WO2015098220A1 - インクジェット記録装置及びその制御方法 - Google Patents
インクジェット記録装置及びその制御方法 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2015098220A1 WO2015098220A1 PCT/JP2014/075808 JP2014075808W WO2015098220A1 WO 2015098220 A1 WO2015098220 A1 WO 2015098220A1 JP 2014075808 W JP2014075808 W JP 2014075808W WO 2015098220 A1 WO2015098220 A1 WO 2015098220A1
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- Prior art keywords
- ink
- pump
- vacuum pump
- control
- pressure
- Prior art date
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 93
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 title abstract 2
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Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
- B41J2/16535—Cleaning of print head nozzles using wiping constructions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
- B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out
- B41J2/16508—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out connected with the printer frame
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/19—Ink jet characterised by ink handling for removing air bubbles
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a deaeration device for ink supplied to a head and a control method thereof.
- the deaeration device includes a vacuum module having a sealed region that allows ink supplied to the inkjet head to pass therethrough and separated from the ink by a hollow fiber membrane, and a vacuum pump that evacuates the sealed region of the vacuum module.
- a vacuum pump that evacuates the sealed region of the vacuum module.
- a diaphragm pump is used as the vacuum pump.
- a vacuum pump is driven to vacuum the ink passing through the deaeration device through the hollow fiber membrane. Thereby, bubbles in the ink were sucked out to the sealed region side through the hollow fiber membrane, and good discharge was performed.
- An object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of ink moisture.
- a vacuum pump that depressurizes the ink
- an air release valve that can switch between an airtight state and an air release state in a path connecting the deaeration module and the vacuum pump, the vacuum pump, and the air release valve
- a control device that controls the drying of the pump by operating the vacuum pump with the atmosphere release valve in the atmosphere release state.
- a vacuum pump for depressurizing the ink via a gas permeable membrane of a gas module, and provided between the degas module and the vacuum pump, wherein the vacuum pump is connected to the degas module and is opened to the atmosphere.
- a control device for controlling the vacuum pump and the air release valve, wherein the control device sets the air release valve to an air release state. Pump drying control for operating the vacuum pump is performed.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus may be configured such that the ink jet recording apparatus includes a liquid feed pump that supplies ink to the ink jet head side through a deaeration module.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus may be configured such that the pump drying control is performed while the liquid feed pump is stopped.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus may be configured such that the control apparatus executes the pump drying control at the time of maintenance of the ink jet head or immediately after the end of the maintenance. good.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus include that the control device is configured to supply liquid continuously for a predetermined time or more.
- the pump drying control may be performed.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus are as follows: the control apparatus starts driving at the upper limit pressure and stops driving at the lower limit pressure with respect to the vacuum pump.
- the pressure maintaining control is performed, and the control device determines that [the degassing ink consumption time determined by the ink capacity of the degassing module and the ink consumption speed at the time of image formation]> ([specified drying time in the pump drying control] + [Depressurization maintaining time for maintaining the pressure below the upper limit pressure in order to degas the ink in the deaeration module] + [First pump continuous required for lowering the suction pressure from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure by the vacuum pump] It is good also as a structure which performs pump drying control after reaching
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus are as follows: the control apparatus starts driving at the upper limit pressure and stops driving at the lower limit pressure with respect to the vacuum pump.
- the control apparatus starts driving at the upper limit pressure and stops driving at the lower limit pressure with respect to the vacuum pump.
- the ink jet recording apparatus performs pressure maintenance control. It is good also as a structure which performs pump drying control at the time of the fall which cut
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus may be configured such that the control apparatus performs a wiping process of the ink jet head in accordance with the pump drying control at the time of falling. .
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus are such that the control device exceeds the second determination time that is longer than the determination time.
- the vacuum pump may be informed of an abnormality.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus are characterized in that the control device sets a lower limit that is targeted within a predetermined time by the vacuum pump after the pump drying control. It is good also as a structure which alert
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus include the deaeration module, the vacuum pump, and the air release valve individually corresponding to a plurality of colors of ink.
- the control device may be configured to identify one or more colors that are not used from image data for image formation, and to perform pump drying control on the vacuum pump corresponding to the ink of the specified color at the time of image formation. good.
- the present invention relating to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention relating to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus include the deaeration module, the vacuum pump, and the air release valve individually corresponding to a plurality of colors of ink.
- the control device specifies one or more colors having the highest ink usage from image data for image formation, and performs pump drying control on the vacuum pump corresponding to the specified color ink after image formation It is good also as a structure which performs.
- the present invention according to the ink jet recording apparatus and the present invention according to the control method of the ink jet recording apparatus include the deaeration module, the vacuum pump, and the air release valve individually corresponding to a plurality of ink jet heads,
- the control device may be configured to identify one or more ink jet heads that are not used from image data for image formation, and to perform pump drying control on the vacuum pump corresponding to the identified ink jet head during image formation.
- the present invention performs pump drying control in which the control device operates the vacuum pump with the atmosphere release valve in the atmosphere release state, and thus introduces the outside air that is drier than the deaeration module into the pump. And moisture in the pump can be eliminated.
- the ink can be deaerated favorably by the vacuum pump, and it is possible to extend the life by suppressing the deterioration of the vacuum pump.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire inkjet recording apparatus 1.
- the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is a carriage on which a transport device 20 that transports a recording medium along a horizontal direction and a plurality of heads 3 (see FIG. 2) as ink jet heads that eject ink from above onto the transported recording medium. 4, a main scanning device 5 that transports the carriage 4 along a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium, a maintenance unit 7 that performs maintenance of each head 3 mounted on the carriage 4, and a carriage 4.
- a nozzle moisturizing unit 6 that moisturizes the nozzles of each head 3, an ink supply device 8 (see FIG. 3) that supplies ink to each head 3 mounted on the carriage 4, and a control unit that controls these components
- a control device 9 see FIG.
- the horizontal direction and the direction along the conveyance direction of the recording medium are the Y-axis direction
- the horizontal direction and the direction along the conveyance direction of the carriage 4 are the X-axis direction or the main scanning direction
- the vertical direction is referred to as the Z-axis direction.
- the transport device 20 includes a drive roller 21 and a driven roller (not shown), a drive motor 22, and a transport belt 23.
- the driving roller 21 and the driven roller are rotatably supported, and the driving roller 21 is disposed so as to extend in the main scanning direction X.
- the drive motor 22 is a drive source for rotationally driving the drive roller 21, and is attached to one end side of the drive roller 21.
- the conveyor belt 23 is formed in an endless shape, and is stretched between the driving roller 21 and the driven roller. When the driving roller 21 rotates, the conveying belt 23 circulates between the driving roller 21 and the driven roller and conveys the recording medium placed on the upper surface thereof in the conveying direction F along the Y-axis direction.
- the drive motor 22 rotates the drive roller 21 by a predetermined amount to convey the recording medium by a predetermined distance in the conveyance direction.
- the drive roller 21 is rotated again by a predetermined amount, and the recording medium is transported by a predetermined distance in the transport direction F and stopped.
- the recording medium is so-called intermittently conveyed.
- the conveying apparatus 20 is not restricted to said intermittent conveyance.
- a head group including nozzle rows along the X-axis direction is provided for almost the entire width of the transport belt 23 in the X-axis direction, and the head groups of the respective colors are sequentially arranged in the Y-axis direction.
- the image forming may be performed while the recording medium is conveyed in the Y-axis direction by the conveying device 20 in a state where the carriage 4 is mounted in a line and stopped at a position directly above the conveying belt 23.
- the frame 100 includes a rectangular main body portion 101 extending along the X-axis direction, a first base portion 102 that supports one end portion in the X-axis direction of the main body portion 101, and the main body portion 101. And the second base portion 103 that supports the other end portion in the X-axis direction.
- the first base portion 102 supports the one end portion of the main body portion 101 from below while storing and holding the nozzle moisturizing portion 6 therein.
- the second base portion 103 supports the other end portion of the main body portion 101 from below while storing and holding the maintenance portion 7 therein.
- the main body 101 stores and holds a pair of carriage rails 51, 51 of the main scanning device 5, which will be described later, in the X-axis direction, and the carriage 4 extends in the X-axis direction inside the main body 101. Are transported.
- the first base portion 102 and the second base portion 103 are disposed on both sides in the X-axis direction with the above-described transport device 20 interposed therebetween, and the main body portion 101 is installed above the transport device 20.
- the main scanning device 5 includes a pair of bar-shaped carriage rails 51 and 51 supported so as to extend along the X-axis direction inside the main body 101 of the frame 100.
- the pair of carriage rails 51 and 51 are provided so as to straddle the upper portion of the conveying belt 23 of the conveying device 20.
- a box-shaped carriage 4 is supported on the carriage rails 51 and 51 so as to be reciprocally movable along the X-axis direction.
- the carriage 4 is a substantially rectangular casing with an open top, and a plurality of heads 3 are mounted on the bottom plate. As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 4 has arm portions 42 and 42 extending toward both sides in the Y-axis direction at the upper part of both side surfaces in the Y-axis direction, and the arm portions 42 and 42 are respectively linear guides.
- the carriage rails 51 and 51 are placed on the carriage rails 51 and 51 so that the carriage rails 51 and 51 can slide along the X-axis direction.
- a linear motor is provided between the carriage rails 51 and 51 and the arm portions 42 and 42 of the carriage 4.
- each carriage rail 51, 51 is equipped with a stator of a linear motor
- each arm 42, 42 of the carriage 4 is equipped with a mover
- the carriage 4 is controlled by current control of the stator side coil. A transport operation along the X-axis direction is given.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of the bottom plate 41 of the carriage 4 as viewed from above.
- this inkjet recording apparatus 1 Y (yellow), Lm (light magenta), Or (orange), M (magenta), Bk (black), Bl (blue), Lk (light black), C (cyan), Lc
- Each of the nine colors (light cyan) includes nine heads 3, and a total of 81 heads 3 are attached to the bottom plate of the carriage 4.
- the head groups of each color are arranged in the order of Y, Lm, Or, M, Bk, Bl, Lk, C, and Lc along the X-axis direction, and the nine heads 3 of each head group are arranged.
- the bottom plate 41 is provided with a slit-shaped opening along the Y-axis direction for each mounting position of each head 3, and each head 3 attached to the bottom plate 41 from above is directly below the carriage 4 through the opening. Ink droplets can be ejected. As described above, the nine heads 3 are arranged in a staggered manner for each color, so that the ink of each color can be placed at an arbitrary position within the range of almost the entire width in the Y-axis direction on the bottom plate 41 of the carriage 4. It is possible to perform discharge.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the head 3.
- the head 3 has a plurality of nozzle rows along the Y-axis direction arranged in the X-axis direction on the nozzle plate facing the recording medium conveyed at the bottom.
- the head 3 includes an ink flow path for guiding ink to each nozzle and a plurality of piezoelectric elements provided for each nozzle.
- the ink flow path communicates with a first port 341 and a second port 342 provided in the upper part of the head 3, and ink is supplied from the first port 341 to each nozzle, and the second port Excess ink is discharged from 342.
- the maintenance unit 7 performs maintenance of each head 3 during the non-recording operation.
