JPH1120198A - Ink-jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict a time loss because of a nozzle recovery carried out in the middle of printing and eliminate a decrease in printing speed, by shortening a movement distance of a carrier for the nozzle recovery. SOLUTION: When received data indicates a printing command, a printing control means 6 drives a main scan driving motor 12 thereby moving a carrier in a direction towards a waste ink reservoir. The carrier wipes to remove ink on a nozzle face in the middle of the movement. Thereafter when the carrier reaches a position of the waste ink reservoir, the carrier is decelerated by a preliminary discharge control means 7. A first preliminary discharge is conducted during the deceleration. The carrier is stopped then and started to be accelerated in an opposite direction. A second preliminary discharge is carried out during the acceleration. When the carrier reaches a printing position, ink is started to be discharged to a recording medium. Also when it becomes a preset time set by a timer means 10 during the printing, the wiping is controlled and the preliminary discharge is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly, to an ink jet printer having preliminary discharge control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, in this type of ink jet printer, means for minimizing a decrease in recording speed due to preliminary ejection and reducing a purge receiver is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H01-1-01.
96348.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional technique disclosed in the official gazette.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, in step S1, the power switch is turned on. In step S2, if it is confirmed that the nozzle cap 35 contacts the nozzle rows 32a and 32b, the capping is performed in step S4 based on the recording start command in step S3. The nozzle cap 35 is moved backward by the driving means and separated from the nozzle rows 32a and 32b. Next, in step S5, the nozzle arrays 32a and 32b are moved to the position of the recording start position detection sensor 37, and in step S6, the motor is driven from this position via the motor driver to perform the recording operation on the recording medium. Do. That nozzle rows 32a and 32b were P ₁ pulses reciprocal movement of the motor, performing recording during the movement.

Next, in step S7, it is determined whether or not a preliminary ejection operation signal has been output. If it is determined that there is a preliminary ejection signal, the process proceeds to step S8, and the process proceeds to step S8.
A preliminary ejection operation is performed in S9 and S10. That is, the nozzle arrays 32a and 32b are moved to the position detection sensor 38 corresponding to the position of the purge receiver 36, and the next step S9
In the nozzle row 32b after a time t _1b, also performs preliminary ejection by the nozzle rows 32a after time t _1b at step S10.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the recording has been completed.
2, the nozzle rows 32a and 32b are set to the nozzle cap position detection sensor 3 corresponding to the position of the nozzle cap 35.
The capping operation is performed to move the nozzle cap 35 to the nozzle row 32a and 32b by driving the nozzle cap 35 in the next step S13, and the power is turned off in step S14.

If it is determined in step S7 that there is no preliminary ejection signal, the process immediately proceeds to step S11 to determine whether or not printing has ended. If it is determined in step S11 that printing has not ended, the process is repeated. It returns to step S5.

The timing of performing the preliminary ejection can be appropriately set via a control circuit, for example, after a plurality of scans by the nozzle rows 32a and 32b.

Further, the number of pulses of the preliminary ejection ink ejected from the nozzle arrays 32a and 32b can be set in advance in a control circuit, or can be set by a temperature detecting means, a humidity detecting means and a recording head temperature detecting means. It can also be executed by controlling the printhead driver by a control circuit based on the obtained temperature and humidity information.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the preliminary ejection operation. In FIG. 10, the carrier 31 is indicated by an arrow A shown in FIG.
5 shows a preliminary ejection operation performed while moving in the direction.

When scanning for a predetermined number of recordings is completed,
When a preliminary ejection operation signal is generated (time point in FIG. 10; only numbers are described below), the carrier 31 exceeds the recording start position, and when the sensor 38 outputs a detection signal (time point), the carrier 31 simultaneously moves in the direction of arrow A. After starting, the control circuit sends a preliminary ejection signal to the print head driver after a time t _1b while moving, and the nozzle row 32b performs preliminary ejection for ejecting a lump of ink or the like (time point). Further, after the time _t1a , the nozzle array 32a similarly performs the preliminary ejection by the preliminary ejection signal via the print head driver. Thereafter, when the carrier 31 continues to move and reaches the printing start position (time), the nozzle arrays 32b and 32a sequentially start ejection for printing (time), and the above-described printing operation is restarted. .

