JP7283250B2 - LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus, control method, and control program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses that are used to output electronic information or to copy documents have become essential equipment. As such an image forming apparatus, there is a liquid ejection apparatus that forms an image by a so-called ink jet method, in which liquid is ejected onto a sheet from a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid (or liquid droplets) while conveying a recording medium such as a sheet of paper. Are known.

Liquid such as ink ejected from the liquid ejection head is held in a tank. A pump is used to supply ink from the tank to the liquid ejection head. When the ink held in the tank is consumed and the remaining amount is low (hereinafter referred to as "ink end"), when the pump is driven to supply ink to the liquid ejection head, the tank and the pump are connected. The pressure in the path becomes negative pressure. Using this phenomenon, there is known a technique for detecting ink end by detecting a change in the pressure in the path from the tank to the pump (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100002).

In the liquid ejecting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200010, the tank detected as being out of ink is replaced with a tank filled with ink, and image formation is continued. At this time, air may enter the ink supply path due to the insertion and removal of the tank. If air enters the ink supply path, there is a problem of erroneous detection of ink end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to accurately detect ink end in a liquid ejecting apparatus that supplies liquid from a tank.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a pump that supplies the liquid to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid from a nozzle, a tank filled with the liquid, and a plurality of the tanks that eject the liquid. a supply path for supplying the liquid to the head; and a liquid provided for each of the plurality of tanks and controlling the supply of the liquid from the tank to the liquid ejection head by opening or blocking the supply path. a supply control unit; a pressure detection unit provided between the liquid supply control unit and the liquid ejection head in the supply path; is detected, based on the open/close state of the liquid supply control unit, a tank in which the remaining amount of the liquid is low is determined among the plurality of tanks, and the liquid supply control unit is controlled by and a controller configured to supply the liquid from at least one of the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head , wherein the controller detects that the tank has been switched or replaced, the The pressure detector is prohibited from judging a tank with a low remaining amount, the pump is reversely operated to eliminate the negative pressure generated in the supply path, and the pressure is detected after the negative pressure is eliminated. Resume the judgment of the detector,
It is characterized by

According to the present invention, ink end can be accurately detected in a liquid ejection device that supplies liquid from a tank.

1 is an external view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid ejection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is an arrangement diagram of nozzles in the liquid ejection device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an ink end detection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a supply path for supplying ink from the cartridge to the liquid ejection head; FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a comparative example with the first embodiment of the supply path for supplying ink from the cartridge to the liquid ejection head; FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a second example of a supply path that supplies ink from the cartridge to the liquid ejection head according to the embodiment of the present invention; 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for detecting ink end according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of maintenance processing after ink end detection according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a serial type inkjet recording apparatus will be described as an example of the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 . FIG. 1 is an external view of a liquid ejection device 1000 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the liquid ejection device 1000 according to this embodiment.

The liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 movably holds the carriage 3 by a main guide member 11 and a sub guide member that are horizontally mounted on left and right side plates. The carriage 3 is driven by a main scanning motor 5 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction via a timing belt 8 stretched between a driving pulley 6 and a driven pulley 7 .

The carriage 3 has two liquid ejection heads 4a and 4b (hereinafter simply referred to as "liquid ejection head 4" when there is no particular need to distinguish between the two liquid ejection heads) as image forming means, and a liquid ejection head 4a. , 4b are provided with liquid chambers 57a, 57b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid ejection heads 4a and 4b each have nozzle rows 4an1, 4an2, 4bn1 and 4bn2 in which a plurality of nozzles 4n are arranged. The nozzle rows 4an1 and 4an2 are staggered in the nozzle arrangement direction. Note that the nozzle rows 4bn1 and 4bn2 have the same arrangement.

The nozzle row 4an1 ejects black (K) liquid, and the nozzle row 4an2 ejects cyan (C) liquid. The nozzle row 4bn1 ejects magenta (M) liquid, and the nozzle row 4bn2 ejects yellow (Y) liquid. Therefore, the liquid ejection head 4 is capable of ejecting ink of each color such as yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K).

