JPH10258527A - Recovery device for inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a recovery device of an ink jet printer capable of changing an ink suction mode according to a state of a nozzle of a recording head and an ink passage. SOLUTION: A suction pump 42 has a plurality of suction operations in a series of operations. The suction force is changed according to the number of suction operations by selectively combining the plurality of suction operations. At the time of replacing the ink cartridge, a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time are performed. At the time of regular maintenance, a suction operation having a large suction force and a long suction time is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a recovery apparatus for an ink jet printer which performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording head for ejecting ink to a recording medium to perform recording, and a suction cap which comes into contact with a nozzle surface of the recording head so as to be able to come in contact with and separate from the recording head, are used to suck ink of the recording head through the suction cap. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ink jet printer including a suction pump unit for performing the operation and a control unit for controlling the drive of the suction pump unit.

In such an ink jet printer,
The control means controls the suction pump means to perform a suction operation. Generally, the suction operation generates one large suction negative pressure, and sucks the ink in the recording head at a stretch through the suction cap. Has been done.

[0004]

However, in the use of such an ink jet printer, when the ink cartridge is replaced, including when the ink cartridge is first connected to the recording head, the ink passage between the recording head and the ink cartridge is required. May be filled with air.In such a state, a large suction force is applied through the suction cap in the same manner as in the normal purge operation for recovering the ejection failure during the printing operation. If the ink of the recording head is sucked at a stretch, the ink flows rapidly from the ink cartridge toward the recording head in a state of being mixed with air, the ink foams, and the ink in the ejection channel of the recording head contains bubbles. It will be. Particularly, when a filter member is provided at a connection portion between the recording head and the ink cartridge (for example, an ink supply hole of the ink cartridge) so that dust and the like do not move with the ink toward the recording head.
The tendency is remarkable.

[0005] Therefore, there is a demand that the ink should be sucked from the recording head in such a manner as not to cause the above-mentioned bubbling when replacing the ink cartridge.

On the other hand, when the ejection of the nozzle of the recording head becomes defective due to drying of the ink, clogging of dust, or the like,
It is desirable that the ink in the recording head be sucked at a stretch with a large negative pressure. In addition, at the time of automatic suction performed automatically by the timer means built in the printer according to the length of the non-use period, a relatively small negative pressure may be used because only ink that is drying from the nozzles is removed. .

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above point, and according to the state of the nozzles and ink passages of the recording head,
An object of the present invention is to provide a recovery device for an ink jet printer that can change the manner of ink suction.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium to perform recording, and a suction cap which comes into contact with a nozzle surface of the recording head so as to be able to come and go. It is assumed that the recovery device of the ink jet printer includes a suction pump means for sucking the ink of the recording head through a suction cap, and a control means for controlling the drive of the suction pump means. The operation includes a plurality of suction operations, and the control means controls the suction pump means to selectively combine the plurality of suction operations to change the suction force with the number of suction operations. .

Therefore, in a series of operations, the suction pump means having a plurality of suction operations is controlled by the control means, and the plurality of suction operations are selectively combined, so that the suction force varies with the number of suction operations. . Therefore,
The plurality of suction operations are selectively combined in accordance with the state of the nozzles and ink passages of the recording head, and the manner of ink suction by a series of operations of the suction pump unit is changed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recovery device for an ink jet printer according to the first aspect, the control means controls the suction pump means so that when the ink cartridge is replaced, the suction force is small and the suction time is reduced. Indicates that a plurality of short suction operations are performed.

Therefore, when replacing the ink cartridge, the control means controls the suction pump means to perform a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time. As a result, the ink from the ink cartridge to the recording head is discharged. The ink is gradually sucked while expelling the air in the passage, and a situation in which the ink bubbles in the ink in the recording head and bubbles are contained in the ink in the recording head is avoided, and a good ejection state is secured.

Further, the invention of claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the ink jet printer recovery device described above, the control means controls the suction pump means to perform a suction operation having a large suction force and a long suction time during a suction operation performed arbitrarily or automatically by a user. It is something to make.

Therefore, during a suction operation arbitrarily performed by the user through a key operation or the like or a suction operation automatically performed according to the length of a non-use period of the printer, the driving of the suction pump means is controlled by the control means. In addition, a suction operation in which the suction force is large and the suction time is long is performed, and the ejection state is reliably maintained, or non-ejection or ejection failure of ink is avoided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recovery device for an ink jet printer according to the first aspect, the control means performs a suction operation performed when the ink cartridge is replaced.
The above series of operations is repeated a plurality of times, and at least in the first series of operations, a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time are performed.In the subsequent series of operations, the suction force is large and the suction time is short. A long suction operation is performed.

