JP3376149B2 - Inkjet printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus having a recovery operation means for a head for ejecting ink.

The present invention is applicable to all devices using print media such as paper, cloth, leather, non-woven fabric, OHP paper, and metal. Specific applicable equipment includes office equipment such as printers, copying machines, and facsimiles, and industrial production equipment.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent ink thickening due to evaporation of ink moisture in a discharge port where ink is in contact with air and its vicinity, or to remove thickened ink and generated bubbles. In general, various configurations are provided for maintaining good ink ejection.

Particularly, in recent recording heads, since it has become possible to construct the discharge port and the liquid path communicating with the discharge port with extremely fine and high density, ink thickening and air bubbles are relatively generated. May have a greater effect.

Therefore, in these ink jet recording apparatuses, the surface of the recording head on which the ejection openings are provided is sealed (capping) during non-recording operation in which ink droplets are not ejected, so that ink moisture is evaporated from the ejection openings. A capping mechanism is provided to prevent this. Further, in order to perform more stable ink ejection, ink is ejected from all ejection orifices of a recording head or a desired ejection orifice at a predetermined position periodically during a recording operation or the like, which is particularly suitable for recording. So-called blank ejection is performed to update the ink of the ejection ports that are not involved. Alternatively, at the start of recording, at desired time intervals, or the like, ink is sucked or pressurized to discharge the thickened ink and generated air bubbles by sucking the ink inside the discharge port and the inside thereof.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the main part of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21 is an ink jet cartridge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "cartridge") mounted on the carriage 22, and a recording head having a nozzle portion for ejecting ink (hereinafter also simply referred to as "head"). And an ink tank for storing ink and an ink supply unit having a supply path are integrally provided.
The cartridge 21 includes a cartridge dedicated to Bk ink recording with black ink (Bk ink) and a cartridge dedicated to color recording with color ink. These cartridges are replaceably attached to the carriage 22 and selectively used. Be served. The carriage 22 and the cartridge 21 are electrically connected by a contact pad (not shown). Reference numeral 23 denotes an electric board that constitutes a control unit for controlling ink ejection by the cartridge 21, and 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a flexible cable that connects the electric board 23 and the carriage 22. Reference numeral 25 denotes a paper feed motor, and in response to the drive of the paper feed motor 25, the recording paper P is conveyed by the roller 26 in the f direction in the drawing. 27 is
It is a roller that cooperates with the roller 26 to regulate the recording sheet P to be flat and form a recording surface for the cartridge 21.
28 is a belt for driving the carriage connected to the carriage 22, 29 is a motor for driving the belt in the S direction in the drawing, and 30 is a guide rail of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 guides the guide rail 3 according to the drive of the motor 29.
It is possible to perform recording on the recording surface by moving in the S direction in the figure along 0.

Reference numeral 31 is a recovery device as a recovery means that faces the cartridge 21 at the home position H of the cartridge 21 and performs the above-described recovery operation on the head of the cartridge 21.

The cartridge 21 mounted on the carriage 22 is driven together with the carriage 22 by a motor 29 along the recording paper P in the S direction in FIG. The recording paper P is conveyed in the f direction in the drawing by the rollers 27 according to the drive of the paper feed motor 25. As a result, the recording head 21 performs two-dimensional scanning. At this time, the head causes the ink droplets to fly and perform recording on the recording paper P under the control of the control unit.

In order to avoid the wasteful ink consumption by performing the above-described recovery operation at each optimum timing, various control methods regarding the operation timing and operation conditions are also taken. Among them, in particular, a method of providing a battery-backed timer with low power consumption in the recording device main body and determining the operation time based on the count value (hereinafter referred to as "backup timer control")
Is valid. In particular, in portable ink jet recording devices, the power supply is often cut off,
This backup timer control is indispensable for constructing a small recording device while suppressing ink consumption.

