JP7451883B2 - liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from a nozzle.

As an example of a liquid ejection device that ejects liquid from a nozzle, Patent Document 1 describes a printer that performs recording by ejecting ink from a nozzle. In the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, the head is driven to eject ink from the nozzles, and it is determined whether ink has been ejected from the nozzles based on the change in potential at the detection electrode at this time.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-103464

Here, in the printer of Patent Document 1, nozzles for ejecting ink of a plurality of colors are formed on the same surface of the head. Therefore, ink of a different color may flow into a nozzle that ejects ink of a certain color, resulting in color mixing in the ink within the nozzle that ejects ink of a certain color. Although it is possible to determine whether ink has been ejected from the nozzle based on the change in potential at the detection electrode described above, it is not possible to determine whether color mixing has occurred. In addition, when trying to determine whether color mixture has occurred in a printer according to Patent Document 1, which can determine whether ink has been ejected from a nozzle, it is necessary to determine whether or not ink has been ejected from a nozzle. It is required to distinguish and determine whether or not a problem has occurred.

An object of the present invention is to distinguish and determine whether or not an ejection failure occurs in which ink is not ejected from a nozzle, and whether or not an abnormality other than the ejection failure occurs regarding ejection of liquid from a nozzle. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejecting device capable of discharging liquid.

The liquid ejection device of the present invention includes a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, a signal output section that outputs a different signal depending on whether or not liquid is ejected from the nozzle, and a control section, and the control section First information for determining whether an ejection failure in which liquid is not ejected from the nozzle has occurred, and whether or not an abnormality other than the ejection failure has occurred regarding liquid ejection from the nozzle. second information for determining whether or not the ejection failure has occurred, and second information that changes depending on whether or not the ejection failure has occurred; an abnormality determination command that instructs an abnormality determination including determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred, and when the abnormality determination command is input, the liquid ejection head is controlled to discharge liquid from the nozzle. The first information based on the signal from the signal output unit is inputted, the liquid ejection head is controlled to record a test pattern on the ejection target medium, and the second information corresponding to the test pattern is ejected. Based on the first information and the second information, it is determined whether or not the ejection failure has occurred, and whether or not the other abnormality has occurred.
Further, the liquid ejection device of the present invention includes a liquid ejection head having a nozzle, and a detection section that detects the liquid ejected from the nozzle, and the liquid ejection head is arranged such that the liquid ejection head is configured to eject the liquid from the nozzle to the detection section. a first signal output section that outputs a different signal depending on whether or not liquid is ejected from the nozzle when the head is driven ; and a signal that corresponds to a recording result of a test pattern recorded on the ejection target medium by the liquid ejection head. a second signal output section that outputs a second signal output section, and a control section, wherein the control section determines whether a non-discharge condition in which liquid is not ejected from the nozzle has occurred, based on the signal output from the first signal output section. first information for determining whether or not the liquid is ejected from the nozzle, and based on a signal output by the second signal output unit, determine whether an abnormality other than the non-ejection has occurred in the ejection of the liquid from the nozzle; obtaining second information for determining whether or not the discharge occurs, determining whether or not the discharge failure occurs in the nozzle based on the first information, and determining whether the discharge failure occurs or not; Based on the first information and the second information, the test pattern is recorded according to the result, and it is determined based on the second information whether the another abnormality has occurred. It is determined whether or not the ejection failure occurs in the nozzle, and whether or not the other abnormality occurs.

The second information for determining whether or not another abnormality has occurred also changes depending on whether or not non-ejection has occurred. In the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not a discharge failure is occurring and whether another abnormality is occurring based on first information for determining whether a discharge failure is occurring or not, and second information. It is possible to distinguish and determine whether or not.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inkjet head of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a detection electrode arranged in the cap and a connection relationship between the detection electrode, a high voltage power supply circuit, and a determination circuit. (a) is a diagram showing the change in the voltage value of the detection electrode when ink is ejected from the nozzle, and (b) is a diagram showing the change in the voltage value of the detection electrode when ink is not ejected from the nozzle. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the ejection failure determination process in FIG. 7. FIG. (a) is a diagram showing a test pattern recorded in the first embodiment, and (b) is a diagram for explaining an input screen for the color of the test pattern. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a table that associates the number of ejection failure nozzles and selected reference color patterns with determination results of abnormality determination. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input according to the third embodiment. (a) is a flowchart showing the flow of the pattern recording process in FIG. 12, and (b) is a diagram showing the test pattern to be recorded. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an input screen for inputting information on the density of a test pattern in the fourth embodiment. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input in Modification 1. FIG. 7 is a block diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 showing the configuration of a printer according to modification 2. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when an abnormality determination command is input in Modification 2. FIG. (a) is a diagram for explaining a test pattern recorded in modification 3, and (b) is a diagram for explaining an input screen for the color of the test pattern in modification 3.

[First embodiment]
A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

<Overall configuration of printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the first embodiment (the "liquid ejection device" of the invention) includes a carriage 2, a sub-tank 3, an inkjet head 4 (the "liquid ejection head" of the invention), a platen 5, It includes conveyance rollers 6 and 7, a maintenance unit 8, and the like.

The carriage 2 is supported by two guide rails 11 and 12 extending in the scanning direction. The carriage 2 is connected to a carriage motor 86 (see FIG. 6) via a belt (not shown), and when the carriage motor 86 is driven, the carriage 2 moves in the scanning direction along the guide rails 11 and 12. Note that, in the following description, the right side and the left side in the scanning direction are defined as shown in FIG. 1.

The sub tank 3 is mounted on the carriage 2. Here, the printer 1 includes a cartridge holder 14, and four ink cartridges 15 are removably attached to the cartridge holder 14. The four ink cartridges 15 store black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks ("liquid" in the present invention) from those disposed on the right side in the scanning direction. The sub-tank 3 is connected to four ink cartridges 15 mounted on a cartridge holder 14 via four tubes 13. As a result, the above four color inks are supplied from the four ink cartridges 15 to the sub tank 3.

The inkjet head 4 is mounted on the carriage 2 and connected to the lower end of the sub-tank 3. The inkjet head 4 is supplied with the four colors of ink from the sub-tank 3. Further, the inkjet head 4 ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles 10 formed on a nozzle surface 4a, which is the lower surface thereof. To explain in more detail, the plurality of nozzles 10 are arranged in the transport direction perpendicular to the scanning direction to form a nozzle row 9, and the inkjet head 4 has four nozzle rows 9 arranged in the scanning direction. has. Black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are ejected from the plurality of nozzles 10, starting from those forming the nozzle row 9 on the right side in the scanning direction.

The platen 5 is arranged below the inkjet head 4 and faces the plurality of nozzles 10. The platen 5 extends over the entire length of the recording paper P in the scanning direction and supports the recording paper P from below. The conveyance roller 6 is arranged upstream of the inkjet head 4 and platen 5 in the conveyance direction. The conveyance roller 7 is arranged downstream of the inkjet head 4 and the platen 5 in the conveyance direction. The conveyance rollers 6 and 7 are connected to a conveyance motor 87 (see FIG. 6) via a gear (not shown) or the like. When the transport motor 87 is driven, the transport rollers 6 and 7 rotate, and the recording paper P is transported in the transport direction.

The maintenance unit 8 is for performing a suction purge to discharge ink in the inkjet head 4 from a plurality of nozzles 10, as will be described later. The maintenance unit 8 will be explained in detail later.

<Inkjet head>
Next, the inkjet head 4 will be explained in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inkjet head 4 includes a flow path unit 21 and a piezoelectric actuator 22.

<Flow path unit>
The flow path unit 21 is formed by stacking four plates 31 to 34 in this order from above. The plates 31 to 33 are made of a metal material such as stainless steel. The plate 34 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyimide.

A plurality of nozzles 10 are formed on the plate 34. The plurality of nozzles 10 form four nozzle rows 9 as described above. The lower surface of the plate 34 serves as a nozzle surface 4a of the inkjet head 4. A plurality of pressure chambers 40 are formed in the plate 31. The pressure chamber 40 has an elliptical planar shape whose longitudinal direction is the scanning direction. Further, the plurality of pressure chambers 40 are separate from the plurality of nozzles 10, and the left end in the scanning direction overlaps the nozzle 10 in the vertical direction. Thereby, a plurality of pressure chambers 40 are formed in the plate 31 by arranging them in the conveying direction, and four pressure chamber rows 29 are formed in line in the scanning direction.

A circular through hole 42 is formed in the plate 32 at a portion that vertically overlaps the right end of each pressure chamber 40 in the scanning direction. Furthermore, a circular through hole 43 is formed in the plate 32 at the left end of each pressure chamber 40 in the scanning direction and at a portion overlapping with the nozzle 10 in the vertical direction.

Four manifold channels 41 are formed in the plate 33. The four manifold channels 41 correspond to the four pressure chamber rows 29. The manifold flow path 41 extends in the conveyance direction and vertically overlaps the right side portion of the plurality of pressure chambers 40 in the scanning direction that constitute the corresponding pressure chamber row 29. Thereby, each pressure chamber 40 communicates with the manifold channel 41 via the through hole 42. Further, a supply port 39 is provided at the upstream end of each manifold flow path 41 in the transport direction. The inkjet head 4 is connected to a flow path in the sub-tank 3 at a supply port 39 . As a result, ink is supplied to the manifold channel 41 from the supply port 39 . Furthermore, circular through holes 44 are formed in the plate 33 in portions that overlap with each through hole 43 and the nozzle 10 in the vertical direction. Thereby, each nozzle 10 communicates with the pressure chamber 40 via the through holes 43 and 44.

In the flow path unit 21, an individual flow path 46 is formed by one nozzle 10, a pressure chamber 40 corresponding to this nozzle 10, and through holes 42 to 44. The flow path unit 21 includes a plurality of such individual flow paths 46.