Therefore, in the suction operation performed when replacing the ink cartridge, a series of operations is repeatedly performed a plurality of times. At least in the first series of operations, a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time are performed. Thereby, the inside of the ink passage is filled with the ink while expelling the air in the ink passage. Then, in a subsequent series of operations, a suction operation in which the suction force is large and the suction time is long is performed, so that the discharge can be reliably performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recovery device for an ink jet printer according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the suction pump means has two independently movable piston members in a cylinder body. Further, there is provided a cam member associated with the two piston members, and driving means for rotating the cam member, and the control means is associated with the driving means.

Accordingly, the driving means is controlled by the control means, the cam member is rotationally driven at a predetermined timing, the piston member is driven, and a plurality of suction operations are selectively combined to increase the number of suction operations and the suction force. Is changed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recovery device for an ink jet printer according to the fifth aspect, the cam member has a plurality of cam portions corresponding to a plurality of suction operations, and the control means includes a plurality of cam members. By changing the combination of rotation and suspension, the suction force and the suction time of the suction operation performed by the suction pump unit are controlled.

Therefore, the combination of rotation and temporary stop of the cam member having the cam portions corresponding to the plurality of suction operations is changed, and as a result, the suction force and suction time of the suction operation performed by the suction pump means are controlled, The ink suction mode is changed according to the state of the print head nozzles and ink passages.

[0020]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ink jet printer. In FIG. 1, an inkjet printer 1 has a rotating shaft (not shown) extending in the left-right direction.
And has a cylindrical platen roller 3 rotatably supported on the frame 2 by the roller. The platen roller 3 is provided with a printing paper 4 supplied from a paper cassette or a manual paper feeding unit.
The recording medium is conveyed while facing the recording head 5, and constitutes a part of a so-called paper feed mechanism LM. The recording head 5 is of an ink jet type having a nozzle for ejecting ink droplets on the printing paper 4 and performing a recording operation on the printing paper 4, and a paper feeding mechanism LM drives the paper feeding mechanism LM. An LF motor 14 (see FIG. 5) as a paper feed motor for transporting the printing paper 4 is provided.

The printing paper 4 is supplied in the direction of arrow A from a paper supply port (not shown) behind the frame 2, is fed in the direction of arrow B by rotation of the platen roller 3, and is supplied to the paper discharge port (not shown). ) Is discharged in the direction of arrow C. A carriage 6 is provided in front of the platen roller 3 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow D along the axis of the platen roller 3.

The carriage 6 has a recording head 5 and an ink cartridge 7 containing ink supplied to the recording head 5 detachably mounted thereon. In this example, the recording head 5 and the ink cartridge 7 each having a head portion for four colors of yellow, black, cyan, and magenta are mounted.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, when the ink cartridge 7 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 6a of the carriage 6, the recording head supported by the head supporting member 16 via the manifold member 15 is provided. 5. The manifold member 15
The rear end of the cartridge penetrates the vertical wall portion 6b of the cartridge mounting portion 6a and is connected to the ink cartridge 7 via the joint member 17. In the connection part, an adapter 18 is provided in the ink supply hole 7a of the ink cartridge 7, and a net-like filter member 19 is provided on the recording head 5 side so that dust and the like do not move together with the ink.

A carriage shaft 8 is provided in parallel with the axis of the platen roller 3, and a carriage 6 is slidably fitted on the carriage shaft 8. The engaging portion 6c of the carriage 6 is guided by a guide rail 9 extending parallel to the carriage shaft 8.
Thereby, the recording head 5 mounted on the carriage 6
Is reciprocally movable by sliding along the axis of the platen roller 3. The carriage 6 is fixed to a part of a timing belt 11, and the timing belt 11 is wound around timing pulleys 12, 13 to constitute a carriage mechanism CM. Motor). Therefore, when the CR motor 10 is rotationally driven, the carriage 6 reciprocates in a recording area where recording is performed on printing paper via the carriage mechanism CM. In addition, the carriage area CM and the CR motor 10 allow the recording area to be
Moving means for moving between a recovery area where a recovery operation is performed by a suction cap 41, a suction pump 42, and a wiper member 32, which will be described later, is configured. As the CR motor 10, a step motor or a DC motor is used. Although not specifically shown, the carriage 6 is provided with a cartridge replacement detection switch 21 for detecting replacement of the ink cartridge 7 (see FIG. 5).