The liquid ejection head 4 is configured such that a plurality of nozzles are arranged on one nozzle surface so that liquid of a specific color can be ejected from a plurality of nozzle rows (for example, a black liquid can be ejected from each of the two nozzle rows). A device that ejects a liquid) can also be used.

The liquid chambers 57a and 57b are configured with a plurality of tank portions by combining two tank portions into one set corresponding to the two nozzle rows 4an1, 4an2, 4bn1 and 4bn2 of the liquid ejection heads 4a and 4b, respectively. be done. As the liquid chambers 57a and 57b, the number corresponding to the number of nozzle rows arranged in the liquid ejection heads 4a and 4b, or the tank portions may be provided for each type of liquid to be ejected.

Liquids of respective colors are supplied to the liquid chambers 57a and 57b from a cartridge 55 including main tank portions 55K, 55C, 55M and 55Y in which liquids of respective colors of CMYK are stored. The cartridge 55 is replaceably attached to the cartridge holder 54 .

The cartridge holder 54 is provided with a pump 53 for supplying the liquid from the cartridge 55 to the liquid chambers 57a and 57b. The liquid of each color is pumped out from the cartridge 55 by the pump 53, and the tube 56 is provided separately for each color. Each color liquid is supplied to the liquid chambers 57a and 57b through the .

As the liquid ejection mechanism in the liquid ejection head 4, for example, a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, or a thermal actuator utilizing a phase change due to film boiling of a liquid using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor may be used. can be done.

The liquid ejection apparatus 1000 also includes a transport belt 12 as a transport mechanism 51 that transports the sheet material 10 facing the liquid ejection head 4 . The conveying belt 12 is an endless belt and stretched between the conveying roller 13 and the tension roller 14 .

In addition, the conveying belt 12 rotates in the sub-scanning direction by driving the sub-scanning motor 16 to rotate the conveying roller 13 via the timing belt 17 and the timing pulley 18 . Further, the conveying belt 12 is charged by a well-known charging roller while rotating.

Further, the conveying mechanism 51 includes a conveying area 50 arranged to face the sheet material 10 on the downstream side in the running direction of the conveying belt 12 from the area where the liquid is ejected from the liquid ejection head 4 . The sheet material 10 is transported between the transport area 50 and the carriage 3 , and an image is formed on the sheet material 10 by ejecting the liquid from the liquid ejection head 4 onto the sheet material 10 .

A maintenance and recovery mechanism 20 for maintaining and recovering the liquid ejection head 4 is arranged at one end of the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction. Discharge receptacles 21 are arranged respectively.

The maintenance/recovery mechanism 20 includes, for example, a cap member for capping the nozzle surface (surface on which nozzles are formed) of the liquid ejection head 4, a wiper member for wiping the nozzle surface, and a known idle ejection receiver for ejecting liquid that does not contribute to image formation. etc.

An encoder scale 23 having a predetermined pattern is attached between both side plates of the carriage 3 along the main scanning direction. Further, the carriage 3 has an encoder sensor 24 that reads the pattern of the encoder scale 23 . The encoder scale 23 and the encoder sensor 24 constitute a linear encoder (main scanning encoder) that detects movement of the carriage 3 .

A code wheel 25 is attached to the shaft of the conveying roller 13, and an encoder sensor 26 for detecting a pattern formed on the code wheel 25 is provided. The code wheel 25 and the encoder sensor 26 constitute a rotary encoder (sub-scanning encoder) that detects the movement amount and movement position of the conveyor belt 12 .

With the configuration as described above, the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment conveys the sheet material 10 in the sub-scanning direction by the circular movement of the conveying belt 12 in a state where the sheet material 10 is adsorbed on the charged conveying belt 12 . be done.

