JPH0427558A - Ink jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate useless consumption of ink by a method wherein a timer control is set for a fixed time in a recorder and a preliminary discharging operation is performed at a limited frequency to recover the discharge of a recording head even when the turning ON of the recorder is very high in frequency. CONSTITUTION:An MPU 30 sets a control with a timer 31 within a recorder for a fixed time. Within the set time, a preliminary discharging operation is performed only at a limited frequency to recover the discharge of a recording head 2 even when the turning ON of a power source of the recorder is very high in frequency. Thus. an amount of ink to be consumed for the preliminary discharge can be suppressed within a necessary range even when the turning ON of the power source of the recorder is repeated very frequently within a short period of time, thereby eliminating useless consumption of the ink.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head.

[Prior Art] Recording devices such as printers, copying machines, and facsimile machines are configured to record images consisting of tondo patterns on recording materials such as paper and thin plastic plates based on image information. .

The recording device may be an inkjet type,
It can be divided into wire dot type, thermal type, laser beam type, etc. Among them, the inkjet type (inkjet recording apparatus) is configured to perform recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material.

Inkjet recording apparatuses have advantages such as low noise because they are non-impact type, and the ability to easily record color images using multicolored inks.

However, since inkjet printing devices perform printing by ejecting ink directly from fine ejection orifices in the printhead, other methods are used to maintain stable image quality by maintaining a state in which ink can be ejected normally. A special recovery means is required to recover the ink ejection, which cannot be seen.

One way to implement this recovery method is to use ejection failures caused by stuck ink, thickened ink, dust such as paper dust, or air bubbles within the ink that have occurred in the ink ejection portion (ejection ports, liquid paths, etc.) of the recording head. In order to solve this problem, preliminary ejection is performed to eject ink outside the recording area at a predetermined timing.

In a conventional inkjet recording apparatus, a preliminary ejection operation is performed each time the recording apparatus is repeatedly turned on, and the number of drive pulses in the preliminary ejection operation is almost the same.

[Technical problem to be solved by the invention] However,
In the above-mentioned conventional preliminary ejection for ejection recovery, if the power of the printing apparatus is repeatedly turned on many times within a short period of time due to individual differences among the users of the printing apparatus, the ejection part of the print head may recover sufficiently. However, there is a technical problem in that the preliminary ejection is repeated more than necessary, increasing wasteful consumption of ink.

The present invention has been made in view of these technical issues, and even when the power of the recording device is repeatedly turned on many times (frequently) within a short period of time, the amount of ink consumed for preliminary ejection can be reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink-end recording device that can suppress wasteful consumption of ink within a certain range and eliminate wasteful consumption of ink.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an inkjet recording device that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head, in which timer management within the recording device is set to a certain period of time, and the timer management within the recording device is set to a certain period of time. Now, even if the power of the recording device is turned on many times, by configuring the preliminary ejection operation for recovery of ejection for recording and 7D only to be performed a small number of times, the power of the recording device can be turned on for a short time. To provide an inkjet recording device capable of suppressing the amount of ink consumed for preliminary ejection within a necessary range even when repeated many times (frequently) within a period of time, and eliminating wasteful consumption of ink.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head.
A timer management within the recording device is set to a fixed time, and within the set time, as the number of times the recording device is turned on increases, the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses for ejection recovery of the recording head is decreased. With this configuration, even if the power of the printing device is turned on many times (frequently) within a short period of time, the amount of ink consumed for preliminary ejection can be kept within the required range, and unnecessary consumption of ink can be avoided. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that can eliminate this problem.

〔Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the main structure of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a head unit mounted on a carriage 3, and the head unit 1 includes a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) recording heads 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D.
have.

Each recording head 2A to 2D has an ejection port (usually
A plurality of recording heads 2A to 2D are formed, and inks of different colors are ejected from each recording head 2A to 2D.

For example, in the case of a color inkjet recording apparatus, each recording head 2A to 2D can be made to correspond to ink colors of yellow magenta, cyan, and black, for example.

Each of the recording heads 2A to 2D is an inkjet recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy.

Further, the inkjet recording heads 2A to 2D perform recording by ejecting ink from ejection ports by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter.

