JPH11348315A - Ink-jet recording apparatus and method for recovering ink discharge of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance a supplementation speed and smoothly supplement to use up an ink in a supplement tank by constituting an ink chamber of a first tank and a recording head to be connectable by a diaphragm and setting an ink supplement means which can supplement the ink from a second tank into the ink chamber. SOLUTION: In the apparatus in which an ink chamber 1103 is formed in a case 1101, a recording head 1105 is partitioned by a diaphragm 1104 and ink drops are discharged from nozzles 1106, a back flow prevention valve 1109 is set at an opening hole 1107 of the diaphragm 1104. A second tank 1200 corresponding to a tank 1100 holds in an outer case 1202 an ink bag 1201 storing each ink separately and can connect a nozzle 1203 to a communication means 1300. An injection needle 1102 projecting at the tank 1100 is faced to the communication means 1300 in a manner so that the needle can penetrate a rubber seal 1302 of a reciprocative coupling instrument 1301. A rack gear tooth 1303 and a gearwheel 1304 of the communication means are meshed with each other and the other end of a flexible tube 1306 engaged with a communication nozzle 1305 is inserted to the nozzle part 1203, so that both tanks are connected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing a recording process by supplying ink from an ink tank, and an ink ejection recovery method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus of this type, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-29991 (known example 1) is disclosed. 1 to be reciprocally movable,
The ink is supplied by operating the ink supply nozzle 17 based on the outputs of the sensors 9 and 10 for detecting the amount of ink.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-11489 (known example 2) discloses a recording head 10 and an ink tank 1.
The cartridge 1 in which the cartridge 1 is integrated is mounted on the carriage 2 to perform a recording operation, and ink is supplied from the pool tank 9 by the negative pressure in the ink tank 11.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-63746 (known example 3) reduces the pressure in the sub tank 103 and supplies ink from a main tank 118 connected to the sub tank 103.

[0005]

The above known examples 1 to 3
In this case, the ink is supplied from the supply tank to the sub-tank so that the ink can be supplied to the recording process for a long period of time. However, there still remains a problem that needs to be improved.

That is, in the case of the known example 1, since the replenishment is performed by using the gravity (head difference) of the ink, not only the replenishment speed is slow but also the ink in the replenishment tank 14 is used up. It is difficult, and the positive pressure of the head difference acts on the recording head during the replenishment of the ink, which may cause ink leakage from the nozzles.

In addition, since the ink supply is performed by suctioning the ink from the ink discharge port of the head even in the known example 2, the ink is discharged from the discharge port while replenishment is performed, and the replenishment speed is reduced. Could not be avoided.

Further, in the case of the known example 3, there is a possibility that the ink may flow backward from the recording head into the sub-tank, which may hinder the recording process.

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior arts 1 and 2 and to provide an ink cartridge capable of smoothly supplying ink.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide one in which there is no possibility of ink flowing backward from the recording head toward the ink chamber when refilling the first tank with ink.

A third problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of replenishing the first tank with ink or performing a recording head recovery process.

A fourth problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a recording head capable of effectively preventing the air from being mixed into the ink in the first tank and recovering the recording head. is there.

[0013]

Means for solving the problems Specific means for solving the above problems according to the present invention are as follows.

(1) An ink jet recording apparatus in which a first tank having a recording head and a second tank capable of supplying ink to the first tank can be mounted. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein an ink chamber and the recording head are configured to be able to communicate with each other by a partition, and an ink replenishing means capable of replenishing ink from the second tank is provided in the ink chamber.

(2) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the partition wall is provided with an ink backflow preventing means.

(3) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the pressure of the ink chamber is reduced so that ink can be supplied.

(4) The carriage means to which the first tank can be attached is displaceably provided between a recording position, an ink supply position, and a recovery position for recovering ink ejection. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 1) to 3).

(5) The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the replenishing means communicates with a waste ink absorbing material.

(6) The ink jet recording apparatus according to the above (4), wherein the replenishment position and the recovery position are arranged at the same position.

(7) The ink jet recording apparatus according to (4), wherein the replenishment position is located outside the recording position with the recovery position interposed therebetween.

(8) The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the first tank is connectable to the second tank in the replenishment and recovery position.