- the maintenance unit 7 is provided on one end side of the carriage rails 51 and 51, separated from the transport device 20. That is, maintenance is performed in a state where the carriage 4 has moved to a position where the carriage rails 51 and 51 are opposed to the maintenance unit 7 at one end thereof.
- the maintenance unit 7 includes a wiping device that wipes residual ink and dirt on the lower surface of the nozzle plate of each head 3 (wiping process), an ink tray 71 that serves as a tray when ink is ejected by the head 3, and ( 3), and a nozzle sensor 72 (see FIG. 6) for detecting the nozzle in which the nozzle is missing.
- the wiping device mainly includes a cleaning roller that is slidably contacted with the lower surface of the nozzle plate 31 and is rotatable about a rotation axis along the X-axis direction, and a roller conveyance mechanism that conveys the cleaning roller along the Y-axis direction.
- the configured cleaning roller has a width in the X-axis direction so as to enable wiping of the three color head groups out of the nine color head groups mounted on the carriage 4. All the heads 3 are cleaned by a reciprocating half moving operation. This prevents nozzle clogging due to solidification of residual ink.
- ink is discharged to the ink tray 71 during maintenance by an extrusion process performed with the ink supply pressure of the ink supply device 8 and a flushing process discharged by driving the piezoelectric element.
- the extrusion process eliminates clogging of the ink flow path in the head 3 by discharging a larger amount of ink than usual from the nozzles of each head 3.
- the flushing process is a small number of ejections performed after the wipe process or periodically, and is a process for preventing clogging due to ink drying.
- ink is ejected to the ink tray 71 during the nozzle missing detection process.
- Nozzle deficiency is a process of detecting nozzles that have failed to eject against the ink ejection command. In this process, ink is ejected a plurality of times based on the ejection command to some or all of the nozzles of each head 3, and the droplets ejected by the nozzle sensor 72 provided in the ink tray 71 at that time are detected. I do.
- the nozzle sensor 72 is, for example, a line-type light receiving sensor along the Y-axis direction, and is disposed so that the discharged liquid droplets traverse the light receiving surface of the nozzle sensor 72.
- the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 is provided on the other end side of the carriage rails 51, 51, separated from the transport device 20. That is, during the non-recording operation, the carriage 4 moves to a position facing the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 at the other end of the carriage rails 51 and 51, and in this state, the nozzles of the heads 3 are moisturized. In other words, the nozzle moisturizing unit 6 is in close contact with each nozzle of the nozzle plate 31 so that the inside of each nozzle is connected to the moisturizing liquid storage unit. It is comprised with the raising / lowering mechanism.
- FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ink supply device 8.
- the ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes the ink supply device 8 for each color.
- the ink supply device 8 includes main tanks 81 and 81 as two ink tanks for storing ink, a sub tank 82 as an ink tank to which ink is supplied from each main tank 81 and 81, and a downstream of the sub tank 82 in the ink supply direction.
- the ink tray 71 of the maintenance unit 7 is also illustrated.
- the main tanks 81 and 81 are containers whose upper portions are open to the atmosphere, and the two main tanks 81 and 81 are both detachable from the ink jet recording apparatus 1 so that they can be replaced when empty. ing.
- ink can be supplied from the other main tank 81 even when one of the tanks is empty and when it is replaced, the recording operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is possible. It is possible to avoid interruptions.
- the number of mounted solids in the main tank 81 may be increased.
- Reference numeral 815 in FIG. 3 is a remaining amount sensor for detecting whether or not the ink in each of the main tanks 81 and 81 is empty.
- tank valves 812 and 812 are provided as connection switching units that are electromagnetic valves that can switch the open / close state of the flow paths.
- a filter 813 for removing contaminants such as dust and dust from the ink is provided in the middle of the path on the sub tank 82 side in the first ink flow path 811, and further on the sub tank 82 side than the filter 813.
- a first liquid feed pump 814 is provided as a first liquid feed section that sends ink to the sub tank side.
- the sub tank 82 has a funnel shape having a side wall portion 821 whose diameter decreases toward the lower side, and the upper portion is closed by a top plate 822.
- the sub-tank 82 is connected to the second ink flow path 823 at the center of the bottom, so that the ink in the sub-tank 82 can be supplied to the deaerator 83 through the second ink flow path 823.
- an air release pipe 824 for maintaining the inside of the sub tank 82 at atmospheric pressure is attached to the top plate 822 of the sub tank 82.
- the air release pipe 824 is equipped with a filter 825 for preventing intrusion of dust and dirt from the outside.
- the top end of the first ink flow path 811 is connected to the top plate 822 of the sub tank 82 in a state of penetrating the top plate 822 and entering the inside.
- the front end portion of the first ink flow path 811 extends to a position in contact with or just before the inner surface of the side wall 821 of the sub tank 82, and the ink supplied from the first ink flow path 811 passes through the side wall 821. Then, the liquid is poured into the liquid level in the sub tank 82.
- the sub tank 82 has an upper limit position of the ink liquid level determined by liquid level monitoring control described later, and the tip of the first ink flow path 811 is positioned higher than the upper limit position of the ink liquid level. Ink is supplied to the side wall 821.
- a first liquid level sensor 826 that defines the upper limit position of the ink liquid level in the liquid level monitoring control described later, and a second liquid level sensor 827 that defines the lower limit position of the ink liquid level. And are provided.
- Each of these liquid level sensors 826 and 827 is a float type sensor provided with a float, and it is possible to detect whether the liquid level is above or below the upper limit position or the lower limit position from the height of the float. .
- the liquid level monitoring control will be described in detail later.
- the above-described second ink flow path 823 is provided between the sub tank 82 and the deaeration device 83.
- a second liquid feed pump 829 as a unit is provided.
- FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the deaeration device 83.
- the deaeration device 83 includes a deaeration module 831 configured by a gas permeable membrane, a vacuum pump 832 for depressurizing the inside of the deaeration module 831, and the vacuum pump 832 and the deaeration.
- a vacuum path 836 connecting the module 831, a pressure switch 833 as a pressure detection unit provided in a branch path 837 branched from the vacuum path 836, and ON / OFF operation according to the pressure in the vacuum path 836;
- a trap 838 for capturing the liquid in the vacuum path 836 and an air release valve 834 capable of switching the inside of the vacuum path 836 between an airtight state and an air release state are provided.
- a large number of hollow fiber membranes 831a are bundled and accommodated in the deaeration module 831, and the inside thereof is partitioned into two spaces inside and outside each hollow fiber membrane 831a.
- an ink inlet 831 b connected to the second ink flow path 823 and an ink outlet 831 c connected to the third ink flow path 835 toward the inkjet head 3 side are provided outside the deaeration module 831.
- the ink inlet 831b and the ink outlet 831c communicate with the outer space of each hollow fiber membrane 831a in the deaeration module 831.
- the ink sent from the sub tank 82 by the second liquid feed pump 829 is the ink inlet.
- the vacuum path 836 communicates with the inner space of each hollow fiber membrane 831a in the deaeration module 831.
- the inner space of each hollow fiber membrane 831a is connected via the vacuum path 836. Is reduced to a predetermined pressure. By this decompression, dissolved oxygen is degassed and removed from the ink in the outer space in contact with the outer surface of each hollow fiber membrane 831a through the hollow fiber membrane 831a.
- the deaeration module 831 one side of a gas permeable membrane is brought into contact with ink, and the other side is decompressed by a vacuum pump 832 via a vacuum path 836 so that dissolved oxygen in the ink can be removed.
- a vacuum pump 832 it is preferable to use a deaeration module in which a number of hollow fiber membranes are bundled as a membrane.
- the vacuum pump 832 is a diaphragm pump including a pump chamber having a diaphragm that can be expanded and contracted, and a drive source that operates the diaphragm so that the volume of the pump chamber expands and contracts.
- the pump chamber includes a suction port provided with a check valve that allows only inflow of fluid from the outside, and a discharge port provided with a check valve that allows only discharge of particles from the inside. Yes.
- adhesion of moisture to the diaphragm and the check valve causes deterioration, deterioration, and failure of the pump performance.
- the trap 838 is used to prevent ink or moisture from entering the vacuum path 836 from the side of the degassing module 831 and prevent them from reaching the vacuum pump 832. Moisture can be stored inside. As a result, the vacuum pump 832 suppresses breakage, malfunction, and deterioration due to ink and moisture. However, since the trap 838 has a structure that captures water droplets by dropping, it cannot capture moisture that has once vaporized and reaches the vacuum pump 832.
- the pressure switch 833 is a pressure detection means, and has a cylinder-shaped pressure chamber 833a having an enlarged diameter at the tip of the branch path 837, and a piston-like movable element 833b slidable in the pressure chamber 833a. Yes.
- the outer peripheral surface of the mover 833b is fitted in an airtight manner with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure chamber 833a, and one end is attached with a predetermined force in a direction away from the deaeration module 831 by a tension spring 833c fixed to the frame inside the machine. It is energized.
- the movable element 833b is provided with a switch operation portion 833d extending outside the pressure chamber 833a.
- the branch path 837 is provided.
- the pressure chamber 833a is also depressurized via the, and when the mover 833b moves to the deaeration module 831 side against the tension spring 833c by a predetermined distance, for example, it contacts the switch part 833e attached to the frame inside the machine, A signal ON is transmitted to the control device 9.
- the pressure switch 833 is turned on when detecting that the inside of the vacuum path 836 has reached a predetermined lower limit pressure by driving the vacuum pump 832, and permeates each hollow fiber membrane 831 a by stopping the vacuum pump 832. It operates so as to be turned off when it is detected that the pressure has risen above the predetermined lower limit pressure and reached the upper limit pressure due to the increase in the gas concentration.
- FIG. 5 shows that the pressure switch 833 is used by the control device 9 to maintain the inner space of each hollow fiber membrane 831a in the deaeration module 831 between the upper limit pressure and the lower limit pressure described above.
- 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the pressure value in the vacuum path 836 and the elapsed time when pressure maintenance control is performed on the pressure. Note that the pressure maintenance control described here is a control example when pump drying control described later is not taken into consideration.
- a symbol t4 in FIG. 5 indicates a time required to reduce the suction pressure from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure by driving the vacuum pump 832 (referred to as a first pump continuous driving time t4).
- 5 indicates the time required to reduce the suction pressure from the upper limit pressure to the lower limit pressure by driving the vacuum pump 832 (second pump continuous drive time t8). 5 indicates the time required for the pressure to increase from the lower limit pressure to the upper limit pressure due to deaeration when the vacuum pump 832 is stopped.
- the deaeration module 831 When the dissolved oxygen in the ink is removed by the deaeration module 831, as shown in the figure, when the vacuum pump 832 is driven and the pressure in the vacuum path 836 is reduced to the lower limit pressure, the pressure switch 833 is turned ON to turn the vacuum An operation for stopping the driving of the pump 832 is performed, and deaeration is performed during the stop.
- the values of the lower limit pressure in the vacuum path 836 where the pressure switch 833 is turned on and the upper limit pressure where the pressure switch 833 is turned off can be changed by adjusting the spring pressure, adjusting the stroke of the switch unit 833e, and the like. It can be set appropriately depending on the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ink.
- the atmosphere release valve 834 is an electromagnetic valve that can switch the vacuum path 836 between an airtight state and an atmosphere release state in accordance with an operation command from the outside, and performs the switching according to the operation control of the control device 9.
