JP7306833B2 - inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to inkjet printers.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inkjet printers that perform printing by ejecting ink from an ink head have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink cartridge, a head unit, an ink supply tube connecting the ink cartridge and the head unit, an intermediate tank provided in the middle of the ink supply tube, and an ink tank provided in the intermediate tank. An inkjet printer is disclosed that includes a volume sensing member and a valve between an ink cartridge and an intermediate tank. In the ink jet printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the ink amount detection member detects that the amount of ink in the intermediate tank is low, the valve is opened to supply ink to the intermediate tank. Ink is thereby supplied to the head unit.

Further, conventionally, an ink jet printer is known that includes a capping device that protects the ink head by attaching a cap to the ink head and sucks ink from the ink head through the cap. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses an inkjet printer that includes a cap attached to an ink head, a cap moving mechanism that attaches or separates the cap from the ink head, and a suction pump. The capping device covers the nozzles of the ink head with a cap to suppress clogging of the nozzles. Also, the capping device sucks the ink in the nozzles with a suction pump to prevent or eliminate ejection failures of the nozzles.

JP 2006-341543 A JP 2018-192628 A

By the way, even in the ink jet printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200013, there is a possibility that an abnormality occurs in the ink supply system. For example, it is a problem that the ink cannot be delivered, or a problem that the ink cannot be detected even though the liquid is delivered. For example, if an error that prevents ink from being delivered occurs during printing, printing may fail. Alternatively, if an abnormality occurs during use of the ink jet printer in which it is not possible to detect the ink supply, the ink supply system may be damaged by continuing to supply ink without being able to detect the ink. In this way, it is preferable to minimize the occurrence of an ink supply system failure during the use of an inkjet printer.

In addition, even in the ink jet printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200021, there is a possibility that an abnormality may occur in the ink suction system. For example, it is a problem that ink cannot be sufficiently sucked from the ink head. When such an abnormality occurs, printing is performed using an ink head that is not properly sucking ink, which increases the risk of printing defects. As described above, since there is a high possibility of causing printing problems, it is desirable to be able to detect an abnormality in the ink suction system before printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer capable of reducing the possibility of malfunctions occurring during use.

The inkjet printer disclosed herein includes an ink container containing ink, an ink head for ejecting ink, an ink flow path connecting the ink container and the ink head, and a drive provided in the ink flow path. In some cases, an intermediate container provided in the ink flow path and the ink in the storage chamber are provided with a liquid-sending pump that sends ink in a direction from the ink container toward the ink head, and a storage chamber in which the ink is temporarily stored. a detection device configured to detect the amount of ink and transmit a signal when the detected amount of ink falls below a predetermined amount; and a connected controller.
The control device includes a receiving section, a supply control section, a test liquid feeding section, a liquid feeding amount storage section, and a first liquid feeding diagnostic section. The receiver receives a signal from the detector. The supply control unit drives the liquid transfer pump to fill at least the ink flow path, the intermediate container, and the ink head with ink. The test liquid sending section controls the liquid sending pump to send ink before ink filling by the supply control section. The liquid-sending amount storage unit stores a limit value of the amount of ink sent by the liquid-sending pump under the control of the test liquid-sending unit. In the first liquid-sending diagnosis unit, the receiving unit receives the signal from the detection device even when the amount of ink sent by the liquid-sending pump reaches the limit value under the control of the test liquid-sending unit. is diagnosed as the first abnormality.

According to the above-mentioned inkjet printer, an abnormality in the ink supply system (abnormality in which ink cannot be sent, or ink supply is detected before the ink supply system is filled with ink) is detected by means of test liquid transfer and detection of the amount of ink in the intermediate container. anomalies that cannot be detected) can be discovered. Therefore, if an abnormality is found, countermeasures can be taken before filling the ink supply system with ink. As a result, the risk of an ink supply system malfunction during use of the inkjet printer is reduced.

Further, another inkjet printer disclosed herein includes an ink container containing ink, an ink head for ejecting ink, an ink flow path connecting the ink container and the ink head, and ink temporarily An intermediate container provided in the ink flow path and an amount of ink in the storage chamber are detected, and a signal is generated when the detected amount of ink falls below a predetermined amount. a sensing device configured to transmit; a capping device; and a control device connected to the ink head, the sensing device, the cap moving mechanism, and the suction mechanism. The capping device includes a cap that can be attached to the ink head, a cap moving mechanism that attaches or separates the cap to the ink head, and a cap that is connected to the cap and attaches the cap to the ink head. a suction mechanism for sucking ink from the ink head when the ink head is pressed.
The control device includes a receiving section, a mounting control section, a suction control section, a suction time storage section, and a suction diagnosis section. The receiver receives a signal from the detector. The mounting control section controls the cap moving mechanism to mount the cap on the ink head. The suction control section controls the suction mechanism to suck ink after the cap is attached to the ink head under the control of the attachment control section. The suction time storage unit stores a limit time for the suction mechanism to perform suction under the control of the suction control unit. The suction diagnosis unit diagnoses an abnormality when the reception unit does not receive a signal from the detection device even when the time during which the suction mechanism performs suction under the control of the suction control unit reaches the limit time.

According to the other inkjet printer described above, by detecting the amount of ink in the intermediate container, it is possible to detect an abnormality in ink suction by the capping device during ink suction. Therefore, if an abnormality is found, countermeasures can be taken before printing. As a result, it is less likely that an ink head that is not properly sucking ink will be used for printing, resulting in poor printing.

According to the inkjet printer disclosed herein, it is possible to reduce the possibility of problems occurring during use of the inkjet printer.

1 is a front view of a printer according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the lower surface of the carriage; It is a partial sectional view near a nozzle. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ink supply system and a capping device; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a damper in a state where internal pressure is lower than a predetermined pressure; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the damper in a state where the internal pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure; 1 is a block diagram of a printer; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of operation confirmation before filling the ink supply system with ink. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of reconfirmation when an abnormality is found in the ink supply system.

An inkjet printer according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are, of course, not intended to limit the invention in particular. Further, members and portions having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are appropriately omitted or simplified. In the following description, when the inkjet printer is viewed from the front, the side away from the inkjet printer is the front, and the side closer to the inkjet printer is the rear. In addition, symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, up, and down, respectively. However, these directions are merely for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the installation mode of the inkjet printer.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a large format inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer") 10 according to one embodiment. The printer 10 prints an image on the recording medium 5 by ejecting ink from an ink head 50 mounted on a carriage 20 that moves the roll-shaped recording medium 5 in the front-rear direction and moves in the left-right direction.

