JPH0449049A - Ink-jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove a foreign matter adhering near the nozzle port of a recording head and functioning as the factor of no-discharge of ink positively by providing an ink flow-rate variable means changing an ink inflow value by an ink inflow means in response to the printing hysteresis of the recording head. CONSTITUTION:When a control command indicating the start of storage opera tion is input from a host equipment 60, the CPU 51 of a printing control section 50 compares the number of discharge driving regarding each nozzle port 12 of recording heads 1A-1D stored in the driving-number storage area of a RAM 53 with reference number (three thousand times). Consequently, the ink inflow time regarding the recording head is brought to two sec when there is the nozzle port 12, the number of discharge driving of which is three thousands or more, and the ink inflow time is brought to one sec regarding the recording head having no nozzle port 12, the number of discharge driving of which is three thousands or more. An ink force-feed control circuit 58 drives ink force feed means 14A-14D corresponding to each recording head 1A-1D according to driving indication from the CPU 51, thus forcibly flowing in ink, then conducting discharge recovery operation.

Description

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

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet recording apparatuses that perform recording by ejecting ink onto a recording material have been known.

Inkjet recording devices are non-impact recording devices with features such as low noise and the ability to easily record color images by using multicolored inks, and have become rapidly popular in recent years. be.

However, inkjet recording devices perform recording by ejecting ink directly from tiny nozzles in the recording head, and in order to achieve stable ejection, special considerations not found in other types of recording devices are required. Needed.

For example, when using the recording head after it has been left unused for a long time,
Ink mist generated when ink is ejected may adhere to the ejection surface near the nozzle opening, and as water evaporates over time, it may become a solid substance that covers the nozzle opening. A head recovery operation is performed in which a predetermined amount of ink is forced to flow into the nozzle by applying pressure to refresh the ink in the nozzle and clean the ejection surface.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional technology described above, regardless of the amount of ink mist attached to the ejection surface of the recording head, ejection recovery operation is always performed by suctioning a certain amount of ink or applying pressure, so when there is a lot of adhesion, recovery may be insufficient. This causes ink to fail to be ejected, and when there is little adhesion, an excessive amount of ink is used for the ejection recovery operation, resulting in a waste of ink.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and is an inkjet printer capable of reliably removing foreign matter that adheres to the vicinity of the nozzle opening of the recording head and causes ink to fail to be ejected. The purpose is to provide a recording device.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a print head that ejects ink supplied from an ink tank through an ink supply pipe from a minute nozzle opening, and a system that forcibly flows ink into the print head in order to recover ejection of the print head. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the inkjet recording device has an ink inflow means for causing ink to flow into the recording head through the ink inflow means or the ink supply pipe,
Further, the recording head and the ink tank are connected by another ink pipe, and the recording head has an ink flow rate variable means for changing the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means according to the printing history of the recording head. It is.

Roughly speaking, the ink flow rate variable means includes a counting means for counting the number of ejection drives with respect to the recording head, and an ink flow rate control means for changing the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means according to the number of ejection drives counted by the counting means. The ink flow rate variable means has a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the recording head, and an ink flow rate control means for changing the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. The ink flow rate variable means changes the ink inflow time by the ink inflow means, the recording head ejects ink using thermal energy, and an electrothermal transducer that generates the thermal energy key. There are some that are equipped with.

(Function) In the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink that flows into the recording head through the ink supply pipe by the ink inflow means is not all discharged because the nozzle opening of the recording head is minute, and the excess ink is not discharged. The ink returns to the ink tank through another ink pipe that connects the print head and the ink tank, and during the ejection recovery operation of the print head, the ink circulates between the print head and the ink tank. become.

Furthermore, in an inkjet recording device, the amount of foreign matter that causes ejection failure, such as ink mist, that adheres to the ejection surface near the nozzle orifice of the recording head is thought to increase as the nozzle orifice performs ejection operation. By determining the amount of ink flowing into the recording head for ejection recovery according to the printing history of the recording head, such as the number of ejection drives and temperature changes, the amount of ink flowing into the recording head is determined to be suitable for removing the foreign matter. This makes it possible to reliably remove foreign substances.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment has four recording heads IA and IB.

