JP6772762B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording device.

Patent Document 1 discloses, as an example of an image recording device, an inkjet printer including a print head that ejects ink, a recovery mechanism that recovers the ink ejection state of the print head, and a timekeeping circuit that clocks time. Has been done. In a general inkjet printer, various controls are performed based on the time measured by the timing circuit. For example, in the inkjet printer of Patent Document 1, the recovery mechanism is operated based on the measured time. .. In addition, the timekeeping circuit is provided with a battery in order to continue time counting even when the power is off, which is not supplied with power from a commercial power source.

JP-A-2007-144882

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the timekeeping circuit includes a battery, the battery runs out when the power is off for a long period of time. Therefore, after the battery runs out, the time measured by the timekeeping circuit will be inaccurate even if the power is turned on.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device capable of estimating the time even if the power is off for a long period of time.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image recording apparatus of the first invention refers to a temperature measuring unit, a temperature, and a daily transition of temperature information which is at least one of the parameters having a correlation with the temperature. A storage unit for storing temperature data, a time measuring unit for measuring time, and a control unit are provided, and the control unit acquires the temperature information based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement unit. And, based on the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process and the time measured by the time measuring unit, the measured temperature data showing the transition of the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process from a predetermined time point is obtained. A time estimation process for estimating the time based on the calculated temperature data calculation process, the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit, and the measured temperature data calculated by the temperature data calculation process, and the time estimation. Executes time-related processing related to the time estimated by the processing.

There is regularity in the daily temperature changes. Therefore, by using the reference temperature data that shows the transition of the daily temperature information stored in the storage unit and the measured temperature data that shows the transition of the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process from a predetermined time point, the time can be set. Can be estimated. As a result, processing related to the estimated time can be appropriately executed.

In the first invention, the image recording device of the second invention is a process of controlling the operation of the image recording device based on the time estimated by the time estimation process. According to this configuration, it is possible to appropriately control the operation of the image recording device based on the estimated time.

In the image recording apparatus of the third invention, in the first or second invention, the reference temperature data is a plurality of said temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of time zones obtained by dividing a day into predetermined time intervals. The control unit starts from the predetermined time point based on the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process and the time measured by the time measuring unit in the temperature data calculation process. A plurality of the temperature information corresponding to each of the plurality of measurement periods having the same time width as the predetermined time is calculated as the measured temperature data. According to this configuration, the time width of the time zone corresponding to each of the plurality of temperature information included in the reference temperature data is the same as the time width of the measurement period corresponding to each of the plurality of temperature information included in the measured temperature data. , The time estimation process based on these reference temperature data and the measured temperature data can be simplified.

In the third invention, the image recording apparatus of the fourth invention assumes that one of the plurality of time zones is a time zone of interest in the time estimation process, and the control unit assumes the attention time zone. Difference between the temperature information corresponding to the plurality of measurement periods and the temperature information corresponding to the time zones related to the plurality of measurement periods in the reference temperature data when the predetermined time point belongs to the time zone. An index relating to the quantity is calculated for each case in which each of the plurality of time zones is assumed as the attention time zone, and the index calculated when the plurality of time zones are assumed as the attention time zone indicates the index. It is presumed that the predetermined time point belongs to the time zone in which the amount of deviation is the smallest. According to this configuration, the time zone to which the predetermined time point belongs can be estimated.

In the image recording apparatus of the fifth invention, in the fourth invention, the control unit indicates the index calculated by assuming that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones in the time estimation process. If any of the deviation amounts is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the time is not estimated. If any of the deviation amounts is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is highly possible that the time cannot be estimated accurately. Therefore, in this case, the reliability of the estimation by the time estimation process can be improved by not performing the estimation.

In any one of the first to fifth inventions, the image recording apparatus of the sixth invention is estimated by the control unit by the measured temperature data calculated by the temperature data calculation process and the time estimation process. Further, an update process for updating the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit is further executed based on the time. According to this configuration, the reference temperature data becomes more accurate data, so that the time estimation accuracy in the subsequent time estimation processing can be improved.

In the image recording apparatus of the seventh invention, in any one of the first to sixth inventions, the control unit acquires the reference air temperature data from the outside and stores it in the storage unit. According to this configuration, the reference temperature data becomes more accurate data, so that the time estimation accuracy in the subsequent time estimation processing can be improved.

In the image recording apparatus of the eighth invention, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, the control unit has the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit and the temperature in the time estimation process. Based on the measured temperature data calculated by the data calculation process, the time at the predetermined time point is estimated, and then the estimated time at the predetermined time point and the time counting by the timekeeping unit between the predetermined time point and the present time. Further estimate the current time based on the time given. According to this configuration, the current time can be estimated.

In the eighth invention, the image recording apparatus of the ninth invention further includes a driving unit, and the control unit further includes a driving unit in the time-related processing based on the current time estimated by the time estimation processing. To control. According to this configuration, the drive unit can be appropriately controlled based on the estimated current time.

In the ninth aspect of the invention, the image recording apparatus of the tenth invention has a normal mode and a silent mode in which the driving sound is smaller than the normal mode as the driving mode of the driving unit. Selects whether to drive the drive unit in the drive mode of the normal mode or the silent mode based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process in the time-related process. According to this configuration, the drive mode of the drive unit can be appropriately selected based on the estimated current time.

In the eighth aspect of the invention, the image recording apparatus of the eleventh invention further includes an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium and a maintenance unit for maintaining the image recording unit, and the storage unit further includes a maintenance unit. Further stores the permission time information that defines the permission time, which is the time when the maintenance unit permits the execution of the maintenance in one day, and does the control unit require the maintenance by the maintenance unit? When the determination process for determining whether or not to perform is further executed and the determination process determines that the maintenance is necessary, the current time estimated by the time estimation process is the permitted time information stored in the storage unit. When the permitted time indicated by is reached, the maintenance process for causing the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance is executed as the time-related process. According to this configuration, maintenance by the maintenance unit can be executed at the permitted time based on the estimated current time.