A recording medium 5 is an object on which an image is printed. The recording medium 5 is not particularly limited. The recording medium 5 may be, for example, paper such as plain paper or inkjet printing paper, or may be a transparent sheet made of resin, glass, or the like. A sheet made of metal, rubber, or the like may be used. Also, it may be a cloth.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a carriage 20, a carriage moving device 30, a conveying device 40, an ink head 50, a capping device 90, a wiping device 95, and a control device 100.

The carriage moving device 30 includes a guide rail 31, a belt 32, left and right pulleys 33a and 33b, and a carriage motor . The carriage 20 is slidably engaged with the guide rails 31 . The guide rail 31 extends in the left-right direction. The guide rail 31 guides the lateral movement of the carriage 20 . Belt 32 is fixed to carriage 20 . The belt 32 is an endless belt. The belt 32 is wound around a pulley 33a provided on the right side of the guide rail 31 and a pulley 33b provided on the left side. A carriage motor 34 is attached to the right pulley 33a. Carriage motor 34 is electrically connected to control device 100 . Carriage motor 34 is controlled by control device 100 . When the carriage motor 34 is driven, the pulley 33a rotates and the belt 32 runs. Thereby, the carriage 20 moves in the left-right direction along the guide rails 31 .

A platen 12 is arranged below the carriage 20 . The platen 12 extends in the left-right direction. A recording medium 5 is placed on the platen 12 . The recording medium 5 on the platen 12 is moved back and forth by the conveying device 40 . The conveying device 40 includes a pinch roller 41 , a grit roller 42 and a feed motor 43 . A pinch roller 41 is provided above the platen 12 and presses down the recording medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 41 is arranged behind the carriage 20 . A grit roller 42 is provided on the platen 12 . The grit roller 42 is arranged below the pinch roller 41 . The grit roller 42 is provided at a position facing the pinch roller 41 . The grit roller 42 is connected to the feed motor 43 . The grit roller 42 is rotatable by receiving the driving force of the feed motor 43 . Feed motor 43 is electrically connected to control device 100 . Feed motor 43 is controlled by control device 100 . When the recording medium 5 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 41 and the grit roller 42 and the grit roller 42 rotates, the recording medium 5 is conveyed in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the lower surface of the carriage 20. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ink heads 50 are provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 20 . The ink head 50 is a member that ejects ink. A plurality of ink heads 50 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the carriage 20 . A plurality of nozzles 51 are formed on the lower surface of each of the plurality of ink heads 50 . The nozzles 51 are fine holes through which ink is ejected. A lower surface of the ink head 50 constitutes a nozzle surface 50a on which a plurality of nozzles 51 are formed. In the nozzle surface 50a, a plurality of nozzles 51 are aligned in the front-rear direction to form a nozzle row. Here, two nozzle rows are formed for one ink head 50 . However, the arrangement of the ink head 50 and the nozzles 51 is not limited to that described above.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view around the nozzle 51. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 , a case 52 , a vibration plate 53 and an actuator 54 are provided near the nozzle 51 . The case 52 is hollow. The case 52 is here divided into two parts arranged one above the other. An opening 52a is provided between the upper portion and the lower portion of the case 52 . A portion of the case 52 below the opening 52a constitutes a pressure chamber 52b. The nozzle 51 vertically penetrates the lower wall of the pressure chamber 52b. Ink is contained in the pressure chamber 52b. At the time of ink ejection, the ink contained in the pressure chamber 52b is ejected from the nozzle 51. FIG.

The diaphragm 53 is attached so as to block the opening 52a. The diaphragm 53, together with the case 52, defines a pressure chamber 52b. The diaphragm 53 is a member that can be elastically deformed inside and outside the pressure chamber 52b. The vibration plate 53 is configured to be deformable so as to increase and decrease the volume of the pressure chamber 52b. Diaphragm 53 is typically a resin film.

A side wall of the pressure chamber 52b is formed with an ink inlet 52c through which ink flows. However, the ink inlet 52c only needs to be connected to the pressure chamber 52b, and the position of the ink inlet 52c is not limited at all. Ink is supplied to the pressure chamber 52b through an ink inlet 52c.

An actuator 54 is in contact with the surface of the vibration plate 53 opposite to the pressure chamber 52b. The actuator 54 drives via the vibration plate 53 so as to increase or decrease the volume of the pressure chamber 52b. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 52b changes, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 51 due to the change in the volume of the pressure chamber 52b. The actuator 54 is, for example, a laminated piezoelectric element in which a piezoelectric material and a conductive layer are alternately laminated. Actuator 54 is electrically connected to and controlled by control device 100 . Actuator 54 expands or contracts upon receiving a drive signal from control device 100, and elastically deforms diaphragm 53 to the outside or inside of pressure chamber 52b.

As shown in FIG. 1, ink is supplied to the ink head 50 by an ink supply system SS. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the ink supply system SS and the capping device 90. As shown in FIG. The ink supply system SS is a system that supplies ink to the ink head 50 . Here, the ink supply system SS is provided for each nozzle row. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink supply system SS includes an ink cartridge 60, an ink flow path 61, a liquid feed pump 70, and a damper 80. As shown in FIG.

The ink cartridge 60 is an example of an ink container containing ink. The ink cartridge 60 here is of a closed type. In order to suppress deterioration of the contained ink, it is preferable that the ink cartridge 60 is configured as a closed type. One ink cartridge 60 stores, for example, one of process color ink and spot color ink. The ink material is not limited at all, and various materials conventionally used as ink materials for inkjet printers can be used. The ink may be, for example, solvent-based (solvent-based) pigment ink or water-based pigment ink. Alternatively, it may be water-based dye ink or UV-curing pigment ink that cures upon exposure to UV rays. The ink cartridge 60 contains, for example, a flexible pouch containing ink.

The ink channel 61 connects the ink cartridge 60 and the ink head 50 . Ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 60 to the ink head 50 through the ink channel 61 . Although the material of the ink channel 61 is not limited, for example, it is composed of a flexible tube.

