JPH09277560A - Ink jet type recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recover from clogging by necessary minimum motion by coping with any past record of increased viscosity of ink irrespective of an ink residual amount in an ink container. SOLUTION: Preliminary discharge conditions optimum for ink viscosity in an ink container is selected with a preliminary discharge motion control means 29 by calculating the ink viscosity with an ink viscosity equivalent value calculation means 24 which calculates ink viscosity according to installating duration and an ink residual amount data from a time measuring means 23 measuring duration for installation of the ink container and an ink residual amount detection means 28 detecting the ink residual amount when preliminary discharge motion which prevents inferiority in discharge by clogging of a recording head 7 is carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which has a recording head and ejects ink droplets onto recording paper in conformity with print data to form an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus which ejects ink for recording, if the ink is left for a long time without being ejected, a droplet is ejected even though a normal ejection signal is sent at the start of recording. It is known that a failure phenomenon of not being performed occurs.

This ejection failure phenomenon easily occurs in a low temperature environment in which the viscosity of the ink increases as the temperature decreases.
The cause of the occurrence is mainly that the viscosity of the ink increases due to the evaporation of the ink on the ejection surface, and the viscous resistance of the ink near the ejection port increases. This increase in the viscous resistance of the ink increases the energy required to eject the ink droplets,
Insufficient ejection energy causes ejection failure.

As one of the measures against this, there is a method called a preliminary discharge method. This is because, for example, when the power is turned on or when recording is not performed for a long time, the ink near the ejection port whose viscosity has increased is automatically ejected onto the liquid absorber or the like for the appropriate number of times to reduce the viscosity of the ink. This is a method of eliminating defective ink ejection within this preliminary ejection operation and obtaining normal ejection during recording, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-290720.

Further, a method of exerting a predetermined pressure on the ink flow path such as pressurizing the ink supply system or suctioning from the ink ejection port to forcibly eject the ink whose viscosity has increased from the ejection port. There is also.

By the way, the ink jet type recording apparatus is
It is configured to supply ink stored in an ink container such as a cartridge or a tank to a recording head through a flow path, pressurize the ink in a pressure generating chamber, and eject it as an ink droplet from a nozzle opening onto a recording sheet. ing.

As the solvent constituting the ink, a liquid having a high evaporation power is preferably used in order to reduce bleeding on the recording paper as much as possible. Therefore, the ink solvent is a polymer constituting the ink container. Evaporate through a layer of material. For this reason, the ink container is stored in a packaging bag that has a metal layer formed on a polymer film and has an excellent gas barrier property in an unused state, and the viscosity of the ink inside the container increases even if it is stored for a long time (thickening). Measures are taken to prevent people from coming.

[0008]

However, once the ink container is mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus, the solvent of the ink continues to evaporate through the ink container, which is a polymer material, from the start of mounting. Such evaporation of the ink solvent increases the viscosity of the ink as shown in FIG. The ink viscosity in the ink container cannot be uniquely estimated only by the mounting time of the ink container. That is, when the ink remaining amount in the ink container decreases due to the consumption of the ink, the solute concentration of the ink sharply rises due to the evaporation of the solvent as the ink remaining amount decreases.
As a result, the ink viscosity in the ink container also rises rapidly with the passage of time. With the miniaturization of recording devices, the ink volume in the ink container is reduced,
If the concentration of solute such as a colorant that constitutes the ink is increased in order to improve the printing quality on plain paper, the rapid increase in the ink viscosity when the remaining ink amount becomes small becomes more remarkable. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the increase curve of the ink viscosity with respect to the passage of time also differs depending on the difference in the ink consumption speed.

Conventionally, as described above, the preliminary ejection operation is performed to solve the ejection failure phenomenon, and the ink discharge recovery operation is forcibly performed by the suction operation or the like. The number of ejections, the preliminary ejection interval, and the ink ejection recovery interval are set uniformly. Even when the ink viscosity in the ink container increases, the number of preliminary ejections, the preliminary ejection interval, and the ink ejection recovery interval are uniformly set in accordance with the increase in the ink viscosity within the guaranteed use period.