(9) A method of recovering ink from the first tank in an ink jet recording apparatus in which a first tank having a recording head and a second tank capable of supplying ink to the first tank can be mounted. An ink ejection recovery method in which after ink is supplied from the second tank to the first tank in advance, an ink ejection recovery process is performed on the recording head of the first tank.

(10) After the ink is discharged from the first tank in advance, the ink is replenished from the second tank to the first tank, and then the ink discharge recovery processing of the recording head in the first tank is executed. Ink ejection recovery method as described above.

(11) The state of ink consumption of the first tank is detected, and at least one or more ink ejection recovery processes for the recording head of the first tank are executed in accordance with the detected value. Ink ejection recovery method.

(12) The cap according to (3), wherein, while the recording is stopped, the nozzle of the recording head is capped and the suction port for depressurizing the first tank is also capped. Ink jet recording device.

That is, according to the present invention, not only can the first tank be smoothly supplied with ink, but also the recording head can be effectively recovered by preventing air from being mixed.

[0027]

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

(Embodiment 1) 1. Means 1-1. Overall Apparatus A recording apparatus (to be referred to as a printer hereinafter) 1000 such as a full-color ink-jet printer according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a movable apparatus capable of supplying inks such as yellow, cyan, magenta, and black to a print unit on the printer 1000. Of the first tank 1100 and the first tank 1
100 fixed second tank 12 capable of refilling ink
The first tank 1100 is depressurized by a replenishing means 1400, which will be described later, so that the second tank 1200 can be loaded.
To supply ink to the first tank 1100.

1-2. Configuration of each part 1-2-1. First Tank 1100 The first tank 1100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is an example thereof, and an ink chamber 1103 into which ink can be injected from the second tank 1200 via an injection needle 1102 is formed in a case 1101. At the same time, a recording head 1105 partitioned by a partition 1104 is formed.
6 can discharge ink droplets.
The open / close hole 1107 is configured to be openable / closable by a check valve 1109.

The check valve 1109 is configured such that an opening / closing hole 1107 is opened when a certain pressure difference is generated with respect to the partition wall 1104. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-174860 is one example.

A suction port 1111 following the suction passage 1110 opened to the top of the ink chamber 1103 is connected to the recording head 1.
105 is opened adjacent to the nozzle 1106,
The nozzle 1106 and the suction port 1111 can face a recovery unit 1500 and a supply unit 1400 described later.

In FIG. 3, 1112, 1113, 111
Reference numeral 4 denotes a common electrode pin for detecting the upper and lower limits of the ink and for detecting the upper and lower limits of the remaining amount of the ink in the first tank based on the resistance value between the electrodes.

1-2-2. Second tank 1200 As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
An ink bag 1201 that individually stores each ink is accommodated in an outer box 1202 so as to correspond to the tank 1100, and its nozzle 1203 can be connected to a communication means 1300 described later.

1-2-3. Communication means 1300 First and second tanks 1100 and 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
Communication means 1300 for communicating the first tank 1
100, the injection needle 1102 protrudingly provided is opposed to the rubber seal 1302 of the reciprocating connector 1301 so as to be able to protrude,
The rack tube 1303 is engaged with the annulus 1304, and the flexible tube 130 fitted on the communication nozzle 1305.
6 is inserted into the nozzle portion 1203 of the second tank 1200 so that the first and second tanks 1100 and 1200 can be connected.

Reference numeral 1307 denotes a reversible motor for rotating the tooth wheel 1304.

1-2-4. Replenishing means 1400 suction port cap 1503 which can be engaged with suction port 1111 of first tank 1100 by a drive mechanism not shown.
Is provided on a base 1501, and a supply pipe 1401 connected to the base 1501 communicates with a waste ink absorbing material 1506, and a supply pump 1402 for reducing the pressure of the ink chamber 1103 is provided on the supply pipe 1401.

1-2-5. Recovery Means 1500 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a nozzle cap 1502 is provided on a base 1501 to recover the ink droplet ejection from the nozzle 1106, and a nozzle cleaner 1504 and a suction port cleaner 1505 are provided on its side. And the nozzle cap 1502 is connected to the discharge pipe 1508.
And communicate with the discharged ink absorbing material 1506 through
A recovery pump 1507 is provided on the discharge pipe 1508 so that ink can be sucked.

