JPH1034966A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To introduce ink well next time by releasing interruption of a communicating part due to a shielding member under empty ink state and introducing a liquid into a print head by driving an ink introduction means, and thereby preventing the inside of the print head from drying up. SOLUTION: Upon receiving a signal from an empty ink state detection means, a CPU 43 controls a carriage moving means to move a carriage to a recovery region. Interruption of a communicating part due to a seal valve is released through discharge of an open electrode and a purge unit is driven by a control means to introduce a liquid into a print head 2. The CPU 43 further comprises means for commanding replacement of an ink cartridge under a state where the liquid is introduced into the print head 2 based on a signal received from the control means, and means for inhibiting the printing operation of the print head 2 under a state where the liquid is introduced into the print head 2 based on a signal received from the control means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing by ejecting ink onto a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a cartridge type printing apparatus which supplies ink by a replaceable ink cartridge to a print head which performs printing by ejecting ink to a recording medium. It is also known to provide a recovery device that covers the print head with a suction cap and sucks and removes excess ink in order to maintain a good ink ejection state in the print head.

In the case of the above-described cartridge type printing apparatus, the recovery device is used to replace the cartridge when ink is exhausted or when the print head is initially filled with ink for the first time. Is supplied from the ink cartridge to the print head.

[0004]

However, in such a method, since a large amount of ink needs to be sucked by the recovery device, expensive ink is wasted. Also, when the ink in the ink cartridge runs out, without replacing the ink cartridge,
If left in an empty ink state for a long period of time, the inside of the print head dries, and there is a possibility that the remaining ink components may hinder the next ink introduction.

Incidentally, in order to prevent the ink liquid from being wasted, the wettability in the ink liquid flow path of the recording head is increased so that the ink liquid flows smoothly into the ink liquid flow path. As described in JP-A-6-106732, a recording head unit having a function of discharging ink liquid for recording, an ink liquid storage unit configured to be mountable on the recording head unit and storing the ink liquid, A liquid storage portion configured to be loaded in the recording head portion and storing a liquid having a different composition from the ink liquid, wherein the ink liquid storage portion and the liquid storage portion are selectively provided by the recording head. There has been proposed an ink jet recording apparatus which can be loaded in a unit.

However, in such an apparatus, since it is necessary to selectively load the ink liquid storage section and the liquid storage section into the recording head section, a sufficient effect can be expected if the loading of the liquid storage section is forgotten. Can not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus which prevents drying in a print head and has good introductivity at the time of next ink introduction.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print head for performing printing by ejecting ink to a recording medium, an ink cartridge having an ink storage section for supplying ink to the print head, and an ink cartridge in the print head. In a printing apparatus having ink introduction means for forcibly introducing ink into the print head,
An introduction liquid storage section formed inside the ink cartridge to be separated from the ink storage section and storing an introduction liquid for protecting a print head; and a communication section formed between the introduction liquid storage section and the ink storage section. A shielding member that blocks communication of the communication portion, a release unit that is associated with the shielding member and releases the blocking of communication of the communication portion by the shielding member, and a blank ink state that detects a blank ink state in the ink cartridge. Receiving the signal from the detection means and the empty ink state detection means, and when the empty ink state is reached, the release means releases the communication blocking of the communication part by the shielding member, and drives the ink introduction means to print the introduced liquid. Control means for introducing the ink into the head.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the empty ink state is detected by the empty ink state detecting means, the release means is controlled by the control means, and the interruption of the communication of the communication section by the shielding member is released, and the ink is introduced. The means is driven to introduce the introduction liquid into the print head.

Further, in the present invention, a recovery device which functions as the ink introduction means and sucks and removes the ink in the print head from a nozzle, a carriage on which the print head is mounted, and the carriage mounted on a recording medium A carriage moving means for moving in a printing area for performing printing and a recovery area by the recovery device, wherein the control means,
Upon receiving the signal from the empty ink state detecting means, when the empty ink state is present, the carriage moving means is controlled to move the carriage to the recovery area, and the release means releases the communication blocking of the communication part by the shielding member. Alternatively, the recovery device may be driven to introduce the introduction liquid into the print head. With this configuration, when the empty ink state detection unit detects the empty ink state, the control unit controls the carriage moving unit to move the carriage to the recovery area, and the release unit is controlled to control the carriage. The communication cutoff of the communication part by the member is released, and the recovery device is driven to introduce the introduction liquid into the print head.

In the present invention, it is possible to further include a replacement instruction notifying means for receiving a signal from the control means and notifying a replacement instruction of the ink cartridge in a state where the introduction liquid is introduced into the print head. is there. If such a replacement instruction notifying means is provided, an operator is notified of an ink cartridge replacement instruction while the introduction liquid is introduced into the print head.

