JP5029181B2 - Fluid ejecting apparatus and flushing control method for fluid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid such as ink, and a flushing control method for the fluid ejecting apparatus.

In general, as a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects ink (fluid) from a nozzle of a recording head (fluid ejecting head) to a recording sheet (recording medium), a multifunction machine type ink jet recording having a scanner function in addition to a printer function An apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording apparatus”) is widely known. In such a recording apparatus, when a document is read by a scanner, copy recording of the document is performed by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording sheet. Also, in such a recording apparatus, flushing that moves the recording head to a non-printing area and ejects ink from the nozzle as waste ink is performed periodically for the purpose of adjusting the meniscus in the nozzle during recording on the recording medium. To be executed automatically.

That is, in the recording apparatus, flushing regions are provided on both ends in the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the carriage on which the recording head is mounted. Then, the controller of the recording apparatus moves the recording head to one of the non-printing areas when the elapsed time since the last flushing was performed during recording on the recording medium exceeded the flushing threshold. Thus, flushing is executed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-158673 A

By the way, in the above-described multifunction apparatus type recording apparatus, a plurality of copies of a document read by a scanner (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording”) may be continuously executed. Even during such recording, flushing is executed in the recording apparatus when the elapsed time exceeds the flushing threshold. However, when flushing is performed during recording on one sheet of recording paper, the flushing is performed between the portion on which the ink is ejected before flushing and the portion on which the ink is ejected after flushing. Due to the passage of time based on the execution of the ink, the drying condition of the ink changes. As a result, on the recorded recording paper discharged from the recording apparatus, a change appears in the color of the ink on the recording paper, and there is room for improvement in eliminating such a change in the color of the ink. It was.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid ejecting apparatus capable of suppressing a change in the color of a fluid on a part of a recording medium recorded by ejecting the fluid, and An object of the present invention is to provide a flushing control method for a fluid ejecting apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a fluid ejecting unit capable of ejecting a fluid onto a recording medium, and controlling the fluid ejecting unit to eject the fluid onto the recording medium. Control means for recording recording information on the recording medium, and the control means controls the fluid ejecting means so that flushing for discharging the fluid as waste fluid is periodically performed during recording of the recording information on the recording medium. In the fluid ejecting apparatus, the elapsed time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time since the last flushing was performed during the recording of the recording information on the recording medium, and the same recording information on a plurality of recording media are continuously performed. When the recording information is recorded on a part of the recording medium, the flushing is performed after the recording of the recording information on the next recording medium is started. A threshold setting unit configured to set a flushing threshold corresponding to the recording information so that the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measuring unit is set by the threshold setting unit. The fluid ejecting means is controlled to execute the flushing when the flushing threshold is exceeded.

According to the present invention, in the case where the same recording information is continuously recorded on the recording medium, the flushing threshold is set to the recording information recorded on the next recording medium after the recording of the recording information on one recording medium is completed. It is set so that flushing is executed before recording is started. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flushing from being performed during recording on a part of the recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a change in the color of the fluid on a part of the recording medium recorded by ejecting the fluid.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a fluid ejecting apparatus and a flushing control method for a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention are embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description of the present specification, when referring to “front-rear direction”, “left-right direction”, “up-down direction”, the front-rear direction (sub-scanning direction), left-right direction ( Main scanning direction) and vertical direction are shown respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “recording apparatus”) 11 as a fluid ejecting apparatus is a multifunction machine type recording apparatus having a scanner function in addition to a printer function. The main body 12 and a cover 13 that can be opened and closed are provided. A printer unit 14 is configured in the lower part of the main body 12, and a scanner unit 15 as an acquisition unit is configured in the upper part of the main body 12. On the upper surface of the main body 12, a document table 15 a in which a square plate-like transparent glass is incorporated is provided, and the document table 15 a is covered with a cover 13.

An automatic paper feed mechanism 16 having a support 16a on which recording paper P (see FIG. 2) as a recording medium is set is provided on the rear surface of the main body 12. In addition, on the front side of the main body 12, an operation panel 17 is provided at an upper stage portion thereof, a paper discharge section 18 is provided at a lower stage portion thereof, and a memory card 19 can be inserted and removed at a position to the right of the middle stage portion. A card slot (hereinafter simply referred to as “slot”) 20 is provided. A memory card 19 is provided on the operation panel 17 in order to record (that is, copy record) recording information obtained by scanning an original 21 as a body to be scanned set on the original table 15a.
Various buttons operated to record the recording information stored in the recording paper P on the recording paper P are provided.

Next, the printer unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 shows the recording apparatus 1.
1 is shown with the outer case 1 removed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 14 includes a frame 14a having a substantially rectangular box shape. A platen 30 is provided at the lower part in the frame 14a along the left-right direction which is the longitudinal direction thereof. On the platen 30, the recording paper P is fed (feeded) from the rear side by the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 based on the driving of a paper feed motor (hereinafter referred to as “PF motor”) 31 provided at the lower rear surface of the frame 14 a. Sent). Then, the recording paper P fed onto the platen 30 by the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 is transported forward by the driving of the transport mechanism 32 (see FIG. 3), and then the printer by the paper discharge mechanism 33 (see FIG. 3). The paper is discharged onto a paper discharge unit 18 outside the unit 14. The transport mechanism 32 and the paper discharge mechanism 33 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the driving force is transmitted from the PF motor 31 to drive each.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide shaft 34 is installed above the platen 30 along the longitudinal direction of the platen 30. A carriage 35 is supported on the guide shaft 34 so as to be capable of reciprocating along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the guide shaft 34. Frame 14a
A drive pulley 35a and a driven pulley 35b are rotatably supported at positions corresponding to both ends of the guide shaft 34 on the inner surface of the rear wall. A carriage motor (hereinafter referred to as “CR motor”) 36 serving as a drive source when the carriage 35 is reciprocated is moved to the drive pulley 35a.
Are connected to each other, and a carriage 3 is provided between the pair of pulleys 35a and 35b.
An endless timing belt 37 connected to 5 is hung. Accordingly, the carriage 35 is movable in the left-right direction via the endless timing belt 37 by the driving force of the CR motor 36 while being guided by the guide shaft 34.