Therefore, such a setting method is effective under adverse environmental conditions in which the viscosity of the ink is increased, but when used under favorable conditions, that is, in an environmental condition in which the increase in ink viscosity is low and ejection defects are unlikely to occur. However, there is a problem that extra ink is consumed and time is spent for extra recovery operation.

[0011]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head which receives ink from an ink container and ejects ink droplets. Ink container attachment / detachment detection means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink container, and resetting of the timekeeping data by detecting that the ink container has been exchanged based on a signal from the ink container attachment / detachment detection means, and continuation of attachment of the ink container A time measuring unit for measuring time, an ink remaining amount detecting unit for detecting an ink remaining amount in the ink container, an ink viscosity equivalent in the ink container based on the mounting duration time and the ink remaining amount in the ink container Ink viscosity equivalent value calculation means for calculating the value and preliminary ejection operation for preventing ejection failure of ink droplets based on the ink viscosity equivalent value And so and a preliminary discharge operation control means for causing an optimum preliminary discharge operation.

Further, in a recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head which receives ink from an ink container and ejects ink droplets, an ink container attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink container, and the ink container attachment / detachment detection. Detecting that the ink container has been replaced based on a signal from the means, resetting the time measurement data, and detecting the amount of ink remaining in the ink container and the time measuring means for measuring the mounting duration time of the ink container. Ink remaining amount detecting means, ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means for calculating an ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container based on the mounting duration and the ink residual amount in the ink container, and an ejection port for ejecting an ink drop Ink discharge recovery means that discharges more ink to prevent defective ejection of ink droplets, and the ink viscosity when the recording device is turned on. And to and an ink discharge recovery operation control means for causing the optimal ink discharge recovery operation in the ink discharge recovery means based on those values.

[0013]

With the ink container mounting time and the ink remaining amount in the ink container being entirely controlled by the recording apparatus main body, the ink that is substantially governed by two parameters: the ink container mounting time and the ink remaining amount in the ink container. Corresponding to the increase in viscosity,
By setting the operating conditions of the preliminary ejection operation or the ink ejection recovery operation to prevent clogging and ejection failure of the print head, the ejection port that causes ejection failure can be reliably performed in a short time without consuming excess ink. It is possible to remove the thickened ink in the vicinity.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 indicates
The carriage is connected to the carriage driving motor 3 by the timing belt 2 and is configured to be guided by the guide member 4 and reciprocate in parallel with the platen 5.

A recording head 7 for ejecting black ink is mounted on a printing area (on the left side in the drawing) on the surface of the carriage 1 facing the recording paper 6, and a recording head 8 for color printing is mounted on the non-printing area side. Each of the recording heads 7 and 8 receives ink from the black ink container 9 and the color ink container 10, respectively, and ejects ink droplets onto the recording paper 6 for printing.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a capping device, in which a cap member 13 for sealing the black ink recording head 7 and a cap member 14 for sealing the color ink recording head 8 are mounted on the same slider. The pump unit 16 composed of a pump is connected via a tube.

Each of the cap members 13 and 14 has a size capable of sealing the nozzle opening surface of the recording heads 7 and 8 in one space, and is formed of an elastic material such as rubber into a cup shape. The nozzle openings of the heads 7 and 8 are sealed, and ink is forced from the recording heads 7 and 8 by negative pressure from the pump unit 16 that receives the power of the motor 17 that drives the paper feed roller (not shown) at the time of the ejection capacity recovery operation. It is configured so that it can be discharged.

