KR960005182B1 - Ink ejection recovering method and device in inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a novel and effective recovery method and device for an ink jet recording head, which method or device has the step of or means for carrying out substantially at a time a condition for driving discharge energy generating elements to discharge ink from the discharge ports of the head and a condition for effecting the forced discharge of the ink by a suction or pressing pump. According to the present invention, the pump itself can be made compact and moreover, the recovery process of all the discharge ports can be carried out reliably within a short time. <IMAGE>

Description

Discharge recovery method of an ink jet recording head and its apparatus

1 is a perspective view of a recording head ink tank integrated cartridge used in one embodiment of the present invention.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are front and side cross-sectional views each showing an example of the configuration of the recording head.

3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and a plan view showing the periphery of the carriage of the apparatus of this embodiment in which the cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is mounted.

5 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus for showing an outline of a recovery system unit which is a main part of the apparatus of this embodiment.

6 and 7 respectively show a plan view and a side view showing a detailed configuration example of the recovery system unit.

8 is a front view for explaining the detailed configuration and operation of the cap unit disposed in the recovery system unit.

9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an aspect of wiping by a blade that is lifted and lowered by the blade lift mechanism.

Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the aspect of the cleaning with respect to the blade similarly to FIG. 10 (a) and 10 (b).

11 and 12 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the recovery combination period of the present invention, respectively.

13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the ink suction mechanism employed in the present embodiment.

14 (a) and 14 (d) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the carriage position during the recovery process in the present embodiment.

15 (a) and 15 (e) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the relationship between the ink suction mechanism shown in FIG. 13 and the operation position of the carriage shown in FIG. 14 when the sequence of the present embodiment is executed. .

Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing one configuration example of the control system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing one example of an outline recording operation procedure by the control system shown in FIG.

18 (a) and 18 (e) respectively show examples of detailed procedures of initial processing, recording preparation processing, recording time recovery processing, recording end processing, and competition recovery processing by the control system shown in FIG. Flowchart art.

19 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of bubbles existing in the head chip.

20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the effect of the embodiment of the present invention.

21 (a) and 21 (a) are timing difference art showing driving states during the competition recovery process in the embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the main flowchart art of the present invention.

[Industrial use]

The present invention uses a recording head that can be detached from a recording head or an ink tank integrated recording head applicable to a printer, a copier, a facsimile, an ink jet recording apparatus, and the like, which is generally used for ink jet recording heads and office equipment. It relates to a recording device.

[Prior art]

In conventional ink jet recording heads and apparatuses, the thermal energy recording method using film boiling is exceptional compared with the use of piezoelectric elements, and has been put to practical use as being superior to thermal energy recording such as other optical energy.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks of using liquid ink for the recording agent, the ink jet recording apparatus has a unique configuration that cannot be seen in other recording apparatuses, that is, it refreshes the inside of the liquid passage, or ejects the discharge port. Means for bringing the forming surface into good condition, a so-called discharge recovery system of the recording head, are provided.

These discharge recovery systems have various configurations. First, the ink is discharged to a predetermined ink-receiving medium by driving the discharge energy generating element (referred to as preliminary discharge or empty discharge) by refreshing the inside of the liquid passage, in addition to recording. There is this.

As a patent which discloses this, the specification of British Patent No. 2,169,855 is mentioned. This patent also discloses performing preliminary ejection after the ink is preliminarily heated in addition to the above contents.

In some cases, the ink is forced out of the discharge port by applying a predetermined pressure to the liquid passage, such as by pressurizing the ink supply system or by suctioning from the ink discharge port.

Representative patents that disclose this are US Pat. No. 4,600,931. This suction recovery is not always performed, but is performed immediately before reaching a situation where recording failure occurs or in a state where discharge is not performed.

There are many applications for the invention of suction recovery, and among them, inventions which can switch between general clothes for increasing the suction conditions and normal recovery for performing normal suction are also known.

In order to prevent the deflection in the discharge direction by refreshing the discharge port formation surface, a wiping member in contact with the discharge port formation surface is provided, and both of them are moved relative to wipe ink droplets, dust, etc. adhering to the discharge port. There is also (wiping).

[Technical Challenges]

The present inventors have reviewed the conventional recovery means, and it is effective to change the preliminary discharging conditions in the environmental change at the time of recording (including the process in which the head temperature and the ambient temperature are in sequence). Forced discharge by the air is usually valid, but the following problems have been found.

In other words, even if a large amount of ink loss takes a long time, a high level of recovery may not be achieved. This is especially a problem at the time of forced discharge by suction or pressurization and wastes ink because no equal suction force or pressing force is applied to the entire plurality of discharge ports. In particular, it was found that even if the pump was enlarged in order to reinforce the recovery force, it was not very effective, and the amount of ink loss was increased.

In addition, increasing the ink ejection amount from each ejection opening by preliminary ejection has a problem that the time required for the recovery process becomes long and the throughput of recording is reduced. These are remarkable in the recovery process under low temperature environment.

[Overview of invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering an ink jet recording head capable of efficiently improving a recovery capability of a given forced recovery means, and achieving a reliable recovery without causing an increase in size of the apparatus, and an apparatus for implementing the same. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recovery method and a recording apparatus capable of performing a reliable recovery process even under the influence of an absorber which is a negative pressure generating source in an ink storage portion supplied to a recording head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recovery method and a recording apparatus which can recover the recovery more excellently than in the prior art, can shorten the processing time, and most appropriately reduce ink loss.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a recovery method and a recording apparatus which can obtain efficient suction from the start of the recovery process without causing the enlargement of a mechanism such as a tube pump.

The present invention applies a recording path to a heat energy generating means provided corresponding to an ejection opening for ejecting ink, and causes the heat energy generating means to generate heat energy, thereby ejecting ink from the ejection opening by using heat energy for recording. A recovery method for a jet recording apparatus, wherein the discharge port is recovered by driving the heat energy generating means and forcibly discharging ink from the discharge port.

The present invention applies an recording signal to a heat energy generating means provided corresponding to an ejection opening for ejecting ink, and causes the heat energy generating means to generate heat energy, thereby ejecting ink from the ejection opening by using heat energy for recording. A recording apparatus, comprising: a recovery means for driving the thermal energy generating means and recovering the discharge port by forcibly discharging ink from the discharge port.

The present invention is particularly effective for a heat generating element as a discharge energy generating element, and among other things, an electrothermal converter that forms bubbles.

The present invention exhibits an excellent effect exceeding the expectation by a constitution that is not anticipated in the prior art, and can increase the throughput of the ink jet recording and greatly widen the recovery processing interval.

Other remaining objects or detailed configurations of the present invention will be understood from the description of the following embodiments.

EXAMPLE

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) cartridge

First, FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a cartridge C that can be mounted on a carriage (to be described later with respect to FIG. 3) of the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment.

The cartridge C of the present example has an ink tank 80 having an ink absorber (sponge) therein, a recording head 86 at the bottom, and a signal lamp for driving the recording head 86. At the same time, the head-side connector 85 for outputting the ink remaining amount detection is provided at a position parallel to the ink tank unit 80. Therefore, the height H can be made low when this cartridge C is loaded into the carriage mentioned later. In addition, by reducing the thickness W in the scanning direction of the cartridge, it is possible to configure the carriage small when arranging the cartridges C side by side, as will be described later with reference to FIG.

83 is a connector cover formed integrally with the tank outer wall, and prevents accidental contact with the connector 85. 81 is a positioning portion, and contact surfaces 81a and 81b in two directions are formed. By taking a sufficient distance between these positioning surfaces and the positioning contact surfaces provided on the recording head 86, it is possible to reliably fix the positioning of the recording head by pressurizing the inclined surface 84 by a push pin as described later.

82 is a handle, and is used when the cartridge C is attached or detached from the loading section. In addition, 82a is provided in the handle 82 at the front, and is an atmospheric communication port for communicating the inside of the ink tank 80 with the atmosphere. 83a is a notch and 83b is a guide when the cartridge C is loaded together in the loading section.

The recording head 86 of this example has a plurality of ejection openings open on the bottom face side in the drawing, and a discharge energy generating element for generating energy used for ink ejection is disposed in the liquid passage portion communicating with the ejection opening. As the discharge energy generating element, since the discharge port and the liquid path can be highly integrated, it is suitable to use a heat energy generating element.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are front and side cross-sectional views, respectively, seen from the front of the discharge direction of the recording head 86. FIG.

In FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), 101 is a base plate of the recording head 86, which is formed of Al. On the base plate 101, a substrate (heater board) 102 formed of Si or the like is bonded. On the heater board 102, an electrothermal transducer (not shown) as a heat energy generating element, a diode as a functional element for driving the electrothermal transducer is formed on the surface thereof. 103 is an orifice plate (discharge port forming member), which is integrally formed with the top plate 103A provided with a groove for forming the ink liquid chamber.