In the fifth aspect of the invention, the image recording apparatus of the twelfth invention further includes an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium and a maintenance unit for maintaining the image recording unit, and the storage unit further includes a maintenance unit. Further stores the permission time information that defines the permission time, which is the time when the maintenance unit permits the execution of the maintenance in one day, and at the predetermined time point, the power is supplied from the commercial power source to the image recording device. Is switched from the power-off state in which power is not supplied to the power-on state in which power is supplied, and the control unit assumes that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones in the time estimation process. When any of the deviation amounts indicated by the indicators is less than the threshold value, it is estimated that the predetermined time point belongs to the time zone in which the deviation amount indicated by the indicators is the smallest, and this estimation and The index calculated by estimating the current time based on the time measured by the time measuring unit between the predetermined time point and the current time and assuming that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones is shown. If any of the deviation amounts is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the current time is not estimated, and the control unit executes a determination process for determining whether or not the maintenance is required by the maintenance unit. When it is determined by the determination process that the maintenance is necessary and the current time is estimated by the time estimation process, the estimated current time is indicated by the permitted time information stored in the storage unit. When the permitted time is reached, if the maintenance unit is made to perform the maintenance and the current time is not estimated by the time estimation process, the predetermined time is based on the time measured by the time measuring unit. When an integral multiple of 24 hours has elapsed from the time point, the maintenance process for causing the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance is executed as the time-related process. It is highly possible that the time when the power is switched from the power off state to the power on state is the permitted time when maintenance is permitted. Therefore, if the current time is not estimated by the time estimation process, the maintenance is executed at the permitted time by causing the maintenance unit to perform the maintenance when an integral multiple of 24 hours has elapsed from this point. It is possible to increase the possibility of

The image recording device of the thirteenth invention is the time according to any one of the first to twelfth inventions, wherein the timekeeping unit serves as an internal clock in a power-on state in which power is supplied from a commercial power source to the image recording device. When the power-off state in which power is not supplied from the commercial power supply to the image recording device is switched to the power-on state, the control unit performs the temperature information acquisition process and the temperature. The data calculation process and the time estimation process are executed. According to this configuration, the time can be estimated even when the time measuring unit cannot measure the time as an internal clock due to the power off state.

In the present invention, the time can be estimated even if the power is off for a long period of time.

It is a schematic block diagram of the inkjet printer which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the electric structure of an inkjet printer. (A) is a diagram showing reference temperature data, and (b) is a diagram showing measured temperature data. It is a figure explaining the time estimation process. It is a figure explaining the time estimation process. It is a figure explaining operation of the printer which concerns on time estimation processing. It is a figure explaining the operation of the printer which concerns on maintenance. It is a figure explaining the operation of the printer which concerns on maintenance which concerns on the modification.

The schematic configuration of the inkjet printer 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. The inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment is a printer that can be installed not only indoors but also outdoors.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes an image recording unit 2, a maintenance device 6, a user interface 90 (see FIG. 2), a temperature measurement sensor 91, a scanner unit 92 (see FIG. 2), and a power supply circuit 95 (see FIG. 2). ), And the control device 100 and the like are housed. In the following, the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is defined as "upper side" of the printer 1, and the other side of the paper surface is defined as "lower side" of the printer 1. Further, the front-back direction and the left-right direction shown in FIG. 1 are defined as the "front-back direction" and the "left-right direction" of the printer 1. Hereinafter, the front-back, left-right, and up-down directional words will be described as appropriate.

The image recording unit 2 places the platen 21, the carriage 22 capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction (hereinafter, also referred to as the scanning direction), the inkjet head 23 mounted on the carriage 22, and the recording paper P as the recording medium on a horizontal surface. A transport mechanism 24 for transporting forward (hereinafter, also referred to as a transport direction) along the line is provided.

The recording paper P is placed on the upper surface of the platen 21. Further, above the platen 21, two guide rails 25 and 26 extending in parallel with the scanning direction are provided. The carriage 22 is attached to the two guide rails 25 and 26 and can move in the scanning direction along the two guide rails 25 and 26 in the area of the platen 21 facing the recording paper P. A drive belt 41 is attached to the carriage 22. The drive belt 41 is an endless belt wound around two pulleys 42 and 43. One pulley 42 is connected to a carriage drive motor 31 (see FIG. 2). The drive belt 41 travels by rotationally driving the pulley 42 by the carriage drive motor 31, whereby the carriage 22 moves in the scanning direction.

The inkjet head 23 is attached to the lower part of the carriage 22 with a gap between the inkjet head 23 and the platen 21. The lower surface of the inkjet head 23 is an ink ejection surface (not shown) in which a plurality of nozzles 30 are opened. Further, the plurality of nozzles 30 are arranged along the transport direction to form a four-row nozzle row for ejecting four colors of ink (black, yellow, cyan, magenta), respectively. The inkjet head 23 is connected to the holder 27 by four tubes 28. As a result, the four color inks of the four ink cartridges 29 mounted on the holder 27 are supplied to the inkjet head 23 via the four tubes 28, respectively.

The inkjet head 23 has a plurality of drive elements (not shown) that apply ejection energy to the inks in the plurality of nozzles 30, and a drive IC 35 (see FIG. 2) that drives the plurality of drive elements. As the driving element, a piezoelectric element, a heating element that heats ink to cause film boiling, or the like can be preferably adopted. The drive IC 35 drives each drive element by supplying a drive signal having a predetermined waveform to each drive element.

The inkjet head 23, together with the carriage 22, can move not only to a region facing the recording paper P conveyed on the platen 21, but also to positions on both the left and right sides of the facing region. A maintenance device 6, which will be described later, is arranged on the right side of the facing region. Further, the flushing receiver 70 is arranged on the left side of the facing region. The inkjet head 23 ejects ink from each nozzle 30 in a state of facing the flushing receiver 70, thereby ejecting thickened ink in each nozzle 30. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned ink ejection operation for suppressing ink thickening is referred to as "flushing".