A clutch mechanism 38 is provided at a position on the left side of the recordable area on the recording paper P in the laterally movable range of the carriage 35. The clutch mechanism 38 is configured to be able to switch between a connected state where the driving force of the PF motor 31 can be transmitted to the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 and a disconnected state where the driving force cannot be transmitted. That is, the clutch mechanism 38 has a carriage 35.
Thus, when the trigger lever 38 a of the clutch mechanism 38 is pushed leftward, the driving force of the PF motor 31 is driven so as to be transmitted to the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16.

In this state, when the PF motor 31 rotates in the forward rotation direction, a sheet feeding roller (not shown) of the automatic sheet feeding mechanism 16 rotates to feed the recording sheet P. When the paper feed roller rotates about once, the clutch mechanism 38 is switched to a disconnected state by a biasing force of a return spring (not shown).

A linear encoder 39 extending in the left-right direction is provided in the frame 14a.
It is provided along. The linear encoder 39 outputs a number of pulse signals proportional to the moving distance of the carriage 35 to the control device 60 (see FIG. 3). The control device 60 detects the moving position, moving speed, and moving direction of the carriage 35 based on the pulse signal from the linear encoder 39, and executes speed control and position control of the carriage 35 based on the detection result. It has become.

The carriage 35 is provided with a recording head 40 as a fluid ejecting head, and an ink cartridge 41 for storing ink as a fluid to be supplied to the recording head 40 is detachably mounted. Then, the ink contained in the ink cartridge 41 is driven by a piezoelectric element (not shown) provided in the recording head 40, and the nozzle 40 of the recording head 40.
a (see FIG. 3), and ink is ejected from the nozzle 40a.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the carriage 35 and the recording head 40 constitute a fluid ejecting unit capable of ejecting ink (fluid) onto the recording paper P.

Further, the right end portion in the frame 14a, that is, the non-printing area where the recording paper P does not reach,
A home position for positioning the carriage 35 when the recording head 40 is maintained is set. A maintenance unit 42 that performs various maintenance operations is provided below the carriage 35 in the home position so that the ink ejection from the recording head 40 to the recording paper P is well maintained. ing.
The maintenance unit 42 is provided with a cap 43 for receiving ink discharged as waste ink (waste fluid) from the recording head 40 that has moved to the home position (that is, ink discharged by flushing). .

Further, in the non-printing area where the recording paper P does not reach on the left end side in the frame 14a, the ink discharged as the waste ink from the recording head 40 due to the flushing of the recording head 40 that has moved to the non-printing area is received. A flushing cap 44 is provided.

Next, the scanner unit 15 will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the scanner unit 15 includes a document 2 set on a document table 15 a.
1. A scanning unit 52 having a lamp 50 that irradiates light 1 and a CCD (charge coupled device) 51 that acquires an image of the original 21 as recording information (image data), and a drive for scanning (moving) the scanning unit 52 And a mechanism 53. When performing a scanning operation for acquiring recording information from the document 21 set on the document table 15 a, the document 21 is irradiated with light from the lamp 50 of the scanning unit 52 through the document table 15 a and reflected by the document 21. Light to C
By detecting with the CD 51, the image of the document 21 is acquired as recording information. Then, the recording information based on the image of the original 21 acquired in this way is transferred to the control device 60.

Next, the control device 60 of the recording apparatus 11 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording apparatus 11 includes a control device 60 (a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3) that performs overall control of the entire apparatus. Input side interface of control device 60 (not shown)
Are electrically connected to the operation panel 17, the linear encoder 39, the rotary encoder 61 for detecting the rotation of the PF motor 31, the memory card 19 inserted into the slot 20, and the like. Further, the recording head 40, the CR motor 36, the PF motor 31, the scanner unit 15, and the like are electrically connected to the output side interface (not shown) of the control device 60. The control device 60 includes the recording head 40, The driving of the CR motor 36, the PF motor 31 and the scanner unit 15 is individually controlled.

The control device 60 includes a head driver 62 for controlling the driving of the recording head 40, a CR motor driver 63 for controlling the driving of the CR motor 36, and a PF motor driver for controlling the driving of the PF motor 31. 64. The control device 60 also includes a scanner driver 65 for controlling the driving of the scanner unit 15 and a memory card for acquiring recording information (recording data) stored in the memory card 19 inserted into the slot 20. A control circuit 70 (FIG. 3) including an input / output circuit 66 and a microcomputer.
And a portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line).

The control circuit 70 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, ASIC (Application Specific Integra).
ted Circuit) and a non-volatile memory (for example, EEPROM). The control circuit 70 includes a control unit 71, a head control unit 72, a CR control unit 73, a CR timer 74, and a PF control unit 75 as functional parts respectively realized by at least one of hardware and software. , A PF timer 76, a flushing timer 77, and a flushing memory 78. The control circuit 70 includes a scanner control unit 79, a scanner memory 80, a memory card control unit 81, and a memory card memory 82.

The control unit 71 records information (from the host computer 90 through the interface 91 (
When the recording data is received, the recording information is subjected to various conversion processes (resolution conversion process, color conversion process, halftone process, etc.) to generate raster data and control commands. And
The control unit 71 transfers the raster data to the head control unit 72 and sends a control command for driving the CR motor 36 and the PF motor 31 to the CR control unit 73 and the PF control unit 75.
Respectively. The control unit 71 also performs various conversion processes on the acquired recording information to obtain a raster even when the recording information is acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 or the recording information is acquired from the memory card 19. Generate data and control commands. Then, the control unit 71 transfers the raster data to the head control unit 72, and at the same time, C
A control command for driving the R motor 36 and the PF motor 31 is sent to the CR control unit 73 or P
The data are output to the F control unit 75, respectively. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 71 functions as a control unit.

The head control unit 72 receives the raster data transferred from the control unit 71 as a head driver 62.
Output to. Then, the head control unit 72 controls the drive of the recording head 40 (specifically, a piezoelectric element built in the recording head 40) based on the raster data via the head driver 62, and each nozzle 40a (FIG. 3). Ink is ejected separately from each other.