A recording head unit 1 consisting of an IC and an ID, and ink tanks 2A, 2B, and 2C that supply ink of different colors to each recording head IA, IB, IC, and ID.
92D is mounted on the carriage 3, and the carriage 3
receives the power of the carriage drive motor 6 via the timing heald 5, and moves in the direction of arrow X along the two guide rails 4, facing the recording sheet 7, and each of the recording heads IA, IB, A color image is recorded on the recording sheet 7 by ejecting ink from the IC and ID.

The recording sheet 7 is held at the recording position by a pair of sheet feed rollers 9 driven by a sheet feed motor 8 and a pair of holding rollers 10 that cooperate with the sheet feed rollers 9, and the recording of the negative portion is completed. The sheet is fed in the direction of arrow Y every time.

(Each of the above)” I A, I B, I C, I D
As shown in FIG. 2, each of these is provided with a plurality of nozzle ports 12 for ejecting ink on the surface facing the recording sheet 7, and the nozzles communicating with each nozzle port 12 are provided with ink. When an electrothermal converter I3 is provided to provide thermal energy as ejection energy to the electrothermal converter 13, and a printing pulse corresponding to an image signal is supplied to the electrothermal converter 13,
When the electrothermal converter 13 generates heat, ejection energy is given to the ink, and the ejection energy is applied to each recording head IA, IB.
, IC, and ID are ejected.

Further, each of the recording heads IA, IB, IC, and ID has the aforementioned ink tanks 2A, 2B, 2C, and
2D, the ink tanks 2A, 2B, 2, respectively.
Supply pipes 15A, 15B, 1 that lead ink from C, 2D
5C, 15D and return pipes 16A, 16B, 16C, 16
It is connected to D. The supply pipes 15A, 15B.

15C and 15D have respective recording heads IA and I, which will be described later.
During the ejection recovery operation to recover from the ejection failure of B, IC, and ID, the ink in the ink tanks 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D is forcibly applied to each of the recording heads IA, IB, IC, and ID.
Ink pressure feeding means 14 is an ink inflow means for causing ink to flow into the ink.
A.

It is equipped with 14B, 14C, and 14D.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, on the side surfaces of each recording head IA, IB, IC, and ID,
Temperature detection means 18A that detects the temperature of IB, IC, and ID
, 18B, 18C118D, and the g degree detection means 18A,
18B, 18C.

Heater 17 that is turned on and off according to the temperature detected by 18D
A, 17B, 17C, and 17D are installed.

In the inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment, in FIG. 1, the left end of the guide rail 4, which is one end of the movement range of the carriage 3 outside the recording range of the recording sheet 7, , is a home position H which is a standby place during non-recording operation, and at the home position H, the recording head IA is located at a position facing the ejection surface of each of the recording heads IA, IB, and IC1ID of the recording head unit 1. , IB, IC, and ID and when performing the ejection recovery operation, the recording head I A is driven by a motor (not shown) or the like.

A cap member 11 is provided that advances in the IB, IC, and ID directions and caps each discharge surface as shown in FIG.

When performing the ejection recovery operation for the print heads IA, IB, IC, ID, in connection with the capping of the ejection surfaces of the print heads IA, IB, IC, ID by the cap member 11, as described above, the ejection recovery operation for the print heads IA, IB, IC, ID is performed. ,IB,
G is installed in the supply pipes 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D that connect the IC, ID and the ink tanks 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D.
Smooth ink pressure feeding means 14A, 14B, 14C, 14
Ink is forced to flow into the recording heads IA, IB, IC, and ID.

In this ejection recovery operation, each recording head IA, IB,
When ink is forced to flow into IC9ID, the recording heads LA, IB.

Ink flows out from each nozzle port 12 of IC and ID, and thereby each recording head IA and IB.