The transport mechanism 24 has two transport rollers 32 and 33 arranged in the front-rear direction so as to sandwich the platen 21 and the carriage 22. The two transfer rollers 32 and 33 are rotationally driven synchronously by the transfer motor 34 (see FIG. 2) to transfer the recording paper P forward (in the transfer direction) between the inkjet head 23 and the platen 21.

In the above configuration, the image recording unit 2 ejects ink to the recording paper P while transporting the recording paper P by the transport mechanism 24 in the transport direction and moving the inkjet head 23 together with the carriage 22 in the scanning direction. Print the desired image or the like. That is, the printer 1 of this embodiment is a serial type inkjet printer.

The maintenance device 6 is for performing maintenance for maintaining and recovering the ejection characteristics of the inkjet head 23, and includes a cap member 61, a suction pump 62, a waste liquid tank 63, and the like. As mentioned earlier, the maintenance device 6 is arranged on the right side of the facing region where the inkjet head 23 faces the recording paper P conveyed on the platen 21. Then, when the inkjet head 23 is arranged on the right side of the facing region, the inkjet head 23 and the cap member 61 face each other vertically. Further, the cap member 61 is driven up and down by a cap drive motor 64 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the cap member 61 can move between the cap position that is in close contact with the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head 23 and covers the nozzle 30 and the uncap position that is away from the ink ejection surface.

The suction pump 62 is connected to the cap member 61. When the cap member 61 is in the cap position, the suction pump 62 depressurizes the inside of the cap member 61, so that ink is forcibly discharged from the plurality of nozzles 30 into the cap member 61. Generally, this ink ejection operation is called suction purge. By this suction purge, it is possible to discharge air bubbles and dust mixed in the ink, thickened ink, and the like. Further, the ink discharged from the inkjet head 23 by the suction purge is sent to the waste liquid tank 63.

The user interface 90 is an interface for outputting information to the user and acquiring information from the user. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation key 90a and a display 90b are provided. The operation key 90a receives an input from the user and outputs the input to the control device 100. The display 90b displays various information according to the instruction from the control device 100.

The temperature measurement sensor 91 is a sensor such as a thermistor that measures the ambient temperature thereof, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the ambient temperature to the control device 100. The temperature measurement sensor 91 is arranged in the printer 1 at a position where the temperature to be measured changes according to a change in air temperature. In the present embodiment, the temperature measurement sensor 91 is arranged in the vicinity of the holder 27 away from the drive unit such as the inkjet head 23 and the transfer mechanism 24 that generate heat during driving. As a result, the control device 100 can acquire the air temperature information, which is a parameter having a correlation with the air temperature, by receiving the voltage signal from the temperature measurement sensor 91. Specifically, the parameter may have a large parameter value as the air temperature value increases, or may have a small parameter value as the air temperature value increases. If the temperature measurement sensor 91 can directly measure the air temperature, the control device 100 may acquire the air temperature value itself as the above-mentioned temperature information. Further, the location of the temperature measurement sensor 91 is not limited to the vicinity of the holder 27. For example, the holder 27 may be provided with a substrate on which a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the cartridge 29 is attached, and the temperature measurement sensor 91 may be attached to the substrate. Further, the temperature measurement sensor 91 may be arranged on the right side or the rear side of the waste liquid tank 63 of the printer 1.

The scanner unit 92 has a CCD, CIS, or the like, and reads an image printed on the recording paper P in accordance with an instruction from the control device 100 to generate image data related to the image.

The power supply circuit 95 is a circuit for receiving electric power from a commercial power source (not shown). Specifically, the power supply circuit 95 has a power supply plug, and by inserting this power supply plug into an outlet connected to a commercial power supply, it is possible to receive power from the commercial power supply. Further, the power supply circuit 95 appropriately converts the electric power received from the commercial power source into a required voltage and supplies it to each part in the printer 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 100 includes an ASIC (Application Specific) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a non-volatile memory 104, and various control circuits. It includes an integrated circuit) 105, a timing circuit 106, a rechargeable battery 107 for the timing circuit, and the like. A scanner unit 92, an inkjet head 23, a carriage drive motor 31, a transfer motor 34, a suction pump 62, a user interface 90, and the like are electrically connected to the control device 100.

Further, a local connection interface 111 and a network connection interface 112 are connected to the control device 100. The local connection interface 111 is an interface for locally connecting (directly connecting) to a peripheral device by USB, IEEE1394, or the like. The control device 100 can send and receive image data to be printed to and from an external device 121a such as a PC via the local connection interface 111. The network connection interface 112 is an interface for connecting to an external device 121b such as a PC via a network via the Internet 115. The control device 100 can transmit and receive image data to be printed to and from the external device 121b via the network connection interface 112.

The ROM 102 stores a program executed by the CPU 101, various fixed data, and the like. Data (image data, etc.) required for program execution is temporarily stored in the RAM 103. The non-volatile memory 104 stores permission time information 104a, reference temperature data 104b, measured temperature data 104c, and the like. These data will be described later.

The timekeeping circuit 106 is a circuit such as an RTC (real time clock), and has a function as an internal clock for timekeeping and a function as a timer for timekeeping. The current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 is based on the date and time acquired from the NTP (Network Time Protocol) server on the Internet 115 or the external device 121b connected to the NTP server via the network connection interface 112. It will be corrected.

Further, a rechargeable battery 107 is connected to the timekeeping circuit 106. The rechargeable battery 107 charges the power supplied from the power supply circuit 95 when the power supply circuit 95 receives power from the commercial power supply, and is in a power off state in which the power supply circuit 95 does not receive power from the commercial power supply. Occasionally, the charged power is output to the timing circuit 106. As a result, the timekeeping circuit 106 can continue to time the time and time for a predetermined time (15 hours in the present embodiment) even when the power is off by the electric power supplied from the rechargeable battery 107.

The CPU 101 controls the operations of the image recording unit 2, the maintenance device 6, and the like via the ASIC 105 by executing the program stored in the ROM 102. In the following description, it is assumed that the CPU performs processing such as printing, but the control device 100 may include a plurality of CPUs, and the processing may be shared by the plurality of CPUs. Further, the control device 100 may include a plurality of ASICs, and the processing may be shared by the plurality of ASICs. Alternatively, the processing may be performed by one ASIC alone.