The time t _1b is determined by the sensor 38 and the carrier 3
By making the position configuration of 1 appropriate, it is possible to make it as small as possible. Further, the minimum of t _1a −t _1b is given by (preliminary ejection time) +
It is determined by (d ₁ -d ₂ ) / v.

[0013]

In the conventional ink jet printer described above, the preliminary ejection during printing is performed in one direction from the carrier stop state, and after a predetermined time elapses after the carrier starts moving. Since the printing is performed during the movement, there is a problem that the printing speed is significantly reduced by the preliminary ejection.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer capable of minimizing a decrease in printing speed due to a preliminary ejection operation during printing.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printer comprising: a nozzle group provided with ink ejection ports in a main scanning direction; a carrier mounted with the nozzle group and moving in the main scanning direction; A nozzle cap provided adjacent to a recording area that seals the nozzle surface to suck ink inside, and removes a lump of ink and a meniscus of the ink on the nozzle surface before or during printing. A purge receiver that absorbs the pre-discharged ink to restore the nozzle surface to a clean state.
The ink jet printer according to the present invention is characterized in that the preliminary ejection is performed at the time of deceleration for the carrier to move to the purge receiving position, and the preliminary ejection is performed at a constant speed for the carrier to move to the purge receiving position. It may be performed at a time.

In the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the preliminary ejection may be performed when the carrier stops at the purge receiving position.

In the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the preliminary ejection is performed when the carrier is moved from the purge receiving position to the first position.
It may be performed at the time of acceleration for moving to the printing position.

In the ink jet printer according to the present invention, the preliminary ejection is performed when the carrier is moved from the purge receiving position to the first position.
It may be performed at the time of constant speed movement for moving to the printing position.

The ink jet printer of the present invention may include a wiper for wiping the nozzle surface of the head, and may perform wiping when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of printing.

[0020]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and an operating environment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing the operation of the carrier. Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is a high-level device 20 that transmits a print command or a command for setting a printer to the inkjet printer 1, and a command or print data from the high-level device 20. Receiving data receiving means 2, printer controlling means 3 operated by a command, printer information transmitting means 4 for transferring information from the printer controlling means 3 to the host device 20, and nozzle suction for taking out ink from the nozzles A control unit 5, a print control unit 6 operated by a print command from the printer control unit 3, a preliminary ejection control unit 7 operated by a command from the printer control unit 3, and a medium operated by a command from the printer control unit 3. Transport control means 8, display control means 9 for notifying the status of the ink jet printer 1, and for purging during printing A measuring unit 10 for measuring the distance, a head 11 for ejecting ink from the nozzle, the carrier 21 in the main scanning direction
, A sub-scanning drive motor 13 for transporting the recording medium 24 in the sub-scanning direction, and a display panel 14 operated by the display control means 9.

The nozzle suction control means 5 first seals each nozzle surface with a nozzle cap 25 provided for each nozzle row and each color (hereinafter referred to as capping). Capping is activated by the driving of the main scanning drive motor 12 so that the carrier 21 runs on the guide rail 23 and passes through a predetermined position. The nozzle suction operation (hereinafter referred to as “pumping”) is operated by the sub-scanning drive motor 13 by the nozzle suction control means 5 while the nozzle surface is kept in a sealed state.

The pre-ejection control means 7 firstly controls the main scanning in which the nozzle group 22 faces the purge receiver 26 for absorbing the ink ejected from the nozzle provided between the printing start position and the nozzle cap 25. The carrier 21 is moved to the position, and the ink is ejected toward the purge receiver 26.

Next, the operation will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer control process.