<Piezoelectric actuator>
The piezoelectric actuator 22 includes a diaphragm 51, a piezoelectric layer 52, a common electrode 53, and a plurality of individual electrodes 54. The diaphragm 51 is made of a piezoelectric material whose main component is lead zirconate titanate, which is a mixed crystal of lead titanate and lead zirconate. ing. Note that, unlike the piezoelectric layer 52 described below, the diaphragm 51 may be made of an insulating material other than a piezoelectric material.

The piezoelectric layer 52 is made of the piezoelectric material described above, is arranged on the upper surface of the diaphragm 51, and extends continuously over the plurality of pressure chambers 40. The common electrode 53 is disposed between the diaphragm 51 and the piezoelectric layer 52 and extends continuously across the plurality of pressure chambers 40 . The common electrode 53 is connected to a power supply circuit (not shown) via a wiring member (not shown) or the like, and is held at a ground potential.

The plurality of individual electrodes 54 are provided individually for the plurality of pressure chambers 40 . The individual electrode 54 has an elliptical planar shape that is one size smaller than the pressure chamber 40, is arranged on the upper surface of the piezoelectric layer 52, and overlaps the center of the pressure chamber 40 in the vertical direction. The right end of the individual electrode 54 in the scanning direction extends to the right in the scanning direction to a position that does not overlap the pressure chamber 40 in the vertical direction, and its tip serves as a connection terminal 54a. A wiring member (not shown) is connected to the connection terminal 54a, and the individual electrode 54 is connected to the driver IC 59 (see FIG. 6) via this wiring member. Then, the driver IC 59 selectively applies either the ground potential or a predetermined drive potential (for example, about 20 V) to the plurality of individual electrodes 54 individually.

Moreover, corresponding to the common electrode 53 and the plurality of individual electrodes 54 being arranged in this way, the portions of the piezoelectric layer 52 sandwiched between the common electrode 53 and each individual electrode 54 are respectively arranged in the thickness direction. It is polarized. In the piezoelectric actuator 22 having the above structure, the portions of the diaphragm 51, the piezoelectric layer 52, and the common electrode 53 that overlap with each pressure chamber 40 in the vertical direction and the portion formed by the individual electrodes 54 are respectively , a driving element 50 that applies pressure to the ink within the pressure chamber 40.

Here, in the piezoelectric actuator 22, the potential of the individual electrode 54 of each drive element 50 is held at the same ground potential as the common electrode 53 in advance. In each drive element 50, when the potential of the individual electrode 54 is switched from the ground potential to the drive potential, the potential difference between the individual electrode 54 and the common electrode 53 causes a portion of the piezoelectric layer 52 sandwiched between these electrodes to An electric field is generated in the thickness direction parallel to the polarization direction. Due to this electric field, the above-mentioned portion of the piezoelectric layer 52 contracts in the horizontal direction, and the portions of the diaphragm 51 and the piezoelectric layer 52 that overlap with the pressure chamber 40 in the vertical direction are deformed so as to be convex toward the pressure chamber 40 as a whole. Furthermore, when the potential of the individual electrodes 54 is switched from the driving potential to the ground potential, the individual electrodes 54 and the common electrode 53 become at the same potential, and the portions of the diaphragm 51 and the piezoelectric layer 52 that overlap with the pressure chambers 40 in the vertical direction Return to the state before the above transformation. When the potential of the individual electrode 54 is switched between the ground potential and the driving potential, the volume inside the pressure chamber 40 is reduced due to deformation of the portions of the diaphragm 51 and the piezoelectric layer 52 that overlap with the pressure chamber 40 in the vertical direction. As a result, pressure is applied to the ink within the pressure chamber 40, and the ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 communicating with the pressure chamber 40.

<Maintenance unit>
Next, the maintenance unit 8 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, the maintenance unit 8 includes a cap 61, a suction pump 62, and a waste liquid tank 63. The cap 61 is placed on the right side of the platen 5 in the scanning direction. When the carriage 2 is positioned at the maintenance position on the right side of the platen 5 in the scanning direction, the plurality of nozzles 10 face the cap 61.

Further, the cap 61 can be raised and lowered by a cap raising and lowering mechanism 88 (see FIG. 6). Then, with the carriage 2 positioned at the maintenance position and the plurality of nozzles 10 and the cap 61 facing each other, when the cap 61 is raised by the cap elevating mechanism 88, the upper end of the cap 61 comes into close contact with the nozzle surface 4a. However, the plurality of nozzles 10 are covered with a cap 61. Note that the cap 61 is not limited to covering the plurality of nozzles 10 by coming into close contact with the nozzle surface 4a. The cap 61 may cover the plurality of nozzles 10 by, for example, coming into close contact with a frame (not shown) arranged around the nozzle surface 4a of the inkjet head 4.

The suction pump 62 is a tube pump or the like, and is connected to the cap 61 and the waste liquid tank 63. In the maintenance unit 8, when the suction pump 62 is driven with the plurality of nozzles 10 covered with the cap 61 as described above, the ink in the inkjet head 4 is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 10, which is a so-called suction purge. It can be performed. Ink discharged from the inkjet head 4 is stored in a waste liquid tank 63.

Note that, for convenience, the description has been made assuming that the cap 61 covers all the nozzles 10 at once and discharges the ink in the inkjet head 4 from all the nozzles 10 during the suction purge, but this is not limited to this. do not have. For example, the cap 61 covers a plurality of nozzles 10 that constitute the rightmost nozzle row 9 that ejects black ink, and the three nozzle rows 9 on the left that eject color ink (yellow, cyan, and magenta inks). The inkjet head 4 has a separate part that covers a plurality of nozzles 10 constituting the inkjet head 4, and can selectively discharge either the black ink or the color ink in the inkjet head 4 during the suction purge. good. Alternatively, for example, the cap 61 may be provided individually for each nozzle row 9, so that ink can be discharged from the nozzles 10 individually for each nozzle row 9 during suction purge. In the first embodiment, the maintenance unit 8 that performs suction purge corresponds to the "purging means" of the present invention.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a detection electrode 66 having a rectangular planar shape is arranged inside the cap 61. The detection electrode 66 is connected to a high voltage power supply circuit 67 via a resistor 69. A predetermined positive potential (for example, about 300 V) is applied to the detection electrode 66 by a high voltage power supply circuit 67. On the other hand, the flow path unit 21 of the inkjet head 4 is held at ground potential. As a result, a predetermined potential difference is generated between the inkjet head 4 and the detection electrode 66. A determination circuit 68 is connected to the detection electrode 66 . The determination circuit 68 compares the voltage value of the voltage signal output from the detection electrode 66 with a threshold value Vt, and outputs a signal according to the result.

To explain in more detail, since there is a potential difference between the inkjet head 4 and the detection electrode 66, the ink ejected from the nozzle 10 is electrically charged. When ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 toward the detection electrode 66 with the carriage 2 positioned at the maintenance position, the charged ink approaches the detection electrode 66 as shown in FIG. 5(a). The voltage value of the detection electrode 66 increases until the ink lands on the detection electrode 66, and reaches a voltage value V2 higher than the voltage value V1 when the inkjet head 4 is not driven. After the charged ink lands on the detection electrode 66, the voltage value of the detection electrode 66 gradually decreases to the voltage value V1. That is, during the driving period Td of the inkjet head 4, the voltage value of the detection electrode 66 changes.

On the other hand, when ink is not ejected from the nozzle 10, the voltage value of the voltage signal output from the detection electrode 66 during the driving period Td of the inkjet head 4 is as shown in FIG. 5(b). There is almost no change from the voltage value V1. Therefore, in the determination circuit 68, a threshold value Vt (V1<Vt<V2) is set to distinguish these. Then, the determination circuit 68 compares the maximum voltage value of the voltage signal output from the detection electrode 66 with the threshold value Vt during the driving period Td of the inkjet head 4, and outputs a signal according to the determination result. In the first embodiment, the combination of the detection electrode 66, the high voltage power supply circuit 67, the resistor 69, and the determination circuit 68 corresponds to the "signal output section" of the present invention. The signal output section outputs different signals from the determination circuit 68 depending on whether or not ink has been ejected from the nozzle 10.

Further, here, a positive potential is applied to the detection electrode 66 by the high voltage power supply circuit 67, but a negative potential (for example, about -300 V) is applied to the detection electrode 66 by the high voltage power supply circuit 67. may have been done. In this case, contrary to what has been described above, when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 toward the detection electrode 66 with the carriage 2 positioned at the maintenance position, the charged ink is ejected from the detection electrode 66. The voltage value of the detection electrode 66 decreases until the ink approaches the detection electrode 66 and the ink lands on the detection electrode 66.

<Electrical configuration of printer>
Next, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be explained. The operation of the printer 1 is controlled by a control device 80. As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 80 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83, a flash memory 84, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 85, etc. It controls the operations of the carriage motor 86, conveyance motor 87, cap lifting mechanism 88, high voltage power supply circuit 67, suction pump 62, etc. Further, the control device 80 controls the piezoelectric actuator 22 (the plurality of drive elements 50) of the inkjet head 4 by controlling the driver IC 59.

Further, a signal from the determination circuit 68 is input to the control device 80 . As a result, information on whether or not ink has been ejected from the nozzle 10 based on the signal from the determination circuit 68 is input to the control device 80 (the "first information" of the present invention). Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, the printer 1 includes a display section 89 and an operation section 90 (the "input section" of the present invention). The display unit 89 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and the control device 80 controls the display unit 89 to display information necessary for the operation of the printer 1 on the display unit 89. The operation unit 90 is a button, a touch panel provided on the display unit 89, or the like. When the user operates the operation unit 90, a signal corresponding to the operation result is input to the control device 80.