On the right side of the recording area corresponding to the platen roller 3, there is formed a recovery area in which a purge mechanism RM for recovering from non-ejection or ejection failure of the recording head 5 is provided. Such a purge mechanism RM
Is provided by the ink jet recording head 5
The reason is that a discharge failure occurs due to a cause such as generation of bubbles inside the ink or drying of the ink during use, and this is to recover the discharge state to a favorable discharge state.

On the left side of the recording area corresponding to the platen roller 3, a flushing area in which a waste ink receiving member 22 is provided is formed. Such a waste ink receiving member 22 is provided just before the recording operation by the recording head 5 in order to eliminate clogging of the nozzles of the recording head 5 and to remove bubbles mixed with ink in the nozzles. This is for preliminarily discharging ink.

The purge mechanism RM is movable between a protruding position protruding into the moving path of the recording head 5 and a standby position retreating from the moving path of the recording head 5, and the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 at the protruding position. When the suction cap 41 is in close contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 at the protruding position, the ink in the recording head 5 is suctioned and removed through the suction cap 41. Suction means 3 having suction pump 42
1 is provided.

A wiper member 32 adjacent to the suction means 31 and movable relative to the recording head 5 so as to wipe the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 on the recording area side is used when recording is not performed on the opposite side. A storage cap device 33 is provided to cover the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 to prevent ink evaporation and prevent the nozzle surface from drying.

The wiper member 32, the suction cap 41, and the suction pump 42 are associated with a cam member 43 which is driven to rotate. The movement of the wiper member 32, the movement of the suction cap 41, and the operation of the suction pump 42 are as follows. It is configured to be controlled by the rotation of the common cam member 43.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cam member 43 has a drive gear 46 provided integrally, and is driven to rotate by a drive means such as a motor. For example, the drive gear 46 is configured to be removably meshed with a drive gear (not shown) that is rotationally driven by the LF motor 14 of the paper feed mechanism LM. Are driven in forward rotation. The rear end (cam follower) of the wiper holder 34 that supports the wiper member 32 is movably engaged with the first cam groove 43a of the cam member 43, whereby the wiper member 32 moves the recording head 5 The recording head can reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the moving path of the recording head 5 between a protruding position protruding into the path and a standby position retracted from the moving path of the recording head 5. No. 5 is controlled to be wiped.

The suction cap 41 is supported by a cap holder 44, and the rear end (cam follower portion) of the cap holder 44 has a second end of the cam member 43 on the same plane as the first cam groove 43a. Movably engaged with the cam groove 43b.

The suction pump 42 includes a frame member 51
The first and second piston members 53 and 54 are independently and movably fitted in a cylindrical pump housing 52 attached and fixed to the pump housing 52. In the pump housing 52, a suction port 52a and a discharge port 52b are provided at regular intervals in the axial direction, and the suction port 52a is connected to a suction cap 41 via a suction pipe 55.
2b is linked to a waste ink tank 58 containing an ink absorbing material 57 (see FIG. 1). Further, an atmosphere opening portion 5 in which one end side of the pump housing 52 is opened to the atmosphere.
The first piston member 53 is disposed on the side of the atmosphere opening portion 52c.

First and second piston members 53, 54
Are connected to one ends of the first and second drive shaft members 61 and 62, respectively, and are driven by the drive shaft members 61 and 62, so that the pump chamber 52 is formed between the piston members 53 and 54 in the pump housing 52. Is formed.

The first drive shaft member 61 is slidably fitted into the second drive shaft member 62, and each of the drive shaft members 6
The other end portions of the first and second cam members 43 and 43 are opposite to the third and fourth cam grooves 43c and 43c of the cam member 43 on the side opposite to the cam grooves 43a and 43b.
43d so as to be movable. The cam grooves 43c and 43d (cam portions) of the cam member have a shape corresponding to a plurality of suction operations.
Is rotated or temporarily stopped. By changing the combination, the suction force and the suction time of the suction operation performed by the suction pump 42 are controlled.

