For example, the cap 71 is driven by driving a motor different from the transport motor 102 and the carriage motor 103. May be moved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multifunction machine 17 ... Operation part 23 ... Carriage 39 ... Recording head 40 ... Nozzle 70 ... Maintenance mechanism 71 ... Cap 73 ... Lift-up mechanism 81 ... Power unit 83 ... Power button 85 ... Lock pin 87 ... Communication unit 90 ... Port switching mechanism 102 ... Conveyance motor 130 ... Control unit 131 ... CPU
132 ... ROM
133 ... RAM
134 ・ ・ ・ EEPROM

Claims (14)

A recording head for ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface to a recording medium;
A movable body that is moved between a contact position that contacts the recording head and a separation position that is separated from the recording head in order to maintain ink ejection performance by the recording head; and
A moving mechanism for moving the object to be moved between the contact position and the separation position;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium;
A power supply unit that obtains the power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source,
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time,
The control unit
A recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit;
When the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to the recording instruction has been completed, the movement is performed so as to move the movable body from the separated position to the contact position. Move processing to control the mechanism;
A determination process for determining whether or not the object to be moved is in the contact position when acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started;
A counting process for incrementing and counting the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination process,
Each time the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination process reaches a multiple of a predetermined value, a time shorter than the maintenance time stored in the storage unit is set as the maintenance time. An inkjet recording apparatus that executes a change process to be stored in the storage unit. The control unit
In the change process, when the number of times counted by the count process is less than a threshold value, the maintenance stored in the storage unit every time the number of times counted by the count process reaches a multiple of a predetermined value. A value obtained by subtracting a predetermined first decrease from the time is stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time, and when the number of times counted by the counting process is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the number of times counted by the counting process claim but each reaches a multiple of a predetermined value, to be stored in the storage unit a value obtained by subtracting the first decline is greater than the second reduced width from the sustain time stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time 2. An ink jet recording apparatus according to 1 . A recording head for ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface to a recording medium;
A movable body that is moved between a contact position that contacts the recording head and a separation position that is separated from the recording head in order to maintain ink ejection performance by the recording head; and
A moving mechanism for moving the object to be moved between the contact position and the separation position;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium;
A power supply unit that obtains the power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source,
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time,
The control unit
A recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit;
When the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to the recording instruction has been completed, the movement is performed so as to move the movable body from the separated position to the contact position. Move processing to control the mechanism;
A determination process for determining whether or not the object to be moved is in the contact position when acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started;
A counting process for incrementing the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination process;
When the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination process reaches a predetermined number of times, a time shorter than the first time is stored as the maintenance time in the storage unit. Execute the change process, and
If it is determined by the determination process that the moving object is in the contact position after the determination process determines that the moved object is not in the contact position, the counting process is performed. An ink jet recording apparatus in which the number of times counted by is reset to an initial value . A recording head for ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface to a recording medium;
A movable body that is moved between a contact position that is in contact with the recording head and a separation position that is separated from the recording head in order to maintain ink ejection performance by the recording head;
A moving mechanism for moving the object to be moved between the contact position and the separation position;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium;
A power supply unit that obtains the power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source,
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time,
The control unit
A recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit;
The movement so as to move the object to be moved from the separated position to the contact position when the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to the recording instruction has been completed. Move processing to control the mechanism;
A determination process for determining whether or not the object to be moved is in the contact position when acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started;
When the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination processing is at least once, the second time shorter than the first time is set as the maintenance time in the storage unit. Change process to remember,
An acquisition number counting process for counting the number of times the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit within a predetermined time after the recording process related to the recording instruction is started, and
When the number of times counted in the acquisition number counting process reaches a predetermined number, in the change process, an inkjet that causes the storage unit to store a time longer than the maintenance time stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time Recording device. In the acquisition number counting process, the control unit
The first time elapses after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed after the recording process related to the recording instruction is started and after the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the number of times the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit is counted within the predetermined time until the time when the recording is performed. In the acquisition number counting process, the control unit
Within the predetermined time from the time when the moving process is executed after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed to the time when the first time elapses after the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the number of times the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit is counted. A recording head for ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface to a recording medium;