Formation of the ejection opening in this opisil plate 103 can be performed precisely by irradiation of an excimer laser light, or a photoetching process, for example, and a highly precise shape can be obtained over the whole ejection opening. In addition, this orifice plate 103 is used also in the sense which prevents the deflection of the discharge direction which arises by the difference of humidity between these materials, when several different materials are exposed to the discharge port formation surface.

104 is a filter and is provided in the ink supply port from the chip tank 105 to the common liquid chamber 106. The filter 104 removes impurities, dust, and the like that flow out as shown by the arrow in the figure. The ink that has passed through the filter 104 flows into the common liquid chamber 106 and is supplied to each of the plurality of ink liquid passages 107 communicating with the liquid chamber in accordance with its discharge. 109 is a pressing member which presses the orifice plate 103 with its elastic force or the like and comes into close contact with the opening surface (here, in particular, the cross section of the heater board 102). In this example, SUS (stainless steel) is used as the pressing member 109.

In the above configuration, ink is supplied to the chip tank 105 from the ink tank 80 integrated with the recording head 86, and then ink flows as shown by the arrow shown. First, dust and impurities in the ink are removed by passing through the filter 104, and the common liquid chamber 106 is reached and guided therefrom to the liquid passage 107. Then, bubbles are generated in the ink by driving the electrothermal changer disposed in the liquid passage 107, and ink is discharged through the discharge port 108 due to the change of state of the bubbles.

(2) carriage

3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and a plan view showing a configuration example around a carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus in which the cartridge C shown in FIG. 1 is mountable. These figures show an example of positioning and loading four cartridges C1, C2, C3, C4 (each containing different inks, for example, yellow, dark green, blue, black, etc.) on the carriage 2. It is shown.

On the connector holder 40 as a supporting member, four pressure pins 10 (pressure pins A to D) are engaged with each other, and are pressed in the leftward direction during the third time by the springs 10a (springs A to D). Here, the connector holder 40 as a supporting member engages with the link 21 (link I, link II) via the shaft 20 (axis I, axis II), and also engages with this link 21. According to the rotational operation (clockwise, counterclockwise) of the lever 7, it is movable in the left and right directions in the third direction, and moves to the right to release the pressure to enable the replacement of the cartridge, and to the left to It is a structure which accommodates loading of a cartridge.

When the operating lever 7 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 9, the holder 40 comes forward and the pin 10 engages with the cartridge C so that the cartridge C is loaded in the loading section. . And the front-end | tip part 10b of the push pin 10 abuts on the contact surface 1d of four cartridge C, respectively, and presses a cartridge. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface 10c of the push pin 10 abuts on the contact surface 2S of the carriage 2, and presses a cartridge. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface 10c of the push pin 10 abuts on the contact surface 2S of the carriage 2, and has the structure which receives the pressure pin shaft which generate | occur | produces and the thrust force of a perpendicular direction, respectively. Therefore, the support member 40 only receives the repulsion force of the springs 10a (springs A to D), and since the thrust force does not act, even when releasing a plurality of carts simultaneously, the release lever 7 is operated with a small operating force. The detachable operation can be performed.

Next, a mechanism or operation for fitting and detaching the head connector 85 on the cartridge C side and the connector (body connector) 6 provided in the main body width so as to engage with the cartridge C will be described.

When the main body connector 6 is inserted into the head connector 85 (and the engaging shaft 6a integral with the main body connector 6 is connected to the connector holder by the elastic force of the tension spring 41 (see FIG. 4). The main body connector 6 and the connector holder 40 are integrally moved by operating the lever. Then, the head connector 85 and the main body connector 6 meet, guided to the slope (not shown) of the main body connector 6, and the main body connector 6 is fitted (coupled) with the head connector 85. Then, the connector holder 40 moves to the scan rail 11 side to the right of the predetermined distance (this movement is performed by the rotation of the lever 7). Here, this predetermined distance is the movement distance of the connector holder 40 for bringing the main body connector 6 into a movable operation state (release) from the positioning state.

In addition, since the main body connector 6 is coupled to the head connector 85 with a stronger force than the tension spring 41, the main body connector 6 is released from the connector holder 40. That is, the engagement is released. Therefore, when the main body connector 6 and the head connector 85 are fitted (combined), the main body connector 6 is in a glass state with respect to the connector holder 40, so that the cartridge C is attached to the carriage 2. The positioning is performed only by the pressing force by the push pin 10, so that accurate positioning of the recording head 86 relative to the carriage 2 is secured.

Next, when the cartridge C is removed (released), the lever 7 is rotated counterclockwise from the upright position to the side (the position in FIG. 3). Then, the engaging shaft 6a is coupled to the head connector 85 with a strong force, but as the connector holder 40 moves to the right, the large diameter side of the engaging hole 40a is engaged with the shaft ( The main body connector 6 is detached (released) from the head connector 8 while pushing the shaft 6a which engages inwardly in the middle of 6th). At the same time, the push pin 10 also moves in unison with the connector holder 40 to be separated from the recording head 86.

(3) Outline of the recording device

3 to 5, 11 is a scanning rail which extends in the main scanning direction of the carriage 2, and a slide rail freely supports the carriage 2, 11a is a bearing, and 51 is a cartridge C through a connector. The flexible cable 52 for transmitting and receiving various signals between and, 52 is a belt for transmitting a driving force for reciprocating the carriage 2. In addition, 17, 18 and 15, 16 are arranged in front and rear of the recording position by the recording head 86, and are paired to carry and hold the recording medium. 50 is a platen which flatly regulates the recording surface of the recording medium. .

4 shows a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile or the like to which the above configuration is applied.

The recording apparatus main body 1000 has a cover 1001 that can be opened and closed immediately before the operation side. When the cover 1101 is opened with the rotation center axis as the center, the inside of the main body is opened. This opening enables the above-mentioned rotational operation of the lever 7 to enable the detachable operation of the cartridge body C1 to C4 to the apparatus main body. The lever 7 in the solid line in the drawing shows the position at which the cartridge shown in Fig. 1 is mountable, and the position of the cover 1101 is prevented from moving in the closed state. Incidentally, the broken line cartridge in the drawing is shown in the mounting operation, and the solid line cartridge is positioned in the apparatus main body at a predetermined position capable of recording. At this time, the ejection opening forming surface of the recording head 86 of the cartridge faces in parallel with the guide surface of the platen 50, and the protruding recording head portion protrudes downward from the carriage and is located between the recording medium conveying rollers 16 and 18. have. Reference numeral 1102 denotes a flexible sheet 12 of the electrical wiring portion, which is a rail for supporting and guiding the carriage 2 together with the rail 11 described above.

The connector holder 40 is shown as a state after completing the fixing of the cartridge to the carriage with the lever 7 in a broken line after the cartridge is mounted. 20 and 202 are shafts provided on both sides with respect to the relative movement direction with respect to the carriage of the connector holder 40 mentioned above, and are mutually located in the position where the position level is the same. This axis is circumferentially movable in the interior of two elongated holes with their central major axis on one straight line on both sides of the carriage. In the figure, the shafts 20 and 202 correspond to the lever 7 of the solid line display at the position indicated by the solid line. In this example, the shafts 20 and 202 are provided in addition to the connector body, and are disposed near the upper side of the recording head positioning push pin 10, so that the position accuracy of the recording head positioning push pin 10 is improved. The same shafts as the shafts 20 and 202 may be provided in the connector body to stabilize the parallel movement of the connector body, and may be configured to give the degree of freedom in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the gap with the side plate after the connector is connected.

In this embodiment, after the connector main body connects the long hole for the shaft 202, the positioning of the positioning push pin 10 is performed only on the shaft 20 without fixing the shaft 202 in the front-rear direction. It is desirable to be dominant.

(4) Overview of the recovery meter unit

Next, the recovery system unit of this example will be described.

5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the excretion site and the schematic configuration of the recovery system unit. In this example, the recovery system unit is disposed on the home position side.

In the recovery system unit, 300 is a cap unit provided in correspondence with a plurality of cartridges C having a recording head 86, respectively, as shown in FIG. 14 as the carriage 2 moves. It is possible to slide in the direction and to move up and down. When the carriage 2 is in the home position, the carriage 2 is joined to the recording head 86 to cap it.