The CR control unit 73 is based on the control command from the control unit 71 via the CR motor driver 63 and rotates, the rotation amount, and the rotation speed of the CR motor 36 (that is, the movement direction, movement amount, and drive speed of the carriage 35). ) And so on. The control unit 75 for PF is, for example, the PF motor 31.
PF motor 31 based on an input pulse from a rotary encoder 61 provided on the output shaft of
The rotation direction, rotation amount, and rotation speed are detected. The PF control unit 75 controls the rotation direction, the rotation amount, the rotation speed, and the like of the PF motor 31 based on the control command from the control unit 71 via the PF motor driver 64.

The scanner control unit 79 controls driving of the scanner unit 15 in order to scan the document 21 set on the document table 15 a via the scanner driver 65. The scanner control unit 79 stores the recording information acquired by the scanner unit 15 scanning the document 21 in the scanner memory 80, and transfers the recording information stored in the scanner memory 80 to the control unit 71. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the scanner memory 80 functions as an information storage unit. Further, the memory card control unit 81 stores the recording information acquired from the memory card 19 inserted into the slot 20 via the memory card input / output circuit 66 in the memory card memory 82, and The recorded information stored in the card memory 82 is transferred to the control unit 71.

Each of the timers 74, 76, and 77 is constituted by a counter that performs a counting process based on a clock signal from a clock circuit, or a CPU that executes a timer processing program. The flushing memory 78 stores a flushing threshold value KTf (see FIG. 5) for periodically performing flushing when the same recording information acquired by driving the scanner unit 15 is continuously recorded on the recording paper P. Is done. In addition, the flushing memory 78
4 stores the table shown in FIG.

Next, the table shown in FIG. 4 will be described below.
The table shown in FIG. 4 shows that the recording on the recording paper P based on the recording information acquired by the scanning of the original 21 by the scanner unit 15 is a marginless recording in which the entire recording paper P is ejected with no margin (“marginless printing”). This is a table for setting a periodic flushing execution interval executed during borderless recording. This table shows the relationship between the size of the recording paper P and the specified value corresponding to the size. Specifically, the specified value when the size of the recording paper P is “A1” is the first specified value KTA1, and the size of the recording paper P is “A2” smaller than “A1”. The specified value is the first specified value K
The second specified value KTA2 is smaller than TA1. Further, the specified value when the size of the recording paper P is “A3” smaller than “A2” is the third specified value KTA3 smaller than the second specified value KTA2, and the size of the recording paper P is “A3”. The specified value in the case of “A4” smaller than “4” is the fourth specified value KTA4 smaller than the third specified value KTA3. Further, the specified value when the size of the recording paper P is a postcard size smaller than “A5” is the fifth specified value KTPC smaller than the fourth specified value KTA4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flashing memory 78 also functions as a specified value storage unit.

Next, among the control processing routines executed by the control circuit 70 (control unit 71) of the present embodiment, the recording information acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 is copied and recorded on the recording paper P (hereinafter simply “ A simple scan recording process routine executed when recording is performed) will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. This simple scan recording processing routine is performed when the operation panel 17 is operated to record the recording information acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 on the recording paper P, or when the scanner unit 1
5 is executed when the recording information acquired by scanning the original 21 by 5 is recorded from the host computer 90 to record the recording information on the recording paper P. Routine. Note that simple recording is a recording method in which recording speed is more important than quality of recording results. On the other hand, when recording in a recording method in which the quality of the recording result is more important than the recording speed, another recording processing routine different from the simple scan recording processing routine is executed.

In the simple scan recording processing routine, the control unit 71 receives control information indicating that the recording information acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 is continuously executed on a plurality of recording sheets P. It is determined whether or not (step S10). If the determination result is affirmative, the control unit 71 determines that the same recording information is to be continuously recorded on a plurality of recording sheets P, and performs control for performing borderless recording on the recording sheets P. It is determined whether or not information is input (step S11). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the control unit 71 also functions as a borderless detection unit. When the determination result in step S11 is negative,
The control unit 71 determines that the current continuous recording on the plurality of recording sheets P is not borderless recording, sets the threshold setting flag FLGf to “0 (zero)” (step S12), and the processing will be described later. The process proceeds to step S17. The threshold value setting flag FLGf is set to “1” when the flushing threshold value KTf has already been set at the time of recording on the recording paper P this time, while it is set to “1” when the flushing threshold value KTf has not been set. This flag is set to “0 (zero)”.

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S11 is affirmative, the control unit 71 determines the printer unit 14 based on the size information regarding the size of the recording paper P input by the operation of the operation panel 17 or the operation of the host computer 90 by the user. The size of the recording paper P used for recording in is checked (step S13). Subsequently, the control unit 71 reads a specified value (for example, a fourth specified value KTA4) corresponding to the size (for example, “A4”) of the recording paper P from the table shown in FIG. 4, and sets the specified value as the flushing threshold value KTf. (Step S14). And
The control unit 71 sets the flushing threshold value KTf to “1” and outputs a control command to the flushing timer 77 to cause the flushing timer 77 to start measuring the elapsed time Tf (step S15). This elapsed time Tf is an elapsed time since the last flushing was executed. In this regard, in this embodiment, the flushing timer 77 functions as an elapsed time measuring unit. Step S15 corresponds to a measurement step. Then, the control part 71 transfers the process to step S17 mentioned later.

On the other hand, when the determination result of step S10 is negative, the control unit 71 sets a predetermined value KTs (for example, “70” seconds) set in advance to the flushing threshold KTf (step S).
16). The predetermined value KTs is the longest interval at which no defective ejection of ink by the recording head 40 occurs due to the non-execution of flushing during recording on the recording paper P, and is set in advance by experiments or simulations. And the control part 71 transfers the process to the following step S17, after performing the process of step S15.