In the control device 80, only the CPU 81 may perform various processes, only the ASIC 85 may perform various processes, or the CPU 81 and ASIC 85 may cooperate to perform various processes. It may be something. Further, in the control device 80, one CPU 81 may perform the processing alone, or a plurality of CPUs 81 may share the processing. Further, in the control device 80, one ASIC 85 may perform the processing alone, or a plurality of ASICs 85 may share the processing.

<Control during recording>
Next, the process of recording on the recording paper P in the printer 1 will be explained. When recording on the recording paper P, the control device 80 controls the carriage motor 86 to move the carriage 2 in the scanning direction, and controls the inkjet head 4 to direct the plurality of nozzles 10 toward the recording paper P. The recording path for ejecting ink and the conveyance operation for controlling the conveyance motor 87 and causing the conveyance rollers 6 and 7 to convey the recording paper P in the conveyance direction are alternately repeated until recording of the image is completed. After the recording of the image is completed, the control device 80 controls the transport motor 87 to cause the transport rollers 6 and 7 to transport the recording paper P in the transport direction, thereby ejecting the recording paper P.

<Control of discharge abnormality determination>
Next, a process for determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the ejection of ink from the plurality of nozzles 10 in the printer 1 will be described. In the printer 1, for example, the user operates the operation unit 90 to issue an abnormality determination command to the control device 80 to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the ejection of ink from the plurality of nozzles 10. can be entered.

Here, in the first embodiment, as described below, whether or not the above-mentioned abnormality has occurred, it is determined whether or not an ejection failure has occurred in which ink is not ejected from the nozzle 10, and whether or not ink is ejected from the nozzle 10. It is determined whether or not a color mixture ("another abnormality" according to the present invention) occurs in which an abnormality occurs in the color of the ink ejected from the nozzle 10 due to ink of a different color from the ink flowing into the nozzle 10. Here, in the first embodiment, since the nozzle 10 that ejects four colors of ink is arranged on one nozzle surface 4a, it is possible that ink of another color flows into the nozzle 10 and the above-mentioned color mixture occurs. be.

In the first embodiment, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 7 when an abnormality determination command is input. To explain in more detail, when the abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 first determines whether the elapsed time T since it was determined that no ejection failure has occurred last time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time Th. is determined (S101). If the elapsed time T is less than the predetermined time Th (S101: NO), the process proceeds to S106, which will be described later. If the elapsed time T is greater than or equal to the predetermined time Th (S101: YES), the control device 80 subsequently: A discharge failure determination process is executed (S102).

In the ejection failure determination process, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device 80 first sets a target nozzle to be determined as to whether or not it is an ejection failure nozzle that does not eject ink (S201). In S201, one of the plurality of nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 4 is set as a target nozzle. For example, among the plurality of nozzles 10 forming the rightmost nozzle row 9, the nozzle 10 on the most upstream side in the transport direction is set as the target nozzle.

Next, with the carriage 2 positioned at the maintenance position, the control device 80 drives the inkjet head 4 to eject ink from the target nozzle toward the detection electrode 66 (S202). Specifically, the drive element 50 corresponding to the target nozzle is driven. Then, based on the value of the signal output from the determination circuit 68 at this time, it is determined whether the target nozzle is a non-ejection nozzle (S203).

Subsequently, if the determination of whether or not all the nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 4 are non-ejecting nozzles has not been completed (S204: NO), the control device 80 changes the target nozzle (S205). , return to S202. Then, when the determination of whether or not all the nozzles 10 are non-ejection nozzles is completed (S204: YES), the process returns to the flow of FIG. 7.

In S205, the target nozzle is changed to any nozzle 10 for which it has not been determined whether or not it is a non-ejection nozzle. For example, if the current target nozzle is a nozzle 10 other than the nozzle 10 on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction among the plurality of nozzles 10 constituting a certain nozzle row 9, the target nozzle is The nozzle 10 is changed to the adjacent nozzle 10 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. In addition, if the current target nozzle is the nozzle 10 on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction among the plurality of nozzles 10 constituting a certain nozzle row 9, the target nozzle is set to the nozzle row 9 that includes the current target nozzle. Among the plurality of nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 9 adjacent to the left side, the nozzle 10 is changed to the most upstream nozzle 10 in the transport direction.

Returning to FIG. 7, after the ejection failure determination process in S102, the control device 80 determines whether or not ejection failure has occurred (S103). In S103, when it is determined in the ejection failure determination process of S102 that one or more nozzles 10 are ejection failure nozzles, it is determined that ejection failure has occurred. If non-ejection has occurred (S103: YES), the above-mentioned suction purge is performed (S104), and the process ends.

If no ejection failure has occurred (S103: NO), the control device 80 resets the elapsed time T to 0 (S105), and displays a screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to record the test pattern E. It is displayed on the display unit 89 (S106), and becomes ready to receive a signal from the operation unit 90 for selecting whether or not to record the test pattern E (the “selection signal” of the present invention).

Then, the control device 80 waits until a signal for selecting whether or not to record the test pattern E is input (S107: NO). When the above signal is input (S107: YES), if the input signal is a signal for selecting not to record the test pattern E (S108: NO), the process is directly terminated.

If the input signal is a signal for selecting recording the test pattern E (S108: YES), the control device 80 subsequently executes pattern recording processing (S109). In the pattern recording process of S109, four test patterns as shown in FIG. Record E. The four test patterns E are each rectangular filled patterns and are arranged in the transport direction. Furthermore, the four test patterns E were recorded using black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks, starting from the one placed downstream in the transport direction.

Next, the control device 80 causes the display unit 89 to display an input screen G1 as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to receive a signal of the color information of the test pattern E (the "second information" of the present invention). The input screen G1 displays four reference color patterns R1 to R4 arranged in a row in the horizontal direction of the figure, and numbers B1 for identifying them ("1", "2", "3", "4" in the figure). ”).

Among the reference color patterns R1 to R4, for example, the leftmost reference color pattern R1 in the figure is closest to the ideal color (the color when no color mixture occurs), and the right side in the figure is the closest to the ideal color (the color when no color mixture occurs). The color has a large color difference from the color of R1. Then, the user operates the operation unit 90 to select the reference color pattern closest to the color of the recorded test pattern E from among the four reference color patterns R1 to R4, and inputs the corresponding number B1. By doing so, a signal of color information of the test pattern E can be input.

Here, in FIG. 9(b), only reference color patterns R1 to R4 and number B1 are shown for one test pattern E (one color ink), but in reality, four test patterns E (one color ink) are shown. The reference color patterns R1 to R4 and the number B1 are displayed on the display section 89 for each of the color inks). At this time, for example, the reference color patterns R1 to R4 and the number B1 for each of the four test patterns E are simultaneously displayed on the display section 89. In this case, for each of the four test patterns E, the user selects the reference color pattern closest to the color of the recorded test pattern E, and enters the corresponding number B1. Color information can be entered. Alternatively, the input screen G1 for one test pattern E is displayed on the display section 89, and the screen displayed on the display section 89 is displayed every time the color information of the one test pattern E is input as described above. may be changed to an input screen G1 corresponding to another test pattern E.

After S110, the control device 80 waits until signals of test pattern color information are input for all four test patterns E (S111: NO), and when all these signals are input ( S111: YES), the control device 80 determines whether color mixture has occurred based on the color information of the test pattern E indicated by the input signal (S112).

In S112, for example, if the reference color pattern R1 is selected for each of the four test patterns E, it is determined that color mixing has not occurred in the nozzles 10 constituting the corresponding nozzle row 9. On the other hand, if any of the reference color patterns R2, R3, and R4 is selected for each of the four test patterns E, it is determined that color mixing has occurred in the nozzles 10 constituting the corresponding nozzle row 9. do. As a result, if there is no color difference of more than a certain level between the color of the test pattern E and the color of the reference color pattern R1, it is determined that color mixture has not occurred, and if there is a color difference of more than a certain value, it is determined that color mixture has occurred. It is determined that

In addition, in the first embodiment, one ink color among arbitrary two different color inks among the four color inks corresponds to the "first color" of the present invention, and the other ink color corresponds to the "first color" of the present invention. It corresponds to the "second color" of Further, among the plurality of nozzles 10 of the inkjet head 4, the nozzle 10 that discharges the first color ink corresponds to the "first nozzle" of the present invention, and the nozzle 10 that discharges the second color ink corresponds to the "first nozzle" of the present invention. Corresponds to the "second nozzle". Further, the test pattern E recorded with the first color ink corresponds to the "first test pattern" of the present invention, and the test pattern E recorded with the second color ink corresponds to the "second test pattern" of the present invention. ”. Further, the color of the reference color pattern R1 corresponding to the first color corresponds to the "first reference color" of the present invention, and the color of the reference color pattern R1 corresponding to the second color corresponds to the "second reference color" of the present invention. Corresponds to "color".

If it is determined that color mixing has not occurred (S112: NO), the process is immediately terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that color mixing is occurring (S112: YES), the control device 80 determines the amount of ink discharged for each nozzle row 9 where color mixing is occurring (S113). In S113, the amount of ink discharged is determined so that the amount of ink discharged increases as the reference color pattern on the right side of FIG. 8(b) is selected, which has a larger color difference from the reference color pattern R1. Subsequently, the control device 80 drives the drive element 50 corresponding to the nozzle row 9 where color mixing has occurred to perform flushing to discharge ink from the inkjet head 4 from the plurality of nozzles 10 (S114), Finish the process. In S114, the amount of ink determined in S113 is discharged. For example, the drive element 50 is driven a number of times according to the discharge amount determined in S113. In the first embodiment, the drive element 50 that performs flushing corresponds to the "ejection means" of the present invention.