In the vicinity of the capping device 12,
A cleaner unit 18 which moves up and down by a motor 17 is arranged. By moving these in parallel, it is possible to prevent local thickening and solidification of ink near the nozzle openings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the condition of the preliminary ejection operation is variable based on the ink viscosity in the ink container 9. The configuration for the preliminary ejection operation will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

Reference numeral 20 in the figure denotes an ink container attachment / detachment detection means, and a fixed contact 21 provided in the frame 19 accommodating the ink container 9 and a movable contact facing the fixed contact 21 and displaced by abutting of the ink container 9. 22 and an ink container 9
It is configured to output a signal by attaching and detaching (Fig. 3).

Numeral 23 is a time measuring means, which resets the previous time measuring data when the ink container 9 is replaced based on the signal from the ink container attachment / detachment detecting means 20 and continues the mounting state. In this case, the installation duration of the ink container, which has elapsed since the power was last turned on, is measured, and the installation is continued by acquiring the time data input from the timer device or the host device provided in the recording device main body. It is configured to calculate time.

Reference numeral 24 is an ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means, which is data of the mounting duration time of the time measuring means 23 when the power is turned on, data of the remaining ink amount of the remaining ink amount detecting means 28 which will be described later, and ink which will be described later. The ink viscosity equivalent value at the present time is calculated based on the ink viscosity equivalent value data of the viscosity equivalent value storage means 25.

Reference numeral 25 denotes the above-mentioned ink viscosity equivalent value storage means, which is configured to store the ink viscosity equivalent value calculated at the time when the power source was last turned on. The ink viscosity equivalent value refers to a numerical value corresponding to the ink viscosity in the ink container 9. Not only the ink viscosity value itself, but also the ink viscosity and 1
A numerical value such as a solvent weight ratio in the ink container 9 may be used as long as it has a one-to-one relationship.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an ink remaining amount detecting means for detecting the ink remaining amount in the ink container 9. The remaining ink amount detecting means 28 of the present embodiment determines the amount of ink consumed by the ejection of the ink droplets and the clogging recovery based on the counting of the number of pulse signals for ejecting the ink droplets and the counting of the number of clogging recovery operations. The total amount of consumed ink, which is the sum of the amount of consumed ink, is calculated to calculate the remaining amount of ink in the ink container 9. The remaining ink amount detecting means 28 of this system has a feature that the remaining ink amount can be accurately detected with a simple configuration, as compared with the method of detecting the remaining ink amount mechanically or electrically.

Reference numeral 29 is a preliminary ejection operation control means, which is the current ink container 9 calculated by the ink viscosity equivalent value calculation means 24.
Based on the ink viscosity equivalent value, the optimum preliminary ejection operation condition is read from the preliminary ejection operation condition storage unit 30. In this embodiment, the preliminary ejection operation control unit 29 calls the preliminary ejection number data at the time of power-on and at the start of printing from the preliminary ejection operation condition storage unit 30 as the preliminary ejection operation condition, and the recording head via the print control unit 26. A preliminary ejection drive signal based on the number of preliminary ejections is input to the drive circuit 27.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a preliminary ejection operation condition storage means, which needs to be investigated in advance for the ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container 9 which is necessary to obtain a printing result without ink ejection failure after the preliminary ejection operation. In addition, it is configured to store data that defines a minimum optimum pre-ejection operation condition. In this embodiment, the preliminary ejection operation condition storage means 30
Stores the preliminary ejection number data at the time of power-on and at the start of printing as the preliminary ejection operation condition as specified data optimized for the ink viscosity equivalent value.

In this embodiment, the relationship between the ink viscosity equivalent value and the number of preliminary ejections is defined, but it is also possible to correct the drive voltage pulse for preliminary ejection with a voltage, and the preliminary ejection operation condition storage means 30. May store data defining the relationship between the ink viscosity equivalent value and the drive voltage for preliminary ejection.

Reference numeral 26 in the figure denotes print control means for controlling the recording head drive circuit 27 based on a print signal from an external device.