In the recovery system unit, 401 and 402 are first and second blades as wiping members, and 403 are blade cleaners made of, for example, absorbers for cleaning the first blade 401. In this example, the first blade 401 is supported by a blade elevating mechanism driven in accordance with the movement of the carriage 2, thereby exposing the first blade 401 in the discharge port formation surface of the recording head 86. In order to wipe the surface of the orifice plate 103 which has been made, it is possible to set at the position protruded (rising) and the position retracted (falling) so as not to interfere with it. In this example, the recording head 86 is attached so that the portion having the width b in FIG. 2 (a) is on the left side of FIG. 7 and the carriage 2 is moved from left to right in the figure. Wiping by the first blade 401 is made when moving. The surface of the orifice plate 103 exposed by this is wide part side (width b) from the narrow part side (part of width a) partitioned by the discharge position of the discharge port shown in FIG. 2 (a). Wiping is done only in the direction of. Then, with respect to the second blade 402, the ejection opening forming surface of the recording head 86 which is not wiped by the first blade 401, that is, both of the exposed orifice plate surfaces in FIG. 2 (a). It is fixed at a position to wipe the surface of the pressing member 109 in the portion.

In the recovery system unit, 500 is a pump unit in communication with the cap unit 300, and is used to generate negative pressure for the cap unit 300 in a suction process or the like performed by bonding the recording head 86 to each other.

(4.1) Cap Unit

6 is a plan view showing a detailed configuration example of the recovery system unit.

First, the cap 302 in close contact with the discharge port of the recording head 86 of the cap unit 300, the holder 303 supporting it, the ink in the air discharge process and the suction process And an absorbent body 306 for accommodating the water, a suction tube 304 for sucking the ink contained therein, and a connection tube 305 connected to the pump unit 500. The cap unit 300 is provided with only the same coefficient (four in this example) at positions corresponding to each of the cartridges C, and is supported by the cap holder 330.

332 and 334 are pins protruding from the cap holder 330, and are installed on the fixed recovery system base 350 to engage with cap grooves (not shown) for guiding the cap holder 330 in the vertical direction. The pressing force is applied so that the cap holder is supported at the right end position and the down position.

As shown in Fig. 14, 342 in the sixth way is an engagement portion which is lifted from the cap holder 330 and engages the carriage 2 at a position to the left of the start position. When the carriage 2 moves to the left of the start position, the cap holder 330 is moved against the pressing force of the spring 360 by the engaging portion 342. At this time, the cap holder 330 is guided, and is displaced to the left and upward. Thus, the cap 302 is in close contact with the circumference of the discharge port of the recording head 86, so that capping is performed. And the position of the carriage 2 at the time of this capping is made into a favorable position.

Next, the configuration and operation of the cap unit 300 of this example will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the absorber 306 is abbreviate | omitted in the figure.

The cap 302 is made of an elastic body, and is composed of a joint fixing part 302a to the holder 303 and an edge part 302c for installing the tubular structure 302b to the fixing part 302a, and these are integrally formed. Is molded.

The cap 302 may be formed of an elastomer such as silicone rubber or butyl rubber.

By keeping the thickness of the portion t (edge portion 302c) shown in the figure as thin as possible, the followability of the cap 302 to the discharge port arrangement surface of the recording head can be improved. The thickness t of the edge portion 302c is preferably 0.4 mm or more and 1 mm or less.

By this structure, the tubular structure 302b of the cap 302 has elasticity in the direction in which the discharge port sealing means is in contact with the discharge port arrangement surface, and the elasticity of the cap to the discharge port arrangement surface is achieved by using the elasticity. And the contact with the discharge port formation surface of the cap unit 300 is performed by the movement to the recovery system base 350 of the cap holder 330. As shown in FIG. At this time, if the rear end side of the connection tube 304 is brought into contact with the atmosphere, the cap remains at atmospheric pressure even if the space in the cap decreases, and the ink meniscus inside the discharge port does not retreat.

Next, when the cap is detached, the space in the cap is greatly reduced when the cap 302 is in contact with the recording head 86. Therefore, a pump action (negative pressure action) occurs due to the restoration of the cap due to the detachment operation. Therefore, preservation of the ink in the cap becomes easier. That is, when the cap is detached from the recording head, the contracted cap returns to its original state. In addition, when the cap is detached, the inside of the cap changes from the negative pressure condition to the atmospheric pressure state, thereby preventing the ink from pouring out in the cap, and the ink can be kept in the cap continuously. This effect can be effectively obtained by setting a space wider than the cap inner diameter below the cap bar of the holder 303.

(4.2) blade lifting mechanism, etc.

Next, the lifting mechanism of the first blade 401 will be described.

Referring again to FIG. 7, 410 is a liftable blade holder, attached to the first blade 401 by an attachment portion 411 thereon. 412 is a holder return spring for pressing the blade holder 410 toward the lowered position.

430 is a lock lever rotatable around the pin 414 protruding from the blade holder 410 and engaging the upper surface of the stopper 432 to lock the blade holder 410 in its raised position. It is pressed by the spring 434 toward the upper side in FIG. Moreover, in the state shown in the figure, it engages with the part 416 which protruded in the blade holder 410, and is hold | maintained in the illustrated position.

440 is a release lever for rotatable around the pin 418 protruding from the blade holder 410, and for releasing the locked state of the lock lever 430 in the raised position of the blade holder 410. The pin 418 faces upward to release the lock. That is, the pin 442 that engages with the lock lever 430 is erected and installed on the release lever 440. When the release lever 440 rotates counterclockwise in the same figure around the pin 418, the pin ( 442 rotates the lock lever 430 around the pin 414 to release engagement of the lock lever 430 with the top surface of the stopper 432.

These mechanisms are for raising the blade holder 410 with a driving force from a cam (not shown) which operates in accordance with the movement of the carriage 2, and is not limited in the present invention.

9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the details when the blade 401 performs wiping, and as shown in the drawing, in this example, the width from the discharge port to the step portion is wider from the narrower side to the wider side. Only wiped. That is, the ejection outlet arrangement is wiped in the knitting direction in the orifice plate 103. In this way, even when the vicinity of the discharge port becomes wet or dust or the like adheres, a clean discharge port surface can be reproduced by wiping to maintain a good discharge state.

On the contrary, when the distance from the discharge port to the stepped portion is wiped from the wide side to the narrow side, ink or dust remaining without being removed from the narrowed stepped portion accumulates, and as a result, the orifice may be blocked because the distance is close. Not good.

In this embodiment, since the first blade is raised and lowered properly as described above, the distance to the stepped portion is wiped from the narrower side to the wider side, and even in the worst case, the ink or dust does not reach the position of the discharge port 8. This makes it possible to maintain a stable discharge state without affecting the discharge port.

However, in this example, since the wiping direction is defined as in the ninth degree, no consideration is given to the speed of the wiping, that is, the moving speed of the carriage 2, and is determined by the material or shape of the blade 401. The printability (elastic coefficient, etc.) may cause a problem in the followability of the discharge port formation surface to the fin. In other words, the first blade 401 cannot follow the stepped portion, and when this is restored, inconvenience that has already jumped over the discharge port 108 occurs. Thus, in this example, in consideration of these factors, the carriage 2 is moved at a slower speed during the wiping than in the normal scanning, so that the vicinity of the discharge port can be wiped surely.

10 (a) and 10 (b) are diagrams for explaining aspects of cleaning of the blade 401. As described above, the blade 401 is raised according to the slide of the cap unit 300 (at the same drawing (a)), and then wiping is performed in accordance with the movement to the right side of the carriage 2. At this time, in this example, the ink that is wiped and accommodated in the blade 401 flows only along the surface of the blade 401 and is not dripped in the apparatus.

Then, as shown in the drawing (b), when the carriage 2 moves to the right side, the blade 401 is lowered. The blade cleaner 403 is attached to the cap unit 300. Since the cap unit 300 has already returned to its original position, the blade cleaner 403 is in contact with the blade 401. Therefore, as the blade 401 descends, all the ink or the like adhering to the surface thereof is accommodated in the absorber-type cleaner 403, and the blade 401 is reliably wiped.

(4.3) pump unit

The pump unit 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Here, 502 is a restraining surface of the recovery system base provided on the semi-cylindrical surface, and the tube 304 comprised as a flexible member on at least the restraining surface is provided here. 510 is a pressure roller that rotates around the pump shaft 504 while pressing the tube 304 with respect to the regulating surface 50, and the space leading to the cap unit 300 by rotating while pressing the tube 304 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A negative pressure is generated at the ink, and ink suction from the discharge port is performed.