In step S <b> 17, the CR control unit 73 controls the rotation of the CR motor 36 based on the control command from the control unit 71 to start the leftward movement of the carriage 35. Then, the control unit 71 controls the carriage 3 based on the input signal from the linear encoder 39.
5 is detected, it is determined whether or not the carriage 35 has moved to a trigger position at which the trigger lever 38a of the clutch mechanism 38 can be pushed leftward (step S18). When this determination result is a negative determination, the control unit 71 repeatedly executes the determination process of step S18 until the determination result of step S18 becomes a positive determination.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S18 is affirmative, the CR timer 74 starts measuring the recording time Tw based on the control command from the control unit 71 (step S19). Subsequently, based on the control command from the control unit 71, the PF control unit 75 controls the rotation of the PF motor 31 to start the recording paper P feeding process by the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 (step S20). Then, when this paper feed process is completed, the control unit 71 proceeds to the next step S21.

In step S21, a recording process is executed. That is, the recording paper P of the first page
In the case of recording on the document, based on a control command from the control unit 71, the scanner control unit 79 obtains recording information from the document 21 by causing the scanner unit 15 to scan the document 21 set on the document table 15a. The recorded information is stored in the scanner memory 80 as needed. At this time, the control unit 71 performs various conversion processes on the recording information stored in the scanner memory 80, and generates raster data and control commands based on the recording information. And the control part 71
When the generation of raster data for a predetermined number of passes (for example, two passes) is completed, the raster data is transferred to the head controller 72 and the CR motor 36 and the PF motor 31 are rotated separately. The control command is output to the CR control unit 73 and the PF control unit 75, respectively. As a result, recording information is recorded on the recording paper P as a result of the recording head 40 ejecting ink onto the recording paper P under the control of the head controller 72. After that, when raster data for the next predetermined number of passes (2 passes) is generated by various conversion processes of the recording information by the control unit 71, the head control unit 72 applies the recording paper P based on the raster data. Execute the recording. The “pass” described above means that the carriage 35 moves once in the left-right direction, and “two passes” indicates that the carriage 35 moves in the left-right direction twice.

On the other hand, in the case of recording on the recording paper P after the second page, raster data of recording information based on the document 21 set on the document table 15a has already been generated. for that reason,
The control unit 71 causes the head control unit 72 to control the drive of the recording head 40 based on the raster data that has already been generated and the control commands for the motors 36 and 31, and the CR control unit 73 and the PF control unit 75. The recording information is recorded on the recording paper P by controlling the driving of the CR motor 36 and the PF motor 31 separately. Accordingly, the total time from the start of recording of the recording information on the recording paper P on the second page to the completion of the recording information on the first page is equal to the time when the recording information does not need to be subjected to various conversion processes. It becomes earlier than the total time from the start of the recording of the recording information to the completion.

Subsequently, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the threshold setting flag FLGf is set to “0 (zero)” (step S22). If the determination result is affirmative (FLGf = “0”), the control unit 71 performs recording time measurement processing described in detail in FIG. 8 to perform recording required for recording one page of recording paper P. By performing various arithmetic processes on the scan of the document 21 and the recording information acquired by the scan from the time Tw (that is, the total time from the start of recording of the recording information to the recording paper P of the first page to the completion thereof) The time (excluding the extra time) is measured (step S23), and the process proceeds to step S24 described later. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S22 is negative (FLGf = “1”), the controller 71 does not execute step S23 because the flushing threshold value KTf has been set.
The process proceeds to the next step S24.

In step S24, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the recording of one page of the recording paper P is completed. When this determination result is a negative determination, the controller 71 proceeds to step S21 described above. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S24 is affirmative determination,
The control unit 71 outputs a control command (paper discharge command) for executing paper discharge processing to the PF control unit 75. As a result, the control unit 75 for PF controls the rotation of the PF motor 31 to drive the paper discharge mechanism 33 to discharge the recorded recording paper P to the paper discharge unit 18 (step S25).

Subsequently, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the threshold setting flag FLGf is set to “0 (zero)” (step S26). If the determination result is affirmative (FLGf = “0”), the control unit 71 causes the PF timer 76 to start measuring the blank time Tb by outputting a control command to the PF timer 76 (step S27). ), The process proceeds to step S29 to be described later. On the other hand, the determination result of step S26 is negative (FLGf = “1
)), The controller 71 determines the elapsed time T measured by the flushing timer 77.
It is determined whether f is equal to or greater than the flushing threshold KTf (step S28). When this determination result is a negative determination (Tf <KTf), the control unit 71 proceeds to step S31 described later. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S28 is affirmative (Tf ≧ KTf), the controller 71 shifts the process to the next step S29.

In step S29, flushing is executed. That is, based on a control command from the control unit 71, the CR control unit 73 determines which of the caps 43 and 44 is closer to the carriage 35 based on an input signal from the linear encoder 39, and rotates the CR motor 36. Is controlled to move the carriage 35 toward the closer cap (for example, the flushing cap 44). The CR control unit 73 is connected to the linear encoder 39.
When it is determined that the carriage 35 (recording head 40) is located immediately above the cap based on the input signal from the input signal, the rotation of the CR motor 36 is stopped to stop the movement of the carriage 35. Subsequently, based on the control command from the control unit 71, the head control unit 72 discharges ink from all the nozzles 40a of the recording head 40 toward the cap as waste ink. In this regard, in this embodiment, step S29 corresponds to a flushing step. Thereafter, based on the control command from the control unit 71, the flushing timer 77 resets the elapsed time Tf to “0 (zero)” and starts measuring the elapsed time Tf again (step S30). Control goes to step S31.

In step S31, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P for all pages to be recorded has been completed. When this determination result is a negative determination, the control unit 71
Determines that there is still a recording sheet P on which recording information is to be recorded, and the above-described steps S17 and S1.
Steps S32 and S33 corresponding to 8 are sequentially executed. Subsequently, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the threshold setting flag FLGf is set to “0 (zero)” (step S34).
). When this determination result is a negative determination (FLGf = “1”), the control unit 71 proceeds to step S20 described above.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S34 is affirmative (FLGf = "0"), the PF timer 76 stops measuring the blank time Tb based on the control command from the control unit 71 (step S35). Subsequently, the control unit 71 sets the flushing threshold value KTf by executing the threshold value setting process described in detail in FIG. 9 (step S36). In this regard, in the present embodiment, the control unit 71 functions as a threshold setting unit. Step S36 corresponds to a threshold setting step. Subsequently, the control unit 71 sets the threshold setting flag FLGf to “1” (step S37), outputs a control command to the flushing timer 77, and causes the flushing timer 77 to start measuring the elapsed time Tf ( Step S38). Then, the control part 71 transfers the process to step S20 mentioned above.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S31 is affirmative, the control unit 71 outputs a control command to all the timers 74, 76, and 77 and stops measuring time by each of the timers 74, 76, and 77, respectively. (Step S39), and the simple scan recording process routine is terminated.