Next, the operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the power of the recording apparatus is turned on (step S1), the time keeping means 23 detects the ink container mounting duration time that has elapsed since the previous power was turned on (step S2). In the next step S3, the ink remaining amount detecting means 28 detects the ink remaining amount in the ink container 9. In step S4, the ink viscosity equivalent value storage means 25
The ink viscosity equivalent value written in is read. This ink viscosity equivalent value is the value in the initial state immediately after the ink container 9 is replaced, and when the ink container 9 is continuously attached, the ink viscosity equivalent value when the power was last turned on. It is a value. In step S5, the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means 24 uses steps S2, S3, S4.
The ink viscosity equivalent value at the present time is calculated based on the above three data. Detailed calculation will be described below by taking a case where the solvent is water as a typical example of the ink.

If the ink viscosity with respect to the evaporation rate of water in the ink is measured in advance and the relationship of the ink viscosity η with respect to the weight ratio x of water in the ink container is obtained from this data, generally,

[0034]

[Equation 1]

If the weight ratio of water in the ink container 9 is known by approximating to the mathematical formula (a and b are constants obtained by approximation), the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 can be calculated. In this embodiment, for simplicity, the ink container 9
The weight ratio of water content is used as the ink viscosity equivalent value. The weight ratio of water in the ink container 9 at present is

[0036]

[Equation 2]

Is calculated by In Equation 2, as input data, the wearing duration in step S2, step S2
The remaining amount of ink at the present time in 3 and the weight ratio of water in the ink container 9 when the previous drive voltage pulse is set in step S4 are input.

Next, in step S6, the preliminary ejection operation control means 29 uses the ink viscosity equivalent value calculated in step S5 as the preliminary ejection operation condition suitable for the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 at the present time. The number of times of preliminary ejection is read out from the preliminary ejection operation condition storage means 30, and the number of times of preliminary ejection at power-on and at the start of printing is set.

When the preliminary ejection operation condition suitable for the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 is set in step S6, the preliminary ejection operation signal output from the preliminary ejection operation control means 29 is transmitted via the print control means 26 in step S7. Is input to the recording head drive circuit 27, and the thickened ink near the ejection port accumulated since the power was turned off last time is ejected from the recording head 7 by the preliminary ejection operation when the power is turned on.

Of course, the above-mentioned ejection failure due to an increase in the ink viscosity resistance near the ink ejection port largely depends on the elapsed time since the power was last turned off. The operating conditions should be variable. Furthermore, in addition to this, the recording head 7 increases the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 at that time by changing the preliminary ejection operation in consideration of the increase in the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 as in the present embodiment. Then, the number of times of preliminary ejection can be changed to reliably eject the thickened ink near the ink ejection port by the preliminary ejection.

In step S8, the ink viscosity equivalent value is updated and written in the ink viscosity equivalent value storage means 25. Subsequently, in step S9, the time measuring means 23 resets the ink container mounting duration data which has been measured since the last time the power was turned on, and in step S10, the time measuring means 2
3 starts timing operation.

When a print signal is input (step S1)
1) First, the recording head drive circuit 27 drives the recording head 7 by performing the preliminary ejection operation at the start of printing set in step S6 (step S12). After that, the recording head drive circuit 27 drives the recording head 7 by the drive voltage pulse from the print control means 26 based on the print signal (step S13).

When the old ink container 9 is removed from the recording device at the stage when the ink in the ink container 9 is consumed and the ink end is detected, the ink container attachment / detachment detecting means 20 detects the removal of the ink container 9 (step S14). ,
In step S15, the mounting continuation time data from the last time the power was turned on, which is measured by the time measuring means 23, is reset.

Next, when a new ink container 9 is attached, a signal is output from the ink container attachment / detachment detection means 20 (step S16), and the data of the ink viscosity equivalent value stored in the ink viscosity equivalent value storage means 25 is initialized. (Step S17). The preliminary discharge operation control means 29
The preliminary discharge operation condition is reset (step S18). The time measuring means 23 starts the time measuring operation (step S10),
The recording apparatus is in a state of waiting for the input of the print signal (step S11).

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment is based on the above-mentioned configuration, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for the operation of optimizing the preliminary ejection during the printing operation in the flowchart shown in FIG. .