520 is a guide roller for rotating the pressure roller 510 and is axially supported by the pump shaft 504. 522 is a support for attaching the shaft 512 of the pressure roller 510 to the guide roller 520. 524 is integrally installed in the guide roller 520, and is a guide partition for preventing separation of the tube 304 group and separating it separately. 526 is a position cam that is integrated with the guide roller 520 and receives a transmission force for rotating it. 528 is a pump drive gear, and has a gear 15A provided on the shaft of the roller 15 for recording medium conveyance (sub-scanning), and a gear meshing with a gear integrally provided in the position cam 526. That is, in this example, the driving force for pump driving (rotation of the pressure roller) is received from the gouler 15.

530 is a relief switch provided as a detection means provided to recognize the roller position, and is switched by a cam 532 which rotates integrally with the guide roller 520 around the pump shaft 504.

(5) Sequence of recording device

(5.1) Positioning of the pressure roller

First, the positioning of the pressurizing roller of the pump unit 500 for applying a suction force to forcibly eject ink from the recording head 86 will be described.

가 가압로울러(510)의 설정위치이다. 또, 도면에 있어서 반시계방향(흡인을 하는 방향)을 「+」로 하고, 시계방향을 「-」로 한다.13 is an explanatory diagram,

Is the setting position of the pressure roller 510. In the drawing, the counterclockwise direction (the direction of suction) is set to "+", and the clockwise direction is set to "-".

는 가압로울러(510)가 튜브(304)를 짓누르고 있지 않는 상태이고, 이 상태에서는 캡핑시라도 캡내 내지 잉크흡인계가 대기와 연통하고 있다. 위치

은 가압로울러(510)가 규제면(502)을 따라 튜브(304)를 짓누르면서 +회전한 후에 정지되는 위치이고, 이들의 설정위치에서는 튜브(304)가 짓눌려 있으므로, 캡핑시에는 캡 내지 흡인계가 대기와 밀폐되어 있다.First, location

In this state, the pressure roller 510 is not crushing the tube 304. In this state, the in-cap or ink suction system communicates with the atmosphere even when capping. location

Is the position where the pressure roller 510 stops after + rotating while pressing the tube 304 along the regulating surface 502, and the tube 304 is crushed at these set positions, so that the cap to the suction system It is sealed to the atmosphere.

In this example, there are two types of recovery processing by ink suction.

One can be done automatically by the operation of a suitable operating means such as a switch after the relatively long period of rest of the apparatus or when the ink ejection condition is not improved even by other emptying, wiping or other recovery treatments. To lose. At this time, since the ink is difficult to be discharged by thickening or the like, a large suction force is applied to the discharge port in the cap, that is, the flow rate is increased to rapidly discharge the ink. At the same time, the air discharge operation is executed (hereinafter, this is referred to as a race dress or recovery combined use period).

On the other hand, immediately after a predetermined amount of recording operation, the discharge state is improved by refreshing or cooling. In particular, in an apparatus such as the present example using heat energy as the discharge energy, at this time, the ink temperature is somewhat high, and thus the viscosity is low, and the ink is relatively easy to be discharged. To discharge the ink (hereinafter referred to as small recovery).

에 설정하여 소정시간 유지한다. 작용하는 흡인력 및 흡인량은 잉크 흡인계의 내용적의 증가, 즉 +회전한 가압로울러(510)가 튜브(304)를 짓누르기 시작하는 위치부터 정지위치까지의 길이에 대응한 내용적에 의하여 정해지므로, 위치

에 정지시켰을 때에는 위치

의 경우보다도 흡인력이 작아진다. 이에 의하면, 소회복시에는 대회복시보다 잉크가 토출구로부터 천천히 흐르게 된다. 따라서, 흐름의 상태가 안정되고, 토출구 안쪽에 존재할 수 있는 미세기포 등, 즉 흡인력이 커서 흐름의 상태가 안정되지 않은 경우에는 난류나 소용돌이의 발생에 의하여 제거할 수 없는 미세기포 등도 확실히 배제할 수 있게 된다. 또, 이때 흡인되는 잉크량도 적어지므로, 잉크가 필요 이상으로 소비되는 일도 없다.In this example, the pressurized rollers 510 rotated + are positioned at the time of these meeting clothes and small recovery, respectively.

Set to and hold for a predetermined time. Since the suction force and the suction amount acting are determined by the increase in the inner volume of the ink suction system, that is, the inner volume corresponding to the length from the position where the + rotated pressure roller 510 starts to crush the tube 304 to the stop position, location

When stopped at

The suction force becomes smaller than in the case of. According to this, the ink flows slowly from the discharge port at the time of small recovery than at the time of recovery. Therefore, the state of the flow is stabilized, and the microbubbles that may exist inside the discharge port, that is, the microbubbles that cannot be removed by the generation of turbulence or vortex can be reliably excluded when the state of the flow is unstable due to the large suction force. Will be. In addition, since the amount of ink sucked also becomes small at this time, ink is not consumed more than necessary.

에 설정하고, 여기에 정지시켜 두는 시간을 대회복시보다 적게 하면 된다. 또, 주로 미세기포 등의 제거를 확실화하는 것이라면, 소회복시에는 가압로울러(510)의 회전속도를 늦추어 천천히 잉크흡인이 행하여지도록 하여도 좋다. 또한, 이경우, 정지위치를 적절히 정하면, 잉크소비량의 저감화도 달성할 수 있다.It is mainly intended to reduce ink consumption, and it is also located in small recovery.

It is possible to set the time to stop at this time and to stop it here. In addition, as long as the removal of fine bubbles or the like is mainly ensured, ink suction may be performed slowly by slowing down the rotational speed of the pressure roller 510 at the time of small recovery. In this case, if the stop position is properly determined, the reduction in ink consumption can also be achieved.

As a means for forcibly discharging the ink, it is possible to use another type of suction pump or pressurize the ink supply system leading to the discharge port. However, if the pump unit 500 of the present example is used, It is easy to control or adjust.

(5.2) Positioning carriage

는 먼저 기록영역측에 위치하는 헤드를 기준으로 한 위치이다.The positioning form of the carriage 2, etc. are demonstrated using FIG. Furthermore, in drawing

Is a position with respect to the head first located on the recording area side.

에 설정하고 이 위치로부터 이동을 행하게 함으로서 그 관성을 이용하면 캐리지(2)의 구동원인 모터의 대형화나 구동전력의 증대를 가져오는 일없이 상기 기구를 구동하는데 필요 충분한 양의 구동력이 얻어지는 것으로 된다.First, the same figure (a) shows the reversal position at the time of wiping. Furthermore, in this example, this position is set as the position set when capping is performed or the blade 401 is raised. In this example, since these capping and blade protruding operations are performed in accordance with the movement of the carriage 2, the transfer of a large force from the carriage 2 is necessary to some extent. Where the carriage (2) is properly positioned

By using this inertia, the inertia is moved to obtain a sufficient driving force necessary to drive the mechanism without increasing the size of the motor, which is the driving source of the carriage 2, or increasing the driving power.

는 기록동작의 개시포지션 및 기록동작중의 반전포지션인 스타트 포지션을 표시한다. 이 때에는 각 헤드(86)와 각 캡(300)이 각각 대향하는데, 캡호울더(330) 및 블레이드 호울더(410)는 구동되어 있지 않고, 따라서 캡(300)은 헤드(86)와 격리한 위치에 있고, 그리고 블레이드(401)도 상승하고 있지 않다. 공토출은 이 위치에서 행해진다.Next, the position of the east road (b)

Indicates a start position which is a start position of the write operation and an inverted position during the write operation. At this time, each head 86 and each cap 300 are opposed to each other. The cap holder 330 and the blade holder 410 are not driven, and thus the cap 300 is separated from the head 86. And the blade 401 is not rising. Empty discharge is performed at this position.

는 블레이드 호울더(410)의 상승이 기동되는 위치이다. 캡핑을 행하는 경우 또는 와이핑을 행하는 경우에는 이 위치를 통과하여, 혹은 이 위치에 설정된다. 또 동도(d)의 위치

는 캡호울더(330)가 상승하여 캡핑이 실시되는 위치이고 이 위치에서 대회복이나 소회복이 행해지거나, 기록휴지시의 대기 등이 행해진다.Next is position to display on the same road (c)

Is the position at which the lift of the blade holder 410 is started. When capping or wiping is performed, this position is passed or set at this position. In addition, the position of (d)

Is the position where the cap holder 330 is raised and capping is performed, and the dress or the small dress is performed at this position, or the waiting at the time of recording pause is performed.

(5.3) Arrangement of Action Sequence

15 (a) to 15 (e) summarize the operation sequence of this example. In these, 1 is a column which shows the position of the press roller 510, and 2 is a column which shows the position of the carriage 2. As shown in FIG.

는 제13도에 도시된 로울러위치,

는 제14(a)도~제14(d)도에 표시한 캐리지 위치와 동일하다.In addition,

Is the roller position shown in FIG.