<Effect>
In the first embodiment, the test pattern E is a pattern for determining whether color mixture occurs. However, since the test pattern E is recorded by ejecting ink from the nozzle 10 toward the recording paper P, it is not only possible to determine whether color mixing has occurred but also whether ejection failure has occurred. The recording results will also change.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not a discharge failure has occurred based on information obtained from a signal from the determination circuit 68 as to whether or not the nozzle is a discharge failure failure. If it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred, test pattern E is recorded, and color mixture is determined based on the color information of test pattern E, which is input based on the recording result of test pattern E. Determine whether or not the Thereby, it is possible to distinguish and determine whether or not non-ejection has occurred and whether or not color mixture has occurred.

Furthermore, it is presumed that a state in which no ejection failure occurs is maintained for a short period of time after it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the abnormality determination command is input and the elapsed time T since it was determined that no ejection failure has occurred last time is less than the predetermined time Th, the processing in S102 and S103 is performed. It is determined that no ejection failure has occurred without going through step S107, and the process proceeds to the processing for recording the test pattern E starting from S107. As a result, the time required to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the ejection of liquid from the nozzle can be shortened by not executing the ejection failure determination process for ejecting ink from the nozzle.

Furthermore, when recording an image with the printer 1, some users may not require high quality for the colors of the image as long as the ink is normally ejected from the nozzles 10 and the image is recorded. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the test pattern E is recorded only when a signal to select recording the test pattern E is input after it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred. It is determined whether color mixture occurs based on color information. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether color mixing has occurred only when it is confirmed that no ejection failure has occurred and the user determines that it is necessary.

Further, in the first embodiment, test patterns E are individually printed for each nozzle row 9 (ink color), and information on the color of each test pattern E is input based on the print result of the test pattern E. Based on the color difference between the color of each test pattern and the color of the corresponding reference color pattern R1, it can be determined whether color mixture has occurred.

Further, color mixing is likely to be resolved if the ink in the nozzle 10 and its vicinity in the individual flow path 46 is discharged. On the other hand, there is a high possibility that the non-ejection problem will not be resolved unless the ink is discharged from a wider range than the above in the individual channels 46. Therefore, in the first embodiment, suction purge is performed when it is determined that ejection failure has occurred, and flushing, which has a smaller discharge amount than purge, is performed when it is determined that color mixture has occurred. As a result, even when color mixing occurs, ink is ejected to correct the ejection abnormality of the nozzle 10, compared to ejecting the same amount of ink when ejection failure occurs. The amount of ink can be reduced. Furthermore, in this case, even if a non-discharge occurs due to air bubbles entering the nozzle 10, the suction purge can reliably eliminate the non-discharge.

Further, the color of the test pattern E (the color difference from the color of the reference color pattern R1) changes depending on the degree of color mixing in the ink within the nozzle 10. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when it is determined that color mixture has occurred, an amount of ink corresponding to the color difference is discharged by flushing. Thereby, depending on the degree of color mixing of the inks within the nozzle 10, it is possible to discharge the amount of ink required to eliminate the color mixing.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when an abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 10 .

To explain in more detail, when the abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 first resets the variable M to 1 (S301), and then performs the discharge failure determination process similar to S102 of the first embodiment. Execute (S302). The value of the variable M is stored in the flash memory 84, and the initial value is set to 1. Next, the control device 80 executes a pattern recording process (S303), as in S109 and S110 of the first embodiment, and displays a screen on the display unit 89 for allowing the user to input color information of the test pattern. (S304).

Then, the control device 80 waits until color information signals of the test pattern E are inputted for all four test patterns E (S305: NO), and when all these signals are inputted (S305: YES), an abnormality determination process is executed (S306).

In the abnormality determination process in S306, the number of non-discharge nozzles obtained from the determination result in the non-discharge determination process in S302 and the color of the test pattern input (the selected reference color) are determined according to the screen displayed in S304. pattern) and the table shown in FIG. 11, "normal", "non-ejection (small)", "non-ejection (medium)", "non-ejection (large)", "color mixture", "false detection" Determine which of the following applies. The table in Figure 11 shows the number of non-discharging nozzles, the color of the test pattern, "normal", "non-discharging (small)", "non-discharging (medium)", "non-discharging (large)", and "mixed colors". ” or “false detection”. Here, "no ejection failure" in FIG. 11 indicates that there is no ejection failure nozzle. Moreover, "non-discharging (small)" in FIG. 11 indicates that there is a non-discharging nozzle and the number Nf of non-discharging nozzles is Nf1 or less. Furthermore, “non-ejection (medium)” in the table of FIG. 11 indicates that the number Nf of non-ejection nozzles is greater than Nf1 and less than or equal to Nf2. "Failure to discharge (large)" in the table of FIG. 11 indicates that the number Nf of failed discharge nozzles is greater than Nf2. Further, the data of the table in FIG. 11 is stored in advance in the flash memory 84 of the control device 80, for example.

If it is determined in the abnormality determination process of S306 that the status corresponds to "normal" (S307: YES), the process is immediately terminated. In addition, if it is determined that it corresponds to "false detection" in the abnormality determination process of S306 (S307: NO, S308: YES), if the variable M is less than the predetermined value Ma (S309: YES), the value of the variable M After increasing the value by 1 (S310), the process returns to S304. On the other hand, if the variable M is greater than or equal to the predetermined value Ma (S309: NO), the control device 80 displays an error screen on the display unit 89 (S311), and ends the process.

In addition, if it is determined in the abnormality determination process of S306 that it corresponds to any of "non-discharge (small)", "non-discharge (medium)", "non-discharge (large)", or "color mixture" (S307: NO , S308: NO), the control device 80 executes the cleaning process (S312). In S312, either suction purge or flushing is selectively performed based on the result of the abnormality determination process in S306.

For example, if the result of the discharge failure determination process in S302 is "discharge failure (medium)" or "discharge failure (large)", and the result in S306 is "discharge failure (medium)" or "discharge failure (large)", )" or "color mixture", a suction purge is performed in the cleaning process. Further, if the result of the ejection failure determination process in S302 is "no ejection failure" or "ejection failure (small)" and it is determined that the result corresponds to "color mixture" in S306, flushing is performed in the cleaning process. let Furthermore, if it is determined in S306 that the condition corresponds to "non-ejection (small)", neither suction purge nor flushing is performed in the cleaning process.

To give another example, when the result of the ejection failure determination process in S302 is "ejection failure (large)", suction purge is performed in the cleaning process. Further, the result of the ejection failure determination process in S302 is one of "no ejection failure", "ejection failure (small)", and "ejection failure (medium)", and it is determined in S306 that it corresponds to "color mixture". If this occurs, flushing is performed during the cleaning process. Furthermore, if it is determined in S306 that the condition corresponds to "non-ejection (small)" or "non-ejection (medium)," neither suction purge nor flushing is performed in the cleaning process.

<Effect>
As described in the first embodiment, the printing result of the test pattern E changes depending on whether or not ejection failure occurs in addition to whether or not color mixture occurs. Therefore, in the second embodiment, " It is determined whether the condition corresponds to "normal", "non-ejection (small)", "non-ejection (medium)", "non-ejection (large)", "color mixture", or "false detection". Thereby, it is possible to distinguish and determine whether or not non-ejection has occurred and whether or not color mixture has occurred.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, when an abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 12.

To explain in more detail, when the abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 executes the processes of S401 to S408, which are similar to S101 to S108 of the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the timing at which ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 during recording on the recording paper P is set to a predetermined reference timing at the manufacturing stage of the printer. When the suction purge in S404 is performed, the timing of ejecting ink from the nozzle 10 during recording on the recording paper P is then reset to the reference timing (S409).

Further, when a signal for selecting to record a test pattern is input (S408: YES), the control device 80 executes a pattern recording process to record a plurality of test patterns U (S410).

In the pattern recording process of S410, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the control device 80 first resets the variable M to 1 (S501). Subsequently, the control device 80 causes four first portions U1 corresponding to the four test patterns U to be recorded (S502). To explain in more detail, in S502, the control device 80 controls the carriage motor 86 to move the carriage 2 to the left side in the scanning direction (“one side” in the present invention) while injecting each nozzle row 9 into the inkjet head 4. As shown in FIG. 13(b), by ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles 10 constituting each of the nozzles 10, four test patterns U corresponding to four test patterns U each extending parallel to the transport direction and lined up in the scanning direction are created. A first portion U1 is recorded. Here, the four test patterns U (a first part U1 and a second part U2 described later) are nozzles that eject black, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks in order from those located on the right side of FIG. 13(b). The image was recorded using ink ejected from 10.

Subsequently, the control device 80 causes four second portions U2 corresponding to the four test patterns U to be recorded (S503). To explain in more detail, in S503, the control device 80 controls the carriage motor 86 to move the carriage 2 to the right side in the scanning direction (the "other side" in the present invention), and injects each nozzle row 9 into the inkjet head 4. By ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles 10 constituting the recording medium, four second portions U2 are recorded, each of which extends obliquely with respect to the transport direction and intersects with the corresponding first portion U1.

Then, in steps S502 and S503, four test patterns U each formed by the intersecting first portion U1 and second portion U2 are recorded. Further, in either S502 or S503, a common identification number B2 is recorded for these four test patterns U.

Subsequently, if the variable M is not the predetermined value Mh (≧2) (S504: NO), the control device 80 executes a conveyance process (S505). is controlled to cause the conveyance rollers 6 and 7 to convey the recording paper P a predetermined distance longer than the length of the test pattern U in the conveyance direction.

Subsequently, the control device 80 changes the ink ejection timing from the nozzle 10 when recording the second portion U2 (S506), increases the variable M by 1 (S507), and returns to S502. In S506, for example, the timing at which ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 when recording the second portion U2 is changed to a timing delayed by a predetermined period from the current ejection timing.