The CPU 101 executes the following processing with respect to printing on the recording paper P. First, when an image printing command is input from an external device 121a or 121b such as a PC or a user interface 90, the image recording unit 2 controls a transport motor 34 to transport the recording paper P in the transport direction. .. Further, while controlling the carriage drive motor 31 of the image recording unit 2 to move the inkjet head 23 in the scanning direction, ink is ejected from the inkjet head 23 toward the recording paper P.

Further, the CPU 101 automatically performs maintenance such as suction purging by the suction pump 62 in order to maintain and restore the ejection characteristics of the inkjet head 23.

By the way, during maintenance, a driving sound is generated from the suction pump 62 and the like. Some users find this maintenance uncomfortable when performed late at night. In addition, since printing cannot be performed during maintenance, if maintenance is performed during a time period when the user frequently uses it, the user's usability may be impaired.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the non-volatile memory 104 stores the permission time information 104a that defines the permission time for permitting the execution of maintenance. The permitted time is, for example, 12 o'clock (noon), which avoids the midnight time zone. The permission time information 104a may be set by the user via the user interface 90, or may be fixed information preset in the non-volatile memory 104. Further, the permission time indicated by the permission time information 104a may be a time at a certain time point in the day, or may be a time zone between a certain point in the day and a certain point in the day. ..

Then, after the maintenance is required, the CPU 101 causes the maintenance device 6 to perform the maintenance when the current time timed by the timekeeping circuit 106 becomes the permitted time indicated by the permitted time information 104a. As a result, maintenance is executed at the permitted time, so that the user's usability can be improved.

By the way, since the timekeeping circuit 106 is supplied with electric power from the rechargeable battery 107 even when the power is off, the time and time can be timed continuously. However, if the power is off for a long period of time, the rechargeable battery 107 runs out. Therefore, even if the rechargeable battery 107 returns to the power-on state after the battery runs out, the current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 is inaccurate. For example, when the rechargeable battery 107 can supply power to the timekeeping circuit 106 for 15 hours, the power plug is inserted into the outlet all day on weekdays, but the power plug is removed from the outlet all day on holidays. Then, even if the power plug is inserted into the outlet after the holiday, the current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 will be inaccurate.

Here, if the control device 100 is connected to the NTP server or the external device 121b via the network connection interface 112, the accurate date and time can be obtained from these devices, so that the current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 can be obtained. It is possible to correct. However, the printer 1 may be used as a stand-alone printer without being connected to the Internet 115. In this case, the time is inaccurate because the current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 cannot be corrected. As a result, the current time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 is different from the actual time, so that the maintenance may be performed at a time other than the permitted time (for example, a time zone at midnight).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CPU 101 obtains the temperature information acquired based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 when the power is turned on from the state where the power is off and the battery of the rechargeable battery 107 is dead. It is configured to use it to perform processing to estimate the current time. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given.

There is regularity in the daily temperature changes. Specifically, the temperature is usually lowest around 5 o'clock and highest around 14:00. In addition, the temperature continues to rise from 5:00 to 14:00, and continues to fall from 14:00 to 5:00 the next day. As for the temperature information acquired based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91, there is regularity in the daily transition as well as the temperature. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the time from the transition of the acquired temperature information.

The non-volatile memory 104 stores reference temperature data 104b indicating a daily transition of temperature information. As shown in FIG. 3A, the reference temperature data 104b is data including 24 temperature information corresponding to each of the 24 time zones obtained by dividing the day into hourly units. In the present embodiment, the temperature information corresponding to each time zone of the reference temperature data 104b is the average value of the latest 10 days of the temperature information acquired in the past based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 in that time zone. Average temperature). The reference temperature data 104b is measured after the current time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 is corrected for an accurate period (for example, the current time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 based on the date and time acquired from the NTP server). The measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 during the period during which the power supply from the power supply circuit 95 or the rechargeable battery 107 is continued to the circuit 106) or during the period during which the current time can be estimated by the CPU 101 as described later. It is calculated using the temperature information acquired based on this.

Then, the CPU 101 executes the following processing when the power plug is inserted into the outlet by the user, that is, when the power is switched from the power off state to the power on state.

First, the CPU 101 executes a temperature information acquisition process for acquiring temperature information based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91. Then, the CPU 101 acquires from the time when the power plug is inserted into the outlet (hereinafter, referred to as the outlet insertion time) based on the temperature information acquired by this air temperature information acquisition process and the time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106. The temperature data calculation process for calculating the measured temperature data 104c showing the transition of the temperature information for 10 hours is executed.

In this air temperature information acquisition process, as shown in FIG. 3B, 10 air temperature information corresponding to each of the 10 measurement periods having a time width of 1 hour is calculated as the measured air temperature data 104c. The air temperature information corresponding to each measurement period may be the average value of the air temperature information acquired by the air temperature information acquisition process in the measurement period, or may be the air temperature information acquired by the air temperature information acquisition process at one point in the measurement period. .. The calculated measured air temperature data 104c is stored in the non-volatile memory 104. The measured air temperature data 104c may be stored in a buffer such as RAM 103.

It is not particularly necessary to make the time width of the measurement period the same as the time width of the time zone corresponding to each of the temperature information included in the reference air temperature data 104b, but by making the time width the same, the time estimation described later will be performed. The process can be simplified. Further, the number of measurement periods included in the measured air temperature data 104c is not limited to 10, and may be plural, but in order to improve the accuracy of time estimation in the time estimation process described later, the number of measurement periods is limited. The larger the number, the better.

Next, the CPU 101 executes a time estimation process for estimating the current time based on the reference temperature data 104b stored in the non-volatile memory 104 and the measured temperature data 104c calculated by the temperature data calculation process. Specifically, the temperature information corresponding to 10 measurement periods when one of the above 24 time zones is assumed to be the attention time zone and the outlet insertion time point belongs to the attention time zone. And, in the reference temperature data 104b, the evaluation value E, which is an index regarding the amount of deviation from the temperature information corresponding to the time zone related to the 10 measurement periods, is calculated for each case assuming that each of the 24 time zones is the attention time zone. To do. In this embodiment, each evaluation value E is calculated by the following formula 1.