First, the initial operation of the ink jet printer 1 will be described. When the power of the inkjet printer 1 is turned on, the preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 to move the carrier 11 on which the head 11 and the ink cartridge are mounted and which can move in the main scanning direction. It moves to a position (hereinafter referred to as a homing position) which is a reference of a carrier position for performing the ejection control and the nozzle suction control (step A1). Home position sensor 28 detects that carrier 21 is at the homing position. Next, when the recording medium 24 exists on the sensor provided in the sub-scanning direction (Step A2),
The medium conveyance control unit 8 drives the sub-scanning drive motor 13 to eject the recording medium 24 (step A).
3). In the head suction process, capping of each nozzle surface by the nozzle cap 25 for recovering the nozzle is performed by moving the carrier 21 stopped at the homing position to the nozzle cap 25. That is, the capping operation can be performed by driving the main scanning drive motor 12 and passing through a predetermined position in the direction opposite to the printing area. Then, the ink is pumped from the nozzles (step 4). The carrier 21 is moved by a predetermined amount in the printing area direction to release the capping state, further sucks the discharged ink pumped from the nozzle from the inside of the nozzle cap 25, and uses a sponge-like porous member to discharge the discharged ink (not shown). Discard in the reservoir (step A5). Next, the preliminary ejection control means 7 can operate the mechanism by driving the main scanning drive motor 12 to move the carrier 21 toward the print area, and perform a cleaning operation (cleaning operation) for cleaning the nozzle surface. (Hereinafter referred to as wiping) (step A6). Then again, carrier 2
1 in the direction opposite to the printing area, and when the nozzle reaches the purge
And the preparation of the head 11 for printing is completed. (Step A7).

Next, the printing operation of the ink jet printer 1 will be described.

After the completion of the initial operation of the printer, if the printer control means 3 does not receive a print command even after the lapse of a predetermined time (steps A8 and A9), the preliminary discharge control means 7 controls the preliminary discharge control means 7 to prevent the ink in the nozzles from drying. The nozzle surface is capped (step A10). When the print command is received by the data receiving unit 2 and capping has been performed after a predetermined time has elapsed (step A1).
1), the preliminary ejection control means 7 performs wiping (step A).
12), a preliminary ejection operation is performed to remove dried ink from the nozzles (step A13). At this time, the recording medium 24
Is not sucked in (Step A14), the medium transport control means 8 sucks the recording medium 24 (Step A1).
5) Finish the preparation for printing. And the print control means 6
To print one line (step A16). The timing means 10 starts timing when printing is started. When a predetermined time has elapsed (step A17), in order to prevent drying of the nozzles by the preliminary discharge control means 7, when the carrier 21 reaches the purge receiver 26 while moving in the direction of the homing position, preliminary discharge is performed (step A1).
8). Then, the conveyance of the recording medium 24 in the sub-scanning direction by one line is performed by the medium conveyance control means 8 (step A1).
9) If printing is still continued (step A2)
0), preliminary ejection is performed while moving the carrier 21 in the printing area direction (step A21), and a series of printing operations is repeated (step A16). That is, the preliminary ejection process is periodically performed while printing is continued. When printing of one page is completed (step A20), the medium transport control means 8 ejects the recording medium 24 (step A2).
2) A series of printing operations is repeated until the power is turned off (step A23). When the power supply of the inkjet printer 1 is turned off, the preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 to move the carrier 21 in the direction of the homing position, capping the nozzle surface to seal the inside of the nozzle. The ink is prevented from drying (step A24).

Next, the preliminary ejection process during printing will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the preliminary ejection 2 processing operation, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart of the preliminary ejection 3 processing operation.

First, the preliminary ejection 2 process shown in FIG. 2 (step A)
18) will be described with reference to FIGS. Predischarge 2
The processing is performed between the reverse direction printing and the forward direction printing, and when the predetermined time has elapsed and the carrier 21 is printing in the reverse direction, when the printing ends, the carrier 21 does not stop at the printing end position. Pass through the wiping end position while moving at a constant speed (FIG. 4). Nozzle group 2
When the row of Y among the two reaches the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), the ink is ejected from the Y nozzle.
At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the reverse direction at a constant speed. The preliminary discharge is terminated at a position not exceeding the right end of the purge receiver 26. Next, when the nozzles in the Mth row of the nozzle group 22 reach the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), the preliminary ejection control means 7 switches the drive of the main scanning drive motor 12 to deceleration. The carrier 21 discharges ink from the M nozzles while decelerating. When the nozzles in row C of the nozzle group 22 reach the position of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), the movement of the carrier 21 is stopped, and
The ink is ejected from the nozzle, and the process of the preliminary ejection 2 is completed.

Next, the preliminary ejection 3 processing shown in FIG.
21) will be described with reference to FIGS.

