JPH10119318A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out securely the ink suction at the time of replacement of an ink cartridge. SOLUTION: A device comprises an ink jet type recording head 7 for receiving the ink from an ink cartridge 8 and jetting ink drops out of nozzle openings of a nozzle plate in compliance with a printing data, a cap component 30 being brought into contact elastically with the nozzle plate and preventing the drying of the nozzle opening, a suction pump 11 for feeding negative pressure to the cap component 30 and jetting the ink out of the nozzle openings and a suction control means 50 for operating the suction pump 11 at the time of setting the ink cartridge 8 and jetting the ink out of the recording head 7, and a plurality of times of suction are operated, in the middle of which the process of restoring the pressure of the cap component 30 is restored to atmosphere, is carried out, in the case of setting the ink cartridge 8.

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 head having an ink jet recording head which moves in the width direction of a recording sheet, and which forms an image by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording sheet in accordance with print data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for filling a recording head with ink when an ink cartridge is replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to maintain the same conditions as during use in a distribution process, ink is supplied in a pressure generating chamber so that ink is ejected from a nozzle opening. Measures are taken to prevent drying and the ingress of dust. For this reason, an operation for removing the product liquid filled in the recording head prior to the start of use, that is, an initial filling operation is required.

Further, in order to simplify the ink supply operation, the ink is accommodated in a cartridge, and the ink can be supplied by being attached to and detached from a recording head.
For this reason, the air easily enters the recording head with the replacement of the cartridge, and flows into the pressure generating chamber to weaken the pressing force, thereby deteriorating the printing quality. In order to solve such a problem, an ink filling operation is required when replacing the ink cartridge.

In the initial filling operation and the ink filling operation, the nozzle plate of the recording head is sealed with a cup-shaped cap member by an elastic member such as rubber, and the like.
This is performed by forcibly discharging ink from a nozzle opening by applying a negative pressure from a suction pump.

[0005]

However, as the density of nozzle openings in the recording head has been increased and the number of nozzles has been increased, the area to be sealed has been increased, but delicate contact with the recording head has been ensured. Therefore, the rigidity of the cap member cannot be increased without limit, the rigidity of the cap member relatively decreases, and the cap deforms without being able to withstand the differential pressure acting at the time of the suction operation. There is a problem in that a gap is formed between the holes, the suction pressure is reduced, and a filling error occurs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object the purpose of filling an ink cartridge into a recording head for the first time after shipment from a factory or replacing an ink cartridge. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably filling a recording head with ink at the time of mounting.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printer which receives ink supplied from an ink cartridge and discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings of a nozzle plate in accordance with print data. A recording head, a cap member that elastically contacts the nozzle plate to prevent drying of the nozzle opening, a suction pump that supplies negative pressure to the cap member to discharge ink from the nozzle opening, and an ink cartridge. And a suction control means for operating the suction pump at the time when the ink is ejected to discharge the ink from the print head. Suction operation of the pump intermittently several times while returning the pressure of the member to the atmospheric pressure To the way.

[0007]

Since the pressure of the cap member is returned to the atmospheric pressure during the suction, the pressure of the ink cartridge is restored, and an excessive differential pressure acting on the cap member as in the case of continuous suction is prevented.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, wherein reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage, which is connected to a motor 3 by a timing belt 2 and guided by a guide member 4 so as to be parallel to a platen 5. It is configured to move. Recording paper 6 on carriage 1
The recording head 7 receives ink supplied from the ink cartridge 8 and pressurizes the pressure generating chamber with a piezoelectric vibrator or a heating element to discharge ink droplets from the nozzle openings.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a capping device which is connected to a suction pump 11 via a tube.
The nozzle opening surface is sealed in a single space, the nozzle opening surface is sealed when printing is not performed, and the ink is supplied from the recording head 7 by receiving a negative pressure from the suction pump 11 during the discharge capacity recovery operation. It is configured so that it can be forcibly discharged. In the vicinity of the capping device 10, a cleaning device provided with an elastic plate made of rubber or the like which rises so as to abut the nozzle plate 8a of the recording head 7 when the recording head 7 moves to the cleaning position in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 1. 12 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing an embodiment of the above-described capping device 10, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the recording head 7 is sealed. When the carriage 1 moves to the non-printing area, the upper surface of the base 21 moves horizontally and vertically following the movement of the carriage 1.

