JPH0359831B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that can perform high-quality output.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, inkjet printers, for example, inkjet printers connected to computers, etc.
If the computer is not used, or if the printing standby state (printing inactive state) continues for a long time even during use, the viscosity of the ink at the nozzle tip increases, resulting in a relatively long printing failure. If printing is started after the operating state, at least initially there will be a problem that the ink will not be ejected properly, making it impossible to draw high-quality characters and figures.

In addition, as prior art, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1987-
In Publication No. 82660, if no ink is ejected after a predetermined period of time has passed since ink ejection was interrupted,
A technique has been disclosed that attempts to prevent clogging by ejecting ink.

Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-29791 discloses a technique in which ink is jetted at a position facing an ink suction band such as a sponge on a rotating drum prior to a printing operation.

However, in both prior art techniques, it is difficult to determine what position the nozzle is held in, how to perform recovery processing without interrupting the printing process, and whether ink ejection to prevent clogging may stain paper, etc. There was a problem in that no consideration was given to whether or not it would be implemented reliably.

[Objective] In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to detect printing based on the next printing instruction signal from a detection signal indicating that the ink ejection port is not driven for a predetermined period of time and the next printing instruction signal. Prior to the operation, the ejection port is held by a position holding means so as to surely face the ink receiving means, and the control means performs an operation of ejecting the ink toward the ink receiving portion,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that can produce high-quality output.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an inkjet printer provided in a recording type calculator of the present invention. In the illustrated configuration, 1 is a permanent magnet, and this permanent magnet 1 is fixed on a yoke 2 having both ends bent upward. Another cylindrical yoke 3 is horizontally suspended between the upwardly facing ends of the yoke 2, forming a closed magnetic path, and a carriage 4 is attached to this cylindrical yoke 3 so as to be freely movable. be.
This carriage 4 has a coil bobbin 5, and a coil (not shown) is wound around and attached to this coil bobbin 5, and the carriage 4 is fitted to the yoke 3 through this coil bobbin 5 so as to be freely movable. There is. Therefore, the permanent magnet 1, the yokes 2 and 3, and a coil (not shown) constitute a linear motor, and the carriage 4 and the coil bobbin 5 are connected to the cylindrical yoke 3 depending on the polarity of the control current flowing through the coil. Run back and forth on the top. Note that the coil is energized via the flexible cord 6. Further, the position of the carriage 4 is determined by the optical slit plate 7, which has a large number of slits arranged.
is detected by a photocoupler (not shown) mounted on the carriage 4 side, and in response to a control signal corresponding to the detected position, ink is ejected from an inkjet nozzle (described later) and guided along the platen 8. Print on printing paper. Further, a nozzle holder 9 is attached to the carriage 4, and an inkjet nozzle (not shown) is accommodated in the nozzle holder 9. This inkjet nozzle is formed by processing a thin glass tube, etc., and a cylindrical piezoelectric element (not shown) is attached around it, and the above-mentioned control signal is applied to this piezoelectric element to physically control the nozzle. The deformation is caused, and ink is ejected in accordance with the deformation.

Next, when the printer is in the print standby state,
The carriage 4 is lightly pressed against the damper 10, and a current much smaller than that during printing is constantly applied to the coil wound around the coil bobbin 5. By doing this, the nozzle head in the nozzle holder 9 is stopped at a position facing the suction section 13 of the recovery system 11 that releases the ink failure.

Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a control circuit for an inkjet printer provided in the recording type calculator of the present invention. In the illustrated configuration, the timer 14 measures the length of time of inactivity in the printing standby state,
When the timer 14 reaches a preset threshold time length, the flip-flop 15 is set by a signal from the timer 14. When the calculation process starts with the flip-flop 15 set and one of the number keys 16 is pressed, the replacement key detection means 17 is activated by the output, and the AND gate 18 is activated to open the flip-flop. 1
5 and the output of the numeric key detection means 17, the circuit is closed, and the oscillation output signal of the oscillator 19 is processed, and the piezo driver 21 is actuated via the OR gate 20, thereby driving the cylindrical piezoelectric element surrounding the ink nozzle described above. to eject ink from the nozzle.
Therefore, before the carriage 4 starts running for printing in response to a printing command generated during the calculation process, the suction section 13 of the recovery system 11 is given a period of time set by the delay means 21, i.e. ,
The output of the numeric key detection means 17 is delayed by the delay means 21
After a predetermined time delay, the flip-flop 15
The preliminary ink ejection described above is performed at the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 19 until the oscillator 19 is reset. Incidentally, the timer 14 is also reset by a timely output signal from the numeric key detection means 17, and returns to the initial state together with the above-mentioned reset of the flip-flop 15.

With the above-mentioned configuration, even if a computer inkjet printer remains inactive for a long time, preliminary ink is ejected immediately before the actual printing starts when the numeric key is pressed, and a good print job can be achieved. The special effect of being able to print and record can be obtained.

Note that the present invention may be achieved in one device, or may be achieved in a system consisting of a plurality of devices. Further, the printer section and the data supply source may be integrated or separate, or the present invention may be achieved by supplying a program to the device or system.

[Effect] As explained above, according to the present invention, based on the detection signal indicating that the ink ejection port is not driven for a predetermined period of time and the next print instruction signal, the printing operation based on the next print instruction signal is determined. In response to the detection, the position holding means holds the ejection port reliably facing the ink receiving means, and the control means performs an operation of ejecting ink toward the ink receiving portion. Since there is no need to immediately interrupt the printing process, printing efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an inkjet printer provided in a recording type computer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of its control circuit. 1... Permanent magnet, 2, 3... Yoke, 4... Carriage, 5... Coil bobbin, 6... Flexible cord, 7... Slit plate, 8... Platen, 9... Nozzle holder, 10... Damper , 11
...Recovery system, 13...Suction section, 14...Timer,
15...Flip-flop, 16...Number key,
17... Number key detection means, 18... AND gate, 19... Oscillator, 20... OR gate, 21
... Delay means, 22 ... Piezo driver, 2
3...Microprocessor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An on-demand inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from an ink ejection port in response to a print instruction signal, which in a non-printing state faces the ink ejection port, an ink receiving means for receiving ink; a detecting means for detecting whether the ink ejection port is in a non-driving state for a predetermined period of time; and a means for holding the ink ejection port so as to face the ink receiving means in a non-printing state. a position holding means for determining a position prior to a printing operation based on the next printing instruction signal based on a detection signal from the detection means indicating that the ejection port is in a non-driving state for a predetermined period of time and a next printing instruction signal; , by the position holding means,
An inkjet printer comprising control means for holding the ejection port so that the ejection port faces the ink receiving means and ejecting ink toward the ink receiving means. 2. The in-jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink receiving means has a suction section that sucks ink. 3. The in-jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the position holding means includes a damper portion for holding the ink discharge port in a position opposite to the ink receiving means. 4. The in-jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the position holding means holds the position of the ejection port by applying an electric current. 5. The in-jet printer according to claim 4, wherein the current applied to maintain the position of the ejection port is a weaker current than when the carriage is moved. 6. The inkjet printer has a platen, and the ink receiving means includes:
Claim 1 characterized in that it is a separate entity.
Inject printer as described in section.