Accordingly, by rotating the cam member 43 at a predetermined timing, capping of the suction cap 41, suction of ink by the suction pump 42, and wiping of the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 by the wiper member 32 are sequentially performed. The ink sucked by the suction pump 42 is discharged to the waste ink tank 58 via the suction pump 42, and the ink absorbing material 57 in the waste ink tank 58
Is absorbed by

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage cap device 33 has a storage cap 71 for covering each head portion of the recording head 5, and a casing 72 supporting the storage cap 71 moves in the moving direction of the carriage 6. A guide rod member 73 extending in parallel with is supported so as to be able to slide and rotate. The casing 72
The engaging projection 72a for engaging with the carriage 6 when the carriage 6 moves to the outside of the recording area and sliding integrally with the carriage 6 protrudes forward. Then, when the carriage 6 moves from the recording area to the recovery area, the carriage 6 engages with the engaging projection 72a of the casing 72, so that the storage cap 71 slides following the movement of the carriage 6 (FIG. 1). At right). At the time of this sliding movement, the storage cap 71 rotates around the guide rod 73 by the action of the not-shown inclined cam means, and as a result, the storage cap 71 rotates in a direction approaching the recording head 5, and the storage cap 71 Capping is performed by contacting the nozzle surface of the nozzle. Thereafter, when the carriage 6 moves in the recording area direction again, the storage cap 71 moves away from the recording head 5 while moving to the recording area side, and returns to the initial state when the carriage 5 comes out of the recovery area.

Next, the control section of the ink jet printer 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This control unit is a well-known arithmetic processing unit C
The PU 100 is mainly configured. The CPU 100 is connected to a host computer 102 such as a personal computer via an interface 101, and the host computer 110
2, and various printings are executed in accordance with the instructions.

A typical example of the functional configuration of the host computer 102 is a window system. Various applications (A) on this window system
(B)... (N) are provided, and a font driver, a CRT driver, a keyboard driver, a mouse driver, a printer driver, and the like are incorporated. When printing is performed using the inkjet printer 1 during execution of various applications, the printer driver creates output data relating to an image suitable for the printing function of the printer.

The CPU 100 includes an operation panel 10
3, ROM 104 and RAM 105 are connected. The operation panel 103 sets various parameters such as a paper size and displays them. ROM10
Reference numeral 4 stores various programs necessary for controlling the inkjet printer 1. RAM 105
It temporarily stores print data transferred from the host computer 102 and various numerical values necessary for controlling the ink jet printer 1, and has a backup memory 105a.

The CPU 100 includes an LF drive circuit 11
1. The drive of the LF motor 14, the CR motor 10, and the recording head 5 is controlled via the CR drive circuit 112 and the head drive circuit 113. Further, a signal from a cartridge replacement detection switch 21 provided on the carriage 6 for detecting replacement of the ink cartridge 7 is also input.

The LF motor 14 is configured to drive either the purge mechanism RM or the paper feed mechanism LM via a switching mechanism 121 including a gear that can be disengaged from the drive gear 46. And the CPU 10
By 0, control means for controlling the operation of the suction pump 42 to perform the purge operation is configured.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the suction pump 42 is capable of performing a plurality of suction operations in a series of operations. By controlling via the 43, the plurality of suction operations are selectively combined to change the suction force together with the number of suction operations.
For example, when replacing the ink cartridge 7, a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time are performed in order to suck the ink without causing the problem of bubbling,
At the time of regular maintenance, a suction operation having a relatively large suction force and a relatively long suction time is performed in order to maintain a good discharge state. In the case of ejection failure,
In order to recover the ejection failure, a suction operation having a large suction force and a long suction time is performed.

The CR motor 10 drives the carriage mechanism CM, and the carriage 6 of the carriage mechanism CM
, The switching mechanism 121 is switched.

The purge mechanism RM, the paper feed mechanism LM, and the carriage mechanism CM have respective sensors.
A detection signal from the sensor is input to the CPU via a group of counters 122. The purge mechanism RM has a purge HP sensor 131. When the suction pump 42 is at the home position, the purge HP sensor 131 notifies the purge position counter 122a of the counter group 122 of the fact. This signal is used as a reference for the purge operation by the purge mechanism.

The paper feed mechanism LM has a PE sensor 132, which emits a signal at the leading end of the newly supplied printing paper 4 and notifies the LF position counter 122b of the counter group 122. This signal serves as a reference for controlling the recording position in the vertical direction.