Next, the recording time measuring process (recording time measuring process routine) in step S23 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the recording time measurement processing routine, the controller 71 determines whether or not the CR motor 36 is rotating (step S50). When the determination result is negative, the control unit 71 determines that the carriage 35 is stopped because the generation of raster data for a predetermined number of passes has not been completed. Then, the control unit 71 outputs a control command to the CR timer 74, causes the CR timer 74 to temporarily stop recording time Tw (step S51), and ends the recording time measurement processing routine.

On the other hand, if the determination result in step S50 is affirmative, the control unit 71 causes the carriage 3 to record recording information on the recording paper P (that is, to eject ink onto the recording paper P).
5 is determined to be moving. Then, the control unit 71 outputs a control command to the CR timer 74, causes the CR timer 74 to resume measurement of the recording time Tw (step S52), and ends the recording time measurement processing routine. That is, the time (recording time Tw) during which the carriage 35 is moving during recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is measured.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the CR timer 74 records the recording information on the recording paper P from the start to the completion of recording the recording information on one page (one copy) of the recording paper P. Functions as a recording time detecting means for detecting the recording time Tw required for the recording.

Next, the threshold value setting process (threshold value setting process routine) in step S36 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the threshold setting process routine, the control unit 71 substitutes “1” for the set value n (
Step S60). The set value n is a value for setting the number of pages of the recording paper P on which recording information is recorded between the time when the flushing is performed and the time when the flushing is performed next. Subsequently, the control unit 71 calculates the flushing threshold value KTf based on the already acquired recording time Tw, blank time Tb, and set value n (step S61). And the control part 71 determines whether the flushing threshold value KTf calculated in step S61 is less than predetermined value KTs (step S62). If the determination result is affirmative (KTf <KTs), the controller 71 increments the set value n by “1” (step S63), and the process proceeds to step S61 described above.

On the other hand, when the determination result of step S62 is negative (KTf ≧ KTs), the control unit 7
1 determines whether or not the flushing threshold value KTf is equal to the predetermined value KTs (step S6).
4). When the determination result is affirmative (KTf = KTs), the control unit 71 ends the threshold setting process routine. On the other hand, the determination result of step S64 is negative (KTf> KTs
), The control unit 71 decrements the set value n by “1” (step S65).
Then, it is determined whether or not the set value n is “0 (zero)” (step S66). When this determination result is a negative determination (n ≠ “0”), the control unit 71 executes a process similar to step S61 (step S67), and ends the threshold setting process routine. On the other hand, step S66.
If the determination result is an affirmative determination (n = “0”), the control unit 71 determines that the flushing threshold KT
f is set to a predetermined value KTs (step S68), and the threshold value setting process routine is terminated.

Next, the flushing control method of the recording apparatus 11 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the recording information acquired by the scanner unit 15 scanning the document 21 is simply and continuously recorded on a plurality of recording sheets P. Further, the recording time Tw detected when the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is completed is a predetermined value KTs (70 seconds).
Shorter than that.

When the operation panel 17 is operated with the document 21 set on the document table 15a,
Scanning of the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 is started, and a sheet of recording paper P is fed into the printer unit 14 by driving the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16. In the present embodiment, feeding of the recording paper P into the printer unit 14 by the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 is started, and measurement of the recording time Tw by the CR timer 74 is started.

Further, in the control circuit 70, various conversion processes of recording information acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 are executed as needed. As a result of various conversion processes, when raster data for two passes is generated, the raster data is transferred to the head control unit 72, and recording of recording information on the recording paper P is started by the printer unit 14. Is done. Thereafter, when the recording on the recording paper P for the raster data transferred to the head control unit 72 is completed, the movement of the carriage 35 is temporarily stopped. As a result, the recording on the recording paper P by the printer unit 14 is temporarily stopped. The

As described above, even when the recording information is being recorded on the recording paper P by the printer unit 14, the scanning of the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 and various conversion processes of the recording information acquired by the scanning are continued. When raster data for the next two passes is generated, the raster data is transferred to the head control unit 72, whereby recording on the recording paper P by the printer unit 14 is resumed. At this time, while the carriage 35 of the printer unit 14 is moving, the recording time Tw is measured by the CR timer 74, while when the carriage 35 is stopped, the recording time by the CR timer 74 is measured. The measurement of Tw is interrupted.

Then, the scanning of the document 21 by the scanner unit 15 is completed, and the printer unit 14
When the recording of the recording information on the first page of recording paper P is completed, the measurement of the recording time Tw by the CR timer 74 ends. In addition, discharge of the recording paper P that has been recorded by driving the paper discharge mechanism 33 to the paper discharge unit 18 is started, and measurement of the blank time Tb by the PF timer 76 is started. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, flushing is executed after the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is completed until the discharge of the recording paper P is completed.

Thereafter, when the discharge of the recording paper P of the first page that has been recorded is completed, the measurement of the blank time Tb by the PF timer 76 ends. Then, the setting value n is set so that the flushing threshold value KTf does not become larger than the predetermined value KTs, and the setting value n
The flushing threshold value KTf corresponding to the recording time Tw and the blank time Tb is set by calculation. When the automatic paper feeding mechanism 16 starts feeding the recording paper P for the second page, the elapsed time Tf measurement by the flushing timer 77 is started.