E = √ (Σ (ML) ^ 2 / Y) ... (Equation 1)
M: Temperature information of a certain measurement period of the measured temperature data 104c L: Temperature information of the time zone corresponding to the above-mentioned certain measurement period of the reference temperature data 104b Y: Number of measurement periods

Hereinafter, a method of calculating the evaluation value E using the above equation 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 when the time zone in the 1 o'clock range is set as the attention time zone. Note that FIG. 4 shows the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the temperature information of the reference temperature data 104b from the temperature information of the measured temperature data 104c for each measurement period when each of the 24 time zones is assumed to be the time zone of interest. It is a figure which shows the evaluation value E calculated by using this temperature difference.

When the time zone in the 1 o'clock range is the time zone of interest, the measurement period for the first hour (measurement period of 0 to 1 hour) of the measured temperature data 104c is the time zone in the 1 o'clock range of the reference temperature data 104b. Correspond. First, the temperature difference (= 28.80-28.08 =) obtained by subtracting the temperature information of the reference temperature data 104b in the time zone of 1 o'clock from the temperature information of the measurement period for the first hour of the measured temperature data 104c. 0.78) is calculated. Further, since the measurement period for the next 1 hour (measurement period for 1 to 2 hours) of the measured temperature data 104c corresponds to the time zone in the 2 o'clock range of the reference temperature data 104b, the measurement for the next 1 hour is performed. The temperature difference (= 29.80-27.83 = 1.97) is calculated by subtracting the temperature information of the time zone of the reference temperature data 104b from the temperature information of the period. Hereinafter, in the same manner, the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the temperature information of the time zone corresponding to the measurement period of the reference temperature data 104b from the temperature information of the measurement period of the measurement temperature data 104c is calculated for the entire measurement period. After that, the value obtained by dividing the total value of the squared values of the calculated temperature differences by the number of measurement periods is the evaluation value E (= 5.10) when the time zone in the 1 o'clock range is the time zone of interest. ).

The evaluation value E calculated using Equation 1 as described above is the difference between the temperature information of the 10 measurement periods of the reference temperature data 104b and the temperature information of the time zone corresponding to these measurement periods in the reference temperature data 104b. The smaller the amount, the smaller the value.

This evaluation value E is calculated for each case assuming that 24 time zones are the time zones of interest. After that, it is estimated that the outlet insertion time point belongs to the time zone in which the evaluation value E calculated when assuming the attention time zone is the smallest among the 24 time zones. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the evaluation value E (= 0.85) is the smallest when the time zone of interest is assumed to be around 8 o'clock. Therefore, it is estimated that the time at the time of inserting the outlet is in the time zone of 8 o'clock. In this way, by calculating the evaluation value E when each of the 24 time zones is assumed to be the attention time zone, the time zone to which the outlet insertion time point belongs can be estimated.

Here, FIG. 5 plots the daily temperature information shown by the reference temperature data 104b, and assumes that the time zones of interest are 4 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 8 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and 12 o'clock, respectively. In this case, a graph plotting the temperature information indicated by each measured temperature data 104c is shown. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the shape obtained by plotting the temperature information indicated by the measured temperature data 104c when the time zone of interest is assumed to be around 8 o'clock indicates the transition of the daily temperature information indicated by the reference temperature data 104b. It most closely resembles the shape of the plot. As described above, from FIG. 5, it can be seen that the time at the time of inserting the outlet is in the time zone of 8 o'clock.

Next, the CPU 101 estimates the time zone of the current time based on the estimated time at the time of inserting the outlet and the time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 from the time of inserting the outlet. For example, when the time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 from the time when the outlet is inserted is 10 hours, it is estimated that the current time is in the time zone of 18:00.

As described above, the CPU 101 can estimate the current time by using the temperature information acquired based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91. As a result, when the estimated current time reaches the permitted time indicated by the permitted time information 104a stored in the non-volatile memory 104, the CPU 101 causes the maintenance device 6 to perform the maintenance, so that the maintenance is permitted. It can be more likely to be executed.

By the way, although there is regularity in the daily temperature change, the temperature may not change according to the rule depending on the weather of the day. For example, even after 5 o'clock, the temperature may continue to drop if it is raining. In this way, it is calculated when the measured temperature data 104c is calculated based on the temperature information acquired on the day when the temperature does not change according to the rules, and the evaluation value E is calculated assuming that each time zone is the attention time zone. The evaluation value E has a large value. That is, regardless of which time zone is assumed to be the attention time zone, the temperature information corresponding to the 10 measurement periods of the measured temperature data 104c and the time zone corresponding to the 10 measurement periods in the reference temperature data 104b correspond to each other. The amount of deviation from the temperature information is large. Therefore, even if the smallest evaluation value E is selected from these calculated evaluation values E and the time at the time of outlet insertion is estimated, there is a high possibility that the estimation is incorrect.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CPU 101 determines the time at the time of outlet insertion when all of the evaluation values E calculated for each time zone are equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 2.0) in the time estimation process. Or, it is judged that the current time cannot be estimated, and these times are not estimated. By doing so, it is possible to improve the reliability of the estimation when the time is estimated by the time estimation process.

If the current time is not estimated, the CPU 101 cannot cause the maintenance device to perform maintenance based on the permission time information 104a stored in the non-volatile memory 104. Here, the time when the outlet is inserted is the time when the user inserts the power plug into the outlet, which is unlikely to be a midnight time zone, and is likely to be a permitted time when maintenance is permitted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CPU 101 sets the time when the outlet is inserted as the permission time for permitting the execution of maintenance. Then, the CPU 101 causes the maintenance device 6 to perform maintenance when an integral multiple of 24 hours has elapsed from the time when the outlet is inserted, based on the time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 after the maintenance is required. .. As a result, it is possible to increase the possibility that the maintenance by the maintenance device 6 will be executed at the permitted time.