Then, while moving the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction, the liquid ejection head 4 is driven according to a signal for forming an image, thereby ejecting the liquid onto the stopped sheet material 10 to complete one line. Record. Next, after the sheet material 10 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, the next line is printed.

Upon receiving a recording end signal or a signal indicating that the trailing edge of the sheet material 10 has reached the recording area, the recording operation is terminated and the sheet material 10 is discharged to the discharge tray via the conveying area 50 . The conveying of the sheet material 10 is not limited to the conveying belt method described above, and the sheet material 10 is sucked by a plurality of suction ports, and the sheet material 10 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by driving the conveying rollers sandwiching the sheet material 10 . A transport method may be used.

Next, the hardware configuration of the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the liquid ejection device 1000 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of a computer such as a general server or a PC (Personal Computer), and also includes a carriage 3, a pump 53, etc. for executing image formation. has an engine 63 for driving the

Specifically, the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 62, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 64, an engine 63, a storage medium 65 such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an I/F 66. are connected via a bus 69. Also, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 67 and an operation unit 68 are connected to the I/F 66 .

The CPU 61 is computing means and controls the operation of the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 as a whole. The RAM 62 is a volatile storage medium from which information can be read and written at high speed, and is used as a working area when the CPU 61 processes information. The ROM 64 is a read-only non-volatile storage medium and stores programs such as firmware. The engine 63 is a mechanism for actually forming an image in the liquid ejection apparatus 1000, and includes the liquid ejection head 4 as described above and a mechanism for transporting continuous paper.

The storage medium 65 is a nonvolatile storage medium from which information can be read and written, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like. The I/F 66 connects and controls the bus 69 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 67 is a visual user interface for the user to check the status of the liquid ejection device 1000 . The operation unit 68 is a user interface such as a keyboard and mouse for the user to input information to the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 .

In such a hardware configuration, the program stored in the ROM 64, the storage medium 65, or a recording medium such as an optical disk is read out to the RAM 62 and operated under the control of the CPU 61, whereby the control section 100 is configured. A combination of the control unit 100 configured in this manner and hardware configures a functional block that realizes the functions of the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the detection unit 90 for detecting ink end according to this embodiment. In the liquid ejection apparatus 1000, if the pump 53 is driven when it is detected that the cartridge 55 is out of ink, there is no suppliable ink in the cartridge 55, so the ink supply path between the cartridge 55 and the pump 53 is closed. becomes negative pressure.

Due to this negative pressure state, the variable portion of the detection section 90 rises, and the filler 90a also rises accordingly. By detecting the position of the filler 90a with the sensor 90b, the detection unit 90 can detect whether or not the pressure in the ink supply path has become equal to or less than a predetermined value. That is, since the ink end of the cartridge 55 can be determined by detecting the filler 90a by the sensor 90b, the detection unit 90 functions as a pressure detection mechanism.

It should be noted that the variable part provided in the detection unit 90 is configured to be changed by pressure above a certain level by an elastic body such as a spring. Therefore, if the pressure inside the tube 56 fluctuates when the cartridge 55 is removed, the fluctuating portion of the detection unit 90 may be displaced and air may enter the tube 56 .

For example, since white ink has large pigment particles, it is necessary to shake and stir the cartridge 55 in order to prevent the pigment component from settling. At this time, the cartridge 55 must be removed from the pump 53 . When disconnecting the cartridge 55 and the pump 53 in this manner, air is likely to enter the ink supply path. If air flows into the ink supply path, it may cause erroneous detection of ink end.

Therefore, as described below, the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment has an ink supply path configured so as not to cause such erroneous detection of ink end. As a result, ink end can be detected with high accuracy.