In the third time, the carriage 3 carrying the head unit 1 is supported so as to be movable along the guide rail 4, and is driven back and forth by the carriage motor 6 via the timing belt 5.

A sheet-shaped recording material 7 made of paper, a thin plastic plate, etc. is moved along a predetermined path by a pair of conveyor rollers 9 driven by a conveyor motor (paper feed motor) 8 and a pair of holding rollers 10 that cooperate with the pair of conveyor rollers. , the paper is conveyed (paper fed) in the direction of arrow f at a predetermined timing and a predetermined punch.

While this recording material 7 is held flat at the recording position facing the recording heads 2A to 2D, the recording head 2A
Recording is performed while performing main scanning in ~2D, and when recording for one line is completed, the recording material 7 is pitch-fed in the direction of arrow r, and the next line is recorded.

The carriage 3 includes an ink tank 13A for supplying ink of a color corresponding to each recording head 2A to 2D.
~13D are replaceably installed.

Further, a home position H is set at a predetermined position within the moving range of the carriage 3 and outside the recording area, and at the home position H, a recovery device 14 for recovering ink failure of the recording heads 2A to 2D is set. is installed.

This recovery device 14 includes a cap 1 that can seal the ejection port surface (the surface on which the ejection port is formed) of each of the recording heads 2A to 2D.
5 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the recording head 2 (the recording head 2A in FIG. 1).
2D is a partial perspective view schematically showing an ink ejection section (representing an arbitrary recording head among 2D). FIG.

In FIG. 2, a predetermined gap (for example, 0
．． A plurality of discharge ports 17 are formed at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction on the discharge port surface 16 facing each other at a distance of about 5 m), and a wall surface of each liquid path 19 that communicates the common liquid chamber 18 with each discharge port 17. An electrothermal transducer (such as a heating resistor) 20 as a heater for ejecting ink is disposed along the ink.

Based on the image signal (recorded information), the corresponding heater 20 is driven (energized) to form bubbles (
Recording is performed while the ink droplets (dots) are attached to the recording material 7 by generating flying ink droplets due to the pressure generated by the bubbles.

Furthermore, when the power is turned on and other times when necessary, each of the ejection ports 17 Preliminary ejection is performed to eject ink into the cap 15 from then on.

This preliminary ejection outside the recording area is caused by stuck ink, thickened ink, dust such as paper powder, etc. generated in the ink ejection part of the print head 2 (ejection ports 17, liquid path 19, etc.), or air bubbles in the ink. This is done to eliminate ejection failure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, the heating heater 20 of the recording head 2
is driven by a driver 21, and the driver 21
, power is supplied from the power supply 22 by restoring the voltage switching circuit 23 .

A timer 31 is attached to the MPU 30 of the control system shown in FIG. 3, and is configured so that the MPU 30 can manage the preliminary ejection with a timer.

In FIG. 3, 32 is an I10 port for receiving signals from the host device, 33 is a ROM storing control programs, etc., 34 is a character generator, and 35 is an image signal generator. This is a RAM in which the following information is stored.

Further, the carriage motor 6 and the transport motor 8 are
It is controlled by the MPU 30 via the I10 boat 37.

Furthermore, for the MPU 30, a group of sensors detects the presence or absence of the recording material 7, the presence or absence of the remaining amount of ink, the presence or absence of the carriage 3 at the home position H, or the presence or absence of the ink cartridge (ink tank) 13. A detection signal from 38 is input through the I10 port 37.

Therefore, in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in an inkjet recording apparatus that records on a recording material 7 by ejecting ink from a recording head 2, a timer management within the recording apparatus is set to a certain time, and within the set time So,
Even if the power of the recording apparatus is turned on many times, the preliminary ejection operation for ejection recovery of the recording head 2 is performed only a small number of times.

In this case, the set time can be set to, for example, about 30 minutes, and the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time can be set to, for example, once or twice.

Furthermore, another inkjet recording device according to the present invention includes:
In an inkjet recording device 2 that records on a recording material 7 by ejecting ink from a recording head 2, a timer management within the recording device is set to a fixed time, and the power of the recording device is turned on within the set time. As the number of times increases, the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses for ejection recovery of the recording head 2 is reduced.