The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that even during the printing operation, the preliminary ejection operation control means 29 inputs the preliminary ejection operation signal to the print control means 26 by interrupting the print signal, and the printing is in progress. That is, the preliminary ejection operation is performed.

When the print signal is input in step S11, the preliminary ejection operation at the start of printing is first performed in step S12. Then, in step S26, the preliminary discharge timing operation during printing is started. This preliminary discharge timing is performed by a timer unit (not shown) for determining whether or not a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the previous preliminary discharge during printing.

When the printing operation is started in step S13, it is determined in step S21 whether or not the preliminary discharge timing means has passed a predetermined time or more. If it is determined that the preliminary discharge operation has been performed after the predetermined time has passed, the print control is performed. Means 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording head drive circuit 2 which indicates a preliminary ejection operation signal during printing.
7 and the recording head 7 is made to perform preliminary ejection (step S23). In this embodiment, the time interval of the preliminary ejection during printing corresponding to the ink viscosity equivalent value is the preliminary ejection operation control unit 2.
9 is set in step S6 according to step 9, and it is determined in step S21 whether it is the timing of the preliminary discharge operation based on the time interval of the preliminary discharge. Ink container 9
If the viscosity of the ink inside is increased due to water evaporation, the time interval for performing the preliminary ejection operation during printing is shortened.
As a result, the ink near the ejection port, which has not been ejected and has increased in viscosity during printing, is ejected by preliminary ejection to maintain dot formation without bending. On the other hand, when the ink viscosity in the ink container 9 does not increase, the time interval for preliminary ejection during printing is set to be longer to improve the printing throughput. After the preliminary ejection is executed, the preliminary ejection timing data during printing is reset in step S24, and the timing operation is started in step S25.

If it is determined in step S21 that it is not the timing of preliminary ejection during printing, it is determined in step S22 whether or not printing is completed. If unprinted data remains, the printing operation is continued.

This embodiment is particularly effective for an ink in which the concentration of solute such as a colorant constituting the ink is increased for the purpose of improving print quality on plain paper.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the condition of the ink discharge recovery operation performed when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on is variable based on the ink viscosity in the ink container 9. This ink discharge recovery operation is performed in order to recover the ink clogging due to the increase in the viscosity of the ink in the vicinity of the serious ejection port, which cannot be completely recovered by the above-mentioned preliminary ejection. A configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 40 is a power-off period timing means, which measures the period from the last power-off of the recording apparatus until the power is turned on. Reset the data and start the timing operation. Similar to the time measuring means 23, it is configured to obtain the time data input from the timer means provided in the main body of the recording apparatus or the host device and calculate the attachment duration time.

Reference numeral 41 denotes an ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means, which is preliminarily investigated with respect to the ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container 9 which is necessary to obtain a print result without ink ejection failure after the ink discharge recovery operation. It is configured to store data that defines the necessary and minimum optimum recovery operation condition by ink discharge. In this embodiment, the ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 41 uses, as the ink discharge recovery operation condition, the threshold value of the power-off period in which the ink suction recovery operation is performed as the prescribed data optimized for the ink viscosity equivalent value. I remember.

Reference numeral 42 denotes an ink discharge recovery means, which generates a negative pressure in the pump unit 16 based on the ink discharge recovery operation signal from the ink discharge recovery operation control means 43 to force the recording head 7 through the capping device 12. In this embodiment, the ink is ejected in a specific manner.

Reference numeral 43 denotes an ink discharge recovery operation control means,
Based on the current ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container 9 calculated by the ink viscosity equivalent value calculation means 24, the threshold value of the power-off period during which the ink suction recovery operation should be performed is read from the ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 41. In the present embodiment, the ink discharge recovery control means 43 calls the threshold value of the power-off period during which the ink suction recovery operation should be performed as the ink discharge recovery operation condition from the ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 41 to perform the ink discharge recovery operation. It is determined whether or not to perform it, and when the ink discharge recovery operation is performed, an ink discharge operation signal is sent to the ink discharge recovery means 42.