Is the same as the carriage position shown in FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (d).

Figure (a) shows the initial processing time after the power is turned on, and the position of the press roller and the carriage are initialized. The diagram (b) shows the state when the instruction to start recording is given by pressing the copy button down, and the feeding of the recording medium by the subsequent cassette feeding or feeding out is performed. Figure (c) shows the process of wiping to empty discharge performed at a suitable timing (for example, every 5 to 10 recording scans) during the recording process. Figure d shows a recording end process including a small recovery process performed immediately after the end of a predetermined amount (recording on the recording medium for one page in this example). (E) is the process of returning to the competition.

These details will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

(5.4) Configuration of Control System

16 shows an example of the configuration of the control system of the present embodiment. Here, 800 denotes a controller that forms a main control section, and executes the procedures shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, for example, a microcomputer-type CPU 801, and programs or other fixed data corresponding to the order are recorded. ROM 803 and RAM 805 provided with an area for developing image data, an area for work, and the like. 810 denotes a host apparatus (reading unit, i.e., means 212 in FIG. 6, etc.) which constitutes a source of image data, and image data and other commands, status signals, and the like are provided via an interface (I / F) 812. It is sent and received from the controller. 820 is a group of switches that accepts command input by an operator, such as a power switch 822, a copy switch 824 for commanding the start of recording (copy), and a contest copy switch 826 for instructing the start of the dress. . 830 is a sensor 832 for detecting the position of the carriage 2, such as a home position or a start position, and a sensor 834 for detecting the position of the pump, including a leaf switch 530, and a sensor 834 for detecting the position of the carriage. Sensor group. 840 is a head driver for driving the discharge energy generating element (in this example, the electrothermal transducer) of the recording head 86 in accordance with the recording data. 850 is a main scanning motor for moving the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction (left and right directions in FIG. 7), and 852 is its driver.

860 is a sub-scan motor, which is used to convey (sub-scan) the recording medium, and in this example, the pressure roller 510 is driven with the roller 15 interposed therebetween. 854 is his driver. The 870 is a suction pump such as the tube pump described above, and the driving thereof is managed by the motor driver 853.

(5.5) Control sequence

17 is a schematic flowchart of a recording processing procedure according to the present example. When the power switch 822 is operated and the power is turned on, this procedure is started, and the initial processing is first performed in step SA.

Next, at step S1, the operation of the copy switch 824 or the command from the host apparatus 810, or the so-called extruding paper feed command, waits for a recording start command signal such as a feed signal. If this is instructed according to the input of the image data from the host apparatus 810, the recording preparation process is performed in step SB. Thereafter, at step S3, the predetermined number of lines (multiple lines of 5 to 10 in this example) is recorded, and at step S5, it is determined whether or not the recording for one page has been completed.

In this case, if the negative judgment is made, the recovery process at the time of recording the step SC is performed, i.e., the recovery process is performed once at the end of the recording of the predetermined number of lines. To fulfill.

Next, the details of the steps SA to SD and the details of the competition dressing process will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (d) and 18 (e). Furthermore, in these 18th (a)-18th (e), a sequence corresponds to 15th (a)-15th (e), respectively.

)으로의 설정을 행한다. 또 이때 가압로울러(510)를 위치

에 설정한다(이하 이 위치를 로울러의 홈포지션이라 함). 캐리지(2)의 홈포지션으로의 설정에 있어서는 그 이동을 이용하여 캡호울더(330) 및 블레이드 호울더(510)를 구동하는 것이기 때문에 적절한 관성력을 얻기 위하여 캐리지(2)를 회복계 유니트와 중첩하지 않는 적당한 위치(예를 들면 제14(a)도의 위치

)에 설정하고 조주(助走)가 행해지도록 한다. 그리고 홈포지션으로의 설정에 의하여 기록헤드(86)가 캡핑되고, 그리고 캡내 공간이 밀폐된 상태로 된다. 또 이때에는 블레이드(401)가 돌출하고 록되기 위한 위치(제14도의 위치

)를 통과하고 있으므로 블레이드(401)는 상승위치에 있다(이동작은 이하도 마찬가지이다). 더욱 캐리지(2) 및 로울러(510)가 이미 홈포지션에 있으면 본 스텝을 스킵하여도 좋다.First, as shown in Fig. 18A, the initial position (position) of the carriage 2 at the step SA1 during the initial processing.

) Is set. In this case, the pressure roller 510 is positioned

(Hereafter referred to as the home position of the roller). In setting the carriage 2 to the home position, the cap holder 330 and the blade holder 510 are driven using the movement thereof, so that the carriage 2 does not overlap with the recovery system unit to obtain proper inertia force. Unsuitable location (for example, the position in Figure 14 (a)

), And let the tide be performed. The recording head 86 is capped by the setting to the home position, and the space in the cap is sealed. At this time, the position for the blade 401 to protrude and lock (position of FIG. 14)

), The blade 401 is in the ascending position (this operation is also the same below). If the carriage 2 and the roller 510 are already in the home position, this step may be skipped.

로 향하여 이동시킴으로써 토출구형성면의 와이핑이 행해진다. 캐리지(2)의 홈포지션으로의 설정에 의하여 이미 블레이드(401)가 돌출하고 있기 때문이다. 이때의 이동은, 전술한 바와 같이 통상의 기록주사시등 보다도 낮은 속도 즉 단차에 블레이드(401)가 추종하여 확실한 와이핑이 이루어지는 속도로 행한다.Next, the step (SA3) carriage 2 is positioned

Wiping of the ejection opening forming surface is performed by moving toward. This is because the blade 401 has already protruded by setting the carriage 2 to the home position. As described above, the movement is performed at a lower speed than the normal recording scan or the like, i.e., at a speed at which the blade 401 follows the step and makes sure wiping is performed.

에서 회전운동시켜 스텝(SA7)에서 캐리지(2)를 스타트포지션(제14도의

의 위치)에 설정하여 그 위치에서 공토출을 행한다. 즉 와이핑후에는 공토출을 행하게 되는 것이다. 이는 이하의 처리에서 마찬가지이고, 본 예에서는 와이핑후에 반드시 공토출을 행하도록 한다. 더욱 스타트포지션으로의 이동에 따라 캐리지(2)가 해제레버에 걸어맞춤되어, 이를 동작시키기 위하여 전술한 바와 같이 블레이드(401)는 하강한다. 여기서 그 공토출은, 하나의 블레이드로 복수의 기록헤드를 와이핑함으로써 생기는 혼색 등의 방지를 위하여 이루어지는 것으로서, 본 예에서는 이를 보다 유효하게 행하기 위하여 후에 와이핑된 기록헤드일수록 또는 명도의 높은 잉크(노란색 등)에 대응한 기록헤드일수록 혼색이 눈에 띄기 쉬우므로 이와 같은 기록헤드에 대하여는 정성들여 공토출을 행하도록 한다.Next, at step SA5, the pressure roller 510 is positioned.

The carriage 2 is started at step SA7 (see Fig. 14).

Position), and empty discharge is performed at that position. That is, after wiping, air discharge is performed. This is the same in the following processing, and in this example, air discharge is always performed after wiping. Further, the carriage 2 is engaged with the release lever as it moves to the start position, and the blade 401 is lowered as described above to operate it. Here, the empty discharge is performed to prevent color mixing or the like caused by wiping a plurality of recording heads with one blade, and in this example, the recording heads that are wiped later or have higher brightness in order to more effectively do this. As the recording head corresponding to (yellow, etc.) is more prominent in mixed color, such a recording head is carefully elaborated.

That is, the more the recording head which tends to be mixed, the longer the time for performing the empty discharge process or the more the number of discharge times is required. In this example, the driving frequency of the electric heat changer is lower during normal discharge (for example, 1/4). This is because when the driving frequency is low, it is confirmed that there is little wetness by the ink on the ejection opening forming surface. Further, in the air discharge, the discharge port group is divided into blocks every predetermined number (for example, eight), and the electrothermal transducers are sequentially driven for each block. Because of this, it is confirmed that wetness is less likely to occur. The same holds true for the air discharge performed below in these states.

Further, in order to make it difficult to get wet, instead of changing the driving frequency or simultaneously with this, the width, voltage, shape, etc. of the driving pulse may be changed, and the driving mode may be appropriately determined.