In this case, the number of preliminary ejection driving pulses can be controlled to be sequentially decreased from the initial number of pulses each time the power is turned on.

4 and 5 are flowcharts of the preliminary ejection operation when the power is turned on in an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the sequence when the power is turned on for the first time, and FIG. The sequence when the power is turned on for the second time is shown.

In this embodiment, the number of preliminary ejection operations when the power is turned on is controlled to be a small number (including the number of times) in accordance with the number of times the power is turned on within a set time.

In FIG. 4, after the power is turned on for the first time in step S1, the timer 31 stores, for example, a set time n of 30 minutes and the number of times the power is turned on as the first time in step S2.

In this case, since the power is on and before recording, the recording head 2 is stopped at a position facing the camp 15 outside the recording area.

Next, in step S3, the driver 21 is energized to heat the recording head 2 (heat the ink), and then in step S3
4, preliminary ejection (ink ejection) is performed into the cap 15.

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether the power remains on.

If the power remains on, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined whether the timer 31 has reached near the end of the set time (in this embodiment, the elapsed time is in the range of 30 minutes±1 minute).

In step S5, if the power is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S7, and the time n and the number of times m of power-on are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S7, the elapsed time to be stored is displayed as X, and since the number of times the power is turned on is the first time, m=1 is stored.

If the timer 31 is near the end of the set time (30±1 minutes) in step S6, the preliminary ejection operation is performed once more in step S8, and then the process advances to step S9 to enter the recording state.

In this embodiment, the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is set to two, so the second preliminary ejection operation is performed in step S8. However, if the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is is set to once, step S8
The preliminary ejection operation at is omitted.

Furthermore, if the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is set to three or more, the preliminary ejection operation at step S8 is performed as follows:
It is performed the number of times that is the set number of times minus 1.

With the power still on, if the timer 31 is not near the end of the set time in step S6, the process continues in step S.
Proceed to step 9 to enter the recording state.

If the power is turned on a second time after the power is turned on for the first time, the operation procedure shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

In other words. After turning on the power for the second time in step SIO, first, in step Sll, the timer 31
It is determined whether the set time (30 minutes) in FIG. 4 has been exceeded, and it is confirmed that the number of times the power is turned on is m=2.

If the set time (set time n in step S2, that is, 30 minutes) has not been exceeded (if within the set time)
, turn off the head driver 21 in step S12,
In step S13, it is determined whether the power remains on.

If the power is not turned on in step S13, step 314
Then, the time n and the number m of power-on times are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S14, the elapsed time to be stored is n=s+α
In addition, the number of times the power is turned on is m=3.

If the set time has exceeded (exceeded 30 minutes) in step Sll, the same operations as steps 33 to S9 at the time of turning on the power for the first time in the fourth time are repeated.

That is, in step S15, the driver 21 is energized to heat the recording head 2 (ink heating), in step S16, ink is ejected into the cap 15 (preliminary ejection operation), and in step S17, the power is turned on. Determine whether or not it remains the same.

If the power remains on, the process proceeds to step 318, where it is determined whether the timer 31 has reached near the end of the set time (in this embodiment, the elapsed time is in the range of 30 minutes±1 minute).

If the power is not turned on in step S17, the process proceeds to step S19, and the time n and the number of times m of power-on are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S19, the elapsed time to be stored is displayed as χ, and since the number of times m of power-on has exceeded the set time,
It is stored as one time.

If the timer 31 is near the end of the set time (30±1 minutes) in step S18, the preliminary ejection operation is performed once more in step S20, and then the process advances to step S21 to enter the recording state.

In this embodiment, the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is set to two, so the second preliminary ejection is performed in step S20. However, if the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is If it is set to once, step S20
The preliminary ejection operation at is omitted.

Furthermore, if the number of preliminary ejection operations within the set time is set to three or more, the preliminary ejection operation in step S20 is performed the number of times that is the set number of times minus one.

While the power remains on, the timer 31 is activated in step S18.
If it is other than near the end of the set time, the process directly advances to step S21 and enters a recording state.