- a third ink flow path 835 is provided between the deaeration module 831 and the intermediate tank 84.
- Ink is supplied to the intermediate tank 84 by the supply pressure of the second liquid feed pump 829 via the second and third ink flow paths 823 and 835.
- the intermediate tank 84 is formed in a flexible bag shape, and expands / contracts as the amount of stored ink fluctuates.
- the intermediate tank 84 is also provided with a liquid amount sensor 841 for detecting a state where a specified amount of ink is stored. When ink is supplied from the sub tank 82, ink is supplied by the second liquid feed pump 829 until the liquid amount sensor 841 detects that the specified amount has been reached.
- a first three-way switching valve 846 which is an electromagnetic switching valve, is interposed between the fourth ink channel 842 and the fifth ink channel 843, and the fifth ink channel 843 and the sixth ink channel.
- a second three-way switching valve 847 that is an electromagnetic switching valve is interposed between the flow path 844 and a sixth switching path that is an electromagnetic switching valve is provided between the sixth ink flow path 844 and the seventh ink flow path 845.
- Three three-way switching valves 848 are interposed.
- a check valve 849 that allows only the flow in the direction from the first three-way switching valve 846 to the second three-way switching valve 847 and the check valve 849 allow the fifth ink flow path 843.
- the third liquid feeding pump 850 serving as a liquid feeding unit that feeds the liquid in the same direction as the direction, the ink is returned to the sub tank 82.
- a relief valve 851 is provided.
- one end of the branch channel 852 is joined and connected in the middle, and the other end of the branch channel 852 is connected to the first three-way switching valve 846.
- the first three-way switching valve 846 is controlled by the control device 9 so that the fifth ink channel 843 is connected to the fourth ink channel 842 and the fifth ink channel 843 is branched. It is possible to switch to the state connected to 852.
- the second three-way switching valve 847 is also connected to a return flow path 853 for returning ink to the sub tank 82, and the second three-way switching valve 847 is controlled by the control device 9 in accordance with the fifth It is possible to switch between a state in which the ink channel 843 is connected to the sixth ink channel 844 and a state in which the fifth ink channel 843 is connected to the return channel 853.
- the first and second three-way switching valves 846 and 847 are combined and controlled by the control device 9 to be simultaneously switched, and the fourth, fifth and sixth ink flow paths 842, 843 and 844 are passed from the intermediate tank 84.
- a supply connection state (white arrow in FIG. 3) in which ink is fed to the negative pressure forming unit 86 side (or head side), and the branch flow path 852 and the fifth from the negative pressure forming unit 86 side (or head side).
- Control is performed to switch between the return connection state (black arrow in FIG. 3) in which ink is fed to the sub tank 82 side through the ink flow path 843 and the return flow path 853. That is, using the delivery pressure of the third liquid feed pump 850, the supply of ink to the negative pressure forming unit 86 side and the recovery of ink from the negative pressure forming unit 86 side can be selectively performed. Is possible.
- the third three-way switching valve 848 is also connected to a bypass flow path 854 that supplies ink to the head side without passing through the negative pressure forming portion 86, and the sixth ink flow path 844 is controlled by the control device 9. It is possible to switch between a state in which the seventh ink channel 845 is connected and a state in which the sixth ink channel 844 and the bypass channel 854 are connected. That is, by this switching, a state where ink can be supplied and recovered to the negative pressure forming unit 86 and a state where ink can be supplied and recovered to the head 3 side (strictly, the common flow path 87). It is possible to switch between.
- the negative pressure forming portion 86 includes a rectangular main body container 861 having a large opening on the front surface, a film member 862 made of a flexible resin film that closes the opening of the main body container 861, and the inside of the main body container 861 from the inside to the outside. It is mainly composed of a spring (not shown) that presses the center of the film member 862 toward the center.
- the main body container 861 is connected to the aforementioned seventh ink flow path 845 and the eighth ink flow path 863 leading to the common flow path 87 to which all the first ports 341 of the nine heads 3 are connected in parallel. Yes. Further, since the film member 862 is pressed outward by the center by a spring, the film member 862 is in a tension state with a shape that protrudes outward in a substantially conical shape.
- each head 3 can be brought into a negative pressure state lower than the atmospheric pressure via the path 87. In this way, the inside of the head 3 is maintained at a negative pressure because, for example, if the inside of the nozzle 3 is at atmospheric pressure, ink is likely to leak from the nozzle, and ink tends to adhere to the periphery of the nozzle, resulting in poor ejection. This is because the variation in the dot diameter tends to occur.
- the target pressure which is a negative pressure, can be controlled by adjusting the amount of ink collected in the main body container 861.
- a communication pipe 864 that communicates with the inside of the main body container 861 and extends upward is provided on the upper part of the main body container 861 of the negative pressure forming portion 86.
- a liquid level sensor 865 is attached to the end of the communication pipe 864 on the main body container 861 side, and a pressure sensor 866 is attached to the upper end of the communication pipe 864.
- a horizontally extending branch pipe 867 having one end opened to the atmosphere is connected to an intermediate portion of the communication pipe 864, and an opening valve 868 for opening and closing the branch pipe 867 and air are provided in the middle of the branch pipe 867.
- An air filter 869 for filtering is provided.
- the eighth ink channel 863 extending from the negative pressure forming unit 86 merges with the bypass channel 854 described above and is connected to the common channel 87.
- a protective valve 871 that is a normally open electromagnetic valve is provided on the negative pressure forming part 86 side of the eighth ink flow path 863 from the junction with the bypass flow path 854.
- the common flow path 87 is mounted on the carriage 4, the eighth ink flow path 863 is connected to the upper part thereof, and the first ports 341 of the nine heads 3 for the same color are arranged in parallel at the bottom part. It is connected to the. Further, a waste liquid flow path 872 serving as a discharge flow path leading to a waste liquid tank (not shown) is connected to the upper part of the common flow path 87.
- the waste liquid flow path 872 is provided with a waste liquid valve 873 which is a normally closed electromagnetic valve. When the common flow path 87 is filled with ink, the waste liquid valve 873 is opened to discharge bubbles.
- the common flow path 87 is connected to the first port 341 of each head 3 via a recording operation valve 874 which is a normally open electromagnetic valve.
- the second ports 342 of each head 3 are connected in parallel to the common waste liquid flow path 876 via a normally closed maintenance valve 875, respectively.
- Each head 3 is supplied with ink from the common flow path 87 via the first port 341 during image formation or maintenance.
- the maintenance valve 875 of the second port 342 is closed, and when performing maintenance processing (such as discharging bubbles) that does not discharge ink, the maintenance valve 875 is opened and the first port 341 is opened. Ink is supplied so that ink flows in and is discharged from the second port 342.
- FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the ink supply device 8.
- the control device 9 shown in FIG. 6 controls the entire ink jet recording apparatus 1. Here, only the configuration of the ink supply device 8 is illustrated, and the other configurations are not shown. Further, only one of the plurality of configurations is illustrated.
- the control device 9 not only controls the ink supply device 8 such as converting image data of an image to be recorded on a recording medium input from an external device into data corresponding to each nozzle of the head 3, but also the ink jet recording device 1. It also controls the drive of each part. As shown in FIG.
- the control device 9 is composed of a general-purpose computer in which a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, an input / output interface (not shown) and the like are connected to a bus.
- the control device 9 includes first to third liquid feed pumps 814, 829, 850, a vacuum pump 832, a tank valve 812, an atmosphere release valve 834, and first to third three-way switching valves 846, 847, 848, An open valve 868, a protective valve 871, a waste liquid valve 873, a recording operation valve 874, and a maintenance valve 875 are connected, and the control device 9 controls them.
- the remaining amount sensor 815, first and second liquid level sensors 826, 827, liquid level sensor 841, liquid level sensor 865, pressure switch 833, pressure sensor 866, and nozzle sensor 72 are connected to the control device 9. From these, various detection signals are inputted.
- a power switch 96 is connected to the control device 9, and the control device 9 receives a power-on signal input and performs a main power-up process, and receives a power-off signal input and receives a power-off signal input. Execute the lowering process.
- an input operation unit 94 that performs support input such as execution of various operations from the operator, a display unit 95 that displays various information such as error information, and the like are also connected to the control device 9.
- control apparatus 9 implements various control etc. with respect to each said control object according to these detection information, but in this embodiment, focusing on the structure of the periphery of the deaeration apparatus 83 especially.
- the control related to the deaeration process for removing the dissolved oxygen from the ink will be mainly described.
- the CPU 91 opens the atmosphere release valve 834 (step S1), starts driving the vacuum pump 832 (step S3), and introduces the atmosphere into the vacuum pump 832. Thereby, even when the moisture that has entered from the deaeration module 831 reaches the vacuum pump 832, the moisture is removed by the atmosphere with lower humidity, and the inside of the vacuum pump 832 is promoted to dry.
- the air introduction is continued for a predetermined drying time t2 (step S5).
- the drying time t2 can be appropriately changed by an input from the input operation unit 94.
- the CPU 91 closes the atmosphere release valve 834 (step S7), and the vacuum pump 832 depressurizes the inside of the vacuum path 836 that has been at atmospheric pressure.
- the CPU 91 starts measuring the first pump continuous drive time t4 required for reducing the suction pressure from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure by the vacuum pump 832 in order to determine whether the vacuum pump 832 is abnormal. To do.
- the CPU 91 determines the input of the electrical signal ON of the pressure switch 833 (step S9). If there is no input, the current first pump continuous drive time t4 determines whether the vacuum pump 832 is abnormal. It is determined whether or not the first determination time t3 is exceeded (step S11). If the first pump continuous drive time t4 does not exceed the first determination time t3, the process returns to the determination in step S9. Further, when t4> t3, control is performed to notify the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 on the assumption that the suction capacity of the vacuum pump 832 is greatly reduced. As the notification control, for example, an abnormality notification screen is displayed on the display unit 95 provided in the control device 9, a lamp is turned on, a buzzer is sounded, and the like. In this case, the pump drying control is suspended until the vacuum pump 832 is restored.
- the notification control for example, an abnormality notification screen is displayed on the display unit 95 provided in the control device 9, a lamp is turned on, a buzzer is sounded, and the like.
- step S9 If the electrical signal ON of the pressure switch 833 is detected in step S9, the vacuum pump 832 is stopped (step S13) and the pump drying control is performed assuming that the vacuum path 836 has reached the lower limit pressure. finish. Further, the CPU 92 determines and records the measured value of the first pump continuous driving time t4 until the time when the electrical signal ON of the pressure switch 833 is detected in the RAM 93.
- the control device 9 performs the pump drying control in accordance with various situations between the power-on and the power-down of the ink jet recording apparatus 1. Hereinafter, pump drying control in various situations will be described.
- FIG. 8 is a flowchart in the case where the power switch 96 is turned on and the CPU 91 performs processing when the power is turned on for the deaeration device 83.
- the pump drying control is executed when the power is turned on, the second liquid feed pump 829 is in a stopped state, and the supply of ink from the deaeration module 831 to the downstream side is stopped. It is in.
- the CPU 91 executes the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 (step S21).
- the internal space of the vacuum path 836 and the hollow fiber membrane 831a of the deaeration module 831 is reduced to the lower limit pressure.
- the CPU 91 maintains this state until a predetermined decompression maintenance time t1 has elapsed (step S23).