Foreign matter that causes ink to fail to be ejected, such as stuck ink mist adhering to the ejection surface near the nozzle opening of the IC or ID, is removed.

As described above, during the ejection recovery operation, the ink pressure feeding means 14
A, 14B, 14C, and 140 are forced to flow in the ink, which flows out from the nozzle port 12, but since the nozzle port 12 is minute, all the ink is not discharged.
Excess ink is removed from the return pipes 16A, 16B, 16C, 1.
6D and return to each ink tank 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D. Therefore, during the ejection recovery operation, the recording head IA
, IB, IC, ID and ink tank 2A.

Between 2B, 2C, and 2D, ink is supplied to the supply pipes 15A and 15.
B, 15C, 15D and return pipes 16A, 16B, 16
C, 16D.

Here, the printing control section will be explained with reference to FIG.

The print control unit 50 shown in FIG. 5 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52 as a storage unit, a battery-backed RAM 53, an interface circuit 54 with a host device 60 as an external device, and a motor control circuit 55.
Recording head IA.

A head control circuit 56 that fidgetily drives the electrothermal transducers 13 disposed in the recording heads IA, IB, and ID, and the number of ejection drives of each of the electrothermal transducers 13,
Print pulse count circuit 5 that counts each IC and ID
7, and ink pressure feeding means 14A, 14 during the ejection recovery operation.
B, 14C.

an ink pressure feeding control circuit 58 that drives each of 14D;
A temperature control circuit 59 is configured to control the temperature of the recording heads IA, IB, IC, and ID.

c p v si Lt, the overall recording operation and the ejection recovery operation are controlled according to the program and control data previously stored in the ROM 52. In the recording operation, the motor control circuit 55 is activated and the carriage drive motor 6 is driven to cause the carriage 3 to reciprocate, and an image signal input manually from the host device 60 via the interface circuit 54 is sent to the head. The head control circuit 56 drives the electrothermal converter 13 for each recording head IA, 1B, IC, and ID. By outputting a printing pulse corresponding to the image signal, recording sheets IA, I
B. Discharge ink from IC0ID and print on recording sheet 7.
Record images to. Furthermore, during this recording operation,
When one line of recording on the recording sheet 7 is completed, the motor control circuit 55 is activated each time to drive the sheet feed motor 8 to feed the sheet for one line (first
(in the direction of arrow Y in the figure). In addition, the print pulse count circuit 57 counts the print pulses output from the head control circuit 56 for each nozzle port 12, thereby driving ejection for each nozzle port 12 for each of the print heads IA, IBIC, and ID. The number of ejection drives is counted, and each counted number of ejection drives is recorded in the CP at the end of a series of a6 recording operations.
U51 stores the driving number storage area provided in advance in the RAM 53.

In this embodiment, the ejection recovery operation is determined to be performed before the start of the recording operation, and at that time, the CP
U51 starts the motor control circuit 55 to control each recording head IA, IB, IC,
The ejection surface of the ID is capped, and the print pulse count circuit 57 counts the recording head I.
A.

The number of ejection drives for each nozzle orifice 12 for each of IB, IC, and ID is compared with a predetermined reference number of times for determining an increase/decrease in the ink inflow amount. In this embodiment, the reference number of times is 3000 times (print pulse: 3000 pulses), and each recording head IA.

If even one of the IB, IC, and ID ejection ports 12 exceeds the standard number of times, it is assumed that a large amount of ink mist has adhered to the ejection surface near that nozzle port 12.
The amount of ink flowing into the recording head provided with the nozzle opening 12 is increased by lengthening the ink flowing time.

In this embodiment, the ink inflow time to the print head is set to 1 second unless the number of ejection drives is 3000 or more, and 2 seconds if the number of ejection drives is 3000 or more.

Control of ink inflow time in this ejection recovery operation is performed by C
The ink pressure feeding control circuit 58 controls the ink pressure feeding means 14A, 14B according to the result of the comparison between the number of ejection drives and the reference number of times by the PU 51.