1-2-6. The carriage 1600 shown in FIG. 1 is reciprocally movable by a drive belt 1003 driven to a recording position or a replenishment / recovery position by a driving means (not shown) on a guide shaft 1002 laid on a frame 1001 of the printer 1000. The first tank 110 is formed in a U shape by the side frame 1601 and the bottom frame 1602,
0 can be inserted, and the nozzle 1106 and the suction port 1111 of the first tank 1100 can be exposed from an open portion (not shown) of the bottom frame 1602 so that the nozzle 1106 can selectively face the ink supply position or the recovery position. Make up.

1-2-7. Pump (supply pump 140
2. Recovery pump 1507) P As shown in FIG. 5, a rotary plate P4 is fixed on a drive shaft P2 supported by a support frame P1, and the outer periphery of a pair of rollers P5 loosely attached to the rotary plate P4 is rotated by a rotary plate. The ink is supplied inside a tube P7 guided along a guide frame P6 by partially projecting to the outside of the outer periphery of P4, and the drive shaft P2 is turned by driving means (not shown) to rotate the tube P7.
By changing the position of the roller P5 pressing the tube P7
Is moved so as to be able to feed ink or air.

2. Action 2-1. Recording Process In the recording process of the printer 1000, when an operator operates a not-shown operation means to instruct a recording operation, the carriage 1600 is appropriately moved on the guide shaft 1002 in the direction of arrow ii ', and the recording position (X )
The recording process is executed smoothly by the recording head 1105 of the first tank 1100 facing the required position on the recording paper S, and the carriage 1600 stops at the home position (H) while the recording apparatus is stopped. And the nozzle 11
06 and suction port 1111 are respectively nozzle cap 1502
And capped by the suction port cap 1503.

2-2. Ink Supply Step Next, in the case where the ink in the first tank 1100 is consumed by the continuation of the recording process and the ink is supplied from the second tank 1200, the procedure is also described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. explain.

That is, when the ink consumption in the ink chamber 1103 is detected by the electrode pin 1113 for detecting the lower limit of the first tank 1100 and the ink supply command is operated, first, the position of the carriage 1600 is detected, and the ink supply is performed. It is determined whether or not it is at the position (S1). If it is not at the home position (H), the carriage 1600 is moved to the home position (H) on the guide shaft 1002 to connect the injection needle 1102 of the first tank 1100 with the communicating means. 1300 reciprocating coupler 1
301 (S2).

Here, the home position (H) and the ink supply position are the same position.

In this state, after the suction port 1111 and the suction port cap 1503 are made orally, the supply pump 1402 of the supply means 1400 is driven (S3).

In this case, together with the rotary plate P4 shown in FIG.
The roller P5 is rotated, and the tube P7 is placed on the guide frame P6.
Are pulsatingly deformed, and go through an operation time (Tb).

Next, the reversible motor 1307 of the communication means 1300 is started to rotate the tooth wheel 1304,
The rubber seal 1302 provided on the reciprocating connector 1301 is advanced in the direction of the arrow (b) to insert the needle 1102, and thereby the first and second tanks 1100 and 1200 are inserted.
Is connected (S5).

At the time of connection, the replenishing pump 1402 communicating with the first tank 1100 is already in operation for the time Tb, so that even if the rubber seal 1302 is opened,
Ink does not flow backward to the 100 side and air does not enter, and ink supply is started smoothly.

The first tank 1100 is in a depressurized state, and ink is supplied from the second tank 1200 to the first tank 1100 via the tube 1306. Is ink chamber 1
When the ink in the ink 103 is detected by the electrode pin 1112 for detecting the upper limit and the upper limit of the ink amount is detected (S
6), the first and second tanks 1100 and 1200 are separated by operating the reversible motor 1307 to retreat the reciprocating connector 1301 in the direction of the arrow (b ') to separate the rubber seal 1302 from the needle 1102 ( S9).

Further, the pump 1 is operated for a required time Ta.
After driving 402 (S10), it is stopped (S1).
1).