- the reduced pressure maintaining time t1 is a time during which the dissolved oxygen in the ink in the deaeration module 831 can be sufficiently removed under a pressure equal to or lower than the upper limit pressure.
- the reduced pressure maintaining time t1 is input from the input operation unit 94. Can be changed as appropriate.
- the CPU 91 maintains the standby state (setup state) even if an image formation command or a maintenance command is received. Then, when the decompression maintenance time t1 has elapsed, the CPU 91 releases the standby state and becomes ready to accept an image formation command and a maintenance command (step S25).
- FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the CPU 91 performs pump drying control on the deaerator 83 during standby. Note that when the pump drying control is executed during this standby time, the second liquid feed pump 829 is in a stopped state and the supply of ink from the deaeration module 831 to the downstream side is stopped.
- the CPU 91 determines the input of the electric signal ON of the pressure switch 833 (step S31). If there is no input, the CPU 91 drives the vacuum pump 832 to reduce the pressure in the vacuum path 836 to the lower limit pressure ( Step S33). Further, when the input of the electric signal ON of the pressure switch 833 is detected, it is considered that the inside of the vacuum path 836 has reached the lower limit pressure, and the driving of the vacuum pump 832 is stopped (step S35). And the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is performed, and a process is complete
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the CPU 91 performs pump drying control on the deaeration device 83 during image formation.
- the third liquid feed pump 850 periodically supplies a certain amount of ink in the intermediate tank 84 to the head 3 side.
- the second liquid feed pump 829 executes the supply of ink from the sub tank 82 to the downstream side through the deaeration module 831 based on the detection of the liquid amount sensor 841. .
- the second liquid feed pump 829 is intermittently driven according to the consumption to supply ink, so that pump drying control at the time of image formation is performed.
- ink is not sent downstream from the deaeration module 831 with insufficient deaeration.
- pump drying control during image formation will be described based on this.
- Step S41 When the CPU 91 receives the image data together with the image formation command (step S41), the CPU 91 performs the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 before the driving of each head 3 is started using the time required for processing and storing the image data. Execute (Step S43). That is, since each head 3 is not driven, the first pump drying control is executed in a state where ink is not supplied by the liquid feed pumps 829 and 850.
- the carriage 4 is moved to the image forming position, each head 3 is driven to discharge ink, and image formation is started (step S45). Thereafter, the liquid feed pumps 829 and 850 are driven in accordance with the ink consumption, and the ink supply is executed intermittently (step S47).
- the vacuum path 836 of the deaeration device 83 and the internal space of the hollow fiber membrane 831a are in a state where the pressure is at least lower than the upper limit pressure.
- the CPU 91 determines the input of the electric signal ON of the pressure switch 833 (step S49), and when there is no input, starts to drive the vacuum pump 832. At this time, the CPU 91 starts measuring the second pump continuous drive time t8 required to reduce the suction pressure from the upper limit pressure to the lower limit pressure by the vacuum pump 832 (step S51). Then, the process returns to step S49 again.
- step S49 if the input of the electrical signal ON of the pressure switch 833 is detected in step S49, the CPU 91 stops the driving of the vacuum pump 832 (step S53), and the second pump continuous driving time t8 that has been timed. Is determined (step S55).
- the second determination time t5 is a value obtained by adding a delay time as a margin to an average required time required for the vacuum pump 832 to reduce the suction pressure from the upper limit pressure to the lower limit pressure.
- the second determination time t5 can be appropriately changed by an input from the input operation unit 94.
- the measured value of the second pump continuous drive time t8 started immediately after the start of image formation is measured more than the actual time because the time measurement is started in a state where the vacuum path 836 has not risen to the upper limit pressure.
- the second pump continuous drive time t8 measured after the second time is the time required to reduce the suction pressure from the upper limit pressure to the lower limit pressure by the vacuum pump 832. It can be determined accurately.
- step S63 If the second pump continuous drive time t8 does not exceed the second determination time t5, it is assumed that the vacuum pump 832 is in a good state, and the process proceeds to step S63. On the other hand, when the second pump continuous drive time t8 exceeds the second determination time t5, the vacuum pump 832 further determines whether or not the third determination time t6 is exceeded (step S59). .
- the third determination time t6 is longer than the second determination time t5, and when the third determination time t6 is exceeded, it indicates that the state in which the vacuum pump 832 has failed is suspected.
- the third determination time t6 can also be changed as appropriate by input from the input operation unit 94.
- the vacuum pump 832 When the second pump continuous drive time t8 exceeds the third determination time t6, the vacuum pump 832 performs control to notify the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 as being abnormal.
- the notification control as in the case of the pump drying control, for example, display of an abnormality notification screen on the display unit 95, lighting of a lamp, ringing of a buzzer, and the like. In this case, the process is interrupted until the vacuum pump 832 is restored.
- step S59 if it is determined in step S59 that the second pump continuous drive time t8 does not exceed the third determination time t6, it is assumed that the vacuum pump 832 is in an abnormal state and the pump drying control is performed when the power is turned off.
- the drying execution flag at the time of running is turned on, and this is recorded in the RAM 93 (step S61).
- the CPU 91 calculates a degassing ink consumption time t7 obtained from the ink capacity of the degassing module 831 and the ink consumption speed at the time of image formation (step S63).
- the degassing ink consumption time t7 is an estimated time required for consuming all the degassed ink stored in the degassing module 831 during image formation.
- the degassing ink consumption time t7 is calculated by dividing the amount of ink that can be stored in the degassing module 831 by the ink consumption speed at the time of image formation.
- the ink capacity of the deaeration module 831 is measured in advance and stored in a memory (not shown).
- table data indicating the correspondence relationship between the number of ejected dots obtained from the image data and the ink consumption per unit time is stored in advance in a memory (not shown). It is acquired by referring to the table data from the image data received together with the command.
- step S65 the CPU 91 performs comparison processing according to the following equation based on the following parameters (step S65).
- t7> t2 + t4 + t1 t7 Degassing ink consumption time calculated in step S63 t2: Drying time for the vacuum pump 832 in the above-described pump drying control t4: The suction pressure from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure obtained by measurement in the above-described pump drying control
- First pump continuous drive time t1 required for lowering reduced pressure maintenance time during which the dissolved oxygen in the ink in the deaeration module 831 can be sufficiently removed under a pressure equal to or lower than the upper limit pressure
- the CPU 91 sets the lower limit from the time to dry the vacuum pump in the pump drying control and the atmospheric pressure after drying until the degassed ink in the degassing module 831 is consumed by the current image formation. It is determined whether or not the time for performing pressure reduction to the pressure and the time for performing deaeration under reduced pressure are sufficient. If the time is insufficient (t7 ⁇ t2 + t4 + t1), the process proceeds to step S69 without performing the pump drying control. If the time is sufficient (t7> t2 + t4 + t1), the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is executed (step S67). While the pump drying control is being executed, the ink supply by the second liquid supply pump 829 can be executed. However, the pump drying control is finished before all the degassed ink is supplied, and a new ink is supplied. Since the deaeration is also completed, the supply of ink with insufficient deaeration can be avoided.
- step S69 the CPU 91 determines whether or not the image formation has been completed. If image formation continues, the process returns to step S49 and the output of the pressure switch 833 is monitored. When the image formation is completed, the ink supply control is also completed (step S71), and the entire process is terminated.
- the pump drying control is also executed during maintenance with ink supply. For example, when a relatively large amount of ink is ejected from the nozzles of each head 3 as in the extrusion process, the second and third liquid feed pumps 829 are according to the ink supply control described above, as in the image formation. , 850, ink is supplied. Accordingly, in this case as well, pump drying control is executed so that ink is not sent downstream from the deaeration module 831 with insufficient deaeration.
- FIG. 11 is a flowchart when the CPU 91 performs pump drying control on the deaeration device 83 during maintenance of the extrusion process.
- the pump drying control at the time of maintenance has many parts common to the pump drying control at the time of image formation, and the reduced pressure maintaining time t1, the drying time t2, the first pump continuous drive time t4, and the second determination time. Since t5, the third determination time t6, the deaerated ink consumption time t7, and the second pump continuous drive time t8 show the same contents, their description is omitted.
- the CPU 91 starts ink supply control similar to that at the time of image formation by the liquid feed pumps 829 and 850 according to the ink consumption (step S81), and starts ink ejection from the nozzles of each head 3. (Step S83).
- step S85 the CPU 91 determines the input of the electric signal ON of the pressure switch 833 (step S85), and when there is no input, starts to drive the vacuum pump 832. At this time, the CPU 91 starts measuring the second pump continuous drive time t8 (step S87). Then, the process returns to step S85 again.
- step S85 when the input of the electric signal ON of the pressure switch 833 is detected in step S85, the CPU 91 stops the driving of the vacuum pump 832 (step S89), and the second pump continuous driving time t8 that has been timed. Is determined (step S91).
- step S93 it is determined whether or not the second pump continuous drive time t8 exceeds the second determination time t5 (step S93). If the second pump continuous drive time t8 does not exceed the second determination time t5, the vacuum pump 832 proceeds to step S99. On the other hand, when the second pump continuous drive time t8 exceeds the second determination time t5, the vacuum pump 832 further determines whether or not the third determination time t6 is exceeded (step S95). .
- the CPU 91 calculates the deaeration ink consumption time t7 (step S99), and performs comparison processing according to the following equation (step S101).
- step S101 t7> t2 + t4 + t1 If t7 ⁇ t2 + t4 + t1, the process proceeds to step S105 without performing pump drying control. If t7> t2 + t4 + t1, the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is executed (step S103). Thereby, even if ink is supplied by the second liquid feed pump 829 during execution of pump drying control, supply of ink with insufficient deaeration can be avoided.
- the CPU 91 determines whether or not a specified time for continuously ejecting the extrusion process has elapsed (step S105). If the specified time has not elapsed, the process returns again to step S85 and the output of the pressure switch 833 is monitored. When the specified time has elapsed, the ink supply control is also completed (step S107), the ink ejection from the nozzles of each head 3 is also stopped (step S109), and the entire process is completed.
- FIG. 12 is a flowchart when the CPU 91 performs pump drying control on the deaeration device 83 during the maintenance of the wiping process. Since only a small amount of ink is ejected during this maintenance, the second and third liquid feed pumps 829 and 850 remain stopped.
- the CPU 91 moves the carriage 4 to the maintenance unit 7 and starts the wiping operation of the nozzle surface of each color head group by the cleaning roller of the wiping device (step S111). Then, the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is executed together with the start of the wiping operation (step S113). After the completion of the pump drying control, the process ends after waiting for completion of the wiping operation (step S115). In the wiping process, when the wiping operation is completed, flushing is performed by each head 3, but since the number of ejections is small, ink supply is not performed.
- FIG. 13 is a flowchart in the case where the CPU 91 performs pump drying control on the deaeration device 83 during the nozzle missing confirmation process.
- this nozzle missing confirmation process performs only a small amount of ink ejection, the second and third liquid feed pumps 829 and 850 remain stopped.