Then, by performing the processing in this way, the recording of the test pattern U and the number B2 in S502 and S503 is repeated until the variable M reaches the predetermined value Mh, and as shown in FIG. 13(b), the recording paper On P, four test patterns U and number B2 sets arranged in the scanning direction are recorded in Mh sets arranged in the transport direction. Note that FIG. 13(b) shows an example when Mh=5.

In addition, since the ejection timing when printing the second portion U2 is changed in S506, Mh pieces of ink are printed using ink ejected from a plurality of nozzles 10 that form the same nozzle row 9 that are lined up in the transport direction. The positional relationship in the scanning direction between the first portion U1 and the second portion U2 differs between the test patterns U of . As a result, the position of the intersection X between the first portion U1 and the second portion U2 in the transport direction differs among these Mh test patterns U, with the center of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2 as a reference.

Then, after recording in the second portion U2 in S503, if the variable M is the predetermined value Mh (S504: YES), the control device 80 executes paper ejection processing (S508), and returns to the flow of FIG. 12. . In the paper ejection process of S508, the control device 80 controls the transport motor 87 to cause the transport rollers 6 and 7 to eject the recording paper P.

Returning to FIG. 12, after the S410 pattern recording process, the control device 80 subsequently causes the display unit 89 to display a screen for allowing the user to select the test pattern U (S411), and selects the test pattern from the operation unit 90. It becomes possible to receive a signal to select U. In S411, for example, for each of the four nozzle rows 9 (four colors of ink), from among the Mh test patterns U lined up in the transport direction, the intersection point X is located at the center of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2. The closest test pattern U is selected and a screen for inputting the corresponding number B2 is displayed on the display section 89.

Then, the control device 80 waits until signals for selecting the test pattern U for all four nozzle rows 9 are input (S412: NO), and when all these signals are input (S412: YES), for each of the four nozzle rows 9, whether an abnormality in the ink ejection speed from the nozzle 10 (“another abnormality” according to the present invention) has occurred based on the selected test pattern U. is determined (S413). If it is determined that an abnormality in the ejection speed has not occurred (S413: NO), the process is immediately terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that an abnormality in the ejection speed has occurred (S413: YES), the control device 80 controls the nozzle row 9 in which the abnormality in ejection speed has occurred, from the nozzle 10 during recording. The ink ejection timing is corrected (S414), and the process ends.

The determination in S413 and the correction of the ejection timing in S414 will be specifically explained. For example, in the pattern recording process of S410, when the ink ejection speed from the nozzle 10 is a certain reference speed, the number "3" located in the center of the transport direction among the five test patterns U lined up in the transport direction In the test pattern U corresponding to B2, the timing of ejecting ink from the nozzle 10 in S502 and S503 is set so that the intersection X becomes the center of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2. Therefore, when the speed difference between the discharge speed and the reference speed is less than the predetermined value, in the test pattern U corresponding to number B2 of "3", the intersection point Become the closest. On the other hand, when the speed difference between the discharge speed and the reference speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, in the test pattern U corresponding to the numbers B2 of "1", "2", "4", and "5", The intersection point X is closest to the center of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2. That is, in the third embodiment, the information on the selected test pattern is the information on the ejection speed (the "second information" of the present invention).

Then, in S413, if the test pattern U corresponding to "3" is selected for all four nozzle rows 9, it is determined that no abnormality in the ejection speed has occurred. On the other hand, if the test pattern U corresponding to "1", "2", "4", or "5" is selected for any nozzle row 9, it is determined that an abnormality in the discharge speed has occurred. do. That is, when the speed difference between the ejection speed and the reference speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the ejection speed.

In addition, in S414, the ejection timing is advanced for the nozzle rows 9 in which the test patterns U "1" and "2" located downstream in the conveying direction than the test pattern U corresponding to "3" are selected. Correct to. In addition, in S414, the ejection timing is delayed for the nozzle rows 9 in which the test patterns U of "4" and "5" located upstream in the transport direction than the test pattern U corresponding to "3" are selected. Correct to. Further, when correcting the ejection timing in this manner, the amount of correction of the ejection timing is increased as the test pattern U corresponding to the pattern U that is further away from "3" is selected.

<Effect>
In the third embodiment, the information on the ejection speed indicated by the test pattern U in which the intersection point X of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2 is closest to the center of the first portion U1 and the second portion U2 and the reference speed are Based on the speed difference, it can be determined whether an abnormality has occurred in the ejection speed.

Further, in the third embodiment, by correcting the timing of ejecting ink from the nozzles 10 during recording according to the speed difference, the carriage 2 is moved to the right and left in the scanning direction, and the nozzles 10 are ejected from the recording paper. When ejecting ink toward P, the ink can be landed at an appropriate position in the scanning direction of recording paper P.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, when an abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 14.

To explain in more detail, when an abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 first executes a non-discharge determination process similar to S102 of the first embodiment (S601), and then performs a non-discharge determination process. Based on the result, information on the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles is acquired for each nozzle row 9 (S602).

Subsequently, the control device 80 executes a pattern recording process to record a test pattern (S603). The test pattern recorded in S603 is, for example, a fill-in pattern for each of the four nozzle rows 9 (four colors of ink), similar to the test pattern E of the first embodiment.

Next, the control device 80 causes the display unit 89 to display an input screen G2 for allowing the user to input density information of the recorded test pattern, as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to receive a signal of the density information of the test pattern. The input screen G2 has four reference density patterns D1 to D4 arranged in a row in the left-right direction of the figure, and a number B3 for identifying them. Among the four reference density patterns D1 to D4, for example, the density of the leftmost reference density pattern D1 is closest to the density of the test pattern when there is no ejection failure nozzle, and the density of the reference density pattern on the right side is thinner. . Here, the test pattern recorded in S603 has a lower density as the number of non-ejecting nozzles increases. Therefore, the reference density pattern on the right side is closer to the density of the test pattern when the number of non-ejecting nozzles is large. Also, in the fourth embodiment, the reference color patterns D1 to D4 and the number B3 are displayed on the display section 89 for each of the four test patterns (four colors of ink), as described in the first embodiment. .

Then, the control device 80 waits until the operation unit 90 is operated by the user and all concentration information signals of the four test patterns are input (S605: NO), and when all of these signals are input, (S605: YES), information on the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles based on the test pattern recording result is acquired for each nozzle row 9 (S606).

Subsequently, if the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles is equal to or less than the predetermined value Na (S607: NO), the control device 80 proceeds to S613. Here, the value of the predetermined value Na is stored in, for example, the flash memory 84, and the initial value is set to zero.

On the other hand, if the number N1 of non-discharging nozzles is larger than the predetermined value Na (S607: YES), then the control device 80 determines the non-discharging nozzles from the number N2 of non-discharging nozzles for each of the four nozzle rows 9. It is determined whether [N2-N1] obtained by subtracting the number N1 of nozzles is larger than a predetermined value Nb (S608). That is, it is determined whether the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles is greater than the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles, and the difference therebetween is greater than a predetermined value Nb.

Then, if [N2-N1] is less than or equal to the predetermined value Nb (S608: NO), a cleaning process for resolving non-ejection is executed (S609), and if [N2-N1] is greater than the predetermined value Nb, (S608: YES), a cleaning process for eliminating color mixture is executed (S610).

In the fourth embodiment, a cap is individually provided for each nozzle row 9 in the maintenance unit 8, so that suction purge can be performed individually for each nozzle row 9. In the cleaning process for eliminating non-ejection and the cleaning process for eliminating color mixture, the control device 80 causes suction purge and flushing to be performed. However, in the cleaning process for eliminating color mixture, the amount of ink discharged by flushing is made smaller than in the cleaning process for eliminating non-ejection. As a result, an appropriate amount of ink can be ejected depending on whether non-discharge or color mixture has occurred, and regardless of whether non-discharge or color mixture has occurred. The amount of ink discharged can be reduced compared to the case where the same amount of ink is discharged.

Further, after the cleaning process for resolving non-discharge in S609, the control device 80 determines that [N1-N2], which is obtained by subtracting the number N2 of non-discharge nozzles from the number N1 of non-discharge nozzles, is a predetermined value Nb for each nozzle row 9. It is determined whether the value is larger than (S611). That is, it is determined whether the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles is greater than the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles, and the difference between these is greater than a predetermined value Nb.

Then, if [N1-N2] is less than or equal to the predetermined value Nb (S611: NO), the process directly proceeds to S613, and if [N1-N2] is greater than the predetermined value Nb (S611: YES), the process proceeds to S607. After correcting the predetermined value Na used for determination (S612), the process advances to S613. In S612, for example, the predetermined value Na is corrected to a value that is a certain value larger than the current value.

Here, if the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles is larger than the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles, for example, if the number of non-ejecting nozzles is small or the degree of color mixing is small, the user should refrain from cleaning as much as possible. It is conceivable that the user desires a reference color pattern with a higher density than the actual density of the test pattern. Therefore, when [N1-N2] is larger than the predetermined value Nb, the predetermined value Na is corrected to be larger as described above. As a result, in S607 when a future abnormality determination command is input, only when the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles is larger than in S607 this time, the cleaning process for resolving non-ejecting and the cleaning process for eliminating color mixture will be executed. will now be executed.

In S613, the control device 80 determines whether the absolute value |N1−N2| of the difference between the numbers N1 and N2 of non-ejecting nozzles is less than or equal to a predetermined value Nb. If |N1-N2| is less than or equal to the predetermined value Nb (S613: YES), the variable K is reset to 0 (S614), and the process ends. Here, the value of the variable K is stored in, for example, the flash memory 84, and the initial value is set to 0.

If |N1-N2| is larger than the predetermined value Nb (S613: NO), the control device 80 further determines whether |N1-N2| is larger than the predetermined value Nc (>Nb) (S615). ). Then, if |N1-N2| is larger than the predetermined value Nc, the process advances to S618.