If the power remains on in step S13, the process proceeds to step 31B where the timer 31 reaches near the end of the set time (
In this embodiment, it is determined whether the elapsed time has reached the range of 30 minutes to 1 minute, and as in the case described above, if it is near the end of the set time, another preliminary ejection is performed in step 520. After performing the operation, the recording state is entered in step S21, and if the time is not near the end of the set time, the process directly advances to step S21 and the recording state is entered.

After this, when the power is turned on for the third time or more, the same operation as that when the power is turned on for the second time is repeated.

6 and 7 are flowcharts of the preliminary ejection operation when the power is turned on in another embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 shows the sequence when the power is turned on for the first time, and FIG. shows the sequence when the power is turned on for the second time.

In this embodiment, the number y of preliminary ejection drive pulses when the power is turned on is controlled according to the number of times the power is turned on.

In FIG. 6, after the power is turned on for the first time in step S1, the timer 31 stores, for example, a set time n of 30 minutes and the number of times the power is turned on as the first time in step S2.

In this case, since the power is on and before recording, the recording head 2 is stopped at a position facing the cap 15 outside the recording area.

Next, in step S3, the frequency of the head driver 21 is controlled, and in step S4, the recording head 2 is heated (energized to the heating heater 20) by the number of times (pulse number) corresponding to the frequency, and the set number of drive pulses is reached. A preliminary discharge is performed.

In this case, the initial number of driving pulses is set to, for example, y = 307, and here, since the number of power-on times m is the first time, it is set to eject ink droplets y/m = 30 times (-). Ru.

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether the power remains on.

If the power remains on, the process proceeds to step S6, where it is determined whether or not the timer 31 has reached near the end of the set time (in this embodiment, the elapsed time is in the range of 30 minutes ± 1 minute). Check that the power is turned on for the second time.

In step S5, if the power is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S7, and the time n and the number of times m of power-on are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S7, the elapsed time to be stored is displayed as χ, and since the number of times the power is turned on is the first time, m=1 is stored.

If the timer 31 is near the end of the set time (30±1 minutes) in step S6, the process advances to step 713 and the frequency of the head driver 21 is controlled.

In this case, since the number m of power-on is the second time, the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses of the recording head 2 is y/m=30/2
= 15 pulses (times).

Therefore, in step S9, this set pulse number (1
5 times), perform another preliminary ejection, and then step SI
Proceed to O to enter the recording state.

In this embodiment, the number of driving pulses for preliminary ejection within a set time is set to be sequentially decreased according to the number of times the power is turned on.

With the power still on, if the timer 31 is not near the end of the set time in step S6, the process continues in step S.
Proceed to IO and enter recording state.

If the power is turned on a second time after the power is turned on for the first time as described above, the operation procedure shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

In other words. After turning on the power for the second time in step Sll, first, in step S12, the timer 31
Accordingly, it is determined whether the time set for the first power-on time n-30 minutes has been exceeded, and it is confirmed that the number of power-on times m=2.

If the set time has not been exceeded (if within the set time),
In step S13, the head driver 21 is turned off, and in step S14, it is determined whether the power remains on.

If the power is off in step S14, step S15
Then, the time n and the number m of power-on times are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S15, the elapsed time n=x1α and the number of times the power is turned on m=3 are stored.

If it is outside the set time (over 30 minutes) in step S12, the operation is similar to step 83 to step S9 when the power is turned on for the first time in FIG. 6, but the number of times the power is turned on is
Therefore, the frequency in step S3 and step S8 is correspondingly smaller, and different operations are performed in that preliminary ejection is performed with a smaller number of drive pulses.

repeat.

That is, in step S16, the frequency of the head driver 21 is controlled, and in step S17, the recording head 2 is heated (energized to the heating heater 20) by the number of times (pulse number) corresponding to the frequency, and the set number of driving pulses is reached. A preliminary discharge is performed.

In this case, the initial number of drive pulses is set to y=30Hz, and the number of power-on times m is the second time, so y/m=30
/2=15 times (Hz) of ink droplet ejection is set, and preliminary ejection is performed.

Next, in step 31B, it is determined whether the power remains on.

If the power remains on, proceed to step S19.
The timer 31 determines whether the elapsed time has reached near the end of the set time (in this embodiment, the elapsed time is in the range of 30 minutes ± 1 minute), and also recognizes that the power has been turned on for the third time.