The carriage mechanism CM includes the CR position sensor 1
33, and the CR position sensor 133 is a CR motor 1
The position of the carriage is detected by counting the number of drive pulses of 0, and is notified to the CR position counter 122c of the counter group 122. The position information serves as a reference for maintaining the horizontal position, and also as a criterion for determining whether or not a new feeding operation of the printing paper 4 and a discharging operation of the printed paper are possible.

The operation of the ink jet printer 1 configured as described above will be described.

First, in the ink jet printer 1, the recording head 5 is usually at a standby position in a state where the recording head 5 is covered with the storage cap 71. When recording data is input, recording is performed.

The printing paper 4 is supplied between the platen roller 3 and the recording head 5, and the recording head 5 is moved from the standby position to the recording start position by the operation of the CR motor 10. The printing is performed on the printing paper 4 by the recording head 5 being reciprocated in the recording area while ejecting ink based on the recording data. When printing is completed, the recording head 5 is moved to the standby position, and is covered with the storage cap 1 to prevent the nozzle surface from drying while not being used.

Further, for example, in the case where ink ejection failure occurs, the operation panel 10 is determined by the user.
When the purge switch in 3 is operated and a purge command is input, a purge mode for operating the purge mechanism RM is entered, and a suction operation program is executed as described later.

By the way, the purge switch is operated when an ink discharge failure occurs, whereby the suction operation is performed by the suction pump 42 as described above. When the ink cartridge 7 is replaced and ink needs to be sucked into the recording head 5 or when the storage cap 7
If the state in which the printing operation is not performed even if the printing operation is continued, the nozzles of the printing head 5 begin to dry, so that in order to ensure a good ejection state, the nozzles are automatically set according to the length of the non-use period. It is also performed when performing maintenance. In other words, when the ink cartridge 7 is replaced, the cartridge replacement detection switch 21 provided on the carriage 6 detects this, and under the control of the CPU 100, a suction operation for sucking ink by replacing the ink cartridge 7 is performed. CPU 100 and ROM 104, RA
At the time of starting printing or the like, the suction operation is automatically performed according to the length of the non-use period immediately before printing by the timer means configured by M105.

When the purge mode is set, the carriage mechanism C by the CR motor 10 via the CR drive circuit 112 is first controlled by the CPU 100 based on the suction operation program.
By driving M, the recording head 5 is moved from a position facing the storage cap 71 to a position facing the suction cap 41. When in the recovery area, the switching mechanism 121 has already switched the LF motor 14 to a state where the driving force can be transmitted to the purge mechanism RM.
Then, the cam member 43 is rotated by the driving force from the LF motor 14, and the wiper member 32, the suction cap 41, and the suction pump 42 are controlled. The recovery operation, that is, the operation of bringing the suction cap 41 and the wiper member 32 into and out of contact with each other, and the suction pump 42 perform the suction / discharge operation. Here, the suction operation includes the operation of bringing the suction cap 41 into close contact with the nozzle surface and sucking ink from the recording head 5 by the suction pump 42, and the operation of suctioning the suction cap 41 by separating at least a part of the suction cap 41 from the nozzle surface. A so-called idle suction operation of sucking ink from the inside of the cap 41 is included.

Next, the operation of bringing the suction cap 41 and the wiper member 32 into and out of the recording head 5 and the operation of suctioning / discharging by the suction pump 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. A description will be given along the change of the rotation angle.

First, when the rotation angle of the cam member 43 is near 0 °, both piston members 53, 54 of the suction pump 42 are set.
While the pump chamber is located near the outlet 52b while minimizing the volume of the pump chamber during that time, the suction cap 41 is
It is in an initial state located at a standby position away from the recording head 5 (see FIG. 7).

Then, when the cam member 43 is driven to rotate, the first and second piston members 53 and 54 gradually move integrally from a rotation angle of about 6 ° to about 57 ° (FIG. 6). (Refer to (b))), the moving speed is slightly reduced, and the speed is increased near 97 °. On the other hand, the two piston members 53, 5
In the course of the movement of No. 4, the rotation angle of the cam member 43 is 57
When the distance is close to ゜, as shown in FIG.
Is gradually advanced from the standby position to the moving path side of the recording head 5, and the suction cap 41 covers the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 at around 86 °.

When the rotation angle of the cam member 43 approaches 108 ° (see FIG. 6C), the second piston member 54 stops moving, and only the first piston member 53 continues moving. Then, the pump chamber 52e is enlarged and the suction port 52a is opened (see FIG. 6D). Then, the first piston member 53 stops around 114 °, and the state in which the movement of both piston members 53 and 54 stops until 121 ° is maintained. At this time, the rotation of the cam member 43 is stopped for a predetermined time (3 seconds) near 121 ° (position A),
The first suction operation is performed (see FIGS. 8A to 8D).