- the CPU 91 moves the carriage 4 above the ink tray 71 of the maintenance unit 7 and repeatedly executes a plurality of ejection operations by each head 3. Then, the nozzle that has not been ejected by the nozzle sensor 72 is detected (step S121). Then, the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is executed together with the start of the ejection operation of each head 3 (step S123). After the completion of the pump drying control, the completion of the nozzle missing detection process for all the heads 3 is awaited (step S125), and the process ends. In the nozzle missing confirmation process, each head 3 ejects a plurality of times. However, since ink consumption is small, ink supply is not performed.
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart in the case where the power switch 96 is turned OFF and the CPU 91 performs processing at the time of power-down for the deaerator 83.
- the pump drying control is executed when the power is turned off, the second liquid feed pump 829 is in a stopped state, and the supply of ink from the deaeration module 831 to the downstream side is stopped. It is in.
- step S131 When detecting that the power switch 96 is turned off (step S131), the CPU 91 reads the drying execution flag stored in the RAM 93 and determines whether or not the flag is in an ON state (step S133). If the flag is OFF, the processing is terminated as it is and the power is turned off. If the flag is ON, the pump drying control shown in FIG. 7 is executed (step S135), and then the process is terminated and the power is turned off.
- wiping process (and flushing) for each head 3 may be executed when the pump drying control in step S135 is completed or during execution.
- the control device 90 executes pump drying control for operating the vacuum pump 832 with the atmosphere release valve 834 of the deaeration device 83 being in the atmosphere release state, so that the outside air dried by the deaeration module 831 is pumped 832.
- the moisture in the pump 832 can be eliminated.
- the pump drying control is performed when the second liquid pump 829 is stopped, for example, when the power is turned on, when it is turned off, when neither image formation nor maintenance is being performed, during wipe processing,
- the pump drying control is executed at the time of the lack confirmation process or the like, the inside of the vacuum pump 832 is realized while the specific process for avoiding the supply of ink with insufficient deaeration is unnecessary. It becomes possible.
- control device 9 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 performs the degassing ink consumption time t7 even when the ink is supplied by the second liquid feed pump 829 as in the image forming process or the maintenance pushing process. Comparison determination is performed using the drying time t2, the first pump continuous driving time t4, and the reduced pressure maintaining time t1 as parameters. Therefore, the pump drying control is performed after determining whether or not there is time to complete the pump drying control and the degassing of new ink until all the degassed ink is sent from the degassing module 831. Therefore, the inside of the vacuum pump 832 can be dried without supplying ink that is not sufficiently deaerated.
- control device 9 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 measures the second pump continuous drive time t8, determines whether or not the second determination time t5 is exceeded, and if so, the pump drying control is performed when the power is turned off. Therefore, the inside of the pump can be dried with respect to the vacuum pump 832 that has caused a malfunction, and the condition of the vacuum pump 832 can be improved.
- control device 9 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 determines whether or not the second pump continuous drive time t8 exceeds the third determination time t6, and executes control for notifying the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 when it exceeds. Therefore, the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 can be promptly recognized by the user, and quick recovery can be achieved.
- the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 is also detected when the pressure cannot be reduced from the atmospheric pressure to the target lower limit pressure within a predetermined time (first determination time t3) by the vacuum pump. Since the notification control is executed, the abnormality of the vacuum pump 832 can be promptly recognized by the user, and quick recovery can be achieved.
- FIG. 15 shows the result of the effect test by the execution of the pump drying control for the vacuum pump.
- the effect test was performed on a diaphragm pump manufactured by KNF (NF-85.3DC (24V specification)) in an environment of room temperature 25 ° C. and humidity 38.0 to 40.0%.
- KNF NF-85.3DC (24V specification)
- 0.11 [ml] of water is dropped into a vacuum path connected to the diaphragm pump. This corresponds to 10 times the saturated water vapor amount of the volume of the vacuum path 836 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
- the diaphragm pump is driven to suck the atmosphere, and after the specified time (15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds) has elapsed, the diaphragm pump is disassembled and the presence of moisture remaining inside is confirmed by hand. .
- the drying time t2 is desirably 45 seconds or longer, and more desirably 90 seconds with a double margin.
- FIG. 16 shows the measurement result at that time.
- the pump drying control is executed for 90 seconds, and the lower limit pressure from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure (-92 kPa (differential pressure of atmospheric pressure)) and the upper limit pressure (-90 kPa (differential pressure of atmospheric pressure)).
- the time to reach (-92 kPa (differential pressure of atmospheric pressure)) was measured three times each.
- FIG. 17 shows the measurement result at that time.
- the time required to reach the lower limit pressure from the atmospheric pressure immediately after sucking water vapor was 52 seconds on average, and the time required to reach the lower pressure limit from the upper pressure immediately after sucking water vapor was 31 seconds on average.
- the time from the atmospheric pressure to the lower limit pressure after the pump drying control is executed is 23.6 seconds on average, and the time from the upper limit pressure immediately after sucking water vapor to the lower pressure is 9 seconds on average.
- the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
- the pump drying control is executed in parallel with the maintenance process is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the pump drying control may be executed after the maintenance process is completed. .
- the pump drying control may determine whether or not to execute the second liquid feeding pump 829 according to the driving time. That is, it is determined whether or not the second liquid feed pump 829 continuously delivers liquid for a predetermined time or more, and if it exceeds, the deaerator 83 is controlled so as to execute the pump drying control. Also good. Note that “the second liquid supply pump 829 continuously supplies liquid for a predetermined time or more” means that the ink supply control duration in which the second liquid supply pump 829 intermittently supplies liquid is used. It is the meaning which shows that. In this case, there is no restriction on when to execute the pump drying control.
- the pump drying control may be started during liquid feeding when the liquid feeding exceeds a certain time, or when the liquid feeding exceeds a certain time, the drying execution flag at the time of falling is turned ON and the water is lowered. In this case, pump drying control may be executed.