[0011]

However, in the conventional backup timer control, it is possible to control only the head of the cartridge currently mounted in the main body. For example, the unused cartridge is stored in a dedicated storage box. However, in an ink jet recording apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are used while being exchanged, such as a case where a monochrome cartridge for Bk ink recording and a color cartridge for color ink recording are exchanged, Backup timer control was impossible. Therefore, when the cartridge is replaced, it is necessary to always perform the recovery operation to stabilize the ink ejection, and there is a problem that the ink is wastefully consumed. In other words, in the conventional backup timer control, the recovery operation is performed even when it is unnecessary, so that the ink is wasted, which hinders the miniaturization of the ink tank and thus the miniaturization of the recording apparatus. It was

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide an ink jet printing apparatus capable of efficiently performing a recovery operation for a plurality of heads without waste.

[0013]

An ink jet printing apparatus according to the present invention has a mounting portion to which a recording means having an ejecting means for ejecting ink can be mounted, and the recording means mounted on the mounting portion It is an ink jet printing apparatus that prints on a print medium with ejected ink, and the mounting portion is capable of mounting one of at least two types of the recording means in a replaceable manner, and the mounting portion is mounted on the mounting portion. Previous recovery operation for one type of recording means
A first time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time since
The other kind of the recording means not mounted on the mounting portion.
Has been previously mounted on the mounting part, and the previous recovery was performed.
The elapsed time from the operation is set by the recording means of the other type.
Second timekeeping that keeps time even when the equipment is not attached
Means and when the time measured is the predetermined time
The recording means mounted on the mounting portion,
The control means for performing the recovery process is featured.

[0014]

[0015]

According to the present invention, in an ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of heads selectively or simultaneously, a proper recovery operation is individually performed for each head by the backup timer control.

[0016]

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

(First Embodiment) Plural Cartridge Exchange Type As the first embodiment of the present invention, there are two types of cartridges, a color cartridge for color recording with color ink and a black cartridge for monochrome recording with Bk ink. An application example as an inkjet recording apparatus that is used by exchanging is explained. The mechanical structure is
The description is omitted because it is the same as that of FIG. 4 described above.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a control system in the ink jet recording apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the control unit 1 includes a microprocessor unit (MPU) 101, a ROM 102 in which a control program including processing procedures described later and various parameters are stored, and a RAM 10 in which recording data is temporarily stored.
3, timer 10 as a timekeeping unit that counts time
4, an input / output port 105, a power supply 106 composed of a battery for backing up the timer 104, a non-volatile memory 107 for storing the counted timer value of the timer 104
It consists of and. The timer 104 has a power supply 106.
Since it is backed up by, the time is always measured regardless of whether the power of the recording apparatus is ON or OFF. Further, the timer 104 is reset and started (reset and start) at a predetermined timing as will be described later, and measures the elapsed time after being reset to zero at that time.

Recording data is input from a host device (not shown) via the interface circuit 4. The inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment can be controlled not only by the host apparatus but also by the operation panel 5. Furthermore, the various sensors 6 detect the presence or absence of the recording paper P, the home position H of the carriage 22, the presence or absence of a cartridge, and the like. The power supply unit 9 supplies electric power to each device. The recovery device 31 for the head of the cartridge performs an automatic recovery operation when the cap of the head of the cartridge 21 and the head are clogged. Here, the automatic recovery operation is, for example,
This means removing air bubbles and dust by sealing the periphery of an orifice as an ink ejection port of the head and performing suction suction recovery of negative pressure, but the content of the recovery operation is not limited to this. Further, the cartridge ID detecting device 7 reads the cartridge ID for cartridge identification, and the MPU 101 determines the head type based on the read cartridge ID. Further, the head may have an ID as a head identification means.

2 and 3 are flow charts for explaining the procedure of the backup timer control in the ink jet recording apparatus having such a control unit 1.

First, the processing procedure when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S201, the recording apparatus is powered on.
Then, the initialization operation of the apparatus main body is performed in step S202. This initialization operation includes operations such as memory check, sensor check, and carriage position correction. Then, in step S203, the time measured by the timer 104 (hereinafter referred to as "timer value t") is read. The timer 104 turns on the power of the recording apparatus and turns it off.
Regardless of F, the backup power source 106 constantly measures the time, and the timer value t corresponds to the elapsed time from the time of the previous reset or start.

Then, in step S204, the black cartridge timer count value TB stored in the memory 107 is updated by adding the timer value t (TB = TB + t). Similarly, in step S205, the timer count value TC for the color cartridge stored in the memory 107 is updated by adding the timer value t (TC = TC + t). Then, step S2
At 06, the timer 104 is reset and started.
Therefore, the timer 104 once sets the timer value t to zero at this point, and then starts to continuously measure the timer value t corresponding to the elapsed time again.