The pre-ejection 3 process is performed when printing is still continued after the pre-ejection 2 process is completed. Therefore, the nozzles of the row C in the nozzle group 22 of the carrier 21 start from a state where they are stopped at the position of the purge receiver 26, and first, ink is ejected from the nozzles of the row C of the nozzle group 22. The pre-ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 to start accelerating movement of the carrier 21 in the forward direction in FIG. 3 (FIG. 5). When the M rows of the nozzle group 22 reach the right end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 5), the M nozzles eject ink. At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the forward direction in an accelerated state. The preliminary discharge is terminated at a position not exceeding the left end of the purge receiver 26. Next, when the nozzles in the Y row of the nozzle group 22 reach the right end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 5), ink is ejected from the Y nozzles while moving the carrier 21 at an accelerated speed. The preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 at a constant speed (FIG. 5), and restarts printing at the same carrier speed without stopping the carrier 21.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the carrier 2
Since the preliminary ejection is performed even when 1 moves with acceleration / deceleration, the carrier movement distance can be shortened, the time required for the preliminary ejection control is shortened, and the overall printing speed is improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment.
Since the configuration is the same as that of the embodiment, the description is omitted.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the preliminary ejection control operation during printing.

The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

After the completion of the initial operation of the printer, if the printer control means 3 does not receive the print command even after the lapse of a predetermined time (steps B8 and B9), the preliminary discharge control means 7 controls the preliminary ejection control means 7 to prevent the ink in the nozzles from drying. The nozzle surface is capped (step B10). When the print command is received by the data receiving means 2 and capping has been performed after a predetermined time has elapsed (step B1).
1) The preliminary ejection control means 7 performs wiping (step B).
12), a preliminary ejection operation is performed to remove the lump of ink in the nozzle (step B13). At this time, if the recording medium 24 has not been sucked (step B14), the medium transport control means 8 sucks the recording medium 24 (step B15),
Prepare for printing. The printing control unit 6 prints one line (step B16), and the timing unit 10 starts timing at the time when printing is started. When a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of printing (step B17), the carrier 21 is moved to the cap suction position located between the purge receiver 26 and the nozzle cap 25 in the reverse direction. Then, the carrier 21 moves a predetermined distance in the forward direction and passes through the wiper 27 to remove the meniscus on the nozzle surface (step B18). In order to prevent the nozzle from drying out by the preliminary discharge control means 7, the carrier 21 performs a predetermined number of preliminary discharges while moving in the reverse direction (step B19). Then, the recording medium 24 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by one line by the medium conveyance control means 8 (step B20), and if printing is still continued (step B21), a series of printing operations is repeated (step B21). B
16). The preliminary ejection process is performed periodically while printing is continued. When printing of one page is completed (step B21), the medium transport control unit 8 ejects the recording medium 24 (step B22), and repeats a series of printing operations until the power is turned off (step B23). When the power of the ink jet printer 1 is turned off, the preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 to
Is moved in the direction of the homing position, and the nozzle face is closed by capping to prevent the ink in the nozzle from drying (step B24).

Next, the pre-discharge 1 process shown in FIG.
19) will be described with reference to FIGS. The predischarge control means 7 causes the nozzle suction control means 5 to pump the ink in the nozzle group 22 before performing the predischarge 1 processing. Since pumping is performed with the nozzle group 22 capped, the carrier 21 is moved to the nozzle cap 25 and capped. Predetermined distance carrier 21
3 can be released in the forward direction in FIG. 3, the capping state can be released, and by driving the sub-scanning drive motor 13, the ink of the nozzles can be sucked, and the ink remaining in the cap The ink can be discarded into a waste ink reservoir (not shown). Current,
The carrier 21 stopped between the nozzle cap 25 and the purge receiver 26 is moved a predetermined distance in the forward direction,
Wiping is performed by passing over the wiper 27. At the same time when the wiping is completed, the carrier 21
Is stopped (FIG. 7). The wiping is not activated when the carrier 21 is moved in the reverse direction.

In the predischarge 1 process, the carrier 21 stopped at the wiping end position (FIG. 7) is accelerated in the reverse direction, and then moved at a constant speed. When the Y row of the nozzle group 22 reaches the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 7), the Y nozzle discharges ink. At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the reverse direction at a constant speed. The preliminary discharge is terminated at a position not exceeding the right end of the purge receiver 26. Next, when the nozzles in row M of the nozzle group 22 reach the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 7), the preliminary ejection control means 7 reduces the speed of the driving of the main scanning drive motor 12. The carrier 21 discharges ink from the nozzles in the M rows while decelerating. When the nozzles in row C of the nozzle group 22 reach the position of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 7).
3), the movement of the carrier 21 is stopped, ink is ejected from the nozzles in the row C, and the process of the preliminary ejection 1 is completed.