If the power is not turned on in step 31B, the process proceeds to step S20, and the time n and the number of times m of power-on are sequentially accumulated and stored in the timer 31 until the timer 31 reaches the set time.

In step S20, the elapsed time X and the number of power-on times m=1 are stored.

If the timer 31 is near the end of the set time (30±1 minutes) in step S19, the process advances to step S21,
The frequency of the head driver 21 is controlled.

In this case, the number m of power-on is the third time, so the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses of the recording head 2 is y/m=30/3
= 10 pulses (times).

Therefore, in step S22, this set pulse number (
10 times), perform another preliminary ejection, and then proceed to step 3.
Proceed to step 23 to enter the recording state.

While the power remains on, the timer 31 is activated in step S19.
If it is other than near the end of the set time, the process directly advances to step S23 and enters a recording state.

Further, if the power is turned on in step S14, the frequency of the head driver 21 is controlled in step S24,
In step S25, the number of times (number of pulses) of the frequency
Only heating the recording head 2 (energizing the heating heater 20)
Then, preliminary ejection is performed for the set number of drive pulses.

In this case, the initial drive pulse number is set to y = 30 Hz, and in step S24, the number m of power-on is the second time, so the ink droplet ejection is set to y/m = 30/2 = 15 times (Hz). In step S25, preliminary ejection is performed 15 times (15 pulses).

After performing the preliminary ejection in steps S24 and S25, the process advances to step S19 described above, and the same operation as described above is performed.

In this way, when the power is turned on for the second time (FIG. 7), if this is within the set time, preliminary ejection is performed with a smaller number of drive pulses than when the power is turned on for the first time (FIG. 6).

After this, if the power is turned on for the third and subsequent times within the set time, follow the same procedure as the second power-on (Fig. 7). Preliminary ejection is performed with the number of drive pulses.

According to the embodiment described above, even if the power is turned on repeatedly within a certain period of time, it is possible to perform preliminary ejection to the necessary extent without wasteful preliminary ejection. An inkjet recording device capable of suppressing ink consumption was obtained.

In the above embodiments, the present invention has been explained by taking as an example a case in which the present invention is applied to a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus in which the recording head 2 is mounted on the carriage 3. The present invention can be similarly applied to inkjet recording devices using other recording methods, such as a line-type inkjet recording device that uses a line-type recording head that covers the recording area in the paper width direction, and can achieve similar effects. .

Further, in the above embodiment, a case of a color inkjet recording apparatus using four recording heads 2 was explained.
The present invention can be used regardless of the number of print heads, such as an inkjet printing apparatus for monochrome printing using one print head, or for gradation printing using multiple print heads with the same color but different densities. can be applied and achieve similar effects.

The present invention brings about excellent effects particularly in an inkjet recording apparatus using an inkjet recording head of the bubble jet method proposed by Canon Co., Ltd. among inkjet recording methods.

As for typical configurations and principles thereof, it is preferable to use the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796.

This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it is necessary to place the liquid (ink) on the sheet or liquid path where it is held. By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy, and the recording head This is effective because it causes film boiling on the heat acting surface of the liquid (ink), resulting in the formation of bubbles in the liquid (ink) in one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal.

Due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles, liquid (
ink) to form at least one droplet.

If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, bubble growth and contraction will occur immediately and appropriately, so liquids with particularly excellent responsiveness (
Ink) can be ejected, which is more preferable. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. No. 4,463,359 and US Pat. No. 4,345,262 are suitable.

Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 concerning the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, even more excellent recording can be achieved.

The configuration of the recording head includes, in addition to the combined configuration of ejection ports, liquid paths, and electrothermal converters (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, a heat acting section. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600 disclose a configuration in which the
The present invention also includes a configuration using the specification of the above specification.

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 123670 of 1982 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge part for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a hole that absorbs pressure waves of thermal energy is disclosed. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1981, which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion corresponds to a discharge portion.

Furthermore, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length can be increased by combining multiple recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification. Either a configuration that satisfies the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally may be used, but the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

In addition, a replaceable chip-type recording head that is attached to the device body enables electrical connection to the device body and ink supply from the device itself, or a chip-type recording head that is installed integrally with the recording head itself. The present invention is still effective even when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means, preliminary auxiliary means, etc. for the recording head, which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized.