- the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the above embodiment includes the deaeration device 83 and the second liquid feeding pump 829 for each head group corresponding to the ink of each color, and independently for each color without interfering with each other.
- the deaeration device 83 corresponding to the ink of each color may perform pump drying control so as to be related to each other. For example, when performing pump drying control during image formation, one or more colors that are not used for image formation are specified in advance from the image data, and only the deaeration device 83 corresponding to the color performs pump drying control during image formation. You may control to perform. In that case, it is possible to omit the comparison determination using the degassing ink consumption time t7, the drying time t2, the first pump continuous driving time t4, and the reduced pressure maintaining time t1 as parameters.
- one or more colors having the highest ink usage in image formation are selected in advance from the top, and only the deaerator 83 corresponding to the color executes pump drying control after image formation. You may control as follows. In that case, it is not necessary to perform pump drying control during image formation.
- the degassing device 83 and the second liquid feeding pump 829 are provided for each head group corresponding to the ink of each color, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, it is good also as a structure provided with the deaeration apparatus 83 and the 2nd liquid feeding pump 829 for every some head 3.
- FIG. In that case, pump drying control may be executed independently for each deaeration device 83 of each head 3. For each head 3, one or a plurality of heads 3 that are not used for image formation are specified in advance from the image data, and only the deaeration device 83 corresponding to the head 3 performs pump drying control during image formation. You may control to. Even in this case, it is possible to omit the comparison determination using the degassing ink consumption time t7, the drying time t2, the first pump continuous driving time t4, and the reduced pressure maintaining time t1 as parameters.
- the present invention is suitable for providing an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the influence of ink moisture and a control method thereof.
- Inkjet recording device 3 Head (inkjet head) 4 Carriage 5 Main scanning device 6 Nozzle moisturizing unit 7 Maintenance unit 8 Ink supply device 9 Control device 20 Conveying device 82 Sub tank (ink tank) 83 Deaerator 84 Intermediate tank 86 Negative pressure forming unit 9 Controller 96 Power switch 100 Frame 811 Ink flow path 814 First liquid pump 829 Second liquid pump 850 Third liquid pump 823, 835 Ink flow Channel 831 Deaeration module 831a Hollow fiber membrane 832 Vacuum pump 833 Pressure switch 834 Atmospheric release valve 835 Ink channel 836 Vacuum channel 837 Branch channel 842, 843, 844 Ink channel 845 Ink channel
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Abstract
Description
このため、従来のインクジェット記録装置は、インクタンクからインクジェットヘッドへインクを供給するインク経路中に脱気装置を設け、インク中の溶存気体の除去を行っていた(例えば、特許文献1)。
上記インクジェット記録装置では、画像形成時にインクの供給が行われると、真空ポンプが駆動され、脱気装置を通過するインクに対して中空糸膜を介して真空引きが行われる。これにより、中空糸膜を通じてインク中の気泡が密閉領域側に吸い出され、良好な吐出が行われていた。
そして、この水分を含んだガスをダイヤフラムポンプからなる真空ポンプが吸引すると、内部の弁に付着して弁の動きを悪化させることにより、吸引力の低下を生じさせたり、ダイヤフラムに付着したまま動作停止後に乾燥することにより当該ダイヤフラムを劣化させて装置寿命を縮ませることが問題となっていた。
これにより、真空ポンプによるインクの脱気を良好に行い、真空ポンプの劣化を抑えて長寿命化を図ることが可能となる。
なお、以下の説明では、水平方向であって記録媒体の搬送方向に沿った方向をY軸方向、水平方向であってキャリッジ4の搬送方向に沿った方向をX軸方向又は主走査方向、鉛直上下方向をZ軸方向というものとする。
搬送装置20は、駆動ローラ21及び従動ローラ(図示略)と、駆動モータ22と、搬送ベルト23と、を備えている。
駆動ローラ21及び従動ローラは、回転自在に軸支されており、駆動ローラ21は、主走査方向Xに延在するように配置されている。駆動モータ22は、駆動ローラ21を回転駆動するための駆動源であり、駆動ローラ21の一端側に取り付けられている。
搬送ベルト23は、無端状に形成され、駆動ローラ21と従動ローラとの間に架け渡されている。搬送ベルト23は、駆動ローラ21が回転すると駆動ローラ21と従動ローラとの間を周回してその上面に載置された記録媒体をY軸方向に沿った搬送方向Fに向かって搬送し、駆動ローラ21の回転が停止すると、両ローラ間での周回を停止し、記録媒体の搬送を停止する。
駆動モータ22は、制御装置9の制御に従って、ヘッド3がX軸方向に沿った片道1回分の走査が終了すると、駆動ローラ21を所定量だけ回転させて記録媒体を搬送方向に所定距離だけ搬送させて停止させ、ヘッド3が主走査方向Xの反対方向への走査を開始して終了すると、駆動ローラ21を再度所定量だけ回転させて記録媒体を搬送方向Fに所定距離だけ搬送させて停止させることを繰り返し、記録媒体をいわゆる間欠搬送する。
また、搬送装置20は、上記の間欠搬送に限られない。例えば、キャリッジ4上において各色彩ごとに、搬送ベルト23のX軸方向のほぼ全幅に渡ってX軸方向に沿ったノズル列を備えるヘッド群を備え、各色彩のヘッド群をY軸方向に順番に並べて搭載し、キャリッジ4を搬送ベルト23の真上となる位置で停止させた状態で、搬送装置20によりY軸方向に記録媒体を搬送しつつ画像形成を行ってもよい。
図1に示すように、フレーム100は、X軸方向に沿って延在する矩形の本体部101と、本体部101におけるX軸方向一端部を支持する第一の土台部102と、本体部101におけるX軸方向他端部を支持する第二の土台部103とから主に構成されている。
第一の土台部102は、その内部にノズル保湿部6を格納保持しつつ本体部101の一端部を下方から支持している。また、第二の土台部103は、その内部にメンテナンス部7を格納保持しつつ本体部101の他端部を下方から支持している。
本体部101は、後述する主走査装置5の一対のキャリッジレール51,51をX軸方向に向けた状態で内側に格納保持しており、キャリッジ4は本体部101の内部でX軸方向に沿って搬送される。
また、第一の土台部102と第二の土台部103は、前述した搬送装置20を挟んでX軸方向の両側に配置され、本体部101は搬送装置20の上方に架設されている。これにより、搬送装置20による記録媒体の搬送方向に直交する方向でキャリッジ4を搬送しつつ当該キャリッジ4に搭載された各ヘッド3からインクを吐出して画像形成を行うことを可能としている。
主走査装置5は、フレーム100の本体部101の内部において、X軸方向に沿って延在するように支持された棒状の一対のキャリッジレール51,51を備えている。これら一対のキャリッジレール51,51は、搬送装置20の搬送ベルト23の上方を跨ぐように設けられている。そして、キャリッジレール51,51には、箱状のキャリッジ4がX軸方向に沿って往復移動可能に支持されている。
また、キャリッジレール51,51とキャリッジ4の腕部42,42の間にはリニアモータが装備されている。即ち、各キャリッジレール51,51にはリニアモータの固定子が装備され、キャリッジ4の各腕部42,42には可動子が装備されており、固定子側のコイルの電流制御によりキャリッジ4はX軸方向に沿った搬送動作が付与される。
各色彩のヘッド群は、図示のように、X軸方向に沿ってY,Lm,Or,M,Bk,Bl,Lk,C,Lcの順番で並んでおり、各ヘッド群の九つのヘッド3は、Y軸方向に沿って千鳥状に並んで配置されている。
また、底板41は各ヘッド3の取り付け位置毎にY軸方向に沿ったスリット状の開口を備えており、底板41に対して上方から取り付けられた各ヘッド3は、開口を通じてキャリッジ4の真下にインクの液滴を吐出することを可能としている。
そして、前述のように、各色彩について、九つのヘッド3を千鳥状に配置することで、キャリッジ4の底板41におけるY軸方向のほぼ全幅に渡る範囲内で任意の位置に各色彩のインクの吐出を行うことを可能としている。
図3はヘッド3の概略構造を示す断面図である。ヘッド3は、その底部において搬送される記録媒体と対向するノズルプレートにY軸方向に沿ったノズル列が複数本X軸方向に並んで形成されている。そして、ヘッド3の内部には、各ノズルにインクを導くインク流路と各ノズルごとに設けられた複数の圧電素子とを備えている。そして、インク流路は、ヘッド3の上部に設けられた第一のポート341及び第二のポート342に連通しており、第一のポート341から各ノズルにインクが供給され、第二のポート342から余分なインクが排出される。
メンテナンス部7は、非記録動作時に各ヘッド3のメンテナンスを行う。メンテナンス部7は、搬送装置20から外れて、キャリッジレール51、51の一端部側に設けられている。即ち、キャリッジ4がキャリッジレール51、51の一端部のメンテナンス部7との対向位置まで移動した状態でメンテナンスが実施される。
このメンテナンス部7は、各ヘッド3のノズルプレートの下面の残留インクや汚れを拭き取り(ワイプ処理)を行うワイプ装置と、ヘッド3によるインクの吐出を行う際の受け皿となるインクトレー71と、(図3参照)と、ノズル欠を生じたノズルを検出するノズルセンサー72と(図6参照)を備えている。
押し出し処理は、各ヘッド3のノズルから通常よりも大量のインクを吐出することによりヘッド3内のインク流路の詰まりなどを解消する。
フラッシング処理は、ワイプ処理の後又は定期的に行う少数の吐出であって、インクの乾きによるつまりを防止するための処理である。
ノズル保湿部6は、搬送装置20から外れて、キャリッジレール51、51の他端部側に設けられている。即ち、非記録動作時に、キャリッジ4がキャリッジレール51、51の他端部のノズル保湿部6との対向位置まで移動し、かかる状態で各ヘッド3のノズルの保湿を行う。
即ち、このノズル保湿部6は、ノズルプレート31の各ノズルに密着して、各ノズル内部を保湿液の貯蔵部に接続した状態とするためのものであり、主に、保湿液の貯蔵部とその昇降機構とにより構成されている。
図3はインク供給装置8の概略構成を示す説明図である。インクジェット記録装置1は、このインク供給装置8を各色毎に備えている。
インク供給装置8は、インクを貯留する二つのインクタンクとしてのメインタンク81,81と、各メインタンク81,81からインクが供給されるインクタンクとしてのサブタンク82と、サブタンク82のインク供給方向下流側に設けられた脱気装置83と、脱気装置83のインク供給方向下流側に設けられ、インクを一時的に貯留するインクタンクとしての中間タンク84と、中間タンク84のインク供給方向下流側に設けられた負圧形成部86と、各ヘッド3に対してインクを供給するために各ヘッド3の第一のポート341が並列に接続された共通流路87とを主に備えている。
なお、図3ではメンテナンス部7のインクトレー71も図示している。
図3における符号815は各メインタンク81,81のインクが空であるか否かを検出する残量センサーである。
また、第一のインク流路811におけるサブタンク82側の経路の途中には、インクからゴミ、埃などの混入物を除去するためのフィルタ813が設けられ、フィルタ813よりもさらにサブタンク82側にはインクをサブタンク側に送る第一の送液部としての第一の送液ポンプ814が設けられている。
サブタンク82は、その底部中心が第二のインク流路823に接続されており、当該第二のインク流路823を通じてサブタンク82内のインクを脱気装置83側に供給することを可能としている。
また、サブタンク82の天板822には、サブタンク82内を大気圧に維持する大気開放管824が取り付けられている。この大気開放管824は、外部からの塵芥、ゴミなどの侵入を防止するためのフィルタ825が装備されている。
この第一のインク流路811の先端部は、サブタンク82の側壁821の内面に接触するか接触する直前の位置まで延びており、第一のインク流路811から供給されるインクが側壁821を伝ってサブタンク82内の液面に注がれるようになっている。
また、サブタンク82は、後述する液面監視制御により、インクの液面の上限位置が定められており、第一のインク流路811の先端部は、インク液面の上限位置よりも高位置で側壁821にインクを供給するようになっている。
これらの液面センサー826,827はいずれも、浮き子を備えるフロート式のセンサーであり、浮き子の高さから液面が上限位置又は下限位置より上か下かを検出することを可能としている。なお、液面監視制御については、後に詳述する。
このダイヤフラムポンプは、ダイヤフラムや逆止弁への水分の付着がポンプ性能の低下、劣化、故障の原因となる。
図5中の符号t4は真空ポンプ832の駆動により大気圧から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する時間(第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4とする)を示している。