에 설정되어 대기연통이 이루어져 있으므로, 캡핑시의 캡내 체적변화에 의하여도 캡내에는 정압이 작용하지 않고 따라서 토출구내 안쪽에 공기가 혼입되는 일은 없다. 그후 로울러(510)를 제13도중-회전시켜(+회전에서는 잉크를 흡수애 버리고, 소비량의 저감화의 관점에서도 바람직하지 않다) 위치

에 설정한다. 이로서 튜브(304) 내지 캡내는 약간 가압된 상태로 되고, 그리고 먼저 공토출에 의하여 수용한 잉크가 흡인되지 않고 잔류하여 캡내가 습윤한 분위기로 유지되므로 토출구로부터의 잉크용제성분의 증발도 생기기 어렵게 된다.Thus, after idle discharge, the carriage 2 and the roller 510 are set to a home position in step SA9. In this case, first, the carriage 2 is capped by setting the home position. At this time, the roller 510 is positioned at step SA5.

Since atmospheric communication is established in the capping, the static pressure does not act in the cap even when the cap volume changes during capping, and therefore air is not mixed inside the discharge port. Then, the roller 510 is rotated in the middle of FIG. 13 (the ink is absorbed in the + rotation, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the consumption).

Set to. As a result, the tube 304 to the inside of the cap are slightly pressurized, and since the ink contained by the first air discharge is not attracted and remains, the inside of the cap is maintained in a wet atmosphere, so that the evaporation of the ink solvent component from the discharge port is less likely to occur. .

로의 이동에 의하여 와이핑이 행해진다. 다음에 상기 스텝(SA7)과 마찬가지로 하여 캐리지(2)를 스타트 포지션으로 설정하고, 공토출을 행한다. 계속되는 기록동작은 이 위치

로부터 항상 행해진다.When recording start is commanded (step S1), the preparation process is performed as shown in Fig. 18B before moving to the recording operation (step S3). Here, first, in step SB1, wiping similar to the step SA3 is performed. (This procedure is performed after setting the home position of step SA9. Therefore, the blade 401 is already in the raised position, and thus the position of the carriage.

Wiping is performed by the movement of the furnace. Next, the carriage 2 is set to the start position similarly to the step SA7, and empty discharge is performed. Subsequent write operations are to this position

Is always done from

로 이동시켜, 블레이드 호울더(410)를 구동하여 블레이드(401)를 토출시킨다. 그리고 그후 상기 스텝(SB1) 및 (SB3))과 마찬가지로 와이핑(스텝(SC3)) 및 스타트 포지션으로의 설정·공토출(스텝(SC5))을 실행한다. 더욱 본 절차를 기록매체의 반송처리를 행하는 사이에 실행하도록 하면 기록의 산출량이 크게 저하하는 일은 없다.In the recording recovery process performed for each recording of a predetermined number of lines, as shown in FIG. 18 (c), the carriage 2 is first positioned at step SC1.

The blade holder 410 is driven to discharge the blade 401. Thereafter, similarly to the steps SB1 and SB3), the wiping (step SC3) and the setting and empty discharge to the start position (step SC5) are executed. Furthermore, if this procedure is performed during the conveyance processing of the recording medium, the output of the recording does not significantly decrease.

에 설정한다(스텝(SD1)). 그리고 이 상태에서 스텝(SD3)에서 캐리지(2)를 홈포지션으로 설정하고, 캡핑을 실시한다.When the recording of one page is finished and the recording medium is discharged, the pressure roller 510 is positioned as shown in FIG. 18 (d).

(Step SD1). In this state, the carriage 2 is set to the home position in step SD3 and capping is performed.

에 설정하고, 이 위치에서 소정시간(예를 들면 0.1초) 유지하여 잉크흡인을 행한다. 그후 스텝(SD7, SD9, SD11 및 SD13)에서 각각 상기 스텝(SA3, SA5, SA7 및 SA9)과 마찬가지 처리를 행하고 장치는 기록헤드에 캡핑을 실시한 상태에서 다음 기록개시지령을 유지하는 것으로 된다. 대회복 스위치(826)가 조작되면, 제18(e)도에 표시하는 처리가 기동된다. 본 절차에서는 스텝(SE1)에서 캐리지(2)의 홈포지션(위치

)으로의 설정 및 가압로울러(510)의 홈포지션(위치

)으로의 설정을 행한후, 스텝(SE3)의 대회복을 행한다. 여기서는 가압로울러(510)를 +회전시켜 위치

에 재설정하고 이 위치에서 소정시간(예를 들면 2~3초) 간직하여 잉크흡인을 행한다. 또 이것과 동시에 소정의 공토출동작을 행한다. 그리고 그후 스텝(SE5,SE7,SE9 및 SE11)에서 각각 제18(a)도의 스텝(SA3,SA5,SA7 및 SA9)과 마찬가지 처리를 행하고, 본 절차를 종료한다. 더욱 흡인과 공토출을 동시에 행하기 위하여는, 예를 들면 대회복에 앞서서 소정의 공토출용 구동데이타를 드라이버(840)에 세트하여 두고 적당한 타이밍으로 기동하도록 하면 좋다.Next, a small recovery operation is performed in step SD5. In this case, firstly pressurizing roller

It is set at, and ink suction is performed at this position for a predetermined time (for example, 0.1 second). Subsequently, at steps SD7, SD9, SD11, and SD13, the same processing as those of steps SA3, SA5, SA7, and SA9 is performed, respectively, and the apparatus holds the next recording start command while capturing the recording head. When the dress-up switch 826 is operated, the process shown in FIG. 18 (e) is started. In this procedure, the home position (position) of the carriage 2 in step SE1

Setting and home position (position) of the pressure roller 510

) Is set, and the competition dress of step SE3 is performed. In this case, the pressure roller 510 is rotated +

The ink is sucked at a predetermined time (for example, 2-3 seconds) at this position. At the same time, a predetermined empty discharge operation is performed. Subsequently, at steps SE5, SE7, SE9, and SE11, the same processing as in steps SA3, SA5, SA7, and SA9 shown in FIG. 18A are performed, respectively, and the procedure ends. Further, in order to simultaneously perform suction and empty discharge, for example, the predetermined empty discharge drive data may be set in the driver 840 prior to the competition dressing to start at an appropriate timing.

As in the present example, the purpose and effect of performing the air discharge such as ink suction during the dressing process are as follows.

FIG. 19 shows a state in which a lot of bubbles exist due to precipitation of dissolved gas in the ink or residual bubbles at the time of discharging inside the head chip.

In this state, when a discharge energy generating element such as the electrothermal conversion element 112 is driven and a discharge operation for recording is performed, ink is supplied from the liquid chamber 106 in the liquid passage 107 where the discharge was performed, so that the common liquid chamber 106 is used. Ink flows in the interior. As a result, since a negative pressure is generated, bubbles are collected in the liquid passage, which impedes supply of ink to the liquid passage.

As a result, the discharge becomes unstable, resulting in kinks or fire discharges. In severe cases, bubbles may be attached to the rear end of the flow path, which completely blocks the supply of ink into the flow path, resulting in fire discharge.

When a large number of such bubbles exist, discharge becomes unstable, and is usually removed from the bubbles by suction, pressurization or the like. However, when high viscosity ink is used or when the ink has a high viscosity in a low temperature environment, bubbles are hardly removed even when recovery is performed by suction or the like. It is also a waste of ink.

In FIG. 20, the size of the foam and the amount of foam remaining after being sucked even though the suction is performed are displayed.

At this time, a liquid nozzle diameter of the recording head was 40 mu m, and a multi-nozzle head having 64 discharge ports was used. The maximum generated negative pressure of the suction pump is -0.5 atm.

It can be seen from the figure that bubbles larger than the liquid path diameter are difficult to remove, but are easily removed when they are above a certain size. In other words, bubbles below the diameter of the channel can be removed naturally, but even if the bubble is larger than the diameter, the bubble deforms and enters into the channel, and the outside air of the bubble communicates through the channel so that the ink refills the path. It is because it becomes.

As shown in the figure, increasing the sound pressure of the pump (-0.5atm → -0.6atm) can reduce the residual ratio of bubbles, but a large effect is not expected and is not preferable from the viewpoint of miniaturization of the pump configuration.

The above is particularly remarkable when the size of the discharge port is made small in order to increase the salinity concentration of the ink in order to achieve high concentration or to achieve high resolution. The high concentration of the furnace means that the viscosity is high. In the case of small discharge ports, when bubbles of the same size are removed from the large discharge ports, the bubbles must be significantly deformed and smaller than the discharge ports. In the case of suctioning, it is difficult to take bubbles unless a pump generating a considerable negative pressure is used, and in some cases, ink is discharged only in a liquid passage which is not blocked by the bubbles in the case of suction, and the ink flows faster and bubbles are generated. Since the flow of ink of the liquid passage portion blocked by the delay is slow, the relatively faster the flow of ink, the larger the negative pressure, the more difficult it is to remove bubbles.