A movable body that is moved between a contact position that contacts the recording head and a separation position that is separated from the recording head in order to maintain ink ejection performance by the recording head; and
A moving mechanism for moving the object to be moved between the contact position and the separation position;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium;
A power supply unit that obtains the power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source,
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time,
The control unit
A recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit;
When the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to the recording instruction has been completed, the movement is performed so as to move the movable body from the separated position to the contact position. Move processing to control the mechanism;
A determination process for determining whether or not the object to be moved is in the contact position when acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started;
When it is determined in the previous determination process that the movable body is in the contact position, and the number of times it is determined that the movable body is not in the contact position has reached a predetermined number of times, An ink jet recording apparatus that executes a change process in which a second time shorter than one hour is stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time. A recording head for ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles formed on the nozzle forming surface to a recording medium;
A movable body that is moved between a contact position that contacts the recording head and a separation position that is separated from the recording head in order to maintain ink ejection performance by the recording head; and
A moving mechanism for moving the object to be moved between the contact position and the separation position;
An acquisition unit for acquiring a recording instruction for recording an image on the recording medium;
A power supply unit that obtains the power supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus from an external power source,
A storage unit;
A control unit,
The storage unit stores a first time as a maintenance time,
The control unit
A recording process for controlling ejection of the recording head so as to record an image according to the recording instruction on the recording medium when the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit;
When the maintenance time stored in the storage unit has elapsed after the recording process related to the recording instruction has been completed, the movement is performed so as to move the movable body from the separated position to the contact position. Move processing to control the mechanism;
A determination process for determining whether or not the object to be moved is in the contact position when acquisition of power by the power supply unit is started;
When the number of times that the moving object is determined not to be in the contact position by the determination process is at least once, the second time shorter than the first time is set as the maintenance time in the storage unit. Change process to remember,
When the number of times the recording instruction is acquired by the acquisition unit reaches a predetermined number within a predetermined time after the recording process related to the recording instruction is started, the change process stores the recording instruction in the storage unit. An inkjet recording apparatus that stores a time longer than the maintenance time in the storage unit as the maintenance time . 9. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the movable body is a cap that moves between a contact position that contacts the recording head and covers the nozzle formation surface and a separation position that is separated from the nozzle formation surface. The ink jet recording apparatus described. The recording head is configured to move in the main scanning direction,
A regulation member that is movable between a regulation position that regulates the movement of the recording head in the storage position in the main scanning direction and a non-regulation position that does not regulate the movement of the recording head;
The moving mechanism receives the force of the recording head moving in the main scanning direction, moves the cap to the contact position when the recording head is in the storage position, and the recording head moves away from the storage position. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9 , which is a mechanism that sometimes moves the cap to the separated position. The recording head is configured to move in the main scanning direction,
A cap that moves between a cap position that covers the nozzle forming surface and an uncap position that is spaced apart from the nozzle forming surface;
The cap is moved to the cap position when the recording head is in the storage position under the force of the recording head moving in the main scanning direction, and the cap is uncapped when the recording head leaves the storage position. A mechanism for moving to a position,
The movable body is a regulating member that is movable between a contact position that regulates movement of the recording head and a separated position that does not regulate movement of the recording head when the recording head is in the storage position. And
When the recording process related to the recording instruction is completed, the moving process moves the cap from the uncap position to the cap position, and after the recording process is completed, the moving process is stored in the storage unit. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is controlled to move the regulating member from the separated position to the contact position when the maintenance time has elapsed. The control unit
In the change process, after the determination process determines that the cap or the restriction member is not in the contact position, the cap or the restriction member is in the contact position in the next determination process. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein when it is determined, the storage unit stores a time longer than the maintenance time stored in the storage unit as the maintenance time. A soft switch,
The control unit
When the operation of the soft switch is accepted, the power supply to the inkjet recording apparatus is stopped after controlling the moving mechanism to move the cap or the regulating member from the separated position to the contact position. Shutdown process
A normal end counting process for counting that the supply of power to the inkjet recording apparatus has been stopped by executing the shutdown process;
In the change process, after the determination process determines that the cap or the restriction member is not in the contact position, the cap or the restriction member is in the contact position in the next determination process. The inkjet recording according to any one of claims 9 to 12 , wherein when the normal end count process is executed a predetermined number of times, the first time is stored as the maintenance time in the storage unit. apparatus. The control unit
In the determination process, when the movement of the recording head is restricted, it is determined that the cap or the restriction member is in the contact position, and when the movement of the recording head is not restricted, the cap The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the restricting member is determined to be in the separated position.

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