Then, in step S207, it is determined whether or not the cartridge is mounted. If there is no cartridge, step S207 is repeated while displaying a warning and the like, and if there is a cartridge, the type of cartridge is determined in the next step S208 . The processing content is divided as follows according to the type of cartridge.

(1) When the cartridge is a black cartridge First, in step S209 , the nonvolatile memory 10
Timer count value TB for black cartridge in 7
Is compared with the black cartridge timer setting value SB preset in the ROM 102, and TB ≧ SB
For after performing a recovery operation B for black cartridge at step S210, TB in step S211 =
After setting to 0, the process proceeds to step S212. On the other hand, TB <S
In the case of B, the recovery operation B and TB are not reset and the process proceeds to step S212.

In step S212, the process waits for the recording paper to be fed. When the recording paper is fed, first, the timer 1
After reading the timer value t of 04 (step S21
3) In step S214, the count value t is added to the black cartridge timer count value TB stored in the memory 107 to be updated (TB = TB +
t) Further, in step S215, the count value t is added to the color cartridge timer count value TC stored in the memory 107 to be updated (TC =
TC + t). Then, in step S216, the timer 1
After resetting and starting 04, step S20
Return to 7. Note that steps S213 to S21
The timing of executing 6 is arbitrary without being limited to the timing of paper feeding, and may be, for example, every fixed time or in synchronization with the timing of the recording paper discharge operation or the like.

With the above processing, the backup timer control for the black cartridge
The recovery operation B will be executed.

(2) When the cartridge is a color cartridge First, the process proceeds from step S208 to step S217.
The color cartridge timer count value TC in the non-volatile memory 107 is compared with the color cartridge timer set value SC preset in the ROM 102. If TC ≧ SC, the color cartridge timer count value TC is set in step S218. After performing the recovery operation C, step S2
After setting TC = 0 at 19, the process proceeds to step S212. On the other hand, if TC <SC, the recovery operation C and TC are not reset and the process proceeds to step S212.

Through the above processing, the recovery operation C is executed by the backup timer control for the color cartridge.

Next, the processing procedure when the cartridge is replaced will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a cartridge replacement instruction is given from the operation panel in step S301, the carriage moves to the cartridge replacement position in step S302.
Next, in step S303, the presence / absence of a cartridge is detected, and if it is present, the detection is continued until there is no cartridge. When the cartridge is exhausted, the presence / absence of the cartridge is detected again in step S304. At this time, if there is no cartridge, the detection is continued until the cartridge is present. And step S3
When the cartridge is detected in 04, the process proceeds to step S305, and it is determined whether the mounted cartridge is new or not by an instruction from the operation panel.
In this embodiment, the MPU is instructed that the head is a new head by an instruction from the operation panel, but the present invention is not limited to this method, and the cartridge is provided with an information holding function (memory,
It is also possible to automatically determine whether or not the main body of the recording apparatus is new based on the information such as the mechanical protrusion). If it is not instructed that the cartridge is new, the process directly proceeds to step S207 . If it is instructed that the cartridge is new, step S306
Determines the type of cartridge. If the cartridge is a new color cartridge, step S
At 307, the count value TC is set to the set value SC (TC
= SC), and then proceeds to step S207 in FIG. On the other hand, if the cartridge is a new black cartridge, the count value TB is set to the set value SB ( TB = SB ) in step S308, and then the process proceeds to step S207 in FIG. After step S207, the processing described in FIG. 2 is executed.

By carrying out such a process, when the cartridge is replaced with a new one, the recovery operation is carried out to ensure the ink ejection stability.
In addition, the cartridge in use that has been stored in the storage box or the like is properly automatically restored by the backup timer control.

According to the above processing, even when the color cartridge and the black cartridge are exchanged and used, the recovery operation can be performed by the backup timer control for each cartridge, and the recovery operation can be performed just enough. As a result, wasteful consumption of ink can be prevented.