(Time estimation process)
Next, an example of the processing operation of the printer 1 related to the time estimation processing will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the printer 1 is not connected to the Internet 115 and cannot acquire the date and time from the NTP server or the like. Further, it is assumed that the battery of the rechargeable battery 107 is dead at the start of the operation flow.

First, when the power plug is inserted into the outlet by the user (S1), the CPU 101 starts acquiring the temperature information based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 from the time when the outlet is inserted (S2). Further, the time counting circuit 106 is started to measure the time starting from the time when the outlet is inserted.

After that, the CPU 101 continues to acquire the air temperature information based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 until 10 hours have passed from the time when the outlet is inserted (S3). Then, when 10 hours have passed from the time when the outlet is inserted (S3: YES), the CPU 101 calculates the measured air temperature data 104c indicating the transition of the temperature information acquired from the time when the outlet is inserted and stores it in the non-volatile memory 104 ( S4).

Next, the CPU 101 calculates the evaluation value E when each of the 24 time zones is assumed to be the attention time zone, based on the reference temperature data 104b and the measured temperature data 104c stored in the non-volatile memory 104 ( S5). After that, the CPU 101 determines whether or not all the calculated evaluation values E are equal to or greater than the threshold value (S6). When it is determined that at least one of the calculated evaluation values E is less than the threshold value (S6: NO), the CPU 101 calculates the evaluation value E when it is assumed to be the time zone of interest among the 24 time zones. Is estimated to belong to the time zone when the outlet is inserted (S7). Then, the CPU 101 estimates the current time based on the estimated time at the time of inserting the outlet and the time measured by the clock circuit 106 from the time of inserting the outlet to the present (S8). The estimation of the current time is continuously executed until the current time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 is corrected based on the date and time acquired from the NTP server or the like.

Next, the CPU 101 refers to the reference stored in the non-volatile memory 104 based on the estimated time at the time of inserting the outlet, the time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 from the time of inserting the outlet, and the temperature information acquired from the time of inserting the outlet. The temperature data 104b is updated (S9). As a result, the reference temperature data 104b is updated with data based on the most recently acquired temperature information, so that the time estimation accuracy in the subsequent time estimation process can be improved. When the process of S9 is completed, this process operation is terminated.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the process of S6 that all the calculated evaluation values E are equal to or greater than the threshold value (S6: YES), the CPU 101 determines that the time cannot be estimated, and at the time of inserting the outlet. The time is set as the permitted time for permitting the execution of maintenance, and the time elapsed by the time counting circuit 106 from the time when the outlet is inserted is continued (S10). When the process of S10 is completed, this process operation is terminated.

(Processing related to maintenance)
Next, an example of the processing operation of the printer 1 related to maintenance will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

First, the CPU 101 determines whether or not maintenance by the maintenance device 6 is necessary (S51). For example, the CPU 101 determines that maintenance is necessary when a certain period of time has passed since the previous maintenance. Then, when it is determined that maintenance is necessary (S51: YES), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the current time can be estimated by the time estimation process (S52). When it is determined that the current time can be estimated (S52: YES), is the current time estimated by the time estimation process the permitted time indicated by the permitted time information 104a stored in the non-volatile memory 104? It is determined whether or not (S53). When it is determined that the estimated current time is not the permitted time (S53: NO), the process waits until the estimated current time obtained by the time estimation process reaches the permitted time.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the estimated current time is the permitted time (S53: YES), the CPU 101 causes the maintenance device 6 to perform maintenance (S54). Specifically, first, the CPU 101 controls the cap drive motor 64 to move the cap member 61 to the cap position. After that, the suction pump 62 is controlled to execute the suction purge. When the suction purge is completed, the CPU 101 controls the cap drive motor 64 to move the cap member 61 to the uncapped position. As described above, the ejection characteristics of the inkjet head 23 can be restored by performing the maintenance. When the processing of S54 is completed, the process returns to the processing of S51.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the current time cannot be estimated by the time estimation process (S52: NO), whether or not the elapsed time measured by the timekeeping circuit 106 from the time when the outlet is inserted is an integral multiple of 24 hours. Is determined (S55). If it is determined that the elapsed time from the time of inserting the outlet is not an integral multiple of 24 hours (S55: NO), the process waits until the elapsed time becomes an integral multiple of 24 hours. On the other hand, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the time when the outlet is inserted is an integral multiple of 24 hours (S55: YES), the process proceeds to S54 in order to execute maintenance.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the outlet insertion time and the current time are obtained by using the reference temperature data 104b stored in the non-volatile memory 104 and the measured temperature data indicating the transition of the temperature information acquired from the time when the outlet is inserted. Can be estimated. As a result, maintenance by the maintenance device 6 can be appropriately performed based on the estimated current time.

Further, even when the power-off state is long and the timing circuit 106 cannot accurately measure the current time, the maintenance by the maintenance device 6 is appropriately executed based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process. Can be done.

In the embodiment described above, the temperature measurement sensor 91 corresponds to the "temperature measurement unit", and the non-volatile memory 104 corresponds to the "storage unit". The timekeeping circuit 106 corresponds to the "timekeeping unit" and the CPU 101 corresponds to the "control unit". The maintenance device 6 corresponds to the "maintenance unit". Further, the process in which the CPU 101 controls the maintenance device 6 based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process corresponds to the “time-related process”.

Next, a modified embodiment in which various modifications are made to the embodiment will be described.

In the above embodiment, the maintenance is configured to be executed only at the permitted time, but may be configured to be executed at a time other than the permitted time. Hereinafter, this modification will be described.

In this modification, there are two types of drive modes of the suction pump 62 at the time of suction purge: a normal mode and a silent mode in which the drive sound is smaller than that of the normal mode. In the silent mode, the drive time of the suction pump 62 is longer than that in the normal mode, but the rotation speed of the suction pump 62 is slower. Therefore, in the silent mode, the driving noise generated from the suction pump 62 is smaller than in the normal mode.

Then, the CPU 101 causes the maintenance device 6 to execute the suction purge in the normal mode only when the current time measured by the time measuring circuit 106 or the current time estimated by the time estimation process is the permitted time indicated by the permitted time information 104a. , Otherwise, perform suction purge in silent mode.