If |N1-N2| is less than or equal to the predetermined value Nc (S615: NO), the value of variable K is increased by 1 (S616). Subsequently, if the variable K is less than or equal to the predetermined value Kh (S617: NO), the control device 80 ends the process, and if the variable K is greater than the predetermined value Kh (S617: YES), the control device 80 proceeds to S618. move on.

In S618, the control device 80 executes a failure notification process that causes the display unit 89 to display a screen notifying that the printer may be malfunctioning. Note that in the fourth embodiment, the display section 89 corresponds to the "notification section" of the present invention.

<Effect>
In the fourth embodiment, the density of the test pattern printed in the pattern printing process of S603 corresponds to the number of non-ejecting nozzles. On the other hand, the density of this test pattern varies depending on not only the number of non-ejecting nozzles but also whether color mixing occurs. For these reasons, in the fourth embodiment, the difference between the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles obtained based on the result of the ejection failure determination process and the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles obtained based on the recording result of the test pattern is Based on this, it is possible to distinguish and determine whether non-ejection has occurred and whether color mixture has occurred. If it is determined that a non-discharge has occurred, the non-discharge cleaning process can be executed to eliminate the non-discharge. Further, if it is determined that color mixture has occurred, a cleaning process for eliminating color mixture can be executed to eliminate color mixture.

Note that, as described above, in the case of the fourth embodiment, the density of the test pattern changes depending on not only the number of non-ejecting nozzles but also whether color mixture occurs. That is, the information on the density of the test pattern corresponds to the "second information" of the present invention for determining whether or not color mixture occurs.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, if the printer is not malfunctioning, the difference |N1-N2| between the number N1 of non-ejecting nozzles and the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles is not so large (less than or equal to the predetermined value Nb). ). Therefore, if |N1-N2| is too large, there is a high possibility that the printer is malfunctioning. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when |N1-N2| is larger than the predetermined value Nc, a screen is displayed on the display unit 89 to notify that the printer may be out of order.

Additionally, if |N1-N2| is determined to be less than or equal to the predetermined value Nc but larger than a smaller predetermined value Nb, there is a possibility that the printer is malfunctioning. expensive. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the value of the variable K is increased when a situation in which |N1-N2| is determined to be larger than the predetermined value Nb and less than or equal to the predetermined value Nc continues. . Then, when the value of the variable K exceeds a predetermined value Kh, a screen is displayed on the display unit 89 to notify that the printer may be out of order.

<Modified example>
Although the preferred first to fourth embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. It is.

For example, in the first embodiment, suction purge is performed when it is determined that ejection failure has occurred, and flushing is performed when it is determined that color mixing has occurred, but this is not limited to this. I can't.

For example, in the first embodiment, suction purge and flushing may be performed when it is determined that ejection failure has occurred, and flushing may be performed when it is determined that color mixing is occurring.

Alternatively, for example, in Modification 1, the inkjet head 4 performs either of the flushing for eliminating ejection failure (the "first flushing" of the present invention) and the flushing for eliminating color mixture (the "second flushing" of the present invention) as the flushing. It is configured so that it can be performed selectively. The flushing for eliminating color mixture discharges less ink from the nozzle 10 than the flushing for eliminating non-discharge. For example, by changing the drive waveform for driving the drive element 50, the number of times the drive element 50 is driven, the above-mentioned drive potential, etc., the amount of ink discharged can be made different between flushing for eliminating ejection failure and flushing for eliminating color mixture. be able to.

In Modification 1, when an abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 16. S701 to S703 and S705 to S712 in the flow of FIG. 16 are the same as S101 to S103 and S105 to S112 in the first embodiment. In Modified Example 1, when it is determined in S703 that an ejection failure has occurred (S703: YES), flushing for resolving the ejection failure is performed to discharge ink from the ejection failure nozzle (S704). Furthermore, in the first modification, when it is determined in S712 that color mixture has occurred (S712: YES), flushing for eliminating color mixture is performed (S713).

As described in the first embodiment, there is a high possibility that color mixing will be resolved if the ink in the nozzle 10 and its vicinity in the individual flow path 46 is discharged. On the other hand, there is a high possibility that the non-ejection problem will not be resolved unless the ink is discharged from a wider range than the above in the individual channels 46. In Modified Example 1, when it is determined that an ejection failure has occurred, flushing is performed to eliminate the ejection failure, which requires a large amount of ink to be discharged, and when it is determined that color mixing has occurred, a color mixture elimination method that requires a small amount of ink to be ejected is performed. Perform flushing. As a result, even when color mixing occurs, the abnormality in ink ejection from the nozzle 10 can be resolved, compared to ejecting the same amount of ink as when ejection failure has occurred. The amount of ink discharged can be reduced.

In addition, in Modification 1, in the flushing for color mixture elimination in S713, the color of the input test pattern E (reference color The amount of ink discharged may be varied depending on the color difference from the color of pattern R1).

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, in the cleaning process of S312, flushing for resolving non-ejection may be performed instead of suction purge, and flushing for resolving color mixture may be performed instead of flushing. Moreover, flushing for resolving non-discharge may be performed instead of the suction purge in S404 of the third embodiment.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when it is determined that color mixture has occurred, the greater the color difference between the color of the test pattern E and the color of the reference color pattern R1, the greater the amount of ink discharged by flushing. , but not limited to this. For example, in the maintenance unit 8, a cap is individually provided for each nozzle row 9, so that suction purge can be performed individually for each nozzle row 9. Then, when it is determined that color mixing has occurred, ink is discharged from the nozzles 10 forming the nozzle row 9 where color mixing has occurred by suction purge. The amount of ink discharged by purging may be increased. For example, by changing the drive time of the suction pump 62, etc., the amount of ink discharged during the suction purge can be changed. In this case, the maintenance unit 8 that performs the suction purge corresponds to the "discharge means" of the present invention.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to changing the amount of ink discharged depending on the color difference. For example, when it is determined that color mixing has occurred, a uniform amount of ink may be discharged regardless of the color difference.

Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the user operates the operation unit 90 to input a signal according to the recording result of the test pattern, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In modification 2, as shown in FIG. 17, a printer 100 has the same configuration as the printer 1 and also includes a reading section 101. The reading unit 101 is a scanner or the like, and reads images. That is, the printer 100 is a so-called multifunction device that is capable of not only recording on recording paper P but also reading images.

In Modification 2, when the abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 performs processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 18. To explain in more detail, when the abnormality determination command is input, the control device 80 executes the processes of S801 to S809, which are similar to S101 to S109 of the first embodiment. After the pattern recording process in S809, the control device 80 causes the display unit 89 to display a screen prompting the user to read the test pattern E (S810). This screen prompts you to, for example, set the recording paper P on which the test pattern E has been recorded in the reading section 101, and then operate the operation section 90 to input a reading instruction signal to instruct reading of the test pattern. This screen includes a message instructing the user.

Then, the control device 80 waits until a reading instruction signal is input (S811: NO), and when the reading instruction signal is input (S811: YES), the control device 80 instructs the reading unit 101 to read the test pattern E. The color information of the test pattern E is acquired based on the reading result of the reading unit 101 (S812).

Subsequently, the control device 80 determines whether color mixture has occurred based on the color information of the test pattern E acquired in S812 (S813). In S813, if there is no color difference of more than a certain level between the color of the test pattern E acquired in S812 and the reference color (for example, the color of the reference color pattern R1 of the first embodiment), color mixture has not occurred. If there is a color difference of a certain value or more, it is determined that color mixture has occurred.

If it is determined that color mixing has not occurred (S813: NO), the process is immediately terminated. Further, if it is determined that color mixture has occurred (S813: YES), processing in S814 and S815 similar to S113 and S114 in the first embodiment is performed.

Further, in the second embodiment as well, instead of the processing in S304 and S305, the reading unit may read a test pattern, and the abnormality determination processing in S306 may be performed using the result. Even when the reading section reads the test pattern, the above-mentioned "false detection" may occur if, for example, the user sets the recording paper P on which the test pattern is recorded in the wrong direction when setting it in the reading section. ” may be determined to apply.

Further, in the third embodiment as well, instead of the processing in S411 and S412, the reading unit may read a test pattern, and the abnormality determination processing in S306 may be performed using the result. Also in the fourth embodiment, instead of the processing in S604 and S605, the reading unit may read a test pattern, and the result may be used to obtain information on the number N2 of non-ejecting nozzles.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, test patterns were recorded individually for the four nozzle rows 9 (four colors of ink), but the present invention is not limited to this.

In modification 3, in the pattern recording process of the first and second embodiments, two test patterns W arranged in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 19(a) are recorded. The test pattern W is formed by overlapping filled parts W1 and W2 in two different colors. In addition, in the pattern recording process of Modification 3, the ink from the nozzle 10 is adjusted so that the calculated ink landing positions on the recording paper P overlap when recording the filled-in portion W1 and when recording the filled-in portion W2. By setting the ink ejection timing, the test pattern W as described above is recorded. In addition, in FIG. 19(a), in order to make it easier to understand that the test pattern W is made up of overlapping filled parts W1 and W2 of two colors, the filled part W1 and the filled part W2 are arranged in the scanning direction and the transport direction. Although shown shifted, in reality, the fill-in portion W1 and the fill-in portion W2 are at the same position in the scanning direction and the conveyance direction, and completely overlap.

Furthermore, among the two test patterns W shown in FIG. 19A, in the test pattern W on the downstream side in the transport direction, filled portions W1 and W2 are recorded with yellow ink and cyan ink, respectively. Further, among the 22 test patterns W shown in FIG. 19(a), in the test pattern W on the upstream side in the transport direction, filled portions W1 and W2 are recorded with cyan ink and magenta ink, respectively. However, if the combination of yellow, cyan, and magenta colors of the filled parts W1 and W2 in the two test patterns W is different between the two test patterns W, the combination is different from the above-mentioned combination. Good too.