Particularly, when the color cartridge is constructed so as to be capable of ejecting a plurality of colors of ink and has a different structure from that of the black cartridge, the timing of the recovery operation may differ greatly, so that the timing of the recovery operation of this embodiment may be significantly different. By optimally controlling the recovery operation timing for each cartridge type as described above, it is possible to suppress the ink consumption while improving the reliability.

(Second Embodiment) Multi-Cartridge Built-in Type As a second embodiment of the present invention, there are two types, a color cartridge for performing color recording and a black cartridge for performing monochrome black recording. An example of application to an inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "twin cartridge recording apparatus") capable of being mounted on the main body and used at the same time will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main part of the twin cartridge recording apparatus. The color recording cartridge 211 and the black recording cartridge 212 are mounted on the carriage 22 and are independently replaceable. The recording on the recording paper P is performed by the cartridge 211,
212 and both can be used, or only one can be used. The configurations of 23 to 30 are the same as those of the inkjet recording apparatus of FIG. 4 described above. Reference numeral 31 is a recovery device, which performs recovery operation at the home position H of the cartridges 211 and 212, facing the cartridge. Recovery device 3
Reference numeral 1 includes a recovery device 311 for the color cartridge 211 and a recovery device 312 for the black cartridge, which can be operated independently.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts showing the procedure of automatic recovery by backup timer control when the present invention is applied to such a twin cartridge recording apparatus.

First, the processing procedure when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG.

The processes of steps S601 to S606 are the same as steps S201 to S206 of FIG. 2 described above . The process proceeds from step S606 to step S607, and the color cartridge timer count value TC in the nonvolatile memory 107 and the ROM 10 are stored in advance.
2 is compared with the color cartridge timer set value SC set in 2, and if TC ≧ SC, step S
At 608, the presence or absence of a color cartridge is detected. When TC <SC in step S607 and when there is no color cartridge in step S608, the process proceeds to step S611. If there is a color cartridge in step S608, the recovery operation C for the color cartridge is performed in step S609, and the count value TC is reset in the next step S610 (TC =
0) and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S611.

In step S611, the nonvolatile memory 1
Timer count value T for black cartridge in 07
B is compared with the black cartridge timer setting value SB preset in the ROM 102, and TB ≧ S
In the case of B, the presence / absence of a black cartridge is detected in step S612. In step S611
When TB < SB and when there is no black cartridge in step S612, the process proceeds to step S615. If there is a black cartridge in step S612, the recovery operation B for the black cartridge is performed in step S613, the count value TB is reset in the next step S614 (TB = 0), and then step S612.
Proceed to 615.

Steps S615 to S619
Is from step S212 to step S2 in FIG.
Similar to 16. From step S619 to step S
Return to 607.

By the above processing, the color cartridge mounted in the twin cartridge recording device,
Then, the automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control is executed for the black cartridge.

Next, the processing procedure when the cartridge is replaced will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S701, if there is an instruction to replace the cartridge from the operation panel, step S701
In 702, the carriage moves to the cartridge exchange position, and in step S703, the carriage waits until an instruction to end the cartridge exchange is given. If there is a cartridge replacement end instruction, the process advances to step S704 to determine whether the color cartridge is new. If the color cartridge is new, the count value TC is set to the set value SC (TC = SC) in step S705.
If it is not new, the process proceeds directly to step S706. The method for determining whether or not the cartridge is new is the same as the above-described first embodiment, instructing from the operation panel,
Alternatively, the head may have information, and the recording apparatus main body may automatically judge based on the information.

In step S706, it is determined whether or not the black cartridge is new, and if it is new, the count value TB is set to the set value SB (TB = SB) in step S707. If it is not new, the process proceeds directly to step S607 in FIG.

By carrying out such a processing, the recovery operation is carried out when the cartridge is replaced with a new one, and the ink ejection stability is ensured, and the cartridge is stored in the storage box. A proper automatic recovery operation is performed by the backup timer control for a plurality of cartridges being used in the main body.

According to the above processing, even when the color cartridge and the black cartridge are used together,
It is possible to perform an automatic recovery operation under the control of the backup timer for each cartridge, and it is possible to perform the recovery operation just enough and prevent wasteful consumption of ink.

In particular, when a plurality of recording cartridges are built in the main body such as a twin cartridge recording apparatus and used, the original ink consumption is large, and the effect of reducing the consumption is remarkable.

(Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment of the present invention, a color head for ejecting color ink for color recording and a black ink for ejecting black ink for monochrome recording will be described below. An example of application to an inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "tank exchange recording apparatus") that has two types of heads, a black head, in the main body and uses while exchanging ink tanks connected to each head is described. To do.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the main part of the tank exchange type recording apparatus. The recording head 210 has a color head as an ejecting unit of color recording ink and a black head as an ejecting unit of black recording ink, and is mounted on the carriage 22. The color ink tank 211 having a color ink supply unit and the black ink tank 212 having a black ink supply unit are independently replaceable with respect to the recording head 210. The configurations of 23 to 31 are the same as those of the twin carriage recording apparatus of FIG. 5 described above.

In such a tank exchange type recording apparatus, the automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control for the recording head of the cartridge described above is also important, but in addition, it is necessary to consider the tank to be exchanged. is there. The reason is as follows. In other words, the method of removing the unused ink tank and storing it in a storage box, etc., and mounting it on the head only when it is used is a waste of ink in the ink jet recording apparatus prepared with various automatic recovery operations. It is an effective means to reduce unnecessary consumption. However, it is known that in the ink tank removed from the head, bubbles are generated and grown in the joint portion with the head over time, the ink distribution becomes rough, and the ink thickens, When such an ink tank is attached to the head again, a recovery operation may be necessary. However, if the recovery operation is performed every time the ink tank is reattached, the ink is wastefully consumed, and it is meaningless to save the ink by removing the ink tank. Therefore, the automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control is also necessary for the ink tank that is supposed to be reattached. In the following, the processing procedure of the automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control only for the ink tank will be described, but it goes without saying that the control for the head may be performed at the same time.

9 and 10 show flowcharts of processing for the recovery operation.

First, the processing procedure when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG.

The processing from step S901 to step S906 is similar to step S201 to step S206 in FIG. 2 described above. The process proceeds from step S906 to step S907, and the color cartridge timer count value TC in the non-volatile memory 107, ROM 10 in advance
2 is compared with the color cartridge timer set value SC set in 2, and if TC ≧ SC, step S
At 908, the presence or absence of the color ink tank is detected. When TC <SC in step S907 and when there is no color ink tank in step S908, the process proceeds to step S911. If there is a color ink tank in step S908, the recovery operation C for the color head is performed in step S909, the count value TC is reset in the next step S910 (TC = 0),
Then, it progresses to step S911.

In step S911, the nonvolatile memory 1
Timer count value T for black cartridge in 07
B is compared with the black cartridge timer setting value SB preset in the ROM 102, and TB ≧ S
In the case of B, the presence or absence of the black ink tank is detected in step S912. When TC <SC in step S911 and when there is no black ink tank in step S912, the process proceeds to step S915. If there is a black ink tank in step S912, the recovery operation B for the black head is performed in step S913, the count value TB is reset in the next step S914 (TB = 0), and then step S9.
Proceed to 15.

Steps S915 to S919
Is from step S212 to step S2 in FIG.
Similar to 16. From step S919 to step S
Return to 907.

By the above processing, the automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control is executed for the color ink tank and the black ink tank mounted in the tank exchange type recording apparatus.

Next, the processing procedure when the ink tank is replaced will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S1001, when there is an instruction to replace the ink tank from the operation panel, the carriage moves to the ink tank replacement position in step S1002 and waits until an instruction to end the ink tank replacement is issued in step S1003. . If there is an ink tank replacement end instruction, the process advances to step S1004 to determine whether the color ink tank is new. If the color ink tank is new, the count value TC is set to the set value SC in step S1005 (TC = S
C) On the other hand, if it is not new, the process directly proceeds to step S1006. The method of determining whether or not the ink tank is new is the same as in the first embodiment described above, the instruction from the operation panel or the information is given to the ink tank, and the recording apparatus main body automatically You may decide to judge.

In step S1006, it is determined whether or not the black ink tank is new, and if it is new, the count value TB is set to the set value SB (TB = SB) in step S1007. If it is not new, the process directly proceeds to step S907 in FIG.

By carrying out such a processing, the recovery operation is carried out when the ink tank is replaced with a new one, so that the ink ejection stability is ensured and the ink is stored in the storage box. A recovery operation is automatically performed for the ink tank by the backup timer control.