Next, an ink supply path in the liquid ejection device 1000 will be described. The liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 includes a plurality of cartridge holders 54 filled with ink and a plurality of liquid ejecting heads 4, as described with reference to FIGS. The cartridge holder 54 corresponds to an ink tank filled with ink corresponding to each color. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid ejection device 1000 has four cartridge holders 54 and four liquid ejection heads 4 . Therefore, the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 can handle not only the four colors (CMYK) of ink treated as the basic colors, but also so-called special color inks such as orange, gray, and white by changing the piping of the tube 56. ing.

Further, the liquid ejecting apparatus 1000 can be configured to supply liquid from a plurality of main tank portions 55K of the same color to a plurality of liquid ejection heads 4 depending on the piping of the tubes 56. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an ink supply path in the liquid ejection device. The ink supply path shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is provided between the cartridge holder 54 and the liquid ejection head 4 .

FIG. 6 shows an ink supply path of the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an example of a path for supplying ink from the main tank section 55K including the main tanks T1 and T2. Here, the main tank T1 and the solenoid S1 and the main tank T2 and the solenoid S2 are connected independently. The solenoid portion 53a is connected to a detection portion 90 including individual detection portions IE1 and IE2. The solenoid S1 and the individual detection unit IE1, and the solenoid S2 and the individual detection unit IE2 are connected independently. The sensing unit 90 is connected to a pump 53 which includes individual pumps P1, P2, P3. The individual detectors IE1, IE2 are connected to the individual pumps P1, P2, P3 by the same route. The individual pumps P1, P2 and P3 of the pump 53 are independently connected to the individual liquid chambers D1, D2 and D3 of the liquid chamber 57, respectively. The control unit 100 transmits and receives control signals to and from the main tank unit 55K, the solenoid unit 53a, the detection unit 90, the pump 53, and the liquid chamber 57. Ink can be supplied to the individual liquid chambers D1, D2, and D3 from the tank portion 55K. The solenoid section 53a corresponds to a liquid supply control section. Also, the detection unit 90 corresponds to a pressure detection unit.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, either the main tank T1 or T2 is selected by controlling the solenoids S1 and S2, which are the liquid supply control mechanism, by the control unit 100 to open or block the ink supply path. Ink can be supplied by For example, when it is desired to supply ink from the main tank T1 to the individual liquid chamber D3, the control section 100 opens the solenoid S1 and controls to drive the pump P3.

In this way, by using a plurality of main tanks T1 and T2 that supply ink of the same color, for example, even if ink end is detected in one main tank (main tank T1), the other main tank Ink can be supplied by switching to (main tank T2).

Further, when the remaining amount of ink in the main tanks T1 and T2 is different, or when the expiration date of the ink is different, the controller 100 can control which main tank the ink is supplied from.

On the other hand, in the ink supply path of FIG. 7 shown as a comparative example, a detection section 90 is provided between the main tank section 55K and the solenoid section 53a. In such an ink supply path configuration, since the individual detection units IE1 and IE2 are located immediately downstream of the ink supply path from the main tanks T1 and T2, air may enter the supply path when the main tanks T1 and T2 are inserted and removed. There is a risk that it will be lost.

In the ink supply path shown in FIG. 6, which is the first embodiment of the present invention, by closing the solenoids S1 and S2, the individual detection units IE1 and IE2 are displaced by pressure fluctuations when the main tanks T1 and T2 are inserted and removed. Therefore, there is no fear of air entering the ink supply path.

However, in the configuration of the ink supply path shown in FIG. 6, there are two ink end detection mechanisms, individual detection units IE1 and IE2, in the ink supply path connecting between the solenoids S1 and S2 and the individual pumps P1, P2 and P3. is included.

In this configuration, for example, when the pump 53 (including any one of the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3) operates when the main tank T1 runs out of ink, both the individual detection units IE1 and IE2 will detect the negative pressure. In this case, the controller 100 may erroneously detect that the main tank T2 is out of ink.

Therefore, in the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment, after the main tanks T1 and T2 are switched (or replaced), ink end is detected based on the steps of each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. This prevents erroneous detection of ink end.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow of ink end detection processing according to the present embodiment. First, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the main tanks T1 and T2 have been switched (or replaced) (S901).