Then, both piston members 53 and 54 move to the outlet 52b side, and the first piston member 52a closes the inlet 52a and stops (see FIG. 6 (e)). The state is maintained until the rotation angle of the cam member 43 is 158 °,
While changing from 158 ° to 164 °, the first piston member 53 is moved in a direction in which the distance between the second piston member 53 and the second piston member 54 increases while the second piston member 53 remains stationary, and the first and second piston members 53 are moved. The pump chamber 52e between the members 53 and 54 is enlarged again, and the suction port 52a is opened (see FIG. 6F).
The state in which the movements of the third and the third are stopped is maintained. At this time, the rotation of the cam member 43 is stopped for a predetermined time (3 seconds) near 171 ° (position B), whereby the second suction operation with a small suction force and a short suction time is performed (FIG. 8). (B) of (a) and (c)).

Then, from 179 ° to 184 °, the second piston member 54 moves in a direction away from the first piston member 53 (see FIG. 6 (g)) to enlarge the pump chamber 52e. , 184 °, and the first and second piston members 53, 54 maintain the stopped state until 200 °. At this time, the rotation of the cam member 43
By stopping for a predetermined time (3 seconds) near 2 ゜ (position C), a third suction operation with a small suction force and a short suction time is performed (see C in FIG. 8A). If the stop is performed at the position C for a predetermined time (5 seconds) without performing the pause at the position B, the cam member 43 normally rotates at a speed of rotating 360 ° in 3 seconds. Although the negative pressure appears momentarily, the enlargement of the pump chamber 52e from 164 ° to 184 ° is almost the same as that performed at a stretch, and the enlargement of the pump chamber 52e makes the suction more than when stopped at the position B. The negative pressure is increased, and a suction operation is performed in which the suction force is large and the suction time is relatively long (see FIG. 8B).

Further, during the period from 200 ° to 205 °, the second piston member 54 is connected to the first piston member 5.
3 (see FIG. 6 (h)), and further enlarges the pump chamber 52e so that the first and second piston members 53 and 54 are connected to the pump chamber from 205 ° to 239 °. Maintain the volume of 52e. At this time, the rotation of the cam member 43 is stopped for a predetermined time (3 seconds) near 211 ° (position D), so that a fourth suction operation with a small suction force and a short suction time is performed (FIG. 8). (See (a) d)). Without stopping at position C, position D
When a stop is performed for a certain period of time (3 seconds), a negative pressure appears momentarily at the position of 184 °, but from 184 ° to 205 °
This is equivalent to the fact that the expansion of the pump chamber 52e is performed at a stretch, and the suction negative pressure is increased as compared with the case where the pump chamber 52e is stopped at the position C. (See FIG. 8C). Also,
Without stopping at positions B and C and stopping at position D for a certain period of time (5 seconds), from 164 ° to 205 °
The pump chamber 52e is expanded almost at a stroke, the suction negative pressure is greatly increased, and a suction operation with a large suction force and a long suction time is performed (see FIG. 8D).

From 239 ° to 272 °, the second piston member 54 further moves in a direction away from the first piston member 53 (see FIG. 6 (i)), and the suction operation is performed.
From around 2 °, the first piston member 53 also moves following the second piston member to close the suction port.

Then, at around 282 °, the second piston member 54 stops with the discharge port 52b opened (FIG. 6).
(J), but the first piston member 53 continues the movement until the rotation angle of the cam member 43 becomes around 338 °, compresses the pump chamber 52e, and actively performs the discharging operation (FIG. 6 (k)). Thereby, the pump chamber 52e
Is discharged to the waste ink tank 58.

On the other hand, the suction cap 41 is
The close contact state of the recording head 5 with the nozzle surface is maintained up to around 50 °, and the suction cap 41 from 250 ° to 268 °.
Is gradually retracted, and then slightly slows down to 298 ° to further retract and return to the initial state. Therefore, 2
The movement of the piston members 53 and 54 from around 50 ° does not suck the ink from the recording head 5 but discharges the remaining ink in the suction cap 41 and the tube 55.