Thus, even if ink remains in the passage between the ink chamber 1103 of the first tank 1100 and the suction port 1111 and the needle 1102, it can be removed during the time Ta, and clogging can be prevented. It will wait for recording processing.

Further, as long as the amount of ink in the ink chamber 1103 does not reach the upper limit even if the ink supply is continued for the required supply time TS, the empty amount indicating the ink shortage in the second tank 1200 is maintained. Signal and then the first
And the second tanks 1100 and 1200 are separated (S
9) Waiting for replacement of the second tank 1200.

When the ink is supplied, the ink chamber 1103 is separated from the recording head 1105 by the partition 1104, and the opening / closing hole 1107 is closed by the check valve 1109. It is possible.

Since the nozzle 1106 is capped by the cap 1502 during ink replenishment, an increase in ink viscosity in the nozzle 1106 during ink replenishment can be suppressed.

Further, the pump 1402 is connected to the waste ink absorbent 1
By communicating with 506, damage can be minimized even if there is an overflow in the event of trouble such as inflow of ink splash or detection of the upper limit of the amount of ink.

2-3. Next, the recovery process of the recording head 1105 will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, whether or not the carriage 1600 is located at the home position (H) is detected based on an operator or a recovery processing command generated based on a predetermined sequence (K1), and the home position ( H) (K2), the operation of which is described in S1,
Since it is the same as S2, repeated description is omitted.

Next, the remaining ink amount obtained by subtracting the consumption amount of the ink in the first tank 1100 detected by the electrode pins 1112 from the ejection and the recovery operation is compared with the ink consumption required for the recovery operation (K3). If the ink consumption in the recovery operation is small, a recovery operation is commanded (K
6) The pump 1507 is started and the nozzle cap 15
In 02, a negative pressure is applied to the nozzle 1106 to cause the print head 1105 to perform a recovery process, and then move to the print position (X) (K7).

If the remaining amount of ink is equal to or less than the consumption amount of the recovery operation, ink is supplied from the second tank 1200 (K
4) It is detected whether or not replenishment has been completed until it is detected by the electrode pin 1112 (K5). If replenishment has been completed, a recovery operation is started (K6).

As described above, it is possible to prevent bubbles from being introduced into the recording head during the recovery operation due to the lack of the remaining amount of ink in the first tank.

(Embodiment 2) The features of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 are that a replenishing position (Y) for replenishing ink to the first tank 2100 and a recovery for recovering ink droplet ejection from the nozzles. This is the point where the position (Z) is additionally provided.

3-1. Configuration of each part That is, the first of the replenishing means 2400 at the replenishment position (Y)
Base 2401 has a bottomed nozzle cap 2402
And suction port cap 24 that is in communication with supply pump 2404
03, and the second base 2501 of the recovery means 2500.
Has the nozzle cap 2 connected to the recovery pump 2506
The second embodiment is provided with a suction port cap 2503 and a bottomed suction port cap 2503, and the other configuration is common to the first embodiment.

Accordingly, the first tank 2100 is supplied with ink at the supply position (Y), and the nozzle 2106 is subjected to recovery processing at the recovery position (Z). The detailed contents are as follows. It is.

3-2. Recording Step The recording step is the same as that described in the section 2-1 except that the “home position (H)” in the section 2-1 is replaced with the “supply position (Y) or the recovery position (Z)”.

3-3. Ink replenishment process This is the same as the description in the above paragraph 2-2, except that “home position (H)” in the above section 2-2 is replaced with “supply position (Y) or recovery position (Z)”.

3-4. Recovery Process By the way, in order to remove small air bubbles in the head 2105, remove ink in the nozzle portion having increased viscosity, and recover ejection failure caused by removal of paper dust and fluff attached to the nozzle opening, a suction pump (from the nozzle 2106) is used. (Pr) 2506. In this case, if the ink is insufficient in the first tank 2100, air may enter the tank. Therefore, it is desirable to perform the recovery operation after replenishing the ink in advance.

Also, bubbles in the ink in the first tank 2100 often rise by buoyancy and are on the surface of the ink.
As the carriage 2600 moves with acceleration and deceleration, the ink surface (interface with air) undulates and entrains bubbles,
As a result of bubbling, there are many bubbles near the surface, but first, the first tank 2100 is filled with degassed ink to remove bubbles and the like from the head 2105 so that the bubbles near the ink surface are not sucked into the head side. It is good to carry out the recovery operation in a state where the distance is kept away.

