JPH03169560A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an ink jet printer which is available always in a normal state by a method wherein when a power supply interruption detection means detects the interruption of a power supply and a nozzle capping detection means detects the uncapped state of a nozzle, a warning is issued by a warning means using an energy stored in a condensing means. CONSTITUTION:If a power supply is cut by an instantaneous service interruption or other causes, a voltage supplied from a direct current stabilizing power source circuit 2 is gradually lowered. A power supply interruption detection circuit 3 identifies that the voltage is lowered to a predetermined voltage or below and outputs a power supply interruption identifying signal S1. Whether an ink nozzle is presently capped is judged by a nozzle capping detection switch 4. If it is not capped, a nozzle cap state signal S2 is outputted. If a power source voltage is the predetermined voltage or below and the ink nozzle is uncapped, i.e., a power supply interruption identifying signal S1 and a nozzle cap state signal S2 are both issued, the AND of the S1 and the S2 results in a warning issuance signal SA being outputted. In this case, a condensing circuit 6 supplies a power to a generating circuit 7 to sound a buzzer 8 using the energy of the power.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer.

[Prior Art] Conventional inkjet printers stop inputting the signals, signals, and energy necessary to issue a warning at the same time as the power supply is stopped.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention J] However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the input of signals and energy is stopped at the same time as the power supply is stopped, so the ink nozzle is not capped when the power supply is cut off. However, the problem is that the ink dries and the printer cannot print normally the next time the printer is used. Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve these problems.The purpose of the present invention is to issue a warning for a certain period of time if the ink nozzle is not capped when the power supply is stopped. The purpose is to inform the user of this and provide an inkjet printer that can always be used in a normal state.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The inkjet printer of the present invention includes: a) a power supply cutoff detection means for detecting a power supply cutoff to the device; and b) a device that detects whether or not the nozzle is catted while the power supply is cut off to the device. c) a power storage means that stores enough energy to issue a warning for a certain period of time even after the power supply to the device is cut off; and d) a warning means that issues a warning; The detection means detects a power supply interruption, and
If the nozzle cabling detection means detects that the nozzle is not catted, the warning means issues a warning using the energy stored in the electricity storage means.

[Operation] According to the above configuration of the present invention, the power supply/disconnection detection means detects whether or not the power supply is interrupted.

Further, the nozzle capping detection means detects whether or not the ink nozzle is currently capped. Only when the power supply means confirms that the power supply is cut off and the nozzle capping detection means confirms that the ink nozzle is not capped, the warning means uses the energy stored in the power storage means to issue a warning. emits. Therefore, the above-mentioned problems can be solved.

[Example] The present invention will now be described in detail based on Examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an inkjet printer according to the present invention.

1 is an AC plug for supplying ACIOOV, and 2 is a DC stabilized power supply circuit that converts ACIOOV to DC. 3
is a power failure detection circuit that detects the voltage obtained by the DC stabilized power supply circuit, and when the voltage falls below a certain voltage, a power supply failure confirmation signal S L = 1 (HIG
H) is output. If the voltage is not below a certain voltage, S
Outputs 1=O (LOW).

4 is a nozzle capping detection switch, which judges whether the nozzle is currently capped or not, and turns the switch OFF if the nozzle is not capped.
and the nozzle cap status signal S2=1 (HIG
Output the old. When the nozzle is capped, the switch is turned on and S2=◯ (LOW) is output. Reference numeral 5 denotes an AND circuit, which takes the AND of the power supply disconnection confirmation signal S1 and the nozzle cap status signal S2 output from the power disconnection detection circuit 3 and the nozzle capping detection switch 4, respectively, and outputs a warning activation signal SA as a result. do. 7 is an oscillation circuit that outputs pulses for driving a buzzer. Reference numeral 6 denotes a power storage circuit composed of elements including a capacitor, and the warning activation signal S A = 1 (HI
GIT), power is supplied to the oscillation circuit. 8 is a piezoelectric buzzer.

If the voltage supplied by the DC stabilized power supply circuit 2 exceeds the predetermined voltage, the power failure detection circuit 3 considers the voltage to be normal and outputs the power supply failure confirmation signal S1=O (■). In this state, whether the ink nozzle is capped or not, the value of the nozzle cap state signal S2 is O/1.
In either case, the warning activation signal S A = O (LOW) is output as a result of the logical product of S1 and 82, and the storage circuit 6 does not supply power to the oscillation circuit 7 and the buzzer 8 does not sound.

When the power supply is cut off for some reason, such as by turning off the power switch or for some reason such as a momentary power outage, the voltage supplied by the DC stabilizing power supply circuit 2 gradually drops, and the power cutoff detection circuit 3 detects that the voltage is below a predetermined voltage. Confirm and output power supply disconnection confirmation signal S1=1 (old GH) (■). The nozzle capping detection switch 4 determines whether or not the ink nozzle is currently being catted, and if the ink nozzle is being catted, the nozzle cap status signal S2=O (LO
If W) is not capped (■), a nozzle cap state signal S2=1 (HIGH) is output (■).

When the voltage is below the predetermined voltage and the ink nozzle is capped, that is, the power supply confirmation signal S
When L=1 and nozzle cap status signal S2=O, S
Warning activation signal SA= output as a result of AND of 1 and 82
0, the power storage circuit 6 does not supply power to the oscillation circuit 7, and the buzzer 8 does not sound.

When the power supply voltage is below a predetermined voltage and the ink nozzle is not capped, that is, when the power supply disconnection confirmation signal S1 = 1 and the nozzle cap status signal S2 = 1, the result of the logical product of S1 and S2 is output. The warning activation signal SA becomes 1. When the warning activation signal SA=1, the power storage circuit 6 supplies power to the oscillation circuit 7, and uses the energy to make the buzzer 8 sound.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by issuing a warning using the energy stored in the power storage device even after the power supply is cut off, it is possible to prevent ink nozzles from being capped in an inkjet printer. Inform printer users of conditions where it is undesirable to leave the printer unattended for a long period of time after the power supply is turned off, such as when the printer is not working properly. It can be used in

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an inkjet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of FIG. 1. IS AC plug 2, DC stabilization power supply circuit 3, power failure detection circuit 4, nozzle capping detection switch 6, power storage circuit 7, oscillation circuit 8, piezoelectric buzzer Sl, power supply disconnection confirmation signal S2, nozzle cap status signal SA, warning More than activation signal

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An inkjet printer that prevents ink from drying by capping ink nozzles, comprising: a) power supply interruption detection means for detecting power supply interruption to the printer; b) nozzle detection means for detecting power supply interruption to the printer; c) nozzle capping detection means for detecting whether or not the printer is capped; c) power storage means for storing enough energy to issue a warning for a certain period of time even after power supply to the printer is cut off; and d) warning means for issuing a warning. , the power supply interruption detection means detects a power supply interruption, and
A printer apparatus characterized in that when the nozzle capping detection means detects that the nozzle is not capped, the warning means issues a warning using energy stored in the electricity storage means.