The second embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the meniscus adhering to the nozzle surface during printing can be removed and the nozzle can be reliably recovered.

[0042]

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the preliminary ejection 2 process of FIG. 2 (step A)
18) will be described with reference to FIGS.

The pre-discharge 2 process is performed between the reverse printing and the forward printing. When 10 seconds have elapsed from the start of printing and the carrier 21 has finished printing in the reverse direction in FIG. It does not stop at the position and passes through the wiping end position while moving at a constant speed (FIG. 4). The carrier 21 is moved 100 times from the wiping end position.
/ 80 inches in the reverse direction, and when the Y row of the nozzle group 22 reaches the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), 25 preliminary ejections are performed from all the Y nozzles. At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the reverse direction at a constant speed. It is necessary to set the number of times of preliminary discharge so that the number of preliminary discharges falls within a range of 14/80 inches which does not exceed the right end of the purge receiver 26. Further, the carrier 21 moves 16/80 inches from the right end of the purge receiver 26, and when the nozzles in the Mth row of the nozzle group 22 reach the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), the preliminary ejection control means 7
Switches the driving of the main scanning drive motor 12 to deceleration.
The carrier 21 is 14/14 from the left end position of the purge receiver 26.
Preliminary ejection is performed 25 times from all the nozzles of M while decelerating in the reverse direction of 80 inches. Further, when the nozzle 21 moves in the 16/80 inch reverse direction and the nozzles in the row C of the nozzle group 22 reach the position of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 4), the movement of the carrier 21 is stopped, and Preliminary ejection is performed 25 times from the nozzle, and the process of preliminary ejection 2 is completed.

Next, the preliminary ejection 3 process shown in FIG.
20) will be described with reference to FIGS.

The preliminary ejection 3 processing is performed when printing is still continued after the preliminary ejection 2 processing is completed. Therefore, the nozzles in the row C of the nozzle group 22 of the carrier 21 start from a state in which they are stopped at the purge receiver 26, and first, 25 preliminary discharges are performed from all the nozzles in the row C of the nozzle group 22. Do. The preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 to move the carrier 21 in the forward direction in FIG.
/ 80 inch acceleration movement (FIG. 5). Nozzle group 22
When the M row reaches the right end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 5), 25 preliminary ejections are performed from all M nozzles. At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the forward direction by the acceleration drive of the main scanning drive motor 12. It is necessary to set the number of preliminary discharges so that the number of preliminary discharges falls within a range of 14/80 inches which does not exceed the left end of the purge receiver 26. Further, the carrier 21 is moved 16/8 in the forward direction.
When the nozzles of the Y row of the nozzle group 22 reach the right end of the purge receiver 26 by moving by 0 inches (FIG. 5), the carrier 21 is accelerated by 14/80 inches while moving all the Y rows. Preliminary ejection is performed 25 times from the nozzle. The preliminary ejection control means 7 drives the main scanning drive motor 12 at a constant speed (FIG. 5), and resumes printing at the same carrier speed without stopping the carrier 21.

The preliminary ejection operation is performed every time the set time elapses even during printing. Without stopping the carrier after the reverse printing, preliminary ejection is performed for each nozzle in the state of constant speed movement, deceleration movement, stop when moving to the purge receiving position, and acceleration movement when moving to the print start position. In total, the ink is ejected from all the nozzles.

Next, the operation of one example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the preliminary ejection 1 process shown in FIG. 6 (step B)
19) will be described with reference to FIGS. The pre-ejection control means 7 causes the nozzle suction control means 5 to suck ink in the nozzle group 22 before performing the pre-ejection 1 processing. Since the nozzle suction is performed in a capped state, the carrier 21 is moved to the nozzle cap 25 and capped. The carrier 21 is moved 28 / in the forward direction in FIG.
By moving by 80 inches, the capping state can be released, and by driving the sub-scanning drive motor 13, the ink accumulated in the cap due to nozzle suction can be discarded to a drain ink reservoir (not shown).
The carrier 21 currently stopped between the nozzle cap 25 and the purge receiver 26 is moved in the forward direction by 183/8.
Wiping is performed by moving by 0 inch and passing the carrier 21 onto the wiper 27. The pre-discharge control means 7 controls the carrier 2
1 is stopped (FIG. 7).