Next, an example of the processing operation of the printer 1 related to the maintenance according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the following, only the differences from the processing operation described with reference to FIG. 6 described above will be described.

When it is determined in the process of S53 that the estimated current time is the permitted time (S53: YES), the CPU 101 selects the normal mode as the drive mode of the suction pump 62, and the maintenance device 6 is in the normal mode. The suction purge is executed (S60). When the process of S60 is completed, the process returns to the process of S51.

On the other hand, when it is determined in the processing of S53 that the estimated current time is not the permitted time (S53: NO), the CPU 101 selects the silent mode as the drive mode of the suction pump 62, and the maintenance device 6 is silent. The suction purge in the mode is executed (S61). When the process of S61 is completed, the process returns to the process of S51.

Further, in the process of S55, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the time of inserting the outlet is an integral multiple of 24 hours (S55: YES), the normal mode is selected as the drive mode of the suction pump 62, and the S60 Move on to processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that the elapsed time from the time of inserting the outlet is not an integral multiple of 24 hours (S55: NO), the silent mode is selected as the drive mode of the suction pump 62, and the process proceeds to S61. As described above, according to this modification, when the current time estimated by the time estimation process is the permitted time, the suction purge is executed in the normal mode, so that the maintenance time can be shortened. On the other hand, when the estimated current time is a time other than the permitted time, the suction purge is executed in the silent mode, so that the driving noise generated from the suction pump 62 can be reduced.

Hereinafter, other modified forms will be described.

In the above embodiment, the time-related process is a process of controlling the maintenance device 6 based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the time-related process is estimated by the time estimation process. Any process related to the time of day may be used. For example, the time-related process may be a process of storing the time estimated by the time estimation process in a memory such as the non-volatile memory 104. In this case, when an accurate date and time is later acquired from the outside such as an NTP server, the time estimated by the time estimation process stored in this memory and the actual time calculated based on the date and time acquired from the outside are used. The error between the two may be obtained, and the threshold value of the evaluation value E in the subsequent time estimation processing may be changed based on this error. That is, the time estimated by the time estimation process stored in the memory may be used as feedback for the subsequent time estimation process.

In the above embodiment, the drive unit controlled based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process is the maintenance device 6, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the image recording unit 2 may also be used. Good. For example, as the drive mode of the carriage 22 by the carriage drive motor 31, a normal mode and a silent mode in which the movement speed of the carriage 22 is slower than the normal mode are provided as in the above-described modification. Then, at the time of printing, the CPU 101 may select whether to drive the carriage 22 in the drive mode of the normal mode or the silent mode based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process. In addition to the above, as the silent mode, for example, the warning sound at the time of an error and the operation sound of the user interface 90 are made smaller than in the normal mode, and the paper transfer is made slower than in the normal mode to make the drive sound of the transfer motor 34. It may be a mode to make it smaller.

Further, the maintenance device 6 may not be provided, and the maintenance of the inkjet head 23 may be configured to be performed only by flushing. Also in this configuration, when the inkjet head 23 moves from the facing region facing the recording paper P conveyed on the platen 21 to the position facing the flushing receiver 70, a driving sound is generated from the carriage drive motor 31. .. Therefore, it is significant to control the maintenance by flushing based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process as in the maintenance by suction purge.

Further, in the above embodiment, the maintenance target of the maintenance device 6 is the inkjet head 23, but it may be another member of the image recording unit 2 such as the transport mechanism 24.

Further, the CPU 101 may acquire the reference air temperature data 104b from the outside such as a vendor via the Internet 115 and store it in the non-volatile memory 104. In this case, since the reference temperature data 104b becomes more accurate data, the time estimation accuracy in the subsequent time estimation processing can be improved. When the CPU 101 acquires the reference air temperature data 104b from the outside, the CPU 101 corrects the reference air temperature data 104b acquired from the outside by using the air temperature information acquired based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement sensor 91 at the time of acquisition. You may. In this case, since the reference temperature data 104b can be converted into data according to the installation environment of the printer 1, the time can be estimated more accurately.

Further, in the above embodiment, the reference temperature data 104b stored in the non-volatile memory 104 is updated based on the time estimated by the time estimation process, but the current time is accurately set by the time measuring circuit 106. It may be configured to update the reference temperature data 104b based only on the temperature information acquired at the time of timing. Further, the reference temperature data 104b may be fixed data stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 104 at the time of shipment from the factory. The reference temperature data 104b is stored in the non-volatile memory 104 for each region, and when the user sets the language used for the printer 1 at the time of setup, the region is estimated from the set language and the reference temperature data corresponding to the estimated region is used. 104b may be set as the data used in the time estimation process. Further, the CPU 101 may be configured to correct the reference temperature data 104b according to the month, day, and season.

Further, in the time estimation process, only the time when the outlet is inserted may be estimated without estimating the current time. For example, the non-volatile memory 104 stores the measured temperature data 104c calculated in the past and the time based on the time when the outlet is inserted, which drives various drive units, and the CPU 101 is based on the measured temperature data 104c. By performing the time estimation process, the time when the drive unit is driven is estimated. Then, the drive unit may be controlled based on the estimated past drive time of the drive unit.

Further, the measured air temperature data 104c may be data calculated based on the air temperature information acquired by the air temperature information acquisition process from a time other than the time when the outlet is inserted. Further, in the time estimation process, when it can be determined that the temperature information indicated by the calculated measured temperature data 104c clearly deviates from the regularity of the transition of the daily temperature information, the evaluation of each time zone is performed. Before calculating the value E, it may be determined that the time cannot be estimated. For example, when the temperature information indicated by the calculated measured temperature data 104c repeats high and low in 1-hour units, it may be determined that the time cannot be estimated. Further, in the time estimation process, if it is possible to estimate the outlet insertion time at the time when the evaluation value E for the time zones less than 24 is calculated before the evaluation value E for all 24 time zones is calculated. , It is not necessary to calculate the evaluation value E for all time zones. Further, the evaluation value E may be obtained by a method other than the above formula 1.