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the ink viscosity equivalent value and the threshold value of the power-off period during which the ink suction recovery operation should be performed is defined, but the ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 40 is equivalent to the ink viscosity. Data that defines the relationship between the value and the suction amount of the ink suction recovery operation may be further stored, and the data may be configured to increase the ink suction amount when the ink viscosity equivalent value is large.

Next, the operation of the thus-configured apparatus will be described based on the flow chart shown in FIG. 8 while referring to differences from the first embodiment.

Subsequent to step S5, the power-off period timer 40 detects the period elapsed from the last power-off of the recording apparatus to the power-on (step S).
31). In the next step S32, the threshold value of the power-off period during which the ink suction recovery operation should be performed is read from the ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 41 based on the ink viscosity equivalent value calculated in step S5, and is detected in step S31. Compared with the power off period. Step S32
If it is determined that the ink suction recovery operation should be performed in step S33, the ink discharge recovery operation is performed in step S33. If it is determined in step S32 that it is not necessary to perform the ink suction recovery operation, the ink discharge recovery operation is not performed and the process proceeds to the next step.

As described above, in this embodiment, the condition of the ink discharge recovery operation performed when the power of the recording apparatus is turned on is variable based on the ink viscosity in the ink container 9, so that the above-described preliminary ejection cannot completely recover the ink. Even under a condition in which ink clogging occurs due to thickening of the ink in the vicinity of the ejection port, the clogging can be recovered with the minimum necessary ink discharge.

(Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment conforms to the constructions of the first and third embodiments, and is applied to a recording head for ejecting a plurality of inks having different densities with respect to the same color ink. . In the present embodiment, a plurality of inks having different densities are used for the same color ink, and the time change of the ink viscosity increase with respect to the evaporation of the ink solvent greatly varies depending on the ink due to the difference in the ink densities. Ink discharge recovery operation control means 43
However, the pre-ejection operation or the ink discharge recovery operation is performed for each ink, and the clogging recovery is achieved by the minimum required ink consumption in response to the change in viscosity that varies depending on the type of ink. It has the effect that it can be maintained.

(Fifth Embodiment) In this embodiment, the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means 24 is different from the above first to fourth embodiments.
The difference is that the detection data of the ambient atmosphere temperature is input to and the ink viscosity equivalent value is calculated in consideration of the temperature dependence of the ink viscosity.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the present embodiment applied to the first embodiment.

The temperature data measured by the temperature sensor 51, which is the temperature detecting means, is taken into the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means 24 via the AD converter 52.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the ink viscosity and the environmental temperature. Taking the ink used in this example as an example, the viscosity H at 40 ° C. is about 2.0 mPa · s and the viscosity at 25 ° C. I is 3.0 mPa · s and viscosity J at 15 ° C. is 4.2.
It has a temperature dependence of mPa · s. Returning to FIG. 9, in the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means 24, the ink container mounting duration data from the time measuring means 23 and the ink remaining amount detecting means 2 are detected.
8 based on the temperature data input from the temperature sensor 51 with respect to the ink viscosity equivalent value at the current reference environmental temperature calculated by the ink remaining amount data from 8 and the data of the ink viscosity equivalent value storage means 25. The temperature-dependent correction coefficient of the ink viscosity shown in FIG. 10 is calculated to calculate an accurate ink viscosity equivalent value of the ink container 9 in consideration of the ambient temperature around the printing apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the ink container is independently attached and detached has been described as an example, but the ink container is integrated with the ink container as an ink jet recording head to replenish ink and replace the recording head. It is obvious that the invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus using a head-integrated ink cartridge which is performed at the same time.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the recording apparatus of the type in which the ink container is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example. However, the ink container is installed in the box and the ink is supplied to the recording head by the tube. Can also be applied.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The ink viscosity in the ink container is calculated in accordance with the mounting duration and the remaining ink amount by the time keeping means for measuring the remaining duration of the ink container and the remaining ink amount detecting means for detecting the remaining ink amount. Since the operating conditions of the preliminary ejection operation and the ink ejection recovery operation that prevent defective ejection of ink droplets have been made variable based on the determined ink viscosity, the history of the increase in the ink viscosity in the ink container will change. In addition, even if the amount of ink remaining in the ink container becomes low, it is possible to accurately respond to the increase in ink viscosity and optimally remove the thickened ink near the ejection port with the minimum necessary ink consumption and operating time. It can be done reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink container attachment / detachment detection means.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the cumulative mounting duration time after the ink container is replaced and the viscosity of the ink in the ink container.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between ink viscosity and environmental temperature.