In the predischarge 1 process, the carrier 21 stopped at the wiping end position (FIG. 7) is accelerated in the reverse direction, and then moved at a constant speed. After moving in the 100/80 inch reverse direction from the wiping end position, when the Y row of the nozzle group 22 reaches the left end of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 7), 112 preliminary ejections are performed from all the Y nozzles. Do. At this time, the carrier 21 is moving in the reverse direction at a constant speed. The pre-discharge is set so that it falls within a range of 14/80 inches not exceeding the right end of the purge receiver 26.
It is necessary to set the number of preliminary ejections. Further carrier 21
Moves in the 16/80 inch reverse direction from the right end of the purge receiver 26, and the nozzles in the M row of the nozzle group 22
When the left end of the purge receiver 26 is reached (of FIG. 7),
The preliminary ejection control means 7 switches the driving of the main scanning drive motor 12 to deceleration. The carrier 21 is decelerated in the 14 / 80-inch reverse direction, and is moved from all M nozzles by one.
Twelve preliminary ejections are performed. Further, when the nozzles in the row C of the nozzle group 22 reach the position of the purge receiver 26 (FIG. 7) by continuing the deceleration movement in the 16/80 inch reverse direction, the movement of the carrier 21 is stopped, and Is performed 112 times from all the nozzles, and the process of the preliminary discharge 1 is completed.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the preliminary ejection is performed during the acceleration / deceleration movement of the carrier. Therefore, when the nozzle recovery operation is performed during the printing, the reduction in the printing speed can be suppressed as much as possible. There is.

Further, according to the present invention, when recovering nozzles during printing, preliminary ejection is performed after wiping the nozzle surface, so that nozzle recovery during printing can be performed reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration and an operating environment according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer control process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing the operation of the carrier according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of a preliminary ejection 2 processing operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of a preliminary ejection 3 processing operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer control process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of a preliminary ejection 1 processing operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view for explaining the operation of a carrier in one embodiment of a conventional ink jet printer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of a recording apparatus in one embodiment of a conventional inkjet printer.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of a preliminary ejection operation of a nozzle array in one embodiment of a conventional ink jet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 2 Data receiving means 3 Printer control means 4 Printer information transmission means 5 Nozzle suction control means 6 Printing control means 7 Pre-discharge control means 8 Medium conveyance control means 9 Display control means 10 Clocking means 11 Head 12 Main scanning drive motor 13 Sub-scanning drive motor 14 Display panel 20 Host device 21 Carrier 22 Nozzle group 23 Guide rail 24 Recording medium 25 Nozzle cap 26 Purge receiver 27 Wiper 28 Home position sensor 31 Carrier 32a, 32b Nozzle array 34 Recording medium 35 Nozzle cap 36 Purge receiver 37 Recording start position detection sensor 38 Position detection sensor 39 Nozzle cap position detection sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle group having ink ejection ports arranged in a main scanning direction, a carrier mounted with the nozzle group and moving in the main scanning direction, and a nozzle surface for sucking ink in the nozzles. A nozzle cap provided adjacent to a recording area for sealing the ink, and removing a lump of ink or a meniscus of ink on the nozzle surface before or during printing to recover the nozzle surface to a clean state. And a purge receiver for absorbing the pre-discharged ink for performing the pre-discharge at the time of deceleration for moving the carrier to the purge reception position. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein said preliminary ejection is performed at a constant speed for moving said carrier to said purge receiving position. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the preliminary ejection is performed when the carrier stops at the purge receiving position. 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the preliminary ejection is performed during acceleration for moving the carrier from the purge receiving position to the first printing position. 5. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the preliminary ejection is performed when the carrier moves at a constant speed for moving from the purge receiving position to the first printing position. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wiper for wiping a nozzle surface of the head, wherein the wiping is performed when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of printing.
The inkjet printer according to 3, 4 or 5.