Then, the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P is executed by the printer unit 14 continuously such as the second page and the third page. Eventually, when the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the mth page (m = n + 1) is completed, the elapsed time Tf from the flushing executed after the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is Before the recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the next page (that is, the (m + 1) th page) is started, the flushing threshold value KTf is exceeded. Therefore, flushing is executed before recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the (m + 1) th page is started. As described above, the flushing is executed after the recording information is recorded on the mth recording sheet P and before the recording information is recorded on the (m + 1) th recording sheet P. It is avoided that flushing is performed during the recording of recording information on one page of recording paper P.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the same recording information is continuously recorded on the recording paper P, the flushing threshold KTf is set to the recording paper P of the next page after the recording of recording information on the recording paper P of one page is completed. It is set so that flushing is executed before recording of recording information is started. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flushing from being performed during the recording of the recording information on one page of the recording paper P. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a change in the color of the ink on one page of recording paper P recorded by ejecting ink from the recording head 40.

(2) The flushing threshold value KTf is set to a value corresponding to the recording time Tw required for recording the recording information on one page of recording paper P. For this reason, flushing can be performed during the period from the completion of recording of recording information on one page of recording paper P to the start of recording on the next recording paper P.

(3) When recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is completed, flushing is performed before recording on the recording paper P of the second page is started, and the flushing threshold KTf is set to Is set. Thereafter, flushing is executed for each flushing threshold KTf. Therefore, it is possible to avoid performing flushing during recording of recording information on one page of recording paper P.

(4) While recording information is recorded on the recording paper P of the first page for which the recording time Tw is being measured, execution of flushing is avoided. Therefore, it is possible to avoid performing flushing during recording on the first page of recording paper P, which is slower in recording speed than recording information on the second and subsequent pages of recording paper P. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the color of the ink ejected on the recording paper P from changing on the recording paper P of the first page. Further, when the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is completed, the flushing is forcibly executed before the recording on the recording paper P of the recording paper P of the second page is started. The Therefore, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ink ejection failure due to the non-execution of flushing during the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the second page.

(5) When recording on the recording paper P while scanning the original 21, it takes time to perform various conversion processes of recording information acquired by scanning the original 21, and so on to the recording paper P of the first page. The recording of the recording information takes more time than recording on the recording paper P for the second and subsequent pages. Therefore, in this embodiment, the total time during which the carriage 35 is moving during the recording of the recording paper P for the first page is the recording time required for recording the recording information on the recording paper P for the first page. Tw. The recording time Tw is estimated as the recording time for the second and subsequent pages when recording information is recorded on the recording paper P without executing scanning of the original 21 and various conversion processing of recording information. Accordingly, the flushing is performed so that the flushing is executed after the recording of the recording information on the m-th recording paper P is completed until the recording of the recording information on the (m + 1) -th recording paper P is started. The threshold value KTf can be set appropriately.

(6) When recording information on the recording paper P is borderless recording, the time required for borderless recording of the recording information on one page of recording paper P is constant, so one page recording Paper P
The flushing threshold value KTf can be set without measuring the recording time Tw required to record the recording information on. Therefore, an increase in the control load of the control circuit 70 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the recording time Tw is measured and the flushing threshold value KTf corresponding to the recording time Tw is set regardless of whether the recording is borderless. .

(7) When marginless recording is performed, the recording paper P on which marginless recording is performed
A specified value (a third specified value KTA3 when the recording paper P is “A3”) is set as the flushing threshold value KTf. Therefore, when borderless recording is performed,
An appropriate flushing threshold value KTf can be set according to the size of the recording paper P on which borderless recording is performed.

(8) In the present embodiment, the flushing threshold value KTf can cause the flushing to be executed until the recording on the next recording sheet P is started after the recording on one recording sheet P is completed. Among the values that are smaller than the predetermined value KTs, the closest value to the predetermined value KTs is set. Therefore, in the case where the same recording information is continuously recorded on the recording paper P,
An increase in the number of executions of flushing can be suppressed.

(9) Generally, when the flushing is executed between the time when the recording of one page of recording paper P is completed and the time when recording on the next recording paper P is started, the recording paper P that has been recorded is recorded. Flushing is executed based on detection of a control command (paper discharge command) output to the PF control unit 75 to discharge the paper. However, in the case of simple recording as in the present embodiment, if flushing is executed every time a paper discharge command is output, the recording speed may be slow due to excessive execution of flushing. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the flushing threshold value KTf is set to a value close to the predetermined value KTs, so that excessive execution of flushing can be suppressed and a decrease in recording speed can be suppressed.

(10) There is also a method of suppressing excessive flushing execution by causing flushing to be executed when the number of output times of the paper discharge command exceeds a preset output frequency threshold. However, the recording time Tw required for recording on the recording paper P varies depending on the size of the recording information. Therefore, depending on the size of the recording information to be recorded on the recording paper P, the flushing execution interval may exceed a predetermined value, and ink ejection failure by the recording head 40 may occur due to the unexecuted flushing. On the other hand, when the recording information to be recorded on the recording paper P is small, the recording time required for recording the recording information on one page of the recording paper P is short. There is a risk of falling into excess. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the flushing threshold value KTf is set to a value that is not more than the predetermined value KTs and is as close as possible to the predetermined value KTs regardless of the size of the recording information. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective ink ejection by the recording head 40 due to the non-execution of flushing, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in recording speed due to excessive execution of flushing.

(11) In the present embodiment, flushing is performed when the elapsed time Tf is equal to or greater than the flushing threshold KTf during the execution of the paper discharge process for the recording paper P that has been recorded (that is, after the output of the paper discharge command). Executed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid performing flushing during recording of recording information on one page of recording paper P.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment,
The method for detecting the recording time Tw during recording of the recording paper P for the first page is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, parts different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same or corresponding member configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Shall.

When recording information is recorded on the recording paper P, the CR control unit 73 controls the movement of the carriage 35 based on a control command from the control unit 71 as described below. That is, the control circuit 70 is provided with a CR memory (not shown). The CR memory has a speed table (acceleration) for controlling the moving speed of the carriage 35 (that is, the rotational speed of the CR motor 36). For example, an acceleration table for decelerating, a deceleration table for decelerating, etc.) are stored.

In the acceleration table, the moving distance from the position where the acceleration of the carriage 35 is started and the moving speed of the carriage 35 at the moving distance (specifically, the frequency of the signal to be detected from the linear encoder 39) are mutually connected. It is associated. For example, when the moving distance from the position where the acceleration of the carriage 35 is started is the first moving distance, the moving speed of the carriage 35 is the first acceleration, and the moving distance is the second moving distance (> the first moving distance). The moving speed of the carriage 35 in the case of the moving distance) is the second acceleration (> first acceleration).