また、図5中の符号t8は真空ポンプ832の駆動により上限圧力から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する時間(第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8とする)を示している。
また、図5中の符号t9は真空ポンプ832の停止状態において脱気により下限圧力から上限圧力まで圧力が上昇するのにかかる時間を示している。
中間タンク84は、可撓性を有する袋状に形成されており、貯留するインク量が変動することにより膨張/収縮するようになっている。
また、この中間タンク84には、インクが規定量貯留されている状態を検出する液量センサー841が併設されている。サブタンク82からインクが供給される際には、この液量センサー841により規定量に達したことが検出されるまで第二の送液ポンプ829によるインクの供給が行われる。
即ち、第三の送液ポンプ850の送出圧力を利用して、負圧形成部86側へのインクの供給と負圧形成部86側からのインクの回収とを自在に選択的に実行することを可能としている。
即ち、この切替により、負圧形成部86に対するインクの供給と回収とを実行可能な状態と、ヘッド3側(厳密には、共通流路87)に対するインクの供給と回収とを実行可能な状態とを切り替えることを可能としている。
本体容器861は前述した第七のインク流路845と九つのヘッド3の全ての第一のポート341が並列に接続された共通流路87に通じる第八のインク流路863とに接続されている。
また、フィルム部材862はバネにより中央部を外側に押圧されているので、略円錐状に外側に突出した形状で緊張状態となっている。
なお、負圧とする目標圧力は本体容器861内のインクの回収量を調節することで制御することが可能である。
また、共通流路87の上部には図示しない廃液タンクに通じる排出流路としての廃液流路872が接続されている。この廃液流路872は、常閉式の電磁弁である廃液バルブ873が設けられており、共通流路87をインクで満たす際に廃液バルブ873を開放して気泡を排出する。
各ヘッド3は、画像形成時又はメンテナンス時に共通流路87から第一のポート341を介してインクの供給が行われる。画像形成時には第二のポート342のメンテナンスバルブ875が閉じられており、インク吐出を行わないメンテナンスの処理(気泡の排出等)を行う場合には、メンテナンスバルブ875が開かれて第一のポート341からインクが流入し、第二のポート342から排出されるようにインク供給が行われる。
図6はインク供給装置8の制御系を示すブロック図である。図6に記載の制御装置9はインクジェット記録装置1全体の制御を行うが、ここではインク供給装置8の構成のみを図示し、他の構成については図示を省略するものとする。また、複数ある構成についてはその一つのみを図示している。
制御装置9は、外部装置から入力された記録媒体に記録すべき画像の画像データをヘッド3の各ノズルに対応するデータに変換する等、インク供給装置8の制御だけでなく、インクジェット記録装置1の各部の駆動も制御する。
図6に示すように、制御装置9は、CPU91、ROM92、RAM93、図示しない入出力インターフェース等がバスに接続された汎用のコンピュータで構成されている。
この制御装置9には、第一~第三の送液ポンプ814,829,850,真空ポンプ832,タンクバルブ812,大気開放弁834,第一~第三の三方切替バルブ846,847,848,開放バルブ868,保護バルブ871,廃液バルブ873,記録動作用バルブ874,メンテナンスバルブ875が接続されており、制御装置9ではこれらを制御対象としている。
また、制御装置9には、残量センサー815,第一及び第二の液面センサー826,827,液量センサー841,液面センサー865,圧力スイッチ833,圧力センサー866,ノズルセンサー72が接続されており、これらから各種の検出信号が入力される。
また、制御装置9には電源スイッチ96が接続されており、制御装置9は、電源オンの信号入力を受けて主電源の立ち上げ処理を行い、電源オフの信号入力を受けて主電源の立ち下げ処理を実行する。
さらに、制御装置9には、オペレータからの各種動作の実行等の支持入力を行う入力操作部94,エラー情報など各種の情報表示を行う表示部95等も接続されている。
そして、制御装置9は、これらの検出情報に従って、上記各制御対象に対して、各種の制御等を実施するが、本実施形態では、特に、脱気装置83のその周辺の構成を中心とするインクの溶存酸素を除去する脱気の処理に関連する制御について重点的に説明する。
前述したように、脱気装置83の真空ポンプ832は、その構造上、内部の水分の付着が悪影響を及ぼすため、後述する各種のタイミングにより真空ポンプ832の内部に大気を導入して水分を除去するためのポンプ乾燥制御を実行する。
このポンプ乾燥制御について図7のフローチャートにより説明する。
そして、乾燥時間t2が経過すると、CPU91は、大気開放弁834を閉じて(ステップS7)、大気圧となっていた真空経路836内を真空ポンプ832により減圧する。また、この時、CPU91は、真空ポンプ832の異常発生を判定するために、真空ポンプ832による大気圧から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4の計測を開始する。
また、t4>t3となる場合には、真空ポンプ832に大幅に吸引能力の低下が生じているものとして真空ポンプ832の異常を報知する制御を行う。報知制御としては、例えは、制御装置9に併設された表示部95において異常報知画面を表示する、ランプを点灯させる、ブザーを鳴動させる等である。この場合は、ポンプ乾燥制御は、真空ポンプ832が復旧するまで処理が中断される。
また、CPU92は、圧力スイッチ833の電気信号ONが検出されたときまでの第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4の計測値を確定してRAM93に記録する。
以下、各種状況におけるポンプ乾燥制御について説明する。
ポンプ乾燥制御は、インクジェット記録装置1の電源の立ち上げ時に実行される。図8は、電源スイッチ96がONされて、CPU91が脱気装置83に対して電源立ち上げ時の処理を行う場合のフローチャートである。なお、この電源の立ち上げ時にポンプ乾燥制御を実行する場合には、第二の送液ポンプ829は駆動を停止した状態にあり、脱気モジュール831から下流側へのインクの供給は停止した状態にある。
ポンプ乾燥制御が完了すると、真空経路836及び脱気モジュール831の中空糸膜831aの内部空間は下限圧力まで減圧された状態となる。CPU91は、この状態を予め定めた減圧維持時間t1が経過するまで維持する(ステップS23)。この減圧維持時間t1は、上限圧力以下の圧力下で脱気モジュール831内のインクの溶存酸素を十分に除去することが可能な時間であり、この減圧維持時間t1は入力操作部94からの入力により適宜変更可能である。
この減圧維持時間t1が経過するまで、CPU91は、例えば、画像形成指令やメンテナンス指令を受信しても待機状態(セットアップ状態)を維持する。
そして、減圧維持時間t1が経過すると、CPU91は、待機状態を解除して、画像形成指令やメンテナンス指令を受け付け可能な状態となる(ステップS25)。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御は、画像形成指令やメンテナンス指令を受信していない待機時においても実行される。図9は、待機時にCPU91が脱気装置83に対してポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合のフローチャートである。なお、この待機時にポンプ乾燥制御を実行する場合には、第二の送液ポンプ829は駆動を停止した状態にあり、脱気モジュール831から下流側へのインクの供給は停止した状態にある。
また、圧力スイッチ833の電気信号ONの入力を検出した場合には、真空経路836内を下限圧力に到達したとみなして真空ポンプ832の駆動を停止させる(ステップS35)。
そして、図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行し、その後、処理を終了する。
なお、この待機状態中の処理は、周期的に繰り返し実行される。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御は、画像形成指令を受けて画像形成を行っているときにも実行される。図10は、画像形成時にCPU91が脱気装置83に対してポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合のフローチャートである。
なお、画像形成時には第三の送液ポンプ850が中間タンク84内のインクを定期的に一定量だけヘッド3側に供給する。そして、これに伴い中間タンク84内のインクが減少すると、液量センサー841の検出に基づいて第二の送液ポンプ829がサブタンク82から脱気モジュール831を通じてその下流側にインクの供給を実行する。つまり、画像形成により各ヘッド3からインクの吐出が開始されると、その消費に応じて間欠的に第二の送液ポンプ829が駆動してインク供給を行うので、画像形成時のポンプ乾燥制御の実行においては、脱気が不充分なまま脱気モジュール831から下流側にインクが送られてしまわないように考慮がなされている。以下、これを踏まえて、画像形成時におけるポンプ乾燥制御について説明する。
なお、脱気装置83では、既に最初のポンプ乾燥制御が実行されているので、脱気装置83の真空経路836及び中空糸膜831aの内部空間は少なくとも上限圧力よりも減圧された状態にある。
なお、この第二の判定時間t5は入力操作部94からの入力により適宜変更可能である。
一方、第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8が第二の判定時間t5を超えている場合には、真空ポンプ832はさらに、第三の判定時間t6を超えているか否かを判定する(ステップS59)。
この第三の判定時間t6は、第二の判定時間t5よりも長く、この第三の判定時間t6を超える場合には真空ポンプ832が故障を生じている状態が疑われることを示す。なお、この第三の判定時間t6も入力操作部94からの入力により適宜変更可能である。
この脱気インク消費時間t7とは、画像形成時において、脱気モジュール831内に貯留された脱気済みのインクが全て消費されるのに要する予測時間である。この脱気インク消費時間t7は、脱気モジュール831内に貯留可能なインク量を画像形成時のインク消費速度で除算することにより算出される。
脱気モジュール831のインク容量は予め計測され、図示しないメモリに記憶されている。また、画像形成時のインク消費速度は、例えば、画像データから求まる吐出するドット数と単位時間あたりのインク消費量との対応関係を示すテーブルデータが予め図示しないメモリに記憶されており、画像形成指令と共に受信した画像データからテーブルデータを参照することで取得される。
t7>t2+t4+t1
t7:ステップS63で算出された脱気インク消費時間
t2:前述したポンプ乾燥制御における真空ポンプ832に対する乾燥時間
t4:前述したポンプ乾燥制御において計測により取得された、大気圧から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第一のポンプ連続駆動時間
t1:上限圧力以下の圧力下で脱気モジュール831内のインクの溶存酸素を十分に除去することが可能な減圧維持時間
そして、時間が足りない場合(t7≦t2+t4+t1)にはポンプ乾燥制御を行わずにステップS69に処理を進める。
また、時間が足りる場合(t7>t2+t4+t1)には図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行する(ステップS67)。
ポンプ乾燥制御を実行中にも、第二の送液ポンプ829によるインクの送液が実行され得るが、脱気済みのインクが全て送液されるまでにポンプ乾燥制御を終えて新たなインクの脱気も完了するので、脱気の不充分なインクの供給は回避することができる。
また、画像形成が完了した場合には、インク供給の制御も完了し(ステップS71)、処理全体を終了する。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御は、インク供給を伴うメンテナンス時にも実行される。例えば、押し出し処理のように、各ヘッド3のノズルから比較的多量のインク吐出を行う場合には、画像形成時と同じように、前述したインク供給制御に従って第二及び第三の送液ポンプ829,850によるインク供給が行われる。従って、この場合も、脱気が不充分なまま脱気モジュール831から下流側にインクが送られてしまわないようにポンプ乾燥制御が実行される。
図11は、押し出し処理のメンテナンス時にCPU91が脱気装置83に対してポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合のフローチャートである。
なお、このメンテナンス時のポンプ乾燥制御は、画像形成時のポンプ乾燥制御と処理を共通する部分が多く、減圧維持時間t1、乾燥時間t2、第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4、第二の判定時間t5、第三の判定時間t6、脱気インク消費時間t7、第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8については同じ内容を示すのでその説明は省略する。
そして、第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8が第二の判定時間t5を超えていない場合には、真空ポンプ832はステップS99に処理が進められる。
一方、第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8が第二の判定時間t5を超えている場合には、真空ポンプ832はさらに、第三の判定時間t6を超えているか否かを判定する(ステップS95)。
一方、ステップS95の判定において、第二のポンプ連続駆動時間t8が第三の判定時間t6を超えていない場合には、立ち下げ時乾燥実行フラグがON状態となり、これがRAM93に記録される(ステップS97)。
t7>t2+t4+t1
そして、t7≦t2+t4+t1となる場合にはポンプ乾燥制御を行わずにステップS105に処理を進める。
また、t7>t2+t4+t1となる場合には図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行する(ステップS103)。
これにより、ポンプ乾燥制御を実行中に第二の送液ポンプ829によりインク供給が行われても、脱気の不充分なインクの供給は回避することができる。
また、規定時間が経過した場合には、インク供給の制御も完了し(ステップS107)、各ヘッド3のノズルからのインク吐出も停止して(ステップS109)処理全体が終了する。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御は、インク供給を伴わないメンテナンス時のワイプ処理の際にも実行される。図12は、ワイプ処理のメンテナンス時にCPU91が脱気装置83に対してポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合のフローチャートである。
なお、このメンテナンス時は少量のインク吐出しか行われないため、第二及び第三の送液ポンプ829,850は駆動を停止したままである。
そして、ワイプ動作の開始と共に図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行する(ステップS113)。
ポンプ乾燥制御の完了後は、ワイプ動作の完了を待って(ステップS115)、処理を終了する。
なお、ワイプ処理では拭き取り動作が終わると各ヘッド3によるフラッシングが行われるが、フラッシングは吐出回数が少ないので、インク供給は行われない。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御は、インク供給を伴わないノズル欠確認処理の際にも実行される。図13は、ノズル欠確認処理の際にCPU91が脱気装置83に対してポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合のフローチャートである。
なお、このノズル欠確認処理は少量のインク吐出しか行われないため、第二及び第三の送液ポンプ829,850は駆動を停止したままである。
そして、各ヘッド3の吐出動作の開始と共に図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行する(ステップS123)。
ポンプ乾燥制御の完了後は、全ヘッド3のノズル欠の検出処理の完了を待って(ステップS125)、処理を終了する。
なお、ノズル欠確認処理では各ヘッド3による複数回の吐出が行われるが、インク消費量が少ないので、インク供給は行われない。
ポンプ乾燥制御は、インクジェット記録装置1の電源の立ち下げ時に実行される。図14は、電源スイッチ96のOFFが入力されて、CPU91が脱気装置83に対して電源立ち下げ時の処理を行う場合のフローチャートである。なお、この電源の立ち下げ時にポンプ乾燥制御を実行する場合には、第二の送液ポンプ829は駆動を停止した状態にあり、脱気モジュール831から下流側へのインクの供給は停止した状態にある。
そして、フラグがOFF状態の場合にはそのまま処理を終了すると共に電源をオフする。
また、フラグがON状態の場合には、図7に示したポンプ乾燥制御を実行し(ステップS135)、その後、処理を終了すると共に電源をオフする。