A cap member 22 for sealing the nozzle opening surface of the recording head 7 is provided on one half of the printing area (left side in the figure) on the upper surface, and the other half which is an outer area (right side in the figure). Is provided with a valve unit 36, and a flag piece 24 that contacts the carriage 1 is provided at the outermost end.

The slider 20 has a projection 2 at the lower end on the outermost end side.
1, slides on the surface of the guide surface 23 of the base 22, and has projections 24, 25 orthogonal to the moving direction of the carriage 1 on the side of the printing area, one end of which is a long groove. 27
a rotatably supported by the other end of an arm 27 supported by a pin 26 of the base 22 via a, and vertically movable, and inserted between the base 21 and the arm 27. It is urged upward by the urging means to take a substantially horizontal posture.

A through hole 32 communicating with an ink suction port 31 of a cap member 30 to be described later is formed in the projection 25 which engages with the arm 27, and also serves as a connection flow path with the suction pump 11. .

On the upper surface of the base 22, a cap member 30 is located at a position away from the nozzle plate 8a,
a so that it can occupy two positions
The guide surface 23 is configured as a low place 23a, a high place 23b, and a slope 23c connecting these, and a stopper 34 is formed at the outermost end thereof.

The cap member 30 comprises a cap 35 and a support frame 36 for holding the cap 35. The cap 35 is formed of a synthetic resin such as ink-resistant rubber or the like into a cup shape having an air communication hole 37 and the ink suction port 31 described above, and houses an ink absorbing plate 38 made of a porous material inside. It is configured.

The air communication port 37 and the ink suction port 3
1 is a conduit 3 formed integrally with the cap 35, respectively.
5a and 35b are connected to the valve unit 36 and the suction pump 11, which will be described later.

On the other hand, the support frame 36 is
The fold 35c is formed in a cup shape such that the fold 35c is exposed, and the bottom surface is loosely fitted to the protrusion 20a of the slider 20 and is supported swingably with respect to the slider.

The valve unit 36 communicates with the conduit 35a through the tube 39, and the valve seat 40 having the opening 40a on the cap member 30 side and the carriage 1 moving toward the stopper 34 from the capping position. Therefore, the valve body 42 is provided on the operating rod 41 which abuts on the stopper 34 and retreats toward the cap member 30 side, and a spring 43 which constantly urges the valve body toward the stopper side.

With such a configuration, a gap is formed between the operating rod 41 and the stopper 34 at the capping position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that the valve body 42 elastically contacts the valve seat 40 by the spring 43. To close the opening 40a. On the other hand, when the carriage 1 moves toward the stopper 34 and the operating rod 41 is pushed toward the cap member 30, the valve body 42 is moved to the valve seat 40.
Away from the opening 40a is opened to the atmosphere.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an ink filling control device. In the drawing, reference numeral 50 denotes suction control means.
A specific operation, for example, detecting that a specific switch SW1 and a power switch SW2 provided on the panel surface are simultaneously operated, is activated, and is operated by a pump driving unit 52 based on a signal from a suction mode setting unit 51 described later. This is for operating the suction pump 11.

The suction mode setting means 51 determines whether the ink is to be initially charged for the first time after shipment from the factory or normal charging upon replacement of an ink cartridge, and basically, a series of ink filling operations is divided into a plurality of times. And the more times,
A suction sequence for increasing suction pressure and continuing suction for a predetermined time is incorporated.

The initial filling is set so that the suction time is set longer than the normal filling, and the number of times of a series of operations is increased. Note that reference numeral 53 in FIG.
Denotes a suction timer for controlling the operation time of the pump 11 and the interval.

Next, the operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The recording device shipped from the factory is filled with a transport liquid composed of a component different from ink for the purpose of preventing the recording head 7 from drying and dust from entering. When the ink cartridge 8 is loaded on the cartridge mounting member of the carriage 1 prior to using the recording apparatus, the connection needle communicating with the recording head 7 is inserted into the cartridge 8, and
The recording head 7 communicates with the ink cartridge 8.