According to the above processing, even when the color ink tank and the black ink tank are used together,
The automatic recovery operation by the backup timer control can be performed for each ink tank, the recovery operation can be performed just enough, and wasteful consumption of ink can be prevented.

In particular, when a plurality of recording ink tanks are built in the main body such as a tank exchange type recording apparatus, the original ink consumption is large, and the effect of reducing the consumption is remarkable.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiments, the case where the cartridge and the ink tank are two kinds has been described, but when one kind is reused or three or more kinds are used. It is effective in the present invention.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the process of resetting and starting the timer is described, but a method of determining the timer count value by calculation without resetting may be used. In particular, in the case of a printer for a device such as a personal computer or a word processor that already has a timer, it is not necessary to provide a new timer in the printer, and the cost and size can be reduced.

(Others) The present invention is provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system. The present invention brings about excellent effects in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type in which the state of ink is changed by the heat energy. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recording information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling is caused on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence
It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, so that liquid (ink) ejection with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angle liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration corresponding to the ejection portion is disclosed in JP-A-59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electrical connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, as the constitution of the recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to add the ejection recovery means of the recording head, the preliminary auxiliary means and the like because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, heating is performed by using a capping unit, a cleaning unit, a pressure or suction unit for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include a preliminary heating unit for performing the discharge and a preliminary discharge unit for performing discharge different from the recording.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. A plurality of pieces may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but it may be either the recording head is integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is also extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of full-color recording modes by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. Or, in the inkjet system, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Sometimes, a liquid ink may be used. In addition, the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy of the state change of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is solidified and heated in the standing state. You may use the ink liquefied by. In any case, by applying thermal energy such as ink that is liquefied by applying thermal energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording medium. The present invention can be applied to the case where an ink having a property of being liquefied for the first time is used. In this case, the ink is
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent No. 1260, it may be configured to face the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the concave portion or the through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, besides the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function can be used. It may be a form or the like.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an inkjet printing apparatus having a plurality of heads selectively or simultaneously, by performing an appropriate recovery operation by backup timer control individually for each head, the recovery operation for the plurality of heads is optimized. By suppressing wasteful ink consumption and reducing waste ink, it is possible to reduce the size of the device while maintaining reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control unit in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining processing of a recovery operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining processing of a recovery operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional inkjet printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining a recovery operation process in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining processing of a recovery operation in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining processing of a recovery operation in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining a treatment of a recovery operation in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Microprocessor unit 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 timer 105 I / O port 106 Power supply for backup 107 non-volatile memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Isao Ebisawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) Reference JP-A-4-255361 (JP, A) JP-A-3 -234541 (JP, A) JP-A-5-293967 (JP, A) JP-A-6-198908 (JP, A) JP-A-4-250066 (JP, A) JP-A-5-278230 (JP, A) ) JP-A-3-234543 (JP, A) JP-A-5-92581 (JP, A) JP-A-5-169675 (JP, A) JP-A-1-174459 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/175 B41J 2/01 B41J 2/18 B41J 2/185

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mounting unit having a recording unit, which is equipped with a discharging unit for discharging ink, can be mounted, and printing is performed on a print medium by the ink discharged from the recording unit mounted on the mounting unit. At least two mounting parts
An ink jet printing apparatus in which one of the recording means of one kind can be exchangeably mounted, and the recording means of one kind of the recording means mounted in the mounting portion can be installed .
The elapsed time since the last recovery operation was performed.
1 and the elapsed time from the recovery operation performed last time in the state where the other type of the recording means not attached to the attaching portion was attached to the attaching portion last time, the recording means of the other type. And a second timing means for timing even during a period when it is not mounted on the mounting part, and when the time measured is a predetermined time,
Recovery processing for the recording means attached to the attachment part
An ink jet printing apparatus characterized by a control means for performing . 2. The control means is mounted on the mounting portion.
If the recording means is a new head, the recovery process
The control according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed to perform a physical action.
The inkjet printing apparatus described. 3. The recording means is a color ink cartridge.
Color ink cartridge and black ink
That it is a black cartridge for monochrome recording
The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein
Place