This is done by driving 14C and 14D.

In general, the CPU 51 controls the recording heads IA and IB.

When the ink flow to the IC and ID ends, the count number of the print pulse count circuit 57 is cleared.

Further, the temperature control circuit 59 controls each recording head IA, I
B, temperature detection means 18A provided in the IC, ID;
The recording head IA, via 18B, 18C, 18D,
The recording head IA, IB, IC1I constantly monitors the temperature of IB, IC, ID, and the temperature is predetermined.
When the temperature is different from the set temperature of
17B, 17C, and 17D are turned on and off to maintain each recording head IA, IB, IC, and ID at the set temperature. By controlling the temperature in this way, each recording head IA
, IB, IC, ID, even if the application of printing pulses to the electrothermal converters 13 increases and the amount of heat generated increases,
It is possible to maintain each of the recording heads IA, IB, IC, and ID at a predetermined set temperature, thereby preventing ejection failure due to temperature changes.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained along the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, during non-recording operation, the recording spatula I''IA.

The discharge surfaces of IB, IC, and ID are each capped by the cap member 11 as described above (step 61).

After that, when an image signal is input from the host device 60 and a control command instructing the start of the recording operation is manually inputted (step 61), the ink inflow time in the ejection recovery operation to be performed before the start of the recording operation is determined. Then, the CPU 51 of the print control section 50 reads the recording heads IA, IB, and IC stored in the drive number storage area of the RAM 53.
, the number of ejection drives for each nozzle port 12 of the LD is compared with the reference number of times (3000 times) described above (step 63
), as a result of this comparison, if there is a nozzle port 12 with an ejection drive count of 3000 or more, the ink inflow time for the recording head equipped with that nozzle port 12 is set to 2 seconds, and the ink inflow time is set to 3000.
For a recording head that does not have a nozzle orifice 12 located north of 0, the ink inflow time is set to 1 second. For example, if only the nozzle orifice 12 provided in the recording head IA has been used more than 3000 times, the CPU 51 sends the ink pressure feed control circuit 58 a 2-second ejection recovery operation for the recording spatula I''IA. A drive instruction for the ink pressure feeding means 14A is output, indicating 1 second for other recordings.
A drive instruction for C and 14D is output.

The ink pressure feeding control circuit 58, which received drive instructions from the CPU, sent +7 to each recording.

Ink pressure feeding means 14A corresponding to IB IC, ID,
By driving 14B, 14C, and 14D, forced ink inflow for 2 seconds or 1 second is performed, and an ejection recovery operation is performed (steps 64, 65). and,
When the ejection recovery operation for each recording head IA, IB, IC, and ID is completed, the CPU 51 clears the count of the print pulse count circuit 56 and drives the motor control circuit 55 to start the recording spatula.

The capping of the IB, IC, and ID by the cap member 11 is released, and the image signal is transferred to the head control circuit 56 to start the recording operation (step 66).

During the ejection recovery operation, the image signal is - temporally transmitted to the R
It is also possible to store the information in the AM 53, read it out sequentially at the start of the recording operation, and transfer it to the head control circuit 56.

When the recording operation starts, the print pulse count circuit 57
The number of ejection drives for each nozzle orifice 12 is counted, and when a series of recording operations is completed (step 67
), the number of ejection drives counted by the print pulse count circuit 57 in the current recording operation is stored in the drive number storage area of the RAM 53. After that, each recording head IA returns to a non-recording state.

The discharge surfaces of IC9ID and IC9ID are in a standby state in a state where they are capped by the cap member 11.

In this example, a water-based ink with a dye concentration of 2 wt% was actually supplied to a 400 dpi, 12B nozzle bubble sheet recording head, and the pulse width was 7 μsec.

When recording was performed continuously by applying a printing pulse with a voltage of 30V, when the printing pulse exceeded 3000 pulses, the ink mist adhered to the ejection surface near the nozzle opening, so the standard number of times was changed to 3000 times. It was set to

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the inkjet recording apparatus in the above embodiment,
The temperature of each recording head IA, IB, IC, ID was kept at a predetermined set temperature by the temperature control circuit of the print control section.
If ejection is concentrated on a specific recording head among D and the frequency of application of printing pulses increases, the temperature of that recording head may become higher than the set temperature.