In this state, when the power is turned on under a predetermined procedure, for example, a state where a specific operation switch is pressed, the suction control means 50 determines that it is the initial filling, and starts the sequence of the initial filling process. The carriage 1 is moved to the capping position 10 and the recording head 7 is moved to the cap member 3.
0 and sealing (step a), and the air communication port 31 of the cap member 30 is sealed with the valve unit 36 (step b).

Subsequently, the suction control means 50 controls the suction pump 1 so that the first suction pressure P1 is generated in the cap member 30.
Operate while controlling the rotation speed of Step 1 (Step
C).

As a result, the negative pressure P1 acts on the recording head 7 and ink flows from the ink cartridge 8 into the recording head 7 from the nozzle opening at a flow rate commensurate with the suction pressure P1. Is discharged. In the first filling step, since the suction pressure P1 is set relatively weak, the ink flows at a low speed in the recording head, and flows so as to push out the transport liquid without mixing with the transport liquid. . As a result, the ink spreads to every corner in the recording head 8, and the liquid to be sent is discharged to the cap member 30 without any excess.

Further, since the flow of the ink is slow, the pressure is not excessively reduced. Therefore, the ink is filled in the recording head 8 with a very small amount of bubbling. Foaming is prevented.

In this case, since an excessive pressure difference is prevented from acting on the fold 35a of the cap 35, the cap member 30 securely seals the recording head 7 to continuously apply suction pressure to the recording head 7. Can be acted upon.

When the first suction operation has continued for a predetermined time T1 (step d), the suction timer 53 times out.
(Step e).

After the pump 11 stops, the carriage 1 is slightly moved to open the valve unit 36 to open the atmosphere communication hole 31 of the cap member 30 to the atmosphere (step S1).
F) The pump 11 is operated at a pressure P3 suitable for sucking out the ink remaining in the cap member 30 and the pipeline (step S).

As a result, waste ink discharged from the recording head 7 and remaining in the capping device and the flow path is
The ink is sucked into the waste ink tank without exerting a negative pressure that causes the recording head 7 to eject ink. At the same time, the pressure of the cartridge 8 at which the negative pressure has been increased in the suction step in the previous step is restored to a negative pressure suitable for printing at the time of shipment from the factory via the air communication port provided in the cartridge, and excessively. Negative pressure is prevented, and bubbles generated in the recording head 7 dissolve again in the ink and disappear.

When the suction operation has continued for a predetermined time T3 (step), the pump 11 is stopped (step), and the carriage 1 is moved to the original position again to close the air communication port 31 (step nu). Then, the pump 11 is operated to generate a second suction pressure P2 stronger than the first suction pressure P1 (step).

As a result, the negative pressure P2 acts on the recording head 7, and the ink in the ink cartridge 8 flows into the recording head 7 from the recording head 7 at a high flow rate corresponding to the negative pressure P2. The ink is discharged from the head 7 to the cap member 30. In this way, the ink passes through the recording head 7 at a higher flow rate than the previous time,
Bubbles that have entered the recording head 7 due to the mounting of the cartridge 8 are also caused to flow in a fast ink flow and are discharged to the cap member 30.

Since the pressure of the cartridge 8 has risen to some extent due to the suspension of the previous suction, the cartridge 8 does not become excessively negative, and the cap member 30 is not overwhelmed even if the suction is performed under a strong pressure. Maintain the sealed state without losing the differential pressure.

When the predetermined time T2 has elapsed (step e), the pump 11 is stopped (step w), and the carriage 1 is slightly moved to move the cap member 30 as described above.
Is communicated to the atmosphere (step f), the pump 11 is operated at a pressure P3 to discharge the waste ink (step y), and after a predetermined time T4 elapses after the waste ink is discharged from the cap member 30 or the flow path to the outside (step y). The pump 11 is stopped at step (step).

In this manner, a series of suction operations is divided into a plurality of times, and as the number of times is increased, the operation of suctioning ink while increasing the negative pressure is repeated at least a plurality of times. Atmospheric communication hole 31 of member 30
Is closed (step S), and the recording head 7 is put on standby in a sealed state.