In this example, the ink is discharged at the same time as the suction at the recovery of the step SE3. That is, since the ink in the flow path is discharged and the sound pressure in the flow path after the discharge is large, the sound pressure in the flow path matches with the sound pressure of suction, so that a significantly stronger sound pressure is generated than in the case of the pump alone, and the sound pressure acts equally on each flow path. As a result, bubbles can be easily removed. Furthermore, in the present example, since the electric heat changer 112 as a means for generating bubbles at the time of discharge (heat energy generating means) is driven, the temperature of the ink of each liquid passage portion rises, the viscosity decreases, and the surface tension decreases. As a result, the oil resistance in the liquid passage becomes smaller, and bubbles are more easily removed. In particular, the increase in viscosity when the long time head is left is a significant progressing effect. That is, as shown in Fig. 21 (a), only the suction which allows the ink to be discharged from the discharge port while being sucked by the pump while being in close contact with the cap on the entire discharge port formation surface is pulled out close to the end of the liquid path. As the bubble which cannot be sucked out simultaneously discharges, ink flows in the liquid passage and the sound pressure in the liquid passage increases, so that bubbles drawn near the rear end enter the liquid passage and are discharged out of the liquid passage.

Thereby, as shown by the dashed-dotted line of FIG. 20, the bubble inside a discharge port is removed and it becomes possible to perform stable discharge.

(6) another embodiment

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the discharge is performed at the same time as the suction, and the driving condition is higher than the ink charge frequency at the limit of the discharge characteristics of the head. Then, the bubbles in the liquid passage by suction are attracted close to the rear side, and the bubbles due to the increase of the negative pressure in the liquid passage due to the discharge invade the liquid passage. On the other hand, at the end of the liquid passage, the discharge is performed at a frequency higher than or equal to the limit of the charging frequency, so that the manikus vibrates. In other words, if the interval between foaming is the time at which the meniscus retreats to the maximum, the foam and the meniscus foamed from the electrothermal conversion element (exposure heater) merge, and the rear end of the meniscus is sharp.

Therefore, the liquid-chambered gun invading from the rear end of the channel and the rear part of the significant meniscus at the front end merge. If this condition is generated over the entire head, air flows into the liquid passage from the outside at a short time, and thus the ink is discharged into the liquid chamber (called ink dropping). And since the ink disappears, it is absorbed by the bubbles and disappears.

In the cartridge C, the ink drop is promoted in the configuration in which the absorber or the like is placed in the ink tank 80 so that the head is negatively pressured to the atmosphere.

However, in such a cartridge, even if ink drops occur, only the ink inside the discharge port of the head chip disappears, so that most of the ink is returned to the tank.

Therefore, ink hardly comes out of the head and wastes ink.

As shown in FIG. 21 (b), suction is performed after the ink inside the discharge port is almost gone. At this time, the suction capacity of the pump is set so that the inside of the head chip is filled with ink, so that an extra amount of suction is performed. As a result, the amount of waste ink required for recovery can be reduced as much as possible, and it is also possible to reduce the operating cost of the cartridge and furthermore, the recording apparatus.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the external heater is driven prior to the processing according to the first or second embodiment, or driven so as to generate heat such that no discharge is generated in the discharge heater. The ink temperature in the liquid path is raised to lower the viscosity and surface tension of the ink. As a result, the bubbles are coalesced to form large bubbles, and the fluidity of the ink is further increased, so that the effect of the first or second embodiment is further improved as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 20. When applied to the ink dropping method as in the second embodiment, since the surface tension of the ink is lowered, the meniscus force at the tip of the liquid path is weakened, and the charge frequency is lowered due to the lowering of the surface tension. It is possible to effectively generate ink drop without setting the interval between the discharges to be equal to or shorter than the shortest discharge interval (equivalent to beta factor).

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the liquid passage to be driven at the time of suction is limited to a specific one (for example, to drive the liquid passages at both ends of the plurality of liquid passages and not to reversely drive the central region). In other words, when the liquid is discharged from the entire liquid passage, the bubbles are difficult to deform because they receive forces from a plurality of liquid passages for one bubble, whereas the bubbles may be difficult to deform because they are received from the plurality of passages. By decentralizing the liquid path and applying negative pressure, the bubble deformation path can be increased.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), the start timings of the suction and the discharge are not simultaneously synchronized but rather moved. In other words, the maximum generated pressure at the time of suction and the maximum sound pressure at the time of discharge are simultaneously made. This is because the maximum negative pressure at the time of discharge is when the released bubbles are parceled out, and at the same time as the discharge, the maximum generated pressure of the pump is delayed by the time when the roller or the like of the pump moves. In other words, it is better to perform the suction operation somewhat earlier than the discharge. As a result, the bubble removal rate can be increased dramatically.

This invention is not limited to the Example described below, Of course, arbitrary desired deformation | transformation can be added in the range which does not change the meaning of this invention. As such a modification, besides what was described in various places, the following are mentioned, for example.

For example, in the small recovery process, if necessary, the suction and co-aspiration may be performed simultaneously with the suction, and the recovery recovery process may be appropriately divided into two types, and the suction recovery may be performed in combination with only the suction and the empty discharge. Moreover, as a pump for exerting a suction force, it is not only the form using a tube and a roller like a conventional example, but may consist of a cylinder and a piston. Further, it is also possible to pressurize the ink supply agent as well as to force the ink by sucking the ink from the discharge port.

22 illustrates the flowchart art of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as a recovery mode without being limited to each preferred type of the above-described device configuration.

The recovery state of the present invention becomes more preferable as a uniform and large amount of ink is discharged from each discharge port of the head per unit time. In this example, the recovery mode ST1 is employed as a flow art or by a signal from a selection key or as a normal main suction recovery.

In accordance with the recovery mode command, the heat treatment step ST2 of the ink in the head is performed. In this step (T2), it is preferable to raise the temperature inside the common liquid chamber, but only the liquid path inside the head may be used.

Preferably both of these are good. As common liquid chamber heating, well-known means, such as an external heater and an internal chamber heater, is employ | adopted. Liquid-phase heating is obtained by simply supplying an electric signal to perform the preliminary heating described above, provided that the discharge energy generating element is a heat generating element that forms bubbles.

In the case of using an electric / mechanical transformer as a large element, heating may be performed by using a heater or light energy capable of heating each of the liquid paths or the entire furnace. According to this step (ST2), the inertial force due to the fluid resistance between the ink and the head inner wall is reduced, thereby reducing the load during the initial movement of the ink. Next, the driving step ST3 of the ink ejecting element is performed at substantially the same time as the step ST4 of driving the suction means (or / and the pressurizing means). This accompanies the start of ink suction of the suction means, resulting in the action of immediately or rapidly starting the movement of the ink itself.

It is as described above that the ink suction action force of each of the plurality of ink suction and discharge ports can be made uniform, and the recovery efficiency is also improved. In the present invention, the steps (ST3 and ST4) are performed at substantially the same time to obtain a uniform suction action and excellent recovery effect as a whole in a relatively short time in a conventional short time without causing the recovery pump to increase in size. It is all inclusive. In any case, each of the embodiments described above solves the conventional problem because the inertia force of the ink is reduced to improve the initial ink discharge state.

Next, by using FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a recovery mode having a recovery combined period which is performed in combination with the driving period of the discharge energy generating element of the present invention and the forced discharge period using a pump for suction or pressure. Another example will be described. In the following description, a plurality of inventions are included.

Fig. 11 takes the time T on the lateral side and displays the pressure P of the vertical axis (static pressure) indicating the pressure change in the forced discharge period in common and the pulse voltage V of the vertical axis of the element driving period below. have. PMAX is generated at time T ₄ at the maximum pressure during the forced discharge period.

This can be mentioned, for example, at the time of maximum pressure generation in one stroke of the pump.

P2 denotes a pressure value of 50% of the maximum pressure PMAX, and P1 denotes a pressure value of 30% of the maximum pressure PMAX, respectively. The time for displaying these pressures P1 and P2 is T2 and T3 in order. The pressures P1 and P2 occur during the pressure rise and during the pressure drop, and the latter is the time T5 when the pressure P1 occurs. The time T ₁ is when the pressure is generated, and the time T ₆ is when the pressure is extinguished. T0 is the time when the recovery cow was initiated.

In the present example, a plurality of pulses PUL of the recovery voltage V _P are input between the time T3 and the time T4 branch. Each of the plurality of pulses PUL is input to all the discharge energy elements of the recording head substantially simultaneously. In this example, at least one element driving pulse is supplied during the forced ink discharge period from 50% of the maximum pressure PMAX at the constant pressure to the maximum pressure PMAX. Therefore, according to this example, since the recovery force of the first half during the pressure increase is drastically and in the middle, the loss of the pressure increase that the initial recovery force is offset to erase the inertia force of the ink can be prevented. From this point of view, it is desirable to provide the device driving pulse at a time T2 or more, that is, at least 30% of PMAX. Of course, the increased pressure is preferable because the formation of bubbles by the heat generating element is more rapid than that of the piezoelectric element. An example will be described again in FIG.