In the third modification, an input screen G3 for inputting color information of the test pattern W, as shown in FIG. 19(b), is displayed on the display section 89. The input screen G3 displays nine reference color patterns Q1 to Q9, numbers B4 for identifying them ("1", "2", "3", . . . , "8", "9" in the figure). has.

The reference color patterns Q1 to Q9 are color patterns that are a mixture of the two colors of the two filled-in portions W1 and W2 in the test pattern W, and are arranged in three rows in the vertical and horizontal directions of the figure. Furthermore, among the reference color patterns Q1 to Q9, the leftmost and uppermost reference color pattern Q1 in the figure is an ideal color (when no color mixture occurs in either of the nozzles 10 that eject two colors of ink). color) closest to

The reference color patterns Q2, Q3, Q5, Q6, Q8, and Q9 on the right side of the figure than the reference color pattern Q1 correspond to colors when color mixture occurs in the nozzle 10 corresponding to the filled portion W1. There is. The color of the reference color pattern located on the right side in the figure corresponds to a color with a greater degree of color mixture, and has a larger color difference with respect to the color of the reference color pattern Q1.

Further, reference color patterns Q4 to Q9 located below the reference color pattern Q1 in the drawing correspond to colors when color mixture occurs in the nozzle 10 corresponding to the filled-in portion W2. The color of the reference pattern located lower in the figure corresponds to a color with a greater degree of color mixture, and has a larger color difference with respect to the color of the reference color pattern Q1.

Then, in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, the user operates the operation unit 7 to select the reference color that is closest to the color of the recorded test pattern W among the four reference color patterns Q1 to Q9. Information on the color of the test pattern W can be input by selecting a pattern and inputting the corresponding number B4.

In the third modification, the control device 80 configures two nozzle rows 9 corresponding to the test pattern W in S112 based on the color difference between the color of the test pattern W and the color of the reference color pattern Q1. It is determined whether color mixing occurs in the nozzle 10. Specifically, when the reference color patterns Q2 and Q3 are selected, it is determined that color mixture occurs only in the nozzle 10 corresponding to the color of the filled-in portion W1. Furthermore, when the reference color patterns Q4 and Q7 are selected, it is determined that color mixture occurs only in the nozzle 10 corresponding to the color of the filled-in portion W2. Furthermore, when the reference color patterns Q5, Q6, Q8, and Q9 are selected, it is determined that color mixture occurs in both the nozzle 10 corresponding to the filled portion W1 and the nozzle 10 corresponding to the filled portion W2.

If it is determined in S112 that color mixing has occurred, in S113, if a reference color pattern far from the reference color pattern Q1 is selected (if the color difference between the test pattern W and the reference color pattern Q1 is large) ), the amount of ink discharged is determined so that the amount of ink discharged increases. Then, in S114, flushing is performed to discharge ink in the discharge amount determined in S113 from the nozzles 10 constituting the nozzle row 9 where color mixture has occurred.

In the case of Modification 3, the colors of the two filled-in portions W1 and W2 in each test pattern W correspond to the "first color" and "second color" of the present invention. Further, the color of the reference color pattern Q1 corresponds to the "reference color" of the present invention. Furthermore, the drive element 50 that performs flushing corresponds to the "ejection means" of the present invention.

Further, although a detailed explanation is omitted, in the case of Modification 3, if either the filled portion W1 or W2 in the test pattern W is recorded with black ink, regardless of whether color mixture occurs or not, , the color of the test pattern W becomes almost black. Therefore, in Modification 3 as well, with respect to the nozzle 10 that ejects black ink, it is determined whether or not color mixture occurs in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In modification 3, two types of nozzles are used to eject the two colors of ink based on the color difference between the color of the test pattern W in which the two colors of ink are mixed and the reference color corresponding to the color in which the two colors are mixed. It can be determined whether color mixture occurs in one or both of the two.

Further, the color of the test pattern W (color difference from the color of the reference color pattern Q1) changes depending on which of the two types of nozzles mentioned above causes color mixture and the degree of color mixture. Therefore, in modification example 3, when it is determined that color mixture has occurred, by flushing, an amount corresponding to the color difference between the color of the test pattern W and the reference color pattern Q1 is sent from the nozzle 10 where the color mixture has occurred. discharge ink. Thereby, an appropriate amount of ink can be discharged from the nozzle 10 in which the color mixture occurs and the degree of the color mixture from the nozzle 10 that needs to discharge ink to eliminate the color mixture.

Furthermore, in Modification Example 3, when it is determined that color mixture has occurred, an amount of ink corresponding to the color difference between the color of the test pattern W and the reference color pattern Q1 is discharged by flushing. Not limited. For example, an amount of ink corresponding to the color difference may be discharged by suction purge. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to discharging ink in an amount corresponding to the color difference. In Modification 3, when it is determined that color mixing has occurred, a uniform amount of ink may be discharged regardless of the color difference.

Further, in the first and third embodiments, when it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred, the user can select whether or not to record a test pattern by operating the operation unit 90. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, in the first and third embodiments, the printer may be provided with an interface unit for connecting with a PC or the like, or a communication unit for wirelessly communicating with a smartphone or the like. Then, when it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred, the user operates a PC, smartphone, etc. to send a signal to the printer via the interface unit or communication unit to select whether or not to record the test pattern. It may also be configured such that it can be input to. In this case, the interface section and communication section correspond to the "input section" of the present invention.

Further, in the first and third embodiments, when it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred, the user is asked to select whether or not to record a test pattern, and it is selected to record the test pattern. In this case, the test pattern was recorded and the abnormality was determined based on the test pattern recording result, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when it is determined that no ejection failure has occurred, a test pattern may be recorded and an abnormality determination may be performed based on the result of recording the test pattern.

Further, in the first and third embodiments, if the elapsed time T since it was determined that no ejection failure occurred last time is less than the predetermined time Th, the ejection failure is detected without executing the ejection failure determination process. Although it has been determined that this has not occurred, this is not limited to this. For example, the ejection failure determination process may be executed regardless of the elapsed time T, and it may be determined whether or not ejection failure has occurred based on the result.

Further, in the third embodiment, when an abnormality in the ejection speed has occurred, the timing of ink ejection from the nozzle 10 during recording is corrected according to the ejection speed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when an abnormality in the ejection speed occurs, suction purge or flushing may be performed to eliminate thickening of the ink within the nozzle 10 so that the ejection speed becomes the reference speed.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, when |N1-N2| is determined to be greater than the predetermined value Nc, and |N1-N2| is determined to be greater than the predetermined value Nb and equal to or less than the predetermined value Nc. When the value of the variable K exceeds a predetermined value Kh due to continuous occurrence of the following conditions, a screen is displayed on the display unit 89 to notify that the printer may be malfunctioning. Not limited. For example, the above screen may be displayed on the display section 89 only when |N1-N2| is larger than a predetermined value Nc.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, a screen notifying that the printer may be out of order is displayed on the display unit 89, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a notification unit other than the display unit 89, such as an LED lamp or a speaker, may be provided, and this notification unit may be used to notify that the printer may be out of order. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, there is no need to notify that the printer may be out of order based on |N1-N2|.

Further, in the above example, a signal indicating whether or not the nozzle is an abnormal nozzle is sent from the determination circuit 68 according to the voltage value of the detection electrode 66 when ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 toward the detection electrode 66. is output, but it is not limited to this.

For example, when a detection electrode extending in the vertical direction is arranged and ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 so as to pass through an area facing the detection electrode, the determination circuit determines that the voltage value of the detection electrode is A signal may be output as to whether or not the nozzle is abnormal. Alternatively, an optical sensor may be provided to detect the ink ejected from the nozzle 10, and the optical sensor may output a signal indicating whether or not the nozzle is a non-ejecting nozzle.

Alternatively, for example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 4929699, a voltage detection circuit (this book) that detects a change in voltage when ink is ejected from a nozzle may be installed on a plate on which nozzles of an inkjet head are formed. A "signal output section" according to the invention may be connected to output a signal from the voltage detection circuit to the control device 80 as to whether or not the nozzle is a non-ejecting nozzle.

Alternatively, the substrate of the inkjet head may be provided with a temperature sensing element, as described in Japanese Patent No. 6231759, for example. Then, after applying a first applied voltage to drive the heater to eject ink, a second applied voltage is applied to drive the heater so as not to eject ink, and after applying the second applied voltage, the heater is driven. After that, a signal indicating whether or not the nozzle 10 is a non-ejecting nozzle may be output based on the change in temperature detected by the temperature detection element until a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

In addition, the test pattern for determining whether color mixing has occurred or the test pattern for determining whether an abnormality in ejection speed has occurred is not limited to those described above. Instead, it may be a different test pattern. Further, the test pattern may be used to determine whether or not an abnormality in ink ejection from the nozzle 10 has occurred, other than color mixing and abnormality in ejection speed.

Further, in the above example, the first information for determining whether or not ejection failure has occurred is based on the signal from the determination circuit 68, and the first information is input from the nozzle 10 based on the recording result of the test pattern. Based on the second information for determining whether an abnormality other than the non-ejection has occurred regarding the ejection of the ink, it is determined whether the non-ejection has occurred and whether the other abnormality has occurred. The judgment was made by distinguishing between whether or not the However, it is not limited to this. For example, a test pattern for determining whether or not ink has been ejected from the nozzle 10 may be recorded, and first information corresponding to the recording result of this test pattern may be input to the control device 80. Further, for example, a configuration may be provided for determining whether or not the above-mentioned other abnormality has occurred in the printer, and the second information may be inputted to the control device 80 from this configuration.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, ink is ejected from the nozzle 10 by applying pressure to the ink within the pressure chamber 40 by the driving element 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink may be ejected from the nozzle by heating the ink and generating bubbles within the ink flow path.