Further, on the deceleration table, the moving distance from the position where the carriage 35 that has been moving at a constant speed starts to decelerate, and the moving speed of the carriage 35 at the moving distance (specifically, detected by the linear encoder 39). Are associated with each other). For example, when the movement distance from the position where the carriage 35 starts decelerating is the first movement distance, the movement speed of the carriage 35 is the first deceleration, and the movement distance is the second movement distance (> first The moving speed of the carriage 35 is the second deceleration (<first deceleration).

In the present embodiment, when the CR control unit 73 controls the movement of the carriage 35 based on the control command from the control unit 71, the CR motor 36 is used using the various tables described above.
Control the rotation of The CR control unit 73 detects the recording time Tw required for recording the recording information on one page of recording paper P (that is, the total time during which the carriage 35 has moved) using various tables.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, when ink is ejected from the recording head 40 onto the recording paper P, the carriage 35 is accelerated by the rotation control of the CR motor 36 of the CR control unit 73 based on the acceleration table, and the moving speed is increased. It becomes constant speed (constant speed). At this time, the CR control unit 73 detects a movement distance required to accelerate the carriage 35 to a constant speed based on an input signal from the linear encoder 39, and the carriage 35 is detected at a constant speed from the detection result and the acceleration table. Acceleration time required to become is detected.

When the carriage 35 moves at a constant speed, ink is ejected from the recording head 40 onto the recording paper P by the control of the recording head 40 by the head controller 72. When ink ejection onto the recording paper P by the recording head 40 is completed in the pass, the carriage 35 starts deceleration by the rotation control of the CR motor 36 by the CR control unit 73 based on the deceleration table. At this time, the CR control unit 73 detects the distance traveled by the carriage 35 at a constant speed based on the input signal from the linear encoder 39, and the detection result and the speed of the carriage 35 at a constant speed (known speed). Speed) during which the carriage 35 was moving at a constant speed is detected.

When the movement of the carriage 35 is stopped, the CR control unit 73 detects the movement distance required to stop the movement of the carriage 35 based on the input signal from the linear encoder 39, and the detection result and the deceleration table. The deceleration time required until the carriage 35 that has been moving at a constant speed stops is detected. The CR control unit 73 adds the detected acceleration time, constant speed time, and deceleration time to detect the time during which the carriage 35 has moved in the current pass (hereinafter referred to as “pass time”). . Thus, by detecting the pass time in each pass and adding all the pass times, the CR control unit 73 detects the recording time Tw required to record the recording information on one page of recording paper P. To do. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the CR control unit 73 functions as a recording time detection unit.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following effects can be further obtained.
(12) In this embodiment, since the recording time Tw is detected based on the acceleration table and the deceleration table used when controlling the movement of the carriage 35, the carriage 3
It is detected when the movement of 5 is controlled. Therefore, an increase in the control load of the control circuit 70 can be suppressed by the amount that the CR timer 74 is not used.

In addition, you may change each said embodiment into another embodiment as follows.
In each embodiment, even when the recording on the recording paper P is borderless recording, the recording time Tw at the time of borderless recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is detected, and the recording time A flushing threshold value KTf corresponding to Tw may be set.

In each embodiment, 2 after the recording of the recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is completed
It is not necessary to perform flushing until recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the page is started. In this case, the flushing threshold value KTf is set so that the flushing is executed after the recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the nth page counted from the first page is completed, and every n pages after the completion of the flushing. It is desirable to reset the flushing threshold value KTf so that flushing is performed periodically.

In each embodiment, the recording time Tw during recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the second page
May be detected. During recording on the recording paper P of the second page, scanning of the document 21 and various conversion processes of the recording information acquired by the scanning are not executed, so that feeding of the recording paper P of the second page is simply started. The recording time Tw can be detected by measuring the time from when the recording paper P starts to be discharged.

In the simple scan recording process routine of each embodiment, it is not necessary to execute the determination process (step S28) as to whether or not the elapsed time Tf is equal to or greater than the flushing threshold value KTf. In this case, in a processing routine that is processed simultaneously with the simple scan recording processing routine, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time Tf is equal to or greater than the flushing threshold value KTf. It is desirable to force the flushing to be executed when Even in this configuration, the flushing threshold value KTf is set to a value corresponding to the recording time Tw required to record the recording information on one page of the recording paper P, and therefore, It is possible to avoid performing flushing during recording of recording information. Further, a control command for discharging the recording paper P that has been recorded from the printer unit 14 (
The control load on the control circuit 70 can be reduced because it is not necessary to check whether or not the (paper discharge command) has been output.

In each embodiment, measurement of the elapsed time Tf is started after the recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the first page is started, and when the elapsed time Tf becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value KTs, 1
Flushing may be forcibly executed even during recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the page. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of ink ejection failure due to the non-execution of flushing during recording of recording information on the recording paper P of the first page.

In each embodiment, the recording information stored in the memory card 19 inserted in the slot 20 may be embodied on the recording paper P. In this case, when recording information is recorded on the recording paper P of the first page, various conversion processes of the recording information stored in the memory card 19 and recording on the recording paper P based on the raster data generated by the conversion processing are performed. Processing is executed.

In each embodiment, the printer unit 14 and the ink cartridge 41 are moved to the carriage 35.
It may be embodied in a so-called off-carriage type printer unit arranged at a position different from the above.
In each embodiment, in the printer unit 14, the recording head 40 has an overall shape corresponding to the length in the width direction (left-right direction) of the recording paper P in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction (front-back direction) of the recording paper P. It may be embodied in a so-called full line type printer unit. In this configuration, the recording paper P is used until raster data for a predetermined number of passes is generated when various conversion processes are performed on the recording information acquired by scanning the document 21 by the scanner unit 15.
If the paper feed is stopped, it is desirable to detect the total time during which the paper feed of one page of the recording paper P is executed, and to set the detection result as the recording time Tw.