This embodiment detects changes in head temperature, which is a feature of the inkjet recording method as described above, and
This determines the ink flow rate during the t-out recovery operation.

In the case of this embodiment as well, it can be realized with the same configuration as the ink sheet recording device of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the recording head "
Temperature detection means 18A, 18B, 18Cf 80 provided with LA, IB, IC, LD, and recording heads IA, IB, IC.

Detects each temperature change of the ID and determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 18A, 18B, 18C918D exceeds a predetermined reference temperature (reference temperature>set temperature of the recording head) during the recording operation. If so, the amount of ink flowing into the print head during the ejection recovery operation is increased.

In the same way as described above, a water-based ink with a dye concentration of 2 wt% was actually supplied to a 400 dpi, 128 nozzle bubble sheet recording head, and the pulse width was 7 μsec and the voltage was 30 V.
When recording is performed continuously by applying a printing pulse of
When the head temperature exceeds 50°C, ink mist adheres to the vicinity of the nozzle opening, so in this embodiment, the reference temperature is set to 50°C, and for a recording head whose detected temperature exceeds 50°C, Perform forced ink flow for 2 seconds,
Ink is forced to flow into the other recording heads for 1 second.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the ink flow rate was determined based on whether the print head temperature exceeded the reference temperature, but the time during which the print head temperature exceeded the reference temperature was measured, and the ink flow rate was determined based on that time. There may also be cases where the decision is made. In fact, when continuous recording was performed under the same conditions using the bubble sheet recording head, the head temperature was 4.
When the temperature remained at 0°C for more than 30 seconds, the ink mist became more intense. Therefore, in this case, the reference temperature is 40℃.
and the temperature detection means 18A, 18B.

If any of the detected temperatures of 18C and 18D exceeds 40°C, the time elapsed from that time may be measured, and the amount of ink flowing into the print head may be increased if the temperature continues for 30 seconds or more.

In each of the embodiments described above, in addition to removing the ink mist adhering to the vicinity of the nozzle openings of the recording head, the ink pumped by the ink pumping means is circulated between the recording head and the ink tank via the supply pipe and the return pipe. Therefore, the ink in the recording head is also refreshed.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the recording head unit has four recording heads and is configured to be able to record a color image by supplying ink of a different color to each. A case may also be considered in which only the mainstream colors such as the following are supplied, and in that case, the number of recording heads may be one.

The present invention provides excellent effects particularly in bubble jet recording heads and recording apparatuses, which are proposed by Canon among ink jet recording systems.

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 arrange the ink according to the sheet and liquid path that hold the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer that is attached to the recording head, the electrothermal transducer generates thermal energy by applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. 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. The growth and contraction of the bubble causes liquid (ink) to be ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one drop. It is more preferable to use this drive signal in a pulse form, because the growth and contraction of the bubbles can be carried out immediately and appropriately, and liquid (ink) can be ejected with particularly excellent responsiveness. Suitable pulse-shaped drive signals include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,262. In addition,
U.S. Patent No. 4 for the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 313124 are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.As for the configuration of the recording head, the ejection ports, liquid paths, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459, which disclose a combined configuration of electrothermal transducers (straight liquid flow path or right-angled liquid flow path), as well as a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure described in the specification of No. 0 may be used. 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. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-1989 discloses a configuration in which the
The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent No. 138461.

In addition, a replaceable chip-type recorder that is attached to the device body enables electrical connection to the device body and ink supply from the device body. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head is used.