The liquid-sending pump 70 is provided in the ink flow path 61 . The liquid-sending pump 70 is configured to send ink in the direction from the ink cartridge 60 toward the ink head 50 when driven. The liquid-sending pump 70 is a tube pump here. However, the type of liquid-sending pump 70 is not limited, and may be, for example, a diaphragm pump. The liquid transfer pump 70 is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 100 .

The damper 80 is provided between the ink flow path 61 , more specifically, between the liquid transfer pump 70 and the ink head 50 . The damper 80 has a storage chamber in which ink is temporarily stored to reduce pressure fluctuations of the ink. Further, the damper 80 is provided with a detection device for detecting the amount of ink in the storage chamber, and the control device 100 controls the operation of the liquid feed pump 70 based on the amount of ink in the storage chamber detected by the detection device. ing.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views schematically showing the configuration of the damper 80. FIG. Among them, FIG. 5A shows a state in which the pressure inside the damper 80 is lower than the predetermined pressure. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the pressure inside damper 80 is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the damper 80 includes a damper body 81, a damper membrane 82, an internal spring 83, a pressing member 84, a support spring 85, a filler 86, and a sensor 87. .

The damper body 81 is hollow. The storage chamber 81 a is configured inside the damper body 81 . An inflow port and an outflow port (not shown) are formed in the storage chamber 81a. Ink flows into the storage chamber 81a through the inlet and flows out of the storage chamber 81a through the outlet. Ink is temporarily stored in the storage chamber 81a.

The damper body 81 is formed with an opening 81b. The damper film 82 is provided so as to cover the opening 81b. The storage chamber 81 a is defined by a damper body 81 and a damper film 82 . The damper film 82 is made of, for example, a flexible resin film. The damper membrane 82 is deformable inward and outward of the reservoir chamber 81a in response to the pressure in the reservoir chamber 81a. The damper film 82 is attached to the inside and outside of the storage chamber 81a with enough tension to bend.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an internal spring 83 is provided inside the storage chamber 81a. The internal spring 83 is in contact with the surface of the damper membrane 82 on the storage chamber 81a side. The internal spring 83 is arranged in the storage chamber 81a in a compressed state. The internal spring 83 applies elastic force toward the damper film 82 .

The pressing member 84 is provided on the surface of the damper film 82 opposite to the storage chamber 81a. The pressing member 84 is supported by the internal spring 83 and is movable inside and outside the storage chamber 81a as the damper membrane 82 is bent.

The filler 86 is arranged outside the damper body 81 . The filler 86 is supported by the damper body 81 via a support spring 85 . As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the filler 86 is formed in a substantially U-shape. The filler 86 has a contact portion 86a, a support portion 86b, and a detected portion 86c. The contact portion 86a faces the pressing member 84 near the center in the extension direction. The support portion 86b extends perpendicularly to the contact portion 86a from the end of the contact portion 86a on the support spring 85 side. The detected portion 86c extends perpendicularly to the contact portion 86a from the end of the contact portion 86a on the sensor 87 side. The pressing member 84 contacts or separates from the contact portion 86a due to the pressure inside the storage chamber 81a. The support portion 86b is supported by a support spring 85. As shown in FIG. The detected portion 86 c is a portion detected by the sensor 87 .

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sensor 87 has a pair of detection portions 87a and 87b, and detects whether or not the detected portion 86c of the filler 86 is positioned between the detection portions 87a and 87b. are doing. Sensor 87 is a non-contact sensor here. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the pressure in the storage chamber 81a is below a predetermined pressure, the detected portion 86c of the filler 86 is located between the detecting portions 87a and 87b. At this time, the sensor 87 is set to emit a signal. As shown in FIG. 5B, as the pressure in the storage chamber 81a increases, the damper film 82 bends outward from the storage chamber 81a. At this time, the pressing member 84 presses the filler 86 to the outside of the storage chamber 81a. Thereby, the filler 86 rotates around the support spring 85 . Then, when the pressure in the storage chamber 81a becomes higher than a predetermined pressure, the detected portion 86c of the filler 86 moves to a position out of between the detecting portions 87a and 87b. At this time, the sensor 87 is set to stop the signal. Sensor 87 is connected to control device 100 . Control device 100 receives a signal from sensor 87 .

The damper film 82, the internal spring 83, the pressing member 84, the support spring 85, the filler 86, and the sensor 87 of the damper 80 function as a detection device SD that detects the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a. The detection device SD is configured to detect the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a and to transmit a signal when the detected amount of ink falls below a predetermined amount. The detection device SD here detects whether the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a is below a predetermined amount by detecting whether the pressure of the ink in the storage chamber 81a is below a predetermined pressure. do.

In this embodiment, the detection device SD is set to send a signal to the control device 100 when the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a falls below a predetermined amount. The originating operation may be the reverse operation. "Detecting device SD transmits a signal when the amount of ink in storage chamber 81a falls below a predetermined amount" means a state in which the amount of ink in storage chamber 81a exceeds or falls below a predetermined amount. It means that the signal transmission operation is switched between the state of In this embodiment, the detection device SD detects the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a by detecting the pressure in the storage chamber 81a. may Even when the amount of ink is directly detected by the detection device SD, the amount of ink is detected via a physical quantity different from the amount of ink, such as pressure, as in the present embodiment. Including the case of detection. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the detection device SD is configured to detect whether the amount of ink in the storage chamber 81a exceeds or falls below a predetermined amount. It may be possible to measure In that case, the detection device SD may include, for example, a pressure sensor capable of continuously measuring the pressure of the ink inside the storage chamber 81a.

Upon receiving the signal from the sensor 87 , the control device 100 drives the liquid transfer pump 70 . When the liquid-sending pump 70 is driven and the pressure in the storage chamber 81a becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the sensor 87 stops the signal. The control device 100 stops the liquid transfer pump 70 when the signal from the sensor 87 is interrupted. By this control, the amount of ink corresponding to the consumed ink is supplied to the ink head 50 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a home position P1 is set at the right end of the movable range of the carriage 20. As shown in FIG. The home position P1 is a position where the carriage 20 is arranged during printing standby. A capping device 90 is arranged below the carriage 20 at the home position P1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the capping device 90 includes a cap 91 , a cap moving mechanism 92 and a suction pump 93 .