インクジェット記録装置1では、制御装置90が脱気装置83の大気開放弁834を大気開放状態として真空ポンプ832を作動させるポンプ乾燥制御を実行するので、脱気モジュール831よりも乾燥した外気をポンプ832内に導入することができ、ポンプ832内の湿気を排除することができる。
これにより、真空ポンプ832によるインクの脱気を良好に行い、真空ポンプの劣化を抑えて長寿命化を図ることが可能となる。
図15は真空ポンプに対するポンプ乾燥制御の実行による効果試験の結果を示している。
効果試験は、KNF社製のダイヤフラムポンプ(NF-85.3DC(24V仕様))に対して、室温25℃、湿度38.0~40.0%の環境下において行われた。
試験方法は、上記ダイヤフラムポンプに接続された真空経路に対して水0.11[ml]を滴下する。これはインクジェット記録装置1の真空経路836の容積の飽和水蒸気量の10倍に相当する。
そして、この状態で、ダイヤフラムポンプを駆動させて大気の吸引を行い、規定時間(15秒,30秒,45秒)経過後にダイヤフラムポンプを分解し、内部に残留する水分の存在を手触りで確認した。
一方、ポンプ駆動時間45秒ではダイヤフラムポンプの内部全域で水分がほぼ除去されていた。
以上の結果から、乾燥時間t2は45秒以上が望ましく、2倍のマージンを取って90秒とすることがより望ましいと考えられる。
図16及び図17は真空ポンプに対する水分(水蒸気)の影響の確認試験の結果を示している。
上記試験は、KNF社製のダイヤフラムポンプ(NF-85.3DC(24V仕様))に対して、室温25℃、湿度38.0~40.0%の環境下において行われた。
試験方法は、上記ダイヤフラムポンプに接続された真空経路(脱気モジュール除去)に対してポンプ駆動状態で加湿用の水道水の蒸気を3分間吸引させる。
その後、脱気モジュールを接続し直して、大気圧から下限圧力(-92kPa(大気圧の差圧))と上限圧力(-90kPa(大気圧の差圧))から下限圧力(-92kPa(大気圧の差圧))に到達するまでの時間をそれぞれ3回ずつ計測した。図16はその時の計測結果を示している。
また、ポンプ乾燥制御実行後の大気圧から下限圧力に到達するまでの時間は平均で23.6sec、水蒸気を吸った直後の上限圧力から下限圧力に到達するまでの時間は平均で9secとなり、水蒸気による水分が内部に付着した影響はダイヤフラムポンプでは顕著であり、減圧に大きく遅れが生じることが明らかとなった。
これらの結果を踏まえて、ポンプ乾燥制御を行わない前提で真空ポンプにおいて大気圧から下限圧力に到達するまでのタイムアウトを設定する場合には、図16の平均値のだいたい4倍となる240secとし、ポンプ乾燥制御を行わない前提で真空ポンプにおいて上限圧力から下限圧力に到達するまでのタイムアウトを設定する場合には、図16の平均値のだいたい4倍となる120secとすることが望ましい。
なお、本発明は、上記実施形態に限定されることなく、本発明の趣旨を逸脱しない範囲において、種々の改良並びに設計の変更を行っても良い。
例えば、上記各種のメンテナンス処理において、メンテナンスの処理と並行してポンプ乾燥制御を実行する場合を例示したが、これに限らず、メンテナンスの処理が完了してからポンプ乾燥制御を実行しても良い。
なお、「第二の送液ポンプ829が予め定められた一定時間以上連続して送液を行う」とは、第二の送液ポンプ829が間欠的に送液を行うインク供給制御の継続時間のことを示す意味である。
また、この場合、ポンプ乾燥制御をいつ実行するかについて制限はない。例えば、送液が一定時間を超えた時点で送液中にポンプ乾燥制御を開始しても良いし、送液が一定時間を超えた時点で立ち下げ時乾燥実行フラグをONして、立ち下げの際にポンプ乾燥制御を実行しても良い。
即ち、各色彩のインクに対応する脱気装置83が、相互に関連するようにポンプ乾燥制御を行っても良い。例えば、画像形成時にポンプ乾燥制御を行う場合に、予め画像データから画像形成に使用されない色彩を一又は複数特定し、画像形成中に、その色彩に対応する脱気装置83のみがポンプ乾燥制御を実行するように制御しても良い。その場合には、脱気インク消費時間t7、乾燥時間t2、第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4、減圧維持時間t1をパラメータとする比較判定を省略することが可能である。
例えば、複数のヘッド3ごとに脱気装置83及び第二の送液ポンプ829を備える構成としても良い。
その場合、各ヘッド3の脱気装置83ごとに独立してポンプ乾燥制御を実行しても良い。
また、各ヘッド3ごとに、予め画像データから画像形成に使用されないヘッド3を一又は複数特定し、画像形成中に、そのヘッド3に対応する脱気装置83のみがポンプ乾燥制御を実行するように制御しても良い。その場合にも、脱気インク消費時間t7、乾燥時間t2、第一のポンプ連続駆動時間t4、減圧維持時間t1をパラメータとする比較判定を省略することが可能である。
3 ヘッド(インクジェットヘッド)
4 キャリッジ
5 主走査装置
6 ノズル保湿部
7 メンテナンス部
8 インク供給装置
9 制御装置
20 搬送装置
82 サブタンク(インクタンク)
83 脱気装置
84 中間タンク
86 負圧形成部
9 制御装置
96 電源スイッチ
100 フレーム
811 インク流路
814 第一の送液ポンプ
829 第二の送液ポンプ
850 第三の送液ポンプ
823,835 インク流路
831 脱気モジュール
831a 中空糸膜
832 真空ポンプ
833 圧力スイッチ
834 大気開放弁
835 インク流路
836 真空経路
837 分岐路
842,843,844 インク流路
845 インク流路
Claims (26)
- インクタンクからインクジェットヘッドにインクを供給するインク供給経路の途中に設けられた脱気モジュールと、
前記脱気モジュールの気体透過膜を介して前記インクを減圧する真空ポンプと、
前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプとを接続する経路内を気密状態と大気開放状態とに切り替え可能な大気開放弁と、
前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを制御する制御装置とを備え、
前記制御装置は、前記大気開放弁を大気開放状態として前記真空ポンプを作動させるポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置。 - 前記脱気モジュールを通じて前記インクジェットヘッド側にインクを供給する送液ポンプを備えることを特徴とする請求項1記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記ポンプ乾燥制御を前記送液ポンプの停止中に行うことを特徴とする請求項2記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記インクジェットヘッドのメンテナンス時又はメンテナンスの終了直後に前記ポンプ乾燥制御を実行することを特徴とする請求項3記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記送液ポンプが予め定められた一定時間以上連続して送液を行った場合に前記ポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項3記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記真空ポンプに対して、上限圧力で駆動を開始して下限圧力で駆動を停止させる圧力維持制御を行い、
前記制御装置は、
[前記脱気モジュールのインク容量と画像形成時のインク消費速度とにより求まる脱気インク消費時間]>([前記ポンプ乾燥制御における規定の乾燥時間]+[前記脱気モジュール内のインクを脱気するために前記上限圧力以下を維持する減圧維持時間]+[前記真空ポンプによる大気圧から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第一のポンプ連続駆動時間])となる場合に前記圧力維持制御による前記下限圧力到達後にポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項2記載のインクジェット記録装置。 - 前記制御装置は、前記真空ポンプに対して、上限圧力で駆動を開始して下限圧力で駆動を停止させる圧力維持制御を行い、
前記制御装置は、
前記真空ポンプによる上限圧力から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第二のポンプ連続駆動時間が予め定めた判定時間を超える場合に、インクジェット記録装置の主電源を切断する立ち下げ時にポンプ乾燥制御を実行することを特徴とする請求項1から6のいずれか一項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 - 前記制御装置は、前記立ち下げ時のポンプ乾燥制御に伴い前記インクジェットヘッドのワイプ処理を行うことを特徴とする請求項7記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記第二のポンプ連続駆動時間が前記判定時間より長い他の判定時間を超える場合に、前記真空ポンプの異常を報知することを特徴とする請求項7又は8記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記制御装置は、前記ポンプ乾燥制御の後に前記真空ポンプにより予め定められた一定時間以内に目標とする下限圧力まで減圧できなかった場合に前記真空ポンプの異常を報知することを特徴とする請求項1から9のいずれか一項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。
- 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数の色彩のインクに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データから使用されない一以上の色彩を特定し、画像形成時に前記特定された色彩のインクに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項2記載のインクジェット記録装置。 - 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数の色彩のインクに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データからインク使用量が上位となる一以上の色彩を特定し、画像形成後に前記特定された色彩のインクに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項2記載のインクジェット記録装置。 - 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数のインクジェットヘッドに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データから使用されない一以上のインクジェットヘッドを特定し、画像形成時に前記特定されたインクジェットヘッドに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項2記載のインクジェット記録装置。 - インクタンクからインクジェットヘッドにインクを供給するインク供給経路の途中に設けられた脱気モジュールと、
前記脱気モジュールの気体透過膜を介して前記インクを減圧する真空ポンプと、
前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプとを接続する経路内を気密状態と大気開放状態とに切り替え可能な大気開放弁と、
前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを制御する制御装置とを備えるインクジェット記録装置の制御方法であって、
前記制御装置は、前記大気開放弁を大気開放状態として前記真空ポンプを作動させるポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。 - 前記脱気モジュールを通じて前記インクジェットヘッド側にインクを供給する送液ポンプを備えることを特徴とする請求項14記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記ポンプ乾燥制御を前記送液ポンプの停止中に行うことを特徴とする請求項15記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記インクジェットヘッドのメンテナンス時又はメンテナンスの終了直後に前記ポンプ乾燥制御を実行することを特徴とする請求項16記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記送液ポンプが予め定められた一定時間以上連続して送液を行った場合に前記ポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項16記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記真空ポンプに対して、上限圧力で駆動を開始して下限圧力で駆動を停止させる圧力維持制御を行い、
前記制御装置は、
[前記脱気モジュールのインク容量と画像形成時のインク消費速度とにより求まる脱気インク消費時間]>([前記ポンプ乾燥制御における規定の乾燥時間]+[前記脱気モジュール内のインクを脱気するために前記上限圧力以下を維持する減圧維持時間]+[前記真空ポンプによる大気圧から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第一のポンプ連続駆動時間])となる場合に前記圧力維持制御による前記下限圧力到達後にポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項15記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。 - 前記制御装置は、前記真空ポンプに対して、上限圧力で駆動を開始して下限圧力で駆動を停止させる圧力維持制御を行い、
前記制御装置は、
前記真空ポンプによる上限圧力から下限圧力まで吸引圧力を低下させるのに要する第二のポンプ連続駆動時間が予め定めた判定時間を超える場合に、インクジェット記録装置の主電源を切断する立ち下げ時にポンプ乾燥制御を実行することを特徴とする請求項14から19のいずれか一項に記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。 - 前記制御装置は、前記立ち下げ時のポンプ乾燥制御に伴い前記インクジェットヘッドのワイプ処理を行うことを特徴とする請求項20記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記第二のポンプ連続駆動時間が前記判定時間より長い他の判定時間を超える場合に、前記真空ポンプの異常を報知することを特徴とする請求項20又は21記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記制御装置は、前記ポンプ乾燥制御の後に前記真空ポンプにより予め定められた一定時間以内に目標とする下限圧力まで減圧できなかった場合に前記真空ポンプの異常を報知することを特徴とする請求項14から22のいずれか一項に記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
- 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数の色彩のインクに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データから使用されない一以上の色彩を特定し、画像形成時に前記特定された色彩のインクに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項14又は15記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。 - 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数の色彩のインクに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データからインク使用量が上位となる一以上の色彩を特定し、画像形成後に前記特定された色彩のインクに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項14又は15記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。 - 前記脱気モジュールと前記真空ポンプと前記大気開放弁とを複数のインクジェットヘッドに対応して個別に備え、
前記制御装置は、画像形成を行う画像データから使用されない一以上のインクジェットヘッドを特定し、画像形成時に前記特定されたインクジェットヘッドに対応する前記真空ポンプに対してポンプ乾燥制御を行うことを特徴とする請求項14又は15記載のインクジェット記録装置の制御方法。
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CN107329455A (zh) * | 2017-07-31 | 2017-11-07 | 嘉兴洁阳电子科技有限公司 | 一种热转印装置控制系统 |
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