After the discharging operation, the two piston members 53 and 54 are kept stopped until the cam member 43 moves from 338 ° to 345 °.
3 and 54 are slightly returned, as shown in FIG.
The state is returned to the same state as the initial state, and the state is maintained from 354 ° to 360 ° (0 °), and the state becomes the initial state.

Further, the wiper member 32 maintains the standby state from the rotation angle of the cam member 43 of 0 ° to 287 °.
It gradually advances from 7 ° to 300 °, reaches a protruding position at 300 °, maintains the protruding position from 300 ° to 320 °, and wipes the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 moving to the recording area side (FIG. 7). It gradually retreats from 320 ° to 333 °, becomes the standby position, and remains at 360 °.

After the nozzle surface of the recording head 5 is wiped by the wiper member 32, the recording head 5 is first moved to the flushing area, and ink is transferred from all the nozzles of the recording head 5 to the waste ink receiving member 22. Preliminary ejection for ejecting ink is performed, and then the recording head 5
Is moved to the recording start position.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, basically, four suction operations are performed. However, the CPU 100 determines whether the rotation of the cam member 43 is temporarily stopped at the positions B, C, and D. Depending on whether or not the four suction operations are selectively combined, as shown in FIGS. 8B to 8D,
The suction force can be changed with the number of suction operations.

That is, when the ink cartridge is replaced, for example, when the suction operation is performed by the suction pump 42 while the ink passage between the recording head 5 and the ink cartridge 7 is filled with air, the suction operation is performed. Cap 41
When a large negative pressure is applied to the recording head 5 to suck the ink at a stroke, the ink flows rapidly from the ink cartridge 7 toward the recording head 5 in a state of being mixed with air, and the ink foams, Although the ink in the ink cartridge 5 contains air bubbles, as shown in FIG. 8A, by performing four suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time, the ink cartridge 7 It is possible to gradually suck the ink while expelling the air, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the ink is bubbled during the suction of the ink and the ink in the recording head 2 contains bubbles.

For example, in the first suction operation A, the ink is sucked so as to gradually pass through the filter member 19, and in the second suction operation B, the manifold member 15 is gradually filled with the ink, and the third suction operation is performed. In operation c, ink may be introduced into a number of channels of the recording head 5, and a predetermined amount of ink may be sucked from the recording head 5 into the suction cap 41 in a fourth suction operation d.

At the time of maintenance automatically performed according to the length of the non-use period before the start of printing, the ink path between the ink cartridge and the recording head 5 is filled with ink. The suction operation does not cause bubbles, but only removes the ink being dried. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the suction operation has a relatively large suction force and a relatively long suction time. E and F are included, and a good discharge state is maintained. FIG. 8 (b) (c)
May be appropriately selected according to the length of the non-use period.

Further, at the time of purging to eliminate the ejection failure, as shown in FIG. 8D, a suction operation having a larger suction force and a longer suction time is included, and the ink is blown through the suction cap 41 at once. By suction, a good discharge state is restored.

As described above, when replacing the ink cartridge,
At the time of periodic maintenance and at the time of purging to eliminate ejection failure, by changing the ink suction mode,
An optimum suction operation can be performed according to the state of the nozzles of the recording head 5 and the ink passage. FIG.
In any of the modes (a) to (d), the suction operation with a small suction force and a short suction time is performed first, but this first suction operation can be omitted as necessary.

A series of operations including the plurality of suction operations is performed a plurality of times according to the purpose. For example, after replacing the ink cartridge 7, the first to fourth suction operations are sequentially performed in the first series of operations, and the ink is introduced into the recording head 5 without foaming as described above. FIG. 8 shows that ink does not foam.
Perform any one of (b) to (d). In this way, the recording head 5 can be reliably filled with new ink and can be ejected. As described above, in the case of the purge operation appropriately performed by the key operation of the user and the maintenance operation automatically performed by the printer, FIG.
(B) to (d) can be performed a plurality of times in combination. In particular, in the case of automatic maintenance, the number of repetitions may be set according to the length of non-use time.

In the above embodiment, the detection switch 21 detects when the ink cartridge is replaced and when it is not.
Although the determination is made based on the presence or absence of a signal from the user, the user may be able to make a selection by key operation. Further, the suction pump means is not limited to one having two piston members, but may be one having one piston member. Further, not only can the piston member be temporarily stopped or driven, but also the speed of the piston member can be changed by changing the rotation speed of the motor. Further, not only the piston type but also other types of pumps can be used.