The cap 91 is configured to be attachable to the ink head 50 . The caps 91 are provided in the same number as the ink heads 50 . One cap 91 is attached to one ink head 50 . The cap 91 has a container-like shape with an open top. The cap 91 is made of rubber or the like. When attached to the ink head 50 , the upper edge of the cap 91 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 .

A plurality of caps 91 are supported by one cap moving mechanism 92 . The cap moving mechanism 92 attaches or separates the plurality of caps 91 to the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 . The cap moving mechanism 92 supports the cap 91 from below and moves it vertically. Thereby, the cap 91 is attached to the ink head 50 and separated. The cap moving mechanism 92 has, for example, a drive motor (not shown). The cap moving mechanism 92 is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 100 . In this embodiment, the cap moving mechanism 92 vertically moves the cap 91 to attach it to the ink head 50, but it may be configured to obliquely slide and attach the cap 91, for example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the suction pump 93 is connected to multiple caps 91 . The suction pump 93 sucks ink from the ink head 50 when the cap 91 is attached to the ink head 50 . The suction pump 93 is, for example, a decompression pump. The suction pump 93 sucks the ink from the ink head 50 by decompressing the inside of the cap 91 in close contact with the nozzle surface 50a. The suction pump 93 is electrically connected to and controlled by the control device 100 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a wiping device 95 is provided to the left of the home position P1. The wiping device 95 performs a wiping operation to wipe the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 . The wiping device 95 has a wiper 96 and a wiper moving mechanism 97 .

The wiper 96 is configured in a flat plate shape. The wiper 96 is provided here so that the flat portion faces the front-rear direction. The wiper 96 is made of rubber, for example. The upper end of the wiper 96 is set at a position slightly higher than the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 . Therefore, when the wiper moving mechanism 97 moves the wiper 96 while the ink head 50 is positioned on the movement path of the wiper 96 , the wiper 96 wipes the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 .

The wiper moving mechanism 97 is configured to move the wiper 96 in the front-rear direction. The wiper moving mechanism 97 includes, for example, a drive motor and a belt (not shown). Wiper moving mechanism 97 is electrically connected to and controlled by control device 100 .

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 200 is provided at the right end of the printer 10. As shown in FIG. The operation panel 200 is provided with a display section for displaying device status, input keys operated by the user, and the like. Operation panel 200 is connected to control device 100 . Operation panel 200 is an example of a display device connected to control device 100 . However, the display device connected to the control device 100 is not limited to the operation panel 200, and may be, for example, an external display.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the printer 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 100 includes a carriage motor 34, a feed motor 43, an actuator 54 of the ink head 50, a liquid feed pump 70, a cap moving mechanism 92, a suction pump 93, and a wiper moving mechanism. 97 and the operation panel 200 are electrically connected to be able to control them. The control device 100 is also electrically connected to the sensor 87 of the detection device SD and receives signals from the sensor 87 .

The configuration of the control device 100 is not particularly limited. The control device 100 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited. processing unit), ROM (read only memory) that stores the program executed by the CPU, RAM (random access memory) that is used as a working area for developing the program, and memory that stores the above program and various data and a storage device. Note that the control device 100 does not necessarily have to be provided inside the printer 10. For example, the control device 100 may be a computer or the like installed outside the printer 10 and connected to the printer 10 via a wire or wirelessly so as to be communicable. good too.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the control device 100 includes a print control section 110 , a capping control section 120 , a wiping control section 130 , an ink supply section 140 and an operation confirmation section 150 . The control device 100 may include other processing units, but illustration and description thereof are omitted here.

The print control unit 110 controls printing operations of the printer 10 . The print control unit 110 prints an image on a part of the recording medium 5 by ejecting ink from the ink head 50 while controlling the carriage motor 34 to move the carriage 20 in the horizontal direction. The print control unit 110 further moves the print position on the recording medium 5 by controlling the feed motor 43 to move the recording medium 5 forward and backward. An image is printed on the recording medium 5 by these operations.

The capping control section 120 controls the capping operation and ink suction operation of the printer 10 . The capping control unit 120 controls the cap moving mechanism 92 to attach the cap 91 to the ink head 50 . Also, during printing, the cap 91 is separated from the ink head 50 . The capping control unit 120 also drives the suction pump 93 to suck ink from the ink head 50 with the cap 91 attached to the ink head 50 . Ink suction is performed at predetermined times, such as before printing.

Wiping control unit 130 controls the wiping operation of printer 10 . The wiping control unit 130 controls the wiper moving mechanism 97 to move the wiper 96 in the front-rear direction, thereby wiping the nozzle surface 50 a of the ink head 50 with the wiper 96 . Wiping is performed at predetermined times, such as after ink suction.

The ink supply section 140 controls the supply of ink to the ink head 50 . As shown in FIG. 6, the ink supply section 140 includes a reception section 141 and a supply control section 142 . The receiver 141 is configured to receive a signal from the detection device SD. The receiver 141 receives a signal when the pressure of ink in the storage chamber 81a of the damper 80 falls below a predetermined value. When the receiver 141 receives the signal from the sensor 87 , the supply controller 142 drives the liquid feed pump 70 to supply ink to the ink supply system SS including the ink flow path 61 , the damper 80 and the ink head 50 . supply. The supply control unit 142 stops the liquid transfer pump 70 when the signal from the sensor 87 is interrupted. As a result, the ink supply unit 140 supplies the ink head 50 with an amount of ink corresponding to the amount consumed by the ink head 50 . Further, in a situation where the ink supply system SS is not filled with ink (for example, before the printer 10 is started to be used), the supply control unit 142 drives the liquid feeding pump 70 to fill the ink supply system SS with ink. do. Also in this case, the completion of ink filling is determined by whether or not the signal from the detection device SD has turned OFF, as in the case of normal ink refilling.

The operation confirmation unit 150 is set to confirm the operation of the ink supply system SS and the capping device 90 when the ink supply system SS is not filled with ink. As a situation in which the ink supply system SS is not filled with ink, it is preferable to set, for example, before starting to use the printer 10 or after replacing the ink cartridge 60 . However, there is no particular limitation as to what kind of situation is set. As shown in FIG. 6 , the operation confirmation section 150 includes a first liquid supply confirmation section 160 , a second liquid supply confirmation section 170 and a suction confirmation section 180 .