In addition, when the paper feed speed is not temporarily stopped during recording on the recording paper P of the first page but the paper feeding speed is made slower than normal, the recording paper P of the first page is simply Measure the time required to feed the paper. Then, it is desirable to detect the recording time Tw by multiplying this time by a preset coefficient. The normal paper feed speed is a speed corresponding to a value obtained by multiplying the paper feed speed of the recording paper P of the first page by the above coefficient.

-In each embodiment, you may actualize when recording information is recorded on recording media other than the recording paper P (for example, the surface of a compact disc).
In each embodiment, the fluid ejecting apparatus is embodied in the ink jet recording apparatus 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and fluid other than ink (liquid or liquid in which particles of functional material are dispersed or mixed in the liquid) Body, and fluid bodies such as gels) may be embodied in a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges the body. For example, a liquid material ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid material that is dispersed or dissolved in materials such as electrode materials and color materials (pixel materials) used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays. Further, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, or a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid that is used as a precision pipette and serves as a sample may be used. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resin to form liquid injection devices that pinpoint lubricant oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto the substrate, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, and a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid such as a gel (for example, a physical gel) It may be. The present invention can be applied to any one of these fluid ejecting apparatuses. In the present specification, the term “fluid” is a concept that does not include a fluid consisting only of gas and a fluid consisting of powder (powder particles) such as toner. Examples of the fluid include liquid (inorganic solvent, organic solvent). Solution, liquid resin, liquid metal (metal melt), etc.), liquid, fluid and the like.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a printer unit. The block circuit diagram which shows an electric structure. A table showing the relationship between the size of a recording sheet and a specified value. The flowchart explaining the scan simple recording processing routine (first half). The flowchart explaining the scan simple recording processing routine (middle part). The flowchart explaining the scan simple recording processing routine (second half part). The flowchart explaining a recording time measurement process routine. The flowchart explaining a threshold value setting process routine. The schematic diagram which shows the timing which performs flushing. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a change in the moving speed of a carriage during recording on a recording sheet.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Inkjet recording apparatus as fluid ejecting apparatus, 15 ... Scanner unit as acquisition means, 35 ... Carriage as fluid ejecting means, 40 ... Recording head as fluid ejecting means, 71 ... Control means, threshold setting means, edge Control unit as none detection unit, 73... CR control unit as recording time detection unit, 74... CR timer as recording time detection unit, 77... Flushing timer as elapsed time measurement unit, 78. Flushing memory as means, 80... Scanner memory as information storage means, KTA1, KTA2, K
TA3, KTA4, KTPC ... prescribed value, KTf ... flushing threshold, KTs ... predetermined value, P
... recording paper as a recording medium, Tf ... elapsed time, Tw ... recording time.

Claims (4)

A fluid ejecting unit capable of ejecting a fluid onto the recording medium; and a control unit configured to eject the fluid onto the recording medium by controlling the fluid ejecting unit and record the recording information on the recording medium. In the fluid ejecting apparatus for controlling the fluid ejecting means so that flushing for discharging the fluid as a waste fluid is periodically performed during recording of the recording information on the recording medium.
An elapsed time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time since the last flushing was performed during recording of recording information on a recording medium;
In case of recording continuously the same recording information on a recording medium a plurality portions, and a threshold setting means for setting a flushing threshold corresponding prior type recording information,
A borderless detection means for detecting that the recording is a borderless recording when recording on a recording medium based on the recording information is started;
Further comprising prescribed value storage means for storing a prescribed value set in advance for each size of the recording medium to be recorded without borders ,
The control unit controls the fluid ejecting unit to perform the flushing when the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measuring unit is equal to or greater than a flushing threshold set by the threshold setting unit .
The threshold setting means records the recording information onto the next recording medium after the recording of the recording information onto a part of the recording medium is completed when the marginless detection means detects the execution of borderless recording. In order to execute the flushing until the start of the recording, a specified value corresponding to the size of the recording medium to be recorded without border is read from the specified value storage means, and the read specified value is set as the flushing threshold value. a fluid ejecting apparatus for. A recording time detecting means for detecting a recording time required to record the recording information on the recording medium from the start to the completion of recording of the recording information on a part of the recording medium; The image processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit that scans and acquires recording information to be recorded, and an information storage unit that stores the recording information acquired by the acquisition unit, and the control unit performs recording on the first recording medium. While recording information is acquired by the acquisition means, the recording information is recorded on the recording medium of the first copy, while recording information stored in the information storage means is recorded on the recording medium of the second and subsequent copies. It is designed to be recorded on the second and subsequent recording media,
When the recording time is detected by the recording time detection means upon completion of recording of the recording information on a part of the recording media, the threshold setting means starts recording the recording information on the next recording medium A flushing threshold corresponding to the recording time is set before the recording is performed, and the control means ejects the fluid to perform the flushing before the recording of the recording information onto the next recording medium is started. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means is controlled. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit regulates execution of the flushing when recording the recording information on a recording medium when the recording time detection by the recording time detection unit is not completed. . A fluid ejecting means capable of ejecting a fluid to the recording medium is provided, and recording information is recorded on the recording medium by ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejecting means to the recording medium. A flushing control method for a fluid ejection device that periodically executes flushing to be discharged as a fluid,
A measurement step of measuring an elapsed time since the last flushing was performed during recording of recording information on a recording medium;
In case of recording continuously the same recorded information to a plurality of recording media, and a threshold setting step of setting a flushing threshold corresponding prior type recording information,
When recording on a recording medium based on the recording information is started, a borderless detection step of detecting that the recording is a borderless recording;
A prescribed value storing step for storing a preset prescribed value in the storage unit for each size of the recording medium to be recorded without borders;
A flushing step for performing the flushing when the elapsed time measured in the measurement step is equal to or greater than the flushing threshold set in the threshold setting step ;
In the threshold setting step, when the execution of borderless recording is detected by the borderless detection step, the recording of the recording information onto one recording medium is completed and the recording information is recorded onto the next recording medium. In order to execute the flushing before the start of the fluid ejection, a prescribed value corresponding to the size of the recording medium to be recorded without margin is read from the storage, and the fluid ejection for setting the read prescribed value as the flushing threshold Device flushing control method.

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