When a time T5, for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds, required for the ink in the recording head 7 to adjust to the pressure generating chambers and the nozzle openings and settle down, for example (steps),
When the carriage 1 is moved to the cleaning position 12,
The wiper of the cleaning device 12 protrudes into the movement locus of the recording head 7 and resiliently contacts the nozzle plate 8a to wipe the nozzle plate 8a (step N).

Needless to say, since a certain time has elapsed since the recording head 7 was filled with ink, the ink was familiar with the nozzle openings, and the wiper and the nozzle plate 8
An ink layer is formed between the nozzle plate 8a and the nozzle plate 8a to perform smooth wiping, thereby preventing the nozzle plate 8a from being damaged.

In this way, when the ink is completely charged and used for printing, and the ink in the ink cartridge 8 is completely consumed, the ink cartridge 8 is moved to the carriage 1.
And replace it with a new cartridge.

At the stage where the replacement of the ink cartridges has been completed, if a predetermined operation similar to that at the time of the initial filling is performed, the suction control means 50 starts a normal filling sequence similar to the initial filling.

Normally, it is not necessary to discharge the supply liquid during filling, and it is only necessary to discharge ink enough to remove air bubbles that have entered the recording head by attaching and detaching the cartridge. Requires less.

Therefore, although the suction pressure is increased in the suction mode setting means 51 as the steps are increased, the suction times T1 and T2 in each step of one filling process are set to be short, and the suction operation is divided into a plurality of times. A sequence is incorporated, a suction operation is performed in the same manner as in the initial filling (steps I to V), and after a predetermined time T5 has elapsed after the filling is completed (steps), the bubbles in the recording head are naturally eliminated, and then the cleaning is executed. (Step n) The cartridge replacement is completed.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording apparatus of the type in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example. However, the ink cartridge is installed in a box, and ink is supplied to the recording head by an ink tube. Obviously, the same effect can be obtained even if the present invention is applied to a recording apparatus of the type described above.

[0044]

As described above, in the present invention,
An ink jet recording head that receives ink supply from an ink cartridge and discharges ink droplets from nozzle openings of a nozzle plate in accordance with print data; a cap member that elastically contacts the nozzle plate to prevent drying of the nozzle openings; and a cap. Ink jet recording comprising a suction pump for supplying a negative pressure to a member to discharge ink from a nozzle opening, and a suction control unit for operating the suction pump when the ink cartridge is mounted to discharge ink from the recording head. In the device, when the ink cartridge is mounted, the suction control means intermittently causes the pump to perform the suction operation a plurality of times while returning the pressure of the cap member to the atmospheric pressure. Pressure to atmospheric pressure to restore ink cartridge pressure This prevents excessive differential pressure from acting on the material, reliably sucks a large amount of ink required for initial filling and cartridge replacement without deforming the cap member, and reliably removes foreign matter other than ink in the print head. Can be discharged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing one embodiment of a capping device used in the above device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a capping device used in the above device in a state where a recording head is sealed and an air communication port is closed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an ink filling processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an ink filling operation among the operations of the above device.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the above device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 7 Ink-jet recording head 8 Ink cartridge 10 Capping device 11 Suction pump 12 Cleaning device

Claims (3)

[Claims] An ink jet recording head for receiving ink supplied from an ink cartridge and ejecting ink droplets from nozzle openings of a nozzle plate in accordance with print data; and drying the nozzle openings by resiliently contacting the nozzle plate. A cap member for preventing the ink, a suction pump for supplying a negative pressure to the cap member to discharge ink from the nozzle opening, and operating the suction pump when the ink cartridge is mounted to discharge ink from the recording head. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising: a suction control unit configured to cause the suction control unit to intermittently operate the pump a plurality of times while returning the pressure of the cap member to the atmospheric pressure when the ink cartridge is mounted. , A suction type ink jet recording device. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction pressure increases as the number of times of the suction operation increases. 3. A cleaning member resiliently contacting the nozzle plate, wherein after the series of suction operations is completed, the cap member is sealed with the cap member for a time period in which bubbles in the ink filled in the recording head are dissolved in the ink. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning is performed by the cleaning member after stopping.