The first liquid supply confirmation unit 160 confirms whether the ink supply system SS is normal before the ink supply unit 140 fills the ink supply system SS with ink. For example, if there is a failure in the detection device SD, and ink is supplied to the damper 80 but is not detected, there is a risk that the ink supply system SS will be damaged by an oversupply of ink if no action is taken. In that case, for example, the damper membrane 82 of the damper 80 may be ruptured and the storage chamber 81a may burst. The first liquid transfer confirmation unit 160 is provided to detect such problems in advance.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first liquid transfer confirmation unit 160 includes a test liquid transfer unit 161, a liquid transfer amount storage unit 162, a first liquid transfer diagnosis unit 163, and a first display control unit 164. there is The test liquid sending unit 161 is configured to send ink by controlling the liquid sending pump 70 before ink filling by the supply control unit 142 . The test liquid feeding is a liquid feeding for checking whether the ink supply system SS is normal before ink is filled by the supply control unit 142 . The liquid feeding amount storage unit 162 stores a limit value (hereinafter referred to as limit supply amount) of the amount of ink that is fed by the liquid feeding pump 70 under the control of the test liquid feeding unit 161 . The first liquid-sending diagnosis unit 163 ensures that the receiving unit 141 receives the signal from the detection device SD even when the amount of ink sent by the liquid-sending pump 70 under the control of the test liquid-sending unit 161 reaches the limit supply amount. If so, it is diagnosed as the first liquid feeding abnormality. The details of the diagnosis will be described later.

Although the limit supply amount is described above as the amount of liquid sent by the liquid transfer pump 70, it may be any other amount as long as it is an equivalent physical amount. That is, for example, the limit supply amount may be the number of times the liquid transfer pump 70 is driven, the liquid transfer time, or the like. The “liquid transfer amount of the liquid transfer pump 70 ” here is a concept including other physical quantities that can be equivalently calculated with the liquid transfer amount (volume or weight) of the liquid transfer pump 70 .

The first display control unit 164 displays on the display device (for example, the operation panel 200) a display indicating the possibility that the ink is not being supplied when the first liquid feeding diagnostic unit 163 diagnoses the first liquid feeding abnormality. display. The first display control unit 164 displays, for example, a display indicating that the supply of ink to the damper 80 cannot be confirmed and a display prompting confirmation of the mounting state of the ink cartridge 60 .

When the first liquid-feeding confirmation unit 160 diagnoses that the first liquid-feeding abnormality has occurred, the second liquid-feeding confirmation unit 170 repeats the same confirmation as the first liquid-feeding confirmation unit 160 . set to enforce. As shown in FIG. 6 , the second liquid transfer confirmation section 170 includes a reset section 171 , a re-diagnosis section 172 , a re-diagnosis frequency storage section 173 , a second liquid transfer diagnosis section 174 , and a second display control section 175 . and

The reset unit 171 receives a reset operation after the first liquid feeding diagnosis unit 163 diagnoses the first abnormality. A reset operation is performed on the operation panel 200, for example. Prior to the reset operation, it is preferable that the user reinserts the ink cartridge 60 . The reset operation completes preparations for performing the same confirmation as the abnormality confirmation by the first liquid transfer confirmation unit 160 again.

After the reset operation, the re-diagnosis section 172 instructs the test liquid feeding section 161 and the first liquid feeding diagnosis section 163 to re-diagnose whether or not the first liquid feeding abnormality has occurred. The re-diagnosis frequency storage unit 173 stores the limit number of reset operations and re-diagnosis. The second liquid-feeding diagnostic unit 174 diagnoses a second liquid-feeding abnormality when the number of reset operations and re-diagnoses reaches the limit number. Although the limit number of times is not particularly limited, it is, for example, "twice". The second display control section 175 causes the display device to display a display indicating the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the detecting device SD when the second liquid feeding diagnosis section 174 diagnoses the second liquid feeding abnormality. The second display control unit 175 displays, for example, a display indicating that the supply of ink to the damper 80 cannot be confirmed even in the retest, and a display prompting confirmation of the detection device SD.

The suction confirmation unit 180 confirms whether or not the capping device 90 is normal after the first liquid supply diagnosis unit 163 or the second liquid supply diagnosis unit 174 confirms that the ink supply system SS is normal. By confirming that the ink supply system SS is normal by the first liquid-feeding diagnosis unit 163 or the second liquid-feeding diagnosis unit 174, it is ensured that the detection device SD is normal. Therefore, the suction confirmation unit 180 confirms the operation of the capping device 90 using the detection device SD.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the suction confirmation unit 180 includes a mounting control unit 181 , a suction control unit 182 , a suction time storage unit 183 , a suction diagnosis unit 184 and a third display control unit 185 . The mounting control unit 181 controls the cap moving mechanism 92 to mount the cap 91 on the ink head 50 . The suction control unit 182 controls the suction pump 93 to suck ink after the cap 91 is attached to the ink head 50 under the control of the attachment control unit 181 . The suction time storage unit 183 stores a limit time for the suction pump 93 to perform suction under the control of the suction control unit 182 (hereinafter referred to as limit suction time). The suction diagnosis unit 184 diagnoses a suction abnormality when the reception unit 141 does not receive a signal from the detection device SD even when the time during which the suction pump 93 performs suction under the control of the suction control unit 182 reaches the limit suction time. .

The third display control unit 185 causes the display device to display a display indicating the possibility that the capping device 90 has an abnormality when the suction diagnosis unit 184 diagnoses the suction abnormality. The third display control unit 185 displays, for example, a display indicating that ink has not been discharged from the damper 80 and a display prompting confirmation of the capping device 90 .

A series of operation checks performed before ink is filled into the ink supply system SS will be described below. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of operation confirmation before ink is filled into the ink supply system SS. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow of reconfirmation when an abnormality is found in the ink supply system SS. In FIG. 7, steps S01 to S06 indicate steps for initial confirmation of the ink supply system SS. If no abnormality is found in the ink supply system SS in steps S01 to S06, the process proceeds to each step of checking the capping device 90, as shown in FIG. The steps for confirming the capping device 90 are steps S07 to S13.