In this regard, the recovery process includes at least three types of processes as described below.

3-4-1. Recovery Step (1) As shown in FIG. 9, it is detected whether or not the carriage 2600 is located at the position (Y) based on a recovery signal generated based on an operator or a predetermined sequence (L1). ), And moved to the supply position (Y) (L
2) The operation is the same as that of S1 and S2 described above, and thus the repeated description is omitted.

Next, the suction port 2111 is brought into close contact with the suction port cap 2403 (L3), and the supply pump (PS) 24
04 is operated (L4), a predetermined time (Tb) has elapsed (L5), and the reversible motor 2307 is operated in a state where the depressurized state in the first tank 2100 has reached a predetermined level, thereby causing the rubber seal 2302 to move the needle 2102. And the first tank 2100 and the second tank 2200 are connected (L6).

When the first tank 2100 is replenished with ink and the upper limit detecting electrode pin 2112 detects that the ink has been sufficiently replenished (L7), the rubber seal 2302 is retracted and the first tank 2100 is retracted. 2100 and the second tank 2200 are separated (L8).

Next, after a lapse of a predetermined time (Ta), (L
9) Stop the supply pump (PS) 2404 (L10) and place the suction port 2111 on the suction port cap 2403.
The first tank is moved to the recovery position (Z) (L12), and the nozzle 2106 is brought into close contact with the nozzle cap 2402 (L13).

In this state, the recovery pump (Pr) 2506 is operated over the required recovery time (TR) corresponding to the suction time to recover the nozzle 2106 (L14).
This completes the recovery operation.

Next, it is possible to return to the recording position (X) and perform the recording operation.

In FIG. 9, even if the replenishment is performed for the time Ts, the first
If the ink amount of the tank 2100 does not reach the upper limit, the processes of S7 to S11 are executed in the same manner as the flow shown in FIG. 6, and the empty signal of the second tank 2200 is displayed (S8, S13). When the process is completed, the process returns to the process of L4 again, and is subsequently related to the recovery process.

3-4-2. Recovery Step (2) It is indispensable for good quality printing processing to sufficiently deaerate the ink supplied to the first ink tank 2100 in advance to reduce the amount of dissolved air, but it is unavoidable. In the first ink tank 2100 in use or the ink in the flow path thereof, bubbles may be dissolved, and the viscosity may increase due to drying, which may hinder the recovery process.

Therefore, the characteristic point of the recovery process shown in FIG. 10 is that before the recovery operation of the first tank 2100, the ink is discharged in advance to its minimum amount (lower limit value), and then the maximum amount (in the second tank 2200). This is a point that the recovery operation is executed after the ink is supplied up to the upper limit value), and the other points are common to the second embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in the recovery process, the carriage 2600 is moved to the recovery position (Z) by the recovery signal (M1), and then the suction port cap 25 is moved.
03 is brought into contact with the suction port 2111 (M2), the recovery pump (PS) 2506 is operated (M3), and the first tank 2
The ink is discharged from 100 to its lower limit to make it sufficiently empty (M4).

Thereafter, the first tank 2100 is moved to the replenishing position (Y) to replenish the ink from the second tank 2200 to the upper limit, and then the recovery operation is executed again. ), And the description is omitted.

Therefore, according to the recovery process (2), the residual ink in the first tank 2100 is sufficiently discharged,
Since a large amount of the degassed ink is supplied from the second tank 2200, the print processing and the recovery processing can be effectively performed.

3-4-3. Recovery Process (3) The feature of this recovery process is that the recovery process is performed when a sufficient recovery state cannot be achieved by normal recovery processing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, it is detected from the recovery signal whether the number of print lines after the previous recovery operation is equal to or greater than P1 (N1), and if it is equal to or greater than P1, the recovery operation (1) is executed (FIG. 11). N2), end.

If it is less than P1, it is detected whether the number of printing lines from the recovery operation two or more times before is P2 or more (N3), and P
If it is 2 or more, the recovery operation (2) is executed (N4), and the process ends.

However, if it is less than P2, the recovery operation (3) is executed (N5), and the processing ends.