Furthermore, in the above example, the printer is equipped with the maintenance unit 8 and is capable of discharging the ink in the inkjet head 4 from the plurality of nozzles 10 by suction purge, but the invention is not limited to this. . For example, a pressure pump may be provided in the middle of the tube 13 that connects the sub-tank 3 and the ink cartridge 15. Alternatively, the printer may be provided with a pressure pump connected to the ink cartridge. Then, by driving the pressure pump with the plurality of nozzles 10 covered with the caps 61, the ink in the inkjet head 4 is pressurized and the ink in the inkjet head 4 is discharged from the nozzles 10. Pressurized purge may also be performed. In this case, the combination of the cap 61 and the pressurizing pump corresponds to the "purge means" of the present invention.

Furthermore, in purging, both suction by the suction pump 62 and pressurization by the pressure pump may be performed. In this case, the combination of the maintenance unit 8 and the pressurizing pump corresponds to the "purge means" of the present invention.

Further, in the first, second, and fourth embodiments, the inkjet head 4 is a so-called serial type head that is mounted on the carriage 2 and ejects ink from a plurality of nozzles 10 while moving in the scanning direction. However, it is not limited to this. For example, in the first, second, and fourth embodiments, the inkjet head may be a so-called line head that extends over the entire length of the recording paper P in the scanning direction.

Moreover, although an example in which the present invention is applied to a printer that records on recording paper P by ejecting ink from nozzles has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to image recording devices that record images on recording media other than recording paper, such as T-shirts, sheets for outdoor advertising, cases for mobile terminals such as smartphones, cardboard, and resin members. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a liquid ejecting device that ejects a liquid other than ink, such as a liquid resin or metal.

1 Printer 2 Carriage 4 Inkjet head 8 Maintenance unit 10 Nozzle 46 Individual channel 50 Drive element 80 Control device 89 Operation unit 100 Printer

Claims (16)

a liquid ejection head having a nozzle;
a signal output unit that outputs a different signal depending on whether liquid is ejected from the nozzle;
comprising a control unit;
The control unit includes:
First information for determining whether an ejection failure in which liquid is not ejected from the nozzle has occurred, and whether or not an abnormality other than the ejection failure has occurred regarding liquid ejection from the nozzle. second information for determining whether or not the ejection failure has occurred, and the second information changes depending on whether or not the ejection failure has occurred; an abnormality determination command that instructs an abnormality determination including determining whether or not a
When the abnormality determination command is input,
controlling the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle;
the first information based on a signal from the signal output unit is input;
controlling the liquid ejection head to record a test pattern on the ejection target medium;
second information corresponding to the test pattern is input;
The liquid ejection device is characterized in that, based on the first information and the second information, it is determined whether or not the ejection failure has occurred and whether or not the other abnormality has occurred. . The control unit includes:
When the abnormality determination command is input,
controlling the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle;
the first information based on a signal from the signal output unit is input;
Determining whether or not the non-ejection has occurred based on the input first information,
When it is determined that the non-discharge has not occurred,
controlling the liquid ejection head to record the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
the second information corresponding to the recording result of the test pattern is input;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether the other abnormality has occurred based on the inputted second information. The control unit includes:
When the abnormality determination command is input,
If the elapsed time since the previous determination that the ejection failure has not occurred based on the first information is less than a predetermined time,
determining that the non-discharge has not occurred;
controlling the liquid ejection head to record the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether the other abnormality has occurred based on the second information corresponding to the recording result of the test pattern. an input section;
The control unit includes:
When determining that the ejection failure has not occurred based on the first information,
Via the input unit, a selection signal for selecting whether or not to record the test pattern is enabled to be received;
When the selection signal for selecting recording of the test pattern is input via the input unit,
controlling the liquid ejection head to record the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
4. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether the other abnormality has occurred based on the second information corresponding to the recording result of the test pattern. The liquid ejection head serves as the nozzle,
a first nozzle that discharges a first ink of a first color as the liquid;
a second nozzle that discharges a second ink of a second color different from the first color as the liquid;
The control unit includes:
controlling the liquid ejection head to eject the first ink from the first nozzle to record a first test pattern as the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
controlling the liquid ejection head to eject the second ink from the second nozzle to record a second test pattern as the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
Based on the color difference between the color indicated by the color information of the first test pattern as the second information corresponding to the recording result of the first test pattern and the first reference color corresponding to the first color, As another abnormality, determining whether color mixing occurs in the first ink in the first nozzle,
Based on the color difference between the color indicated by the color information of the second test pattern as the second information corresponding to the recording result of the second test pattern and the second reference color corresponding to the second color, 5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising the step of determining whether color mixing has occurred in the second ink in the second nozzle as another abnormality. The liquid ejection head serves as the nozzle,
a first nozzle that discharges a first ink of a first color as the liquid;
a second nozzle that discharges a second ink of a second color different from the first color as the liquid;
The control unit includes:
controlling the liquid ejection head to eject ink from the first nozzle and the second nozzle so that a landing position of the first ink and a landing position of the second ink overlap on the medium to be ejected; , recording the test pattern on a medium to be ejected;
The color difference between the color indicated by the color information of the test pattern as the second information corresponding to the recording result of the test pattern and a reference color corresponding to a color that is a mixture of the first color and the second color. Based on the other abnormality, whether or not color mixture occurs in the first ink in the first nozzle, and whether or not color mixture occurs in the second ink in the second nozzle. The liquid ejecting device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the liquid ejecting device determines. a purge unit that performs purging to discharge ink in the liquid ejection head from the nozzle;
The control unit includes:
When it is determined that the discharge failure has occurred, causing the purge means to perform the purge,
7. When it is determined that the color mixture is occurring, the liquid ejection head is controlled to perform flushing to discharge ink from the nozzle where the color mixture is occurring. liquid dispensing device. The liquid ejection head includes:
a first flushing for discharging ink from the nozzle;
It is possible to selectively perform either a second flushing in which ink is discharged from the nozzle and the amount of ink discharged is smaller than the first flushing,
The control unit includes:
When it is determined that the ejection failure has occurred, causing the liquid ejection head to perform the first flushing to discharge ink from the nozzle where the ejection failure has occurred;
According to claim 5 or 6, when it is determined that the color mixture is occurring, the liquid ejection head is caused to perform the second flushing to discharge ink from the nozzle where the color mixture is occurring. The liquid ejecting device described. comprising a discharge means that performs a discharge operation to discharge ink in the liquid ejection head from the nozzle;
The control unit includes:
When it is determined that the color mixture has occurred,
The liquid according to claim 6, wherein the ejecting means is caused to perform the ejecting operation so as to eject ink from at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle depending on the color difference. Discharge device. comprising a discharge means that performs a discharge operation to discharge ink in the liquid ejection head from the nozzle;
The control unit includes:
When it is determined that the color mixture has occurred,
10. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 5, wherein the ejecting means is caused to perform the ejecting operation so as to eject an amount of ink corresponding to the color difference. The liquid ejection head includes:
a plurality of individual channels each including the nozzle;
a driving element as the ejection means, which is individually provided in the plurality of individual flow paths and applies pressure to the liquid in the individual flow paths for ejection from the nozzle;
The control unit includes:
11. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive element is controlled to cause the ejection operation to be a flushing operation in which the liquid in the liquid ejection head is ejected from the nozzle. a carriage mounted with the liquid ejection head and moving in a scanning direction;
The control unit includes:
While moving the carriage to one side in the scanning direction, controlling the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle to record a first portion of the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
While moving the carriage to the other side in the scanning direction, controlling the liquid ejection head to eject liquid from the nozzle to record a second portion of the test pattern on the ejection target medium;
The second information is information on the ejection speed of the liquid from the nozzle, which corresponds to the positional relationship in the scanning direction between the first part and the second part,
The control unit may determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the ejection speed as the other abnormality based on a speed difference between the ejection speed indicated by the second information and a predetermined reference speed. The liquid ejection device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that: The control unit includes:
When it is determined that an abnormality in the ejection speed has occurred, controlling the liquid ejection head to eject the liquid from the nozzle toward the ejection target medium, 13. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the correction is made according to the ejection speed. The control unit includes:
When the abnormality determination command is input,
As the first information, information on the number of non-discharging nozzles that did not discharge liquid is input based on the signal from the signal output section,
As the second information, information on the number of the non-ejecting nozzles corresponding to the test pattern is input,
Based on the difference between the number of non-discharging nozzles indicated by the first information and the number of non-discharging nozzles indicated by the second information, it is determined whether non-discharge has occurred and whether the other abnormality has occurred. 2. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejecting device discriminately determines whether or not the liquid is present. Equipped with a notification department,
The control unit is configured to notify the notification unit when the difference between the number of non-ejecting nozzles indicated by the first information and the number of non-ejecting nozzles indicated by the second information is larger than a predetermined value. 15. The liquid ejecting device according to claim 14. a liquid ejection head having a nozzle;
The device includes a detection unit that detects liquid ejected from the nozzle, and differs depending on whether or not liquid is ejected from the nozzle when the liquid ejection head is driven to eject liquid from the nozzle to the detection unit. a first signal output section that outputs a signal;
a second signal output unit that outputs a signal according to the recording result of the test pattern recorded on the discharge target medium by the liquid discharge head;
comprising a control unit;
The control unit includes:
acquiring first information for determining whether a non-ejection in which liquid is not ejected from the nozzle has occurred based on a signal output by the first signal output unit;
acquiring second information for determining whether an abnormality different from the non-ejection has occurred in ejection of liquid from the nozzle, based on a signal output by the second signal output unit;
It is determined whether or not the ejection failure has occurred in the nozzle based on the first information, and the test pattern is recorded according to the determination result of whether or not the ejection failure has occurred. determining whether or not the other abnormality has occurred based on the second information; The liquid ejecting device further comprises determining whether or not the other abnormality has occurred.

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