The time width of the time zone corresponding to each of the temperature information included in the reference air temperature data 104b and the time width of the measurement period related to the measured air temperature data 104c do not have to be 1 hour, and may be, for example, 15 minutes. Further, the rechargeable battery 107 is not indispensable. If there is no rechargeable battery 107, the timekeeping circuit 106 will stop when the outlet is removed. Therefore, if there is a time estimation process for estimating the current time as in the present invention, it is possible to know the approximate time and execute the process related to the time as compared with the case where there is no time estimation process. ..

The present invention can also be applied to a so-called line-type inkjet printer that prints an image on paper conveyed by a conveying mechanism with the inkjet head fixed. It can also be applied to image recording devices such as laser printers, thermal printers, copiers, and fax machines.

1 Inkjet printer (image recording device)
2 Image recording unit 91 Temperature measurement sensor (Temperature measurement unit)
101 CPU (control unit)
104 Non-volatile memory (storage unit)
106 Timekeeping circuit (Timekeeping part)

Claims (13)

Temperature measuring unit and
A storage unit that stores reference temperature data indicating the daily transition of temperature information, which is at least one of the temperature and a parameter having a correlation with the temperature.
The timekeeping part that measures the time and
Control unit and
With
The control unit
A temperature information acquisition process for acquiring the temperature information based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement unit, and
Based on the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process and the time measured by the time measuring unit, the measured temperature data indicating the transition of the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process from a predetermined time point is calculated. Temperature data calculation processing and
A time estimation process for estimating the time based on the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit and the measured temperature data calculated by the temperature data calculation process.
Time-related processing related to the time estimated by the time estimation process and
An image recording device characterized by performing. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the time-related processing is a process for controlling the operation of the image recording device based on the time estimated by the time estimation process. The reference temperature data is data including a plurality of the temperature information corresponding to each of the plurality of time zones obtained by dividing the day into predetermined time intervals.
The control unit
In the temperature data calculation process, a plurality of measurements having the same time width as the predetermined time from the predetermined time point based on the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition process and the time measured by the timekeeping unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the temperature information corresponding to each period is calculated as the measured temperature data. The control unit
In the time estimation process
The temperature information corresponding to the plurality of measurement periods when one of the plurality of time zones is assumed to be the attention time zone and the predetermined time zone belongs to the attention time zone, and the reference. In the temperature data, an index relating to the amount of deviation from the temperature information corresponding to the time zone related to the plurality of measurement periods was calculated for each case assuming that each of the plurality of time zones was the time zone of interest.
The third aspect of the present invention is that it is estimated that the predetermined time point belongs to the time zone in which the amount of deviation indicated by the index calculated when the time zone of interest is assumed to be the smallest among the plurality of time zones. The image recording device described. The control unit
In the time estimation process
The time is not estimated when any of the deviation amounts indicated by the indexes calculated assuming that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. The image recording device according to claim 4. The control unit
Based on the measured temperature data calculated by the temperature data calculation process and the time estimated by the time estimation process, the update process for updating the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit is further executed. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The control unit
The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reference temperature data is acquired from the outside and stored in the storage unit. The control unit
In the time estimation process, the time at the predetermined time point was estimated based on the reference temperature data stored in the storage unit and the measured temperature data calculated by the temperature data calculation process, and then this estimation was performed. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the current time is further estimated based on the time at the predetermined time point and the time measured by the timekeeping unit between the predetermined time point and the present. The image recording apparatus according to. Equipped with a drive unit
The control unit
The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in the time-related processing, the driving unit is controlled based on the current time estimated by the time estimation processing. As the drive mode of the drive unit, it has a normal mode and a silent mode in which the drive sound is smaller than that of the normal mode.
The control unit
9. The time-related process is characterized in that the drive unit is selected in which of the normal mode and the silent mode the drive unit is driven based on the current time estimated by the time estimation process. The image recording apparatus described in 1. An image recording unit that records images on the recording medium,
A maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the image recording unit,
With more
The storage unit further stores the permission time information that defines the permission time, which is the time when the maintenance unit permits the execution of the maintenance in one day.
The control unit
Further executing the determination process of determining whether or not the maintenance is necessary by the maintenance unit,
When it is determined by the determination process that the maintenance is necessary and the current time estimated by the time estimation process becomes the permitted time indicated by the permitted time information stored in the storage unit, the said The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the maintenance process for causing the maintenance unit to execute the maintenance is executed as the time-related process. An image recording unit that records images on the recording medium,
A maintenance unit that performs maintenance on the image recording unit,
With more
The storage unit further stores the permission time information that defines the permission time, which is the time when the maintenance unit permits the execution of the maintenance in one day.
The predetermined time point is a time when the power-off state in which power is not supplied from the commercial power source to the image recording device is switched to the power-on state in which power is supplied.
The control unit
In the time estimation process
When any of the deviation amounts indicated by the indicators calculated assuming that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones is less than the threshold value, the time zone in which the deviation amount indicated by the indicators is the smallest is set. It is estimated that the predetermined time point belongs, and the current time is estimated based on this estimation and the time measured by the timekeeping unit between the predetermined time point and the current time.
If any of the deviation amounts indicated by the indicators calculated assuming that the plurality of time zones are the attention time zones is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the current time is not estimated.
Further, the control unit
The maintenance unit executes a determination process for determining whether or not the maintenance is necessary,
When it is determined by the determination process that the maintenance is necessary and the current time is estimated by the time estimation process, the estimated current time is indicated by the permitted time information stored in the storage unit. When the permitted time is reached, if the maintenance unit is made to perform the maintenance and the current time is not estimated by the time estimation process, the predetermined time is based on the time measured by the time measuring unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the maintenance process for causing the maintenance unit to execute the maintenance is executed as the time-related process when an integral multiple of 24 hours has elapsed from the time point. The timekeeping unit also clocks the time as an internal clock in a power-on state in which power is supplied from a commercial power source to the image recording device.
The control unit
When the power off state in which power is not supplied from the commercial power source to the image recording device is switched to the power on state, the temperature information acquisition process, the temperature data calculation process, and the time estimation process are executed. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.