In the above example, since the element driving pulse PUL is input while the pressure P is increased, an increase in the recovery force of increasing the total pressure can be achieved by adding the element driving pulse while the pressure P is falling. From this point of view, it is desirable to add the pulse to the duration of the pressure P up to the time T5 which becomes the pressure P1, preferably up to the time T6.

Next, at the end of the forced discharge period and at the end of the element driving period, the pressure P of the forced discharge decreases, so that a small amount of ink remaining on the discharge port surface due to the slight pressure is also considered. It is preferable that the element driving pulse PUL is continuously supplied for a predetermined period of time after the disappearance of T6, that is, until the time T7, to further improve the state of each ink with a sudden discharge force. By the way, a sequence of cleaning the discharge port surface after performing the recovery dress having the above-mentioned recovery mode having the above combined recovery period with the flow chart of FIG. 18 (e) is further preferred for the following reasons. In other words, the dressing gown is used for either the purpose of removing the bundle of bubbles in the head or the purpose of discharging the cause of the clogging outside the discharge port. At this time, the dust which appeared outside the discharge port may remain in the periphery of the discharge port as unnecessary substance, such as a solid matter. The cleaning process is important to remove this efficiently. This is because even if there is a fine unnecessary material which is slightly returned to the discharge port side by this cleaning, it is not necessary to remove it by the dressing clothes, but it can be reliably separated from the discharge port surface by the output of the air discharge.

Further, the start time of the forced discharge period and the start of the element driving period are examined.

At the beginning of the recovery process, an inertial force exists due to the close contact between the ink and the ink path wall or the ink chamber wall, and the energy loss is large when the recovery pressure is relied on the pump force of forced discharge.

An example of solving this problem is to cause the start of the element driving period to act at the time T1 when the pressure P is generated. This is preferable because the pump force can be effectively used.

Furthermore, it is more preferable to perform element driving even from time T1 to time T2. Further, starting the element driving period between the time T0 at which the recovery signal comes out before the time T1 is preferable because the ink flow state of all the discharge ports can be formed before the forced discharge. It is preferable that the device drive pulses supplied from the above start of the device drive period to the above combined recovery period have a constant cycle. In order to obtain the maximum recovery force, the device driving pulse is applied at the time T4. Specifically, it is preferable that the bubbles formed by the heat generating device coincide with the maximum growth time.

In the present invention, it goes without saying that the respective configuration descriptions related to the above-described FIG. 11 include all those in which the respective combinations are arbitrarily combined.

Next, a special embodiment will be described in FIG. This example is a special example of an embodiment in which a recovery mode, which has a normal recovery mode and a recovery combined mode as described above, is executed by converting them. That is, when the ink absorber has an ink absorber, the negative pressure fluctuation range is usually in the range of -30 mmHg to -120 mmHg. In this case, when the sound pressure is small, for example, at a sound pressure smaller than -50 mmHg, a sufficient recovery is normally obtained, and the above-mentioned competition suit may be performed only in the range of sound pressure of -50 mmHg or more and -120 mmHg or less.

In addition, depending on the amount of ink used, it may be necessary to wear a dress when the amount of ink used exceeds a predetermined value. In such a case, it is a preferred embodiment to make the following telephone call because it is lost ink to always wear a dress.

As described above, the flow chart of FIG. 12 has only the air discharge or suction when the predetermined value as a reference is larger than the reference value (SM1) determined by a detection mechanism such as an integrated count or a remnant gum (the absolute value is taken in the case of sound pressure). This reference value, which indicates a subroutine for performing normal recovery (SM3) such as 10,000 and setting the above-described recovery combined mode (SM2) to be selected above the reference value, may be exemplified above. It is not.

However, the manner in which the recovery combination mode is selected as necessary is included in the present invention. The present invention also includes various implementations described above as a plurality of execution processes in the recovery combination mode, and optionally uses them. Among these, the above-described second embodiment is preferable and maximizes the resilience. The present invention can exert an absolute effect on a large-sized tube pump or a recovery mechanism of a color multiple head to generate a large pressure.

(7) other

Further, the present invention brings about an excellent effect in a bubble jet type recording head and a recording apparatus which Canon Inc. advocates, especially in the ink jet recording method. This is because the density of the recording and the high definition can be achieved by this method.

It is preferable to perform the representative structure and principle using the basic principles disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This method can be applied to any of the so-called on-demand and continuous types, but in the case of the on-demand type, it is recorded in the electrothermal transducer arranged in correspondence with the sheet or liquid path in which the liquid (ink) is kept. By applying at least one driving signal corresponding to the information and giving rapid temperature rise exceeding nuclear boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, resulting in film boiling on the thermal working surface of the recording head. This is effective because bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding one to one can be formed.

As the bubble grows and contracts, at least one droplet is formed by discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening. When this drive signal is made into a pulse shape, since the growth and contraction of bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately, discharge of a liquid (ink) excellent in responsiveness is particularly achieved, which is more preferable. As the pulse-shaped driving signal, ones described in US Patent No. 4,463,359 and US Patent No. 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, better recording can be performed by employing the conditions described in the specification of US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the temperature increase rate of the heat acting surface. As the configuration of the recording head, a U.S. patent that discloses a configuration in which the heat acting portion is bent in addition to the combination configuration (straight liquid solution or right angle liquid flow path) of the discharge port, the liquid path, and the electric heat changer as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications. Configurations using the specification of 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600 are also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-123670, which discloses a configuration in which a slit common to a plurality of electrothermal transducers is used as an ejecting portion of the electrothermal converting body, or a configuration in which openings absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy are corresponded to the ejecting portions Even if it is the structure based on Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 59-138461, the effect of this invention is effective. In other words, it is because recording can be surely performed efficiently regardless of the shape of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can also be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of the recording medium that the recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may be either a configuration which satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head which is formed integrally. In addition, the serial type of the same type as the conventional type is used in the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body, or the exchangeable tip time recording head which enables the electrical connection of the apparatus main body or supply of ink from the apparatus main body, which is mounted on the apparatus main body. Even in this case, the present invention is effective.

The number or type of recording heads to be mounted may also be provided in a plural number corresponding to a plurality of inks different in recording color or density, in addition to only one in correspondence with a single color ink, for example.

Furthermore, in the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, in addition to being used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, it may take the form of a copying apparatus combined with a reading function and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. .

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simply remove bubbles in the discharge port by performing timing driving so as to simultaneously perform the forced discharge operation by suction or pressurization and the discharge operation by driving the discharge energy generating element. .

In addition, since the capacity of the forced recovery means such as a pump for suction or pressurization is not required to be increased, the recording apparatus main body can be miniaturized and cost can be reduced.

Claims (9)

An ink jet recording apparatus which applies a recording signal to a heat energy generating means provided corresponding to the ejection opening for ejecting the ink, and causes the heat energy generating means to generate heat energy, thereby ejecting ink from the ejection opening by using the heat energy for recording; A recovery method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discharge port is recovered by forcibly discharging ink from said discharge port and said ink is heated before said discharge recovery process. The recovery method according to claim 1, wherein the heat energy generating means is a heat generating element, and the driving of the heat energy generating means is a step of supplying a drive path for forming bubbles to the ink of the heat generating element. The method of claim 2, wherein the driving of the heat energy generating means comprises supplying the plurality of driving signals to the heat generating element to perform a plurality of ink ejections. The method of claim 1, wherein the forced discharging step is a step of sucking through a cap covering the plurality of discharge ports. An ink jet recording apparatus which applies a recording signal to a heat energy generating means provided corresponding to the ejection opening for ejecting ink, and causes the heat energy generating means to generate heat energy, thereby ejecting ink from the ejecting opening by using the heat energy for recording; An ink jet comprising: a recovery means for recovering the discharge port by driving the thermal energy generating means and simultaneously forcibly discharging ink from the discharge port, wherein the ink is heated before the discharge recovery process; Logger. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recovery means drives the suction pump through a cap covering the discharge port to perform the suction, and drives the plurality of thermal energy generating means. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heat energy generating means is a heat generating element, and the driving of the heat energy generating means is a driving for supplying a driving signal roll to the heat generating element to form bubbles in ink. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recovery means starts the suction during growth of the bubble, and performs timing driving to apply the maximum suction force at the time of the suction during defoaming of the bubble. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said recovery means is a means for applying said suction force to ink ejection by growth of said bubble.

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