On the other hand, if an abnormality is found in the ink supply system SS in steps S01 to S06, the process proceeds to the step of reconfirming the ink supply system SS. As shown in FIG. 8, the steps for reconfirming the ink supply system SS are steps S14 to S27. Here, the reconfirmation of the ink supply system SS is performed a maximum of twice, and if the reconfirmation determines that the ink supply system SS is normal, the steps are the steps of confirming the capping device 90 (S07 to S13).

As shown in FIG. 7, in step S01, the liquid feed pump 70 is driven and ink is supplied for a test. In the subsequent step S02, it is checked whether the signal from the detection device SD has turned OFF. If the signal from the detection device SD is OFF ("YES"), the test supply of ink is stopped in step S03. This is a normal ink supply stop.

If the signal from the detection device SD is not OFF in step S02 ("NO"), in step S04, whether the amount of ink Q1 supplied in the test supply (step S01) has reached the limit supply amount Qmax. It is decided whether Incidentally, in practice, the ink amount Q1 and the limit supply amount Qmax may be managed by the supply time, for example. If the ink amount Q1 supplied by the test supply has not yet reached the limit supply amount Qmax (in the case of "NO"), the test supply of ink continues as shown in FIG. If the signal from the detection device SD is turned off before the ink amount Q1 supplied by the test supply reaches the limit supply amount Qmax, the test supply of ink is normally stopped in step S03. In step S04, if the supplied ink amount Q1 reaches the limit supply amount Qmax ("YES"), as shown in FIG. 7, the test supply of ink is stopped (step S05). This is an abnormal stop. In the following step S06, the display device displays the first liquid feeding abnormality.

If an abnormality is found in this initial confirmation of the ink supply system SS, there are two main causes. One is when no ink is supplied and the other is when ink is supplied but the detection device SD does not detect it. As a possibility, for example, there are many cases where the ink is not supplied due to incorrect installation of the ink cartridge 60 or insufficient remaining amount. A notice is displayed.

In step S03, if the ink test supply ends normally, the process proceeds to step S07. In step S<b>07 , the cap 91 is attached to the ink head 50 . In the subsequent step S08, the suction pump 93 is driven to suck the ink. When the ink is sucked normally, the ink inside the ink head 50 is discharged to the outside of the ink head 50 by the suction force of the suction pump 93 . As a result, the pressure of the ink inside the damper 80 is lowered and the sensor 87 is turned on. However, if, for example, the ink suction path of the capping device 90 is not sufficiently airtight, the cap 91 and the nozzle surface 50a of the ink head 50 are not kept in close contact, or the suction pump 93 malfunctions, , the discharge speed of the ink from the ink head 50 is slowed down, and the time during which the sensor 87 is turned on is delayed. Alternatively, the sensor 87 does not turn ON.

In step S09, it is confirmed whether or not the signal from the detection device SD has turned ON. If the signal from the detection device SD is ON ("YES"), the suction pump 93 is stopped in step S10. This is a normal stop.

If the signal from the detection device SD is not ON in step S09 ("NO"), it is determined in step S11 whether or not the ink suction time T1 has reached the limit time Tmax. If the ink suction time T1 has not yet reached the limit time Tmax ("NO"), ink suction continues as shown in FIG. If the signal from the detection device SD is turned ON before the ink suction time T1 reaches the limit time Tmax, the suction pump 93 is normally stopped in step S10. In step S11, if the ink suction time T1 reaches the limit time Tmax ("YES"), the suction pump 93 is stopped as shown in FIG. 7 (step S12). This is an abnormal stop. In the following step S13, a display indicating suction abnormality is displayed on the display device.

As described above, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment controls the liquid feeding pump 70 to send ink before the supply control section 142 fills the ink, and the test liquid feeding section 161 controls the liquid feeding section 161 to send ink. A liquid feed amount storage unit 162 that stores a limit value (limit supply amount Qmax) of the amount of ink sent by the liquid pump 70, and a test liquid feed unit 161 controls the amount Q1 of ink sent by the liquid feed pump 70 to limit supply. A first liquid feeding diagnosis section 163 is provided for diagnosing a first liquid feeding abnormality when the receiving section 141 is still receiving a signal from the detection device SD even when the amount Qmax is reached. As a result, an abnormality in the ink supply system SS can be detected before the ink supply system SS is filled with ink.

In particular, according to the printer 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to know before ink is supplied that there is a possibility that the ink supply system SS will be damaged by continuing to supply ink without being able to detect the ink supply. The first liquid feeding abnormality includes the case where the ink can be fed but cannot be detected. Therefore, according to the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to know before the ink is supplied that the ink supply system SS may be damaged by the ink supply.

It is possible, and desirable, to diagnose an abnormality in the ink supply system SS by the same method even after the ink supply system SS is filled with ink. However, if an abnormality in the ink supply system SS can be diagnosed before the ink supply system SS is filled with ink, countermeasures can be taken at that time. As a result, there is an advantage that the possibility of an abnormality occurring in the ink supply system SS during use of the printer 10 is reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer 10 is set to display on the display device an indication that ink may not be supplied when the first liquid feeding abnormality is recognized. As the cause of the first liquid feeding abnormality, the possibility that the ink supply has not been detected is higher than the possibility that the ink supply has not been detected. can be suggested to the user. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user involved in investigating the cause of the abnormality.

Further, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, after the cap 91 is attached to the ink head 50 , the suction control unit 182 controls the suction pump 93 to suck ink, and the suction control unit 182 controls the suction pump 93 . Even if the time T1 during which the suction pump 93 performs suction reaches the limit time Tmax under the control of the suction time storage unit 183 that stores the limit time Tmax during which the suction control unit 182 performs suction, the receiving unit 141 detects that the detection device SD and a suction diagnosis unit 184 for diagnosing suction abnormality when no signal is received. With such a configuration, it is possible to detect an abnormality in ink suction by the capping device 90 . Therefore, printing is performed using the ink head 50 that is not sucking ink normally, and as a result, the risk of printing failure is reduced.