[Description of Reference Signs] 1 carriage 7, 8 recording head 9, 10 ink container 12 capping device 13, 14 cap member 20 ink container attachment / detachment detection means 23 timing means 24 ink viscosity equivalent value calculation means 25 ink viscosity equivalent value storage means 28 ink Remaining amount detection means 29 Preliminary ejection operation control means 30 Preliminary ejection operation condition storage means 41 Ink discharge recovery operation condition storage means 42 Ink discharge recovery means 43 Ink discharge recovery operation control means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording head for receiving ink from an ink container and ejecting ink droplets, and an ink container attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink container, and the ink container attachment / detachment detection. Detecting that the ink container has been replaced based on a signal from the means, resetting the time measurement data, and detecting the amount of ink remaining in the ink container and the time measuring means for measuring the mounting duration time of the ink container. Ink remaining amount detecting means, ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means for calculating an ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container based on the mounting duration and the ink remaining amount in the ink container, and based on the ink viscosity equivalent value A preliminary ejection operation control means for performing an optimal preliminary ejection operation as a preliminary ejection operation for preventing defective ejection of ink droplets. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim. 2. The remaining ink amount detecting means detects the remaining amount state of the ink container based on the counting of the number of pulse signals for ejecting ink droplets and the counting of the number of clogging recovery operations. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The ink jet recording head is a recording head for ejecting a plurality of inks having different densities with respect to the same color ink, and the preliminary ejection operation control means comprises:
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an optimum preliminary ejection operation is set for each of the inks having different densities. 4. A temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient atmosphere temperature is further provided, and the preliminary ejection operation control means obtains the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means in accordance with the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising calculating the ink viscosity equivalent value to set an optimum preliminary ejection operation. 5. An ink container attachment / detachment detection means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink container, and a recording device having an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink droplets by receiving ink supply from the ink container, Detecting that the ink container has been replaced based on a signal from the means, resetting the time measurement data, and detecting the amount of ink remaining in the ink container and the time measuring means for measuring the mounting duration time of the ink container. Ink remaining amount detecting means, ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means for calculating an ink viscosity equivalent value in the ink container based on the mounting duration and the ink residual amount in the ink container, and an ejection port for ejecting an ink drop Ink discharge recovery means for discharging more ink to prevent ink droplet discharge failure, and the ink viscosity equivalent when the recording device is powered on. An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by comprising a an ink ejection recovery operation control means for causing the optimal ink discharge recovery operation in the ink discharge recovery means based on. 6. The remaining ink amount detecting means detects the remaining amount state of the ink container based on the number of pulse signals for ejecting ink drops and the number of clogging recovery operations. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5. 7. The ink jet recording head is a recording head for ejecting a plurality of inks having different densities with respect to the same color ink, and the ink discharge recovery operation control means corresponds to the respective inks having different densities. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optimum ink discharge recovery operation is set respectively. 8. An ink discharge recovery operation control means is further provided with a temperature detection means for detecting an ambient temperature of the surroundings.
An optimum ink discharge recovery operation is set by further calculating the ink viscosity equivalent value obtained by the ink viscosity equivalent value calculating means in accordance with the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. Item 8. The inkjet recording device according to any one of items 5 to 7.