Here, the recovery operation (1) is the one shown in FIG. 9 in the recovery step (1).

Here, the recovery operation (2) is a case where TR2 longer than the recovery pump operating time TR in the recovery process (1) shown in FIG. 9 is set.

Here, the recovery operation (3) is the one shown in FIG. 10 in the recovery step (2).

The number of print lines P1 is, for example, 60, P2
Is 100, but P1 and P2 can be set with a print negative number, a print character number, a print time, etc. instead of the print line number.

According to this embodiment, while the printing apparatus is stopped, the carriage is stopped at the recovery position (Z), and the nozzle is provided with the nozzle cap 2502, and the suction port 2111 is provided with the suction port cap 2503. .

While printing is stopped, capping is performed not only on the nozzle 2106 of the print head 2105 but also on the suction port 2111, so that drying from the suction port 2111 can be prevented.

When the apparatus is turned upside down, the suction port 21
11 can be prevented from leaking.

According to this embodiment, the nozzle 2106 is covered by the bottomed cap 2402 during the replenishment operation, and the suction port 2111 is covered by the bottomed cap 2503 during the recovery operation. Drying during recovery operation and backflow of air can be prevented.

Further, by arranging the replenishing position (Y) that moves only at the time of ink replenishment to the outside, it is usually sufficient to move only to the recovery position (Z), thereby preventing a decrease in throughput.

[0093]

The specific effects of the present invention described above are as follows.

The first tank can be replenished with ink from the second tank in a timely manner to provide a long-term recording process.

When ink is replenished by depressurizing the inside of the first tank, ink does not flow backward from the recording head in the direction of the ink chamber, and there is no possibility that a recording defect or the like due to air mixing or the like will occur.

The print head can be effectively subjected to recovery processing so that air does not enter the fuel in the first tank, and high-quality printing processing can be performed.

It is possible to prevent a problem in the recovery processing of the recording head due to an increase in the viscosity of the ink in the first tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a first ink tank, a replenishing unit, and a recovery unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first and second tanks and the communicating means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the ink supply operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a recovery operation of the recording head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an ink supply / recovery unit in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart of a recovery step (1) of the recording head in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a recovery step (2) of the recording head in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a recovery step (3) of the recording head in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 Inkjet recording apparatus 1100 (2100) First tank 1103 Ink chamber 1104 Partition wall 1105 (2105) Recording head 1106 (2106) Nozzle 1109 Backflow prevention means 1111 (2111) Suction port 1200 (2200) Second tank 2402, 2502 nozzle Cap 2403, 2503 Suction port cap

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hisashi Miyazawa 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson Corporation

Claims (12)

[Claims] An ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting a first tank having a recording head and a second tank capable of replenishing the first tank with ink, wherein the ink in the first tank is provided. The recording head and the recording head are configured to be able to communicate with each other by a partition, and the second
An ink replenishing means capable of replenishing ink from a tank. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said partition wall is provided with a means for preventing backflow of ink. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink chamber is repressurized so that ink can be supplied. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carriage means to which said first tank can be attached is displaceable between a recording position, an ink supply position, and a recovery position for recovering ink ejection. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply means communicates with a waste ink absorbing material. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the replenishment position and the recovery position are configured to be at the same position. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the replenishment position is located outside a recording position with a recovery position interposed therebetween. 8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tank is configured to be connectable to the second tank in the replenishment and recovery position. 9. A method for recovering ink from a first tank in an ink jet printing apparatus in which a first tank having a print head and a second tank capable of supplying ink to the first tank can be mounted. An ink ejection recovery method in which after the ink is supplied from the second tank to the first tank in advance, an ink ejection recovery process is performed on the recording head of the first tank. 10. After the ink is discharged from the first tank in advance, the ink is replenished from the second tank to the first tank, and then the ink ejection recovery processing of the recording head in the first tank is executed. Ink ejection recovery method. 11. An ink which detects an ink consumption state of the first tank and executes at least one or more ink ejection recovery processes in a recording head of the first tank according to the detected value. Discharge recovery method. 12. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cap is applied to a nozzle of the recording head while the recording is stopped, and a cap is also applied to a suction port for depressurizing the first tank. apparatus.