If the main tanks T1 and T2 have been switched (or replaced) (S901/YES), the control unit 100 keeps the main tanks T1, T2 and It is prohibited to determine that T2 is out of ink (S902). That is, in S902, the detection unit 90 is put in the determination prohibited state. After the detection unit 90 is in the determination prohibited state and the sensor 90b is in the OFF state, the control unit 100 proceeds to the process of S903.

If the main tanks T1 and T2 have not been switched (or replaced) (S901/NO), or if the main tanks T1 and T2 have been switched (or replaced) (S901 /YES), if the sensor 90b is in the OFF state (S904), the control unit 100 determines whether the sensor 90b is in the ON state (S905).

If the sensor 90b is not in the ON state (S905/NO), the control unit 100 waits until the supply of ink from the main tanks T1 and T2 to the individual liquid chambers D1, D2 and D3 is completed (S906/YES). End this process.

If the sensor 90b is ON (905/YES), the controller 100 determines that one of the main tanks T1 and T2 is out of ink based on the control signals for the solenoids S1 and S2 at the timing of S905. (S907), and the process ends. Therefore, the control section 100 has the function of determining which main tank T1, T2 is in the ink end state.

As described above, the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment prohibits the ink end determination until the sensor 90b is turned off immediately after switching between the main tanks T1 and T2, and the pump 53 is stopped until the sensor 90b is turned off. To prevent erroneous detection of ink end by resuming ink end determination after reverse operation is performed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect which main tanks T1 and T2 are out of ink.

Once ink end is determined in the main tank T1 or T2, it is necessary to eliminate the negative pressure state of the ink supply path between the main tank T1, T2 and the individual pumps P1, P2, P3.

When the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3 are operated in reverse (maintenance at ink end) in order to eliminate the negative pressure state of the ink supply path, the control unit 100 controls the plurality of individual pumps P1, P2 in the same path. , P3 to determine which pump 53 is to be operated in the reverse direction.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of maintenance processing after ink end detection according to this embodiment. The control unit 100 determines the pump 53 (any of the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3) to be reversely operated based on the control signals of the solenoids S1 and S2 for judging ink end (S1001). In this determination, the pump 53 (any of the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3) used when the ink end occurs (S906 in FIG. 9) is the target of the reverse operation.

Next, the control unit 100 reversely operates the pump 53 (for example, the individual pump P1) determined in S1001 (S1002), and turns OFF the control signal for the solenoid S1 (or S2) related to the control signal used for the ink end determination. (S1003), and the process ends.

As described above, in the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment, the pump 53 used when the ink end occurs is subjected to the reverse operation. , maintenance can be performed after the ink end is detected.

Next, FIG. 8 shows an ink supply path according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a structural example of an ink supply path for supplying ink from a plurality of main tanks T1 and T2. The detection section 90 connected between the ink supply path solenoid section 53a and the pump 53 of the second embodiment is composed of a single detection section 90. As shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the ink supply path shown in FIG.

In the configuration of the ink supply path shown in FIG. 8, similarly to FIG. 6, the solenoids S1 and S2 are located directly below the ink supply path from the main tanks T1 and T2. There is no concern about air entrapment.

Furthermore, since the control unit 100 controls the opening and closing of the solenoids S1 and S2, the control unit 100 can identify the main tank T1 (or T2) supplying ink based on the open/close status of the solenoids S1 and S2. . Therefore, based on the control signals of the solenoids S1 and S2, the control unit 100 detects the ink end of the main tank (for example, the main tank T1) that is supplying ink at the timing when the independent detection unit 90 detects the ink end. state.