Especially in this embodiment, the operation check of the capping device 90 is performed using the ink supplied by the test supply after it is confirmed that the detection device SD is operating normally. Therefore, it is not necessary to supply ink for checking the operation of the capping device 90, which is efficient. In addition, the result is reliable because it is performed after it has been confirmed that the detection device SD is operating normally.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer 10 is set to display on the display device an indication that there is a possibility that the capping device 90 has an abnormality when a suction abnormality is recognized. Therefore, the user can know from the display that there is a possibility that the capping device 90 is abnormal. In this embodiment, since it is confirmed that the detection device SD is operating normally, it is almost certain that the capping device 90 or the nozzle surface 50a of the ink head 50 is the cause of the abnormality. Therefore, the display device may display an indication that the capping device 90 or the nozzle surface 50a of the ink head 50 is abnormal.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the first liquid feeding abnormality is diagnosed in step S04 ("YES"), the printer 10 reconfirms the ink supply system SS (steps S14 to S27). . As described above, when the first liquid feeding abnormality is diagnosed, the case where the ink cartridge 60 is incorrectly installed or the remaining amount is insufficient is included. Therefore, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment reconfirms the ink supply system SS, and if the same abnormality as the first abnormality still occurs, the second liquid feeding abnormality is recognized as the abnormality of the ink supply system SS. certify. Here, the printer 10 reconfirms the ink supply system SS a maximum of two times.

In step S14, a reset operation is performed. This makes it possible to re-diagnose the ink supply system SS. The user should remount the ink cartridge 60 and check the remaining amount before step S14. In the following step S15, ink test supply is performed in the same manner as in step S01. After that, similarly to the initial confirmation of the ink supply system SS, reception of a signal from the detection device SD is confirmed in step S16. Stopped (Normal stop). In this case, the step proceeds to step S07.

If the signal from the detection device SD is not OFF in step S16 ("NO"), in step S18, whether or not the amount of ink Q1 supplied in the test supply (step S15) has reached the limit supply amount Qmax. It is decided whether If the ink amount Q1 supplied by the test supply has not yet reached the limit supply amount Qmax (in the case of "NO"), the test supply of ink continues as shown in FIG. If the signal from the detection device SD is turned off before the ink amount Q1 supplied by the test supply reaches the limit supply amount Qmax, the test supply of ink is normally stopped in step S17. In step S18, if the supplied ink amount Q1 reaches the limit supply amount Qmax ("YES"), as shown in FIG. 8, the test supply of ink is stopped (step S19). This is an abnormal stop. In the following step S20, the display of the first liquid feeding abnormality is displayed again on the display device.

The second rediagnosis of the ink supply system SS (steps S21 to S27) is similar to the first rediagnosis of the ink supply system SS (steps S14 to S20). Briefly, therefore, a reset operation is performed in step S21. In step S22, a test supply of ink is performed. In step S23, the reception of the signal from the detection device SD is confirmed, and if the signal is not received (in the case of "YES"), the test supply of ink is stopped (normal stop) in step S24. In this case, the step proceeds to step S07. If the result of step S23 is "NO", it is determined in step S25 whether or not the ink amount Q1 supplied by the test supply has reached the limit supply amount Qmax. If the signal from the detection device SD is turned off before the supplied ink amount Q1 reaches the limit supply amount Qmax, the test supply of ink stops normally (step S24). When the supplied ink amount Q1 reaches the limit supply amount Qmax (the result of step S25 is "YES"), the test supply of ink is stopped (step S26). This is an abnormal stop. In the following step S27, a display of the second liquid feeding abnormality is displayed on the display device. The display of the second liquid supply abnormality is, here, an indication of the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the detection device SD.

As described above, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes the reset unit 171 that receives a reset operation after the first liquid-feeding diagnostic unit 163 diagnoses the first liquid-feeding abnormality, and the test liquid-feeding unit 161 and A re-diagnosis unit 172 that instructs the first liquid supply diagnosis unit 163 to re-diagnose whether or not the first liquid supply abnormality has occurred, and a re-diagnosis frequency storage that stores the limit number of reset operations and re-diagnoses. and a second liquid feeding diagnosis section 174 for diagnosing a second liquid feeding abnormality when the number of reset operations and re-diagnoses reaches the limit number. According to such a configuration, if the cause of the initial diagnosis of the ink supply system SS is a minor problem (for example, incorrect installation of the ink cartridge 60), it can be diagnosed as normal by re-diagnosing after the countermeasure is taken. can. Also, if the initial diagnostic result of the ink supply system SS indicates that the cause is a serious failure (for example, a failure of the detection device SD), the serious failure can be confirmed by re-diagnosis.

Further, in the printer 10 according to the present embodiment, when the second liquid feeding diagnostic unit 174 diagnoses the second liquid feeding abnormality, the printer 10 displays on the display device the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the detecting device SD. display. According to such a display, the user is warned of the possibility of an abnormality in the detection device SD, which is likely to pose a major problem among the abnormalities in the ink supply system SS. The user can thereby recognize the possibility of serious failure and take countermeasures. It should be noted that, when the second liquid feeding abnormality is diagnosed, the operation of the printer 10 may be restricted such that, for example, ink cannot be filled.

The limit supply amount Qmax shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is set to be at least smaller than the capacity of the storage chamber 81a of the damper 80. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the limit supply amount Qmax and the maximum value (here, 2×Qmax) of the ink supply amount in reconfirmation of the ink supply system SS by the second liquid transfer confirmation unit 170 (here, twice at maximum) (3×Qmax) is set smaller than the capacity of the storage chamber 81 a of the damper 80 . According to this setting, even if the abnormality confirmation and reconfirmation of the ink supply system SS are performed to the maximum, the storage chamber 81a will not be filled with ink. Therefore, it is safe without damaging the damper 80 . Here, the printer 10 is set to reconfirm the ink supply system SS twice at most, but it may be set not to reconfirm. It may be set to be smaller than the capacity of the storage chamber 81 a of the damper 80 . If the limit supply amount Qmax is set in such a manner, it is safe because the storage chamber 81a will not become full due to the test feeding of the ink.