In the present invention, a print prohibiting means for receiving a signal from the control means and prohibiting a printing operation by the print head in a state where the liquid is introduced into the print head may be provided. If the ink prohibiting means is provided, the printing operation by the print head is prohibited while the liquid is introduced into the print head.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an ink jet printer.
, The inkjet printer 1 has a carriage 4 on which an inkjet print head 2 is mounted,
A plurality of ink cartridges 5,... For supplying ink to the print head are removably mounted on the carriage 4, and can reciprocate in the B direction. A cylindrical platen roll 6 is rotatably supported on the frame 1a by a rotating shaft (not shown) extending in the left-right direction, and the platen roller 6 feeds the printing paper P supplied from a paper cassette or a manual paper feeding unit. The sheet is conveyed in the direction A while facing the print head 2, and constitutes a part of a so-called paper feeder.

The printing paper P is supplied from a paper supply port (not shown) behind the frame 2 in the direction of arrow C.
The platen roller 6 is configured to be discharged from a paper discharge port (not shown) in the direction of arrow D by rotation of the platen roller 6.

A carriage shaft 7a and a guide shaft 7b are provided in parallel with the axis of the platen roller 6, and the carriage 4 is slidably fitted on the carriage shaft 7a and the guide shaft 7b. Thus, the print head 2 mounted on the carriage 4 can reciprocate along the axis of the platen roller 6 by sliding. The carriage 4 is moved by a carriage driving mechanism having pulleys 8 and 9, a belt 10 and a CR motor 11 in a printing area where printing is performed on the printing paper P and a recovery area by a purge device (recovery device). .

On the right side of the platen roller 6,
A wiping member 12 for wiping the nozzle surface of the print head 2 and a purging device 13 for sucking residual ink in the print head 2 are provided to recover non-ejection or ejection failure of the print head 2.

The purging device 13 has a suction cap 14 for covering the print head 2, and the suction cap 14 is protruded into the movement path of the print head 2 and retreated from the movement path of the print head 2. It is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow E between the standby position and the suction cap 14 covers the nozzle surface of the print head 2 at the projecting position.

The print head 2 is connected to the suction cap 14.
A negative pressure is generated by the suction pump 15, the residual ink in the print head 2 is suctioned and removed from the nozzle through the suction cap 14, and the waste liquid is discharged through the suction pipe 16, the suction pump 15 and the discharge pipe 17. The liquid is collected in the tank 18 to recover a good discharge state.
Therefore, the purging device 13 is provided with the ink cartridge 5.
It is an ink introduction unit for forcibly introducing the ink inside the print head.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridges 5,... Are mounted on a head unit 21 having a print head 2. In the head unit 21, an ink supply pipe 24 having an ink flow path is inserted into a vertical wall portion 23 on one side of the substrate portion 22.
The print head 2 includes an actuator that causes the ink supplied from the ink supply pipe 24 to fly from the nozzle holes on the front surface.

In the substrate section 22, ink cartridges 5,
... Partition walls 26 that partition the space are provided upright from the bottom surface. Also, on the bottom, each ink cartridge 5,
.. Are provided with empty ink detection contacts 27, 27,... For detecting an empty ink state in which the ink in the ink cartridge 5 is depleted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink cartridge 5 has an ink storage section 5A for storing the ink to be supplied to the print head 2, and is partitioned via the ink storage section 5A and the partition wall 5a. And an introduction liquid storage section 5B for storing an introduction liquid for protecting the print head.

On the bottom surface near the ink supply hole 5b, detection electrodes 31, 31 as empty ink detecting means for detecting the empty ink state in the ink cartridge 5 are provided.

Further, a communication part 5c is formed between the introduction liquid storage part 5C and the ink storage part 5A, and the communication part 5c is normally connected to the seal valve 32. (Shielding member).

In association with the seal valve 32, an open electrode 33 is provided on the front surface of the cartridge body as release means for releasing the cutoff of the communication portion 5c by the seal valve 32. , The seal valve 32 is removed, and the communication interruption of the communication part 5c is released.

Next, a control system of the printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

This control system includes a head driver 41, a gate array 42, and a CPU 43. The head driver 41 is a circuit for applying a drive signal to each channel of the print head 2. The gate array 42 is a circuit that receives print data (code data) from a host computer 44 such as a personal computer via an interface 45, develops the image data into image data, transfers the image data to the head driver 41, and the like. The gate array 42 is provided with an image memory 46 for storing developed image data.