Further, with the configuration of the ink supply path shown in FIG. 8, since it is composed of a single detection unit 90, it is possible to reduce the number of parts constituting the liquid ejection apparatus 1000. FIG. Therefore, the configuration of the ink supply path shown in FIG. 8 is a configuration capable of supplying ink from a plurality of main tanks T1 and T2 to a plurality of individual liquid chambers D1, D2 and D3. It is possible to accurately detect ink end while preventing air from entering due to insertion and removal of T2. Furthermore, the advantage of the single detection unit 90 is that the negative pressure for detecting the end of ink is half that of the detection unit 90 shown in FIG. It is also possible to prevent unexpected erroneous detection of ink end.

When the ink end is detected, the control unit 100 causes the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3 to operate in reverse (to drive the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3 so that the ink flows in the opposite direction to the normal supply direction of the ink). operate). Due to the reverse rotation of the individual pumps P1, P2, P3, the negative pressure state between the main tanks T1, T2 and the individual pumps P1, P2, P3 is eliminated, and the sensor 90b of the detection unit 90 is turned off.

However, when ink end is detected in the main tank T1 and the other main tank T2 is switched to supply ink, the control unit 100 performs reverse rotation of the individual pumps P1, P2, and P3. can't Therefore, since the detection unit 90 continues to detect the negative pressure state of the ink supply path, the detection unit 90 also detects that the main tank T2 is out of ink.

Therefore, in the liquid ejection apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment, after the main tanks T1 and T2 are switched (or replaced), the ink end is detected based on the flow of processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. This prevents erroneous detection of ink end. Also, the maintenance process after the ink end detection shown in FIG. 10 is performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, thereby eliminating the negative pressure in the ink supply path.

In the present application, a "liquid ejection apparatus" is an apparatus that includes a liquid ejection head or a liquid ejection unit, drives the liquid ejection head, and ejects liquid. Liquid ejecting apparatuses include not only apparatuses capable of ejecting liquid onto an object to which liquid can adhere, but also apparatuses ejecting liquid into air or liquid.

The "liquid ejecting apparatus" can include means for feeding, transporting, and ejecting an object to which liquid can adhere, as well as a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, and the like.

For example, as a “liquid ejection device”, an image forming device that ejects ink to form an image on paper, a powder that forms a layer to form a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional object) There is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that ejects a modeling liquid onto a body layer.

Further, the "liquid ejecting apparatus" is not limited to one that visualizes significant images such as characters and graphics by ejected liquid. For example, it includes those that form patterns that have no meaning per se, and those that form three-dimensional images.

The above-mentioned "substance to which a liquid can adhere" means a substance to which a liquid can adhere at least temporarily, such as a substance to which a liquid adheres and adheres, a substance which adheres and permeates, and the like. Specific examples include media such as recording media such as paper, recording paper, recording paper, film, and cloth, electronic components such as electronic substrates and piezoelectric elements, powder layers (powder layers), organ models, and test cells. Yes, and unless otherwise specified, includes anything that has liquid on it.

The material of the above-mentioned "thing to which a liquid can adhere" may be paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc., as long as the liquid can adhere even temporarily.

Further, the “liquid” is not particularly limited as long as it has a viscosity and surface tension that can be discharged from the liquid discharge head 4, but the viscosity is 30 mPa·s or less at normal temperature and pressure, or by heating or cooling. It is preferable to be

More specifically, solvents such as water and organic solvents, colorants such as dyes and pigments, functional-imparting materials such as polymerizable compounds, resins, and surfactants, biocompatible materials such as DNA, amino acids, proteins, and calcium. , edible materials such as natural pigments, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, etc. These are, for example, inkjet inks, surface treatment liquids, components of electronic elements and light emitting elements, and formation of electronic circuit resist patterns It can be used for applications such as liquids for liquids and material liquids for three-dimensional modeling.

Further, the ``liquid ejection device'' includes a device in which a liquid ejection head and an object to which liquid can be adhered move relative to each other, but is not limited to this. Specific examples include a serial type apparatus in which the liquid ejection head is moved and a line type apparatus in which the liquid ejection head is not moved.