A preferred embodiment has been described above. However, the above embodiments are merely examples, and the technology disclosed herein can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, confirmation of the ink supply system SS by test liquid feeding was performed before ink filling by the supply control unit 142 . However, confirmation of the ink supply system SS by test liquid feeding may be performed not only before ink filling by the supply control unit 142, but also in other cases, for example, during maintenance after ink filling. The timing of checking the ink supply system SS by test liquid feeding is not particularly limited.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, confirmation of the ink suction system was performed after confirmation of the ink supply system SS, but this need not be the case. Confirmation of the ink suction system may be performed separately from confirmation of the ink supply system SS. For example, confirmation of the ink suction system may be performed each time ink is suctioned as maintenance. The timing of checking the ink suction system is not particularly limited.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the limit supply amount in the abnormality confirmation of the ink supply system SS and the limit supply amount in the reconfirmation are the same, but they do not have to be the same. The integrated amount of ink in the damper 80 increases each time an abnormality in the ink supply system SS is confirmed. Therefore, for example, the limit supply amount in the first reconfirmation is smaller than the limit supply amount in the first confirmation of the ink supply system SS, and the limit supply amount in the second reconfirmation is smaller than the limit supply amount in the first reconfirmation. The supply amount may be smaller. The maximum number of times of reconfirmation is not particularly limited, and how to set the limit supply amount in each reconfirmation is also not limited.

The configuration of the ink supply system is not limited to the one described above. Other members such as valves and circulation channels may be added as appropriate to the ink supply system, and some members may be removed.

In addition, the configuration of the inkjet printer is not limited unless otherwise specified. For example, the technology disclosed herein can also be used for flatbed type inkjet printers. It can also be used for devices in which an inkjet printer is incorporated, such as an inkjet printer with a cutting head.

10 inkjet printer 50 ink head 60 ink cartridge (ink container)
61 ink channel 70 liquid feed pump 80 damper (intermediate container)
81a storage chamber 87 sensor 90 capping device 91 cap 92 cap moving mechanism 93 suction pump (suction mechanism)
100 Control device 141 Receiving unit 142 Supply control unit 161 Test liquid feeding unit 162 Liquid feeding amount storage unit 163 First liquid feeding diagnosis unit 164 First display control unit 171 Reset unit 172 Re-diagnosis unit 173 Re-diagnosis frequency storage unit 174 Second Liquid sending diagnosis unit 175 Second display control unit 181 Mounting control unit 182 Suction control unit 183 Suction time storage unit 184 Suction diagnosis unit 185 Third display control unit (display control unit)
200 Operation panel (display device)
SD detection device SS ink supply system Q1 ink supply amount Qmax limit supply amount (limit value)
T1 suction time Tmax limit time

Claims (7)

an ink container containing ink;
an ink head that ejects ink;
an ink flow path connecting the ink container and the ink head;
a liquid-sending pump provided in the ink flow path that, when driven, sends ink in a direction from the ink container toward the ink head;
a damper that includes a storage chamber in which ink is temporarily stored and is provided in the ink flow path to reduce pressure fluctuations of the ink ;
a detection device configured to detect the pressure of the ink in the reservoir and to transmit a signal when the detected pressure of the ink is below a predetermined pressure ;
a control device connected to the ink head, the liquid transfer pump, and the detection device;
with
The control device is
a receiver that receives a signal from the detection device;
a supply control unit configured to drive the liquid transfer pump when the receiving unit receives a signal from the detection device, and to fill at least the ink flow path, the damper , and the ink head with ink;
a test liquid sending unit that sends ink by controlling the liquid sending pump before ink filling by the supply control unit;
a liquid feed amount storage unit that stores a limit value for the amount of ink that is fed by the liquid feed pump under the control of the test liquid feed unit;
A first abnormality is diagnosed when the receiving section receives a signal from the detecting device even when the amount of ink sent by the liquid sending pump reaches the limit value under the control of the test liquid sending section. a first liquid feeding diagnosis unit;
is equipped with
inkjet printer. a display device connected to the control device;
The control device includes a first display control section that causes the display device to display a display indicating the possibility that ink is not being supplied when the first liquid supply diagnosis section diagnoses the first abnormality. ,
The inkjet printer according to claim 1. The limit value is set smaller than the capacity of the storage chamber,
The inkjet printer according to claim 1 or 2. The control device is
a reset unit that receives a reset operation after the first liquid feeding diagnosis unit diagnoses the first abnormality;
a re-diagnosis section for instructing the test liquid feeding section and the first liquid feeding diagnosis section to re-diagnose whether or not the first abnormality occurs after the reset operation;
a re-diagnosis frequency storage unit that stores the limit number of times for the reset operation and the re-diagnosis;
a second liquid feeding diagnostic unit that diagnoses a second abnormality when the reset operation and the re-diagnosis reach the limit number of times;
is equipped with
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3. a display device connected to the control device;
The control device causes the display device to display a display indicating the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the detection device when the second liquid feeding diagnosis unit diagnoses the second abnormality. is equipped with
The inkjet printer according to claim 4. an ink container containing ink;
an ink head that ejects ink;
an ink flow path connecting the ink container and the ink head;
a liquid-sending pump provided in the ink flow path that, when driven, sends ink in a direction from the ink container toward the ink head;
a damper that includes a storage chamber in which ink is temporarily stored and is provided in the ink flow path to reduce pressure fluctuations of the ink ;
a detection device configured to detect the pressure of the ink in the reservoir and to transmit a signal when the detected pressure of the ink is below a predetermined pressure ;
a cap configured to be attachable to the ink head; a cap moving mechanism that attaches the cap to the ink head or separates the cap from the ink head; a capping device comprising a suction mechanism for sucking ink from the ink head;
a control device connected to the ink head, the liquid transfer pump, the detection device, the cap moving mechanism, and the suction mechanism;
with
The control device is
a receiver that receives a signal from the detection device;
a supply control unit configured to drive the liquid transfer pump when the receiving unit receives a signal from the detection device, and to fill at least the ink flow path, the damper, and the ink head with ink;
a mounting control unit that controls the cap moving mechanism to mount the cap on the ink head;
a suction control unit that controls the suction mechanism to suck ink after the cap is attached to the ink head under the control of the attachment control unit;
a suction time storage unit that stores a limit time for the suction mechanism to perform suction under the control of the suction control unit;
a suction diagnosis unit for diagnosing an abnormality when the reception unit does not receive a signal from the detection device even when the time during which the suction mechanism performs suction under the control of the suction control unit reaches the limit time;
is equipped with
inkjet printer. a display device connected to the control device;
The control device includes a display control unit that causes the display device to display a display indicating the possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the capping device when the suction diagnosis unit diagnoses that there is an abnormality.
The inkjet printer according to claim 6.

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