Further, it is preferable to add preliminary auxiliary means, etc., 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 cleaning means for the recording head, preheating means using a heating element separate from the electrothermal transducer or a combination thereof, and ejection other than recording. Performing mote is also effective for stable recording.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is explained as a liquid, but it may be an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower, but softens or becomes a liquid at room temperature, or an ink that is generally used in inkjet. It may be one that becomes soft or liquid in the temperature range of 30° C. or higher and 70° C. or lower, which is the temperature range for temperature adjustment. That is,
Any material may be used as long as it is in an ink or liquid state when the recording signal is applied. In addition, H4 can be used to prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy by using it as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or to prevent ink from evaporating when the ink solidifies when left standing. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying thermal energy in accordance with the recording signal and is ejected as liquid ink, or the ink has already begun to solidify by the time it reaches the recording medium. It is also applicable to the present invention to use ink that is liquefied only by the following steps. In such a case, the ink is held in a liquid or solid state in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may also be in a state where it faces the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective method for each of the above-mentioned inks is to implement the above-mentioned film boiling method.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it produces the following effects.

(1) When ink is forced to flow into the print head during ejection recovery operation of the print head, ink circulates between the print head and the ink tank via the ink supply pipe and the ink pipe. Therefore, not only the ink in the nozzle openings is refreshed by ink discharge, but also the ink remaining in the print head is refreshed, and normal ejection of the print head is ensured even in a print operation after being left unused for a long time.

(2) By changing the amount of ink flowing into the recording head during the discharge recovery operation of the recording head according to the printing history of the recording head, the amount of ink flowing into the recording head can be determined to be the cause of the ink failure of the recording head. This makes it suitable for removing foreign matter such as deposits near the nozzle opening, so the foreign matter is reliably removed, the accuracy of the ejection operation of the recording head is increased, and the reliability of the recording apparatus is improved.

(3) As mentioned above, since the amount of ink inflow is changed taking into consideration the amount of foreign matter, if the amount of ink mist attached is considered to be small, it is possible to limit the amount of ink inflow, which is economically advantageous. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the recording head, and FIG. 3 is a standby state of the recording head and the relationship between the recording head and the ink tank. 4 is a perspective view showing a recording head unit, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a printing control section, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention. 1... Recording head unit, 2... Ink tank,
3... Carriage, 4... Guide rail, 5... Timing belt, 6... Carriage drive motor, 7... Recording sheet,
8... Sheet feed motor, 9... Sheet feed roller 10... Holding roller pair, 11... Cap member, 12... Nozzle opening, 13... Electrothermal converter, 14... Ink pressure feeding means, 15... supply pipe, work 6...-return pipe, 17... heater, 8...
・Temperature detection means, 50...Printing control section, 1...
CPU, 52...ROM, 3...RAM
, 54... Interface circuit, 5... Motor control circuit, 56... Head control circuit, 7... Print pulse count circuit 8... Ink pressure feeding control circuit, 59... Temperature control circuit 0. ...Host device, steps 61-67. Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Attorney: Tadashi Wakabayashi

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A recording head that ejects ink supplied from an ink tank via an ink supply pipe from a minute nozzle opening, and a recording head that is forced to perform ejection recovery for the recording head. an ink jet recording device having an ink flow means for flowing ink into the recording head, wherein the ink flow means is an ink pressure feeding means for flowing ink into the recording head through the ink supply pipe;
Furthermore, the recording head and the ink tank are connected by another ink pipe, and further, the recording head and the ink tank are connected to each other by another ink pipe, and the recording head has an ink flow rate variable means that changes the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means according to the printing history of the recording head. An inkjet recording device featuring: 2. The ink flow rate variable means includes a counting means for counting the number of ejection drives with respect to the recording head, and an ink flow rate control means for changing the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means according to the number of ejection drives counted by the counting means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The ink flow rate variable means has a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the recording head, and an ink flow rate control means for changing the ink inflow amount by the ink inflow means in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 4. Claims 1 and 2, wherein the ink flow rate variable means changes the ink inflow time by the ink inflow means.
or 3. The inkjet recording device according to 3. 5. The inkjet according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the recording head discharges ink using thermal energy, and is equipped with an electrothermal converter that generates the thermal energy. Recording device.