In addition, as a "liquid ejection device", there are other processing liquid coating devices that eject processing liquid onto the paper surface in order to apply the processing liquid to the surface of the paper for the purpose of modifying the surface of the paper. There is an injection granulator that granulates fine particles of a raw material by injecting a composition liquid dispersed therein through a nozzle.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified within the scope of those skilled in the art, such as other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, etc. are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they exhibit the functions and effects of the present invention.

3 carriage 4 liquid discharge head 4n nozzle 5 main scanning motor 6 drive pulley 7 driven pulley 8 timing belt 10 sheet material 11 main guide member 12 transport belt 13 transport roller 50 transport area 51 transport mechanism 53 pump 53a, S1, S2 solenoid 55C, 55M, 55Y, 55K Main tank section 56 Tube 57 Liquid chamber 61 CPU
62 RAMs
63 engine 64 ROM
65 storage medium 66 I/F
67 LCDs
68 operation unit 69 bus 90 detection unit 100 control unit 1000 liquid ejection device

JP 2010-30086 A

Claims (5)

a pump that supplies the liquid to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid from a nozzle;
a tank filled with the liquid;
a supply path for supplying the liquid from the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head;
a liquid supply control unit provided for each of the plurality of tanks and controlling the supply of the liquid from the tanks to the liquid ejection head by opening or blocking the supply paths;
a pressure detection unit provided between the liquid supply control unit and the liquid ejection head in the supply path;
When the pressure detection unit detects that the pressure inside the supply path is smaller than a predetermined value, the remaining amount of the liquid among the plurality of tanks is determined based on the opening/closing state of the liquid supply control unit. a controller that determines which tank is running low and controls the liquid supply controller to supply the liquid from at least one of the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head;
with
The control unit
When it is detected that the tank has been switched or replaced, prohibiting the pressure detection unit from determining a tank with a low remaining amount,
reversing the pump to eliminate the negative pressure generated in the supply path;
restarting the determination of the pressure sensing unit after the negative pressure is eliminated;
A liquid ejection device characterized by: 2. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said pumps. The control unit
determining a pump to be subjected to maintenance among the plurality of pumps;
Reverse operation of the target pump,
3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the supply path is cut off. a pump that supplies the liquid to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid from a nozzle;
a tank filled with the liquid;
a supply path for supplying the liquid from the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head;
a liquid supply control unit provided for each of the plurality of tanks and controlling the supply of the liquid from the tanks to the liquid ejection head by opening or blocking the supply paths;
a pressure detection unit provided between the liquid supply control unit and the liquid ejection head in the supply path;
a controller that supplies the liquid from at least one of the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head by controlling the liquid supply controller;
A control method in a liquid ejection device comprising
When it is detected that the tank has been switched or replaced, prohibiting the pressure detection unit from determining a tank with a low remaining amount,
reversing the pump to eliminate the negative pressure generated in the supply path;
restarting the determination of the pressure sensing unit after the negative pressure is eliminated;
A control method characterized by: a pump that supplies the liquid to a liquid ejection head that ejects the liquid from a nozzle;
a tank filled with the liquid;
a supply path for supplying the liquid from the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head;
a liquid supply control unit provided for each of the plurality of tanks and controlling the supply of the liquid from the tanks to the liquid ejection head by opening or blocking the supply paths;
a pressure detection unit provided between the liquid supply control unit and the liquid ejection head in the supply path;
a controller that supplies the liquid from at least one of the plurality of tanks to the liquid ejection head by controlling the liquid supply controller;
A control program for a liquid ejection device comprising
When the controller detects that the tank has been switched or replaced,
prohibiting the pressure detection unit from determining a tank with a low remaining amount;
reversing the pump to eliminate the negative pressure generated in the supply path;
restarting the determination of the pressure sensing unit after the negative pressure is eliminated;
A control program that causes a computer to execute steps.

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