Specifically, these include capping means, cleaning means, pressure or suction means, preheating means for the recording head using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element, or a combination thereof. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from printing in order to perform stable printing.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording device is not limited to a recording mode in which only the mainstream color such as black is used; the recording head may be configured integrally or in combination with a plurality of recording heads; The present invention is also extremely effective for devices equipped with at least one full color image.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or in the above-mentioned inkjet, the ink itself is heated at 30°C or higher. Since the temperature is generally controlled within a range of 70° C. or less so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range, it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the recording signal is applied.

In addition, it is possible to proactively prevent temperature rise caused by thermal energy by using it as energy to transform the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent ink from evaporating by preventing ink from solidifying when left unused. In any case, the ink may be liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and ejected as liquid ink, or it may already begin to solidify when it reaches the recording material. It is also applicable to the present invention to use ink that is liquefied only by thermal energy.

In such a case, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-56847, the ink is held as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet and is placed facing the electrothermal transducer. It may be in any form.

In the present invention, the most effective method for the above-mentioned ink is the one that implements the above-mentioned film boiling method.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in an inkjet recording device that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head, the timer in the recording device is managed at a fixed time. The configuration is such that the preliminary ejection operation for ejection recovery of the printhead is performed only a small number of times within the set time even if the printing apparatus is turned on many times. To provide an inkjet recording device that can suppress the amount of ink consumed for preliminary ejection within a necessary range and eliminate wasteful consumption of ink even when ejection is repeated many times (frequently) within a short period of time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an inkjet recording apparatus that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head, a timer management within the recording apparatus is set to a fixed time, and within the set time, As the number of times the recording apparatus is powered on increases, the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses for ejection recovery of the recording head is reduced. )
An inkjet recording apparatus is provided that can suppress the amount of ink consumed for preliminary ejection within a necessary range even when repeated ejections are performed, and eliminate wasteful consumption of ink.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the main structure of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the structure of the recording head in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a control system of an inkjet recording apparatus, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of preliminary ejection when the power is turned on for the first time in an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the preliminary ejection sequence when the power is turned on for the second time in the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the preliminary ejection sequence when the power is turned on for the second time in the embodiment of FIG. 6. Below, symbols representing main components in the drawings are listed. 1------- to nd unit, 2.2A, 2B, 2
C12D-----1 recording head, 3--carriage, 61.・Carriage motor, 7-・-recording material,
81. Conveyance motor (paper feed motor), 13.13A, 1
3B, 13C, 13D---- Ink tank, 14
・-・- Recovery device, 15-- Cap, 16--
-----Discharge port surface, 17...Discharge port, 19-
. . . - Liquid path, 20 - - Heater (electrothermal converter for ink ejection), 21 Head driver, 22
......Power supply, 30...-MPU131.--1----Timer, 33--...-ROM, 35.-
RAM, 38---sensor group, H-1111-
Homebojishin. Figure 3 4 (Stri et al Figure 5 2nd time t: A on Figure 7 2nd time t5 original

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) In an inkjet recording device that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head, a timer management within the recording device is set to a certain period of time, and within the set time, the power of the recording device is turned on. Even if there are many times,
An inkjet recording apparatus characterized in that a preliminary ejection operation for ejection recovery of the recording head is performed only a small number of times. (2) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times the preliminary ejection operation is performed is one or two times. (3) A claim characterized in that the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Item 1. The inkjet recording device according to item 1. (4) The inkjet recording according to claim 3, wherein the inkjet recording head discharges the ink from the discharge port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Device. (5) In an inkjet recording device that records on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head, a timer management within the recording device is set to a certain time, and within the set time, the power of the recording device is turned on. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized in that the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses for ejection recovery of the print head is decreased as the number of times increases. (6) The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number of preliminary ejection drive pulses is sequentially decreased from the initial number of pulses each time the power is turned on. (7) A claim characterized in that the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink using thermal energy and is equipped with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy. Item 5. The inkjet recording device according to item 5. (8) The inkjet recording according to claim 7, wherein the inkjet recording head discharges the ink from the discharge port by the growth of bubbles due to film boiling caused by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Device.