The CPU 43 is a one-chip microcomputer for controlling the overall operation of the printing apparatus. The CPU 43 and the gate array 42 are connected by a bus 47 so that data and timing signals can be exchanged. It is also connected to a ROM 48 and a RAM 49. The CPU 43 is also connected to a switch panel 50 for setting and displaying print parameters and the like and a drive system 51 of a mechanical part. Here, the drive system includes a CR motor, a PF motor, a position sensor therefor, and the like.

Then, the CPU 43 receives the signal of the empty ink state detecting means, and controls the carriage moving means to move the carriage 4 to the recovery area when the empty ink state is present. There is a control means for releasing the communication interruption of the communication part by the valve 32 and driving the purge device 13 to introduce the introduced liquid into the print head 2. Further, the CPU 43 receives a signal from the control means, receives a signal from the control means, and outputs a replacement instruction notifying means for notifying a replacement instruction of the ink cartridge 5 with the introduction liquid introduced into the print head 2. A print prohibiting unit that prohibits a printing operation by the print head 2 in a state where the introduction liquid is introduced into the print head 2.

Next, the specific contents of the empty ink control will be described with reference to FIG.

The ink in the ink cartridge 5 is shown in FIG.
6 is gradually consumed and reduced as shown in the state shown in FIG. 6, so that when starting, it is first determined whether or not there is an ink empty signal (step S).
1) If there is an ink empty signal, the carriage 4 is moved to the vacuum position (step S).
2) If not, the process ends.

Then, the seal valve 32 is opened (step S3), the communication state is established, the purging process by the purge device 13 is started (step S4), and the introduced liquid is supplied to the print head 2.
(See FIG. 7).

After the introduction of the introduction liquid, a display indicating that the ink cartridge 5 needs to be replaced is displayed (step S5) to alert the operator and to set the printing prohibited state (step S6). And exit.

[0034]

According to the present invention, as described above, when the empty ink state is detected by the empty ink state detecting means, the release means is controlled by the control means to release the blocking of the communication by the shielding member. Since the ink introduction means is driven to introduce the introduction liquid into the print head, it is possible to prevent drying in the print head and secure good introduction property at the time of next ink introduction. .

In particular, when the empty ink state detecting means detects the empty ink state, the control means controls the carriage moving means to move the carriage to the recovery area, and the release means is controlled to control the release member. Since the communication block of the communication section is released and the recovery device is driven to introduce the introduced liquid into the print head, using a recovery device that suctions and removes ink in the print head from the nozzles,
Drying in the print head can be prevented, and good introduction properties can be ensured at the next ink introduction.

Further, since the ink cartridge replacement instruction is notified by the replacement instruction notifying means in a state where the introduction liquid is introduced into the print head, the operator of the printing apparatus can change the ink cartridge. Since the necessity can be recognized, and the printing operation by the print head is prohibited by the print prohibiting means in a state where the introduced liquid is introduced into the print head, the introduced liquid is introduced into the print head. The printing operation is not performed erroneously in the state in which is introduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a head unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an ink cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of a control system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 2 Print head 4 Carriage 5 Ink cartridge 5A Ink storing part 5B Introduced liquid storing part 32 Seal valve (shielding member) 43 CPU

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print head for ejecting ink to a recording medium to perform printing, an ink cartridge having an ink storage unit for supplying ink to the print head, and forcibly introducing ink in the print head into the print head. A printing liquid storage section, formed inside the ink cartridge and separated from the ink storage section, for storing a printing liquid for protecting the print head, and the printing liquid storage section and the ink. A communication portion formed between the storage portion, a shielding member that blocks communication of the communication portion, a release unit that is associated with the shielding member, and that releases communication blocking of the communication portion by the shielding member; and the ink cartridge. Empty ink state detecting means for detecting an empty ink state in the inside, and receiving a signal from the empty ink state detecting means, and when the empty ink state is reached, the canceling means by the release means A printing unit comprising: a control unit configured to release communication interruption of the communication unit by the material, and to drive the ink introduction unit to introduce the introduced liquid into the print head. A recovery device that functions as the ink introduction unit and sucks and removes ink in the print head from a nozzle; a carriage on which the print head is mounted; and a print that prints the carriage on a recording medium. A carriage moving means for moving the carriage in an area and a recovery area by a recovery device, wherein the control means receives a signal from the empty ink state detecting means, and controls the carriage moving means when the empty ink state is reached, thereby controlling the carriage. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: moving the recovery unit to a recovery area, releasing the communication block of the communication unit by the shielding member by the release unit, and driving the recovery device to introduce the introduced liquid into the print head. apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exchange instruction notifying unit that receives a signal from said control unit and notifies an exchange instruction of an ink cartridge in a state in which the introduction liquid is introduced into the print head. Printing device. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print prohibition unit that receives a signal from the control unit and prohibits a print operation by the print head in a state where the liquid is introduced into the print head. The printing device according to one of the preceding claims.