[0075]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above, and has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the suction pump means having a plurality of suction operations in a series of operations controls the control means, and selectively combines the plurality of suction operations to perform the suction operation. Since the suction force is changed together with the number of operations, the plurality of suction operations are selectively combined according to the state of the nozzles and ink passages of the recording head, and the ink is discharged by a series of operations of the suction pump means. The mode of suction can be changed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the ink cartridge is replaced, the suction pump means is controlled to perform a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the ink suddenly flows into the ink passage to the head in a state where the ink is mixed with the air, the ink foams, and the ink in the recording head contains bubbles.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, at the time of the suction operation arbitrarily or automatically performed by the user, the suction pump means is controlled to perform the suction operation with a large suction force and a long suction time. In addition, it is possible to reliably maintain the ink ejection state, or to reliably avoid non-ejection and ejection failure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the suction operation performed when exchanging the ink cartridge, a series of operations are repeated a plurality of times, and at least in the first series of operations, a plurality of suction units having a small suction force and a short suction time. The operation is performed, and then, in a subsequent series of operations, a suction operation with a large suction force and a long suction time is performed.
As in the case of the invention of the above, in the first series of operations, the ink in the ink path can be sucked while the air in the ink path is filled with ink while the air in the ink path is expelled. By performing a suction operation with a large force and a long suction time, it is possible to reliably fill the recording head with new ink and make the recording head dischargeable.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the driving means is controlled by the control means, the cam member is driven to rotate at a predetermined timing, and the piston member is selectively driven at different speeds. With the structure, a plurality of suction operations can be selectively combined to change the suction force with the number of suction operations.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the cam member has a plurality of cam portions corresponding to a plurality of suction operations, and by changing the combination of rotation and temporary stop of the cam member, the suction performed by the suction pump means. Since the suction force and the suction time of the operation are controlled, the suction pump means is controlled by a simple control of changing the combination of rotation and temporary stop of the cam member having the cam portions corresponding to the plurality of suction operations. By controlling the suction force and the suction time of the suction operation to be performed, the mode of ink suction can be changed according to the state of the nozzles of the recording head and the ink passage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connection portion between a recording head and an ink cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship among a wiper member, a suction cap, a suction pump, and a cam member according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a suction pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control unit of the inkjet printer.

FIGS. 6A to 6J are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the suction pump.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the rotation angle of a cam member and the operation of a suction cap, a wiper member, and a suction pump.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a mode of a change in negative suction pressure by a suction pump unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 inkjet printer 5 recording head 7 ink cartridge 14 LF motor 32 wiper member 41 suction cap 42 suction pump 43 cam member 43c cam groove 43d cam groove 52 pump casing 53 first piston member 54 second piston member 100 CPU 121 switching mechanism

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ink jet head for ejecting ink to a recording medium to perform recording; and a suction cap having a suction cap which comes into contact with a nozzle surface of the print head so as to be capable of coming into contact with and separating from the nozzle face. In a recovery device for an ink jet printer, comprising: a pump unit; and a control unit that controls driving of the suction pump unit. The suction pump unit has a plurality of suction operations in a series of operations, and the control unit includes the suction unit. A recovery device for an ink jet printer, wherein a pump means is controlled to selectively combine the plurality of suction operations to change the suction force together with the number of suction operations. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said suction pump means to perform a plurality of suction operations with a small suction force and a short suction time when the ink cartridge is replaced. 2. The recovery device for an ink jet printer according to claim 1. 3. The control means controls the suction pump means to perform a suction operation with a large suction force and a long suction time during a suction operation arbitrarily or automatically performed by a user. The ink jet printer recovery device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the suction operation performed when replacing the ink cartridge is performed by repeating the series of operations a plurality of times. At least in the first series of operations, a plurality of the suction units have a small suction force and a short suction time. Perform the suction operation,
2. The ink jet printer recovery device according to claim 1, wherein in a subsequent series of operations, the suction operation is performed with a large suction force and a long suction time. 5. The suction pump means has two independently movable piston members in a cylinder body, and further includes a cam member associated with the two piston members, and a drive for rotating the cam member. Means,
5. The ink jet printer recovery device according to claim 1, wherein said control means is associated with said driving means. 6. The cam member has a plurality of cam portions corresponding to a plurality of suction operations, and the control means changes the combination of rotation and temporary stop of the cam member so that the suction pump means 6. The ink jet printer recovery device according to claim 5, wherein a suction force and a suction time of a suction operation to be performed are controlled.