JP2006116707A - Head recovery processing method of inkjet printer, inkjet printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inkjet printer which can maintain a good printing quality without causing nozzle clogging even in the case where an ink cartridge of a non genuine branded product is attached. <P>SOLUTION: In the inkjet printer 1, when it is distinguished from identification information 10a written in an IC memory 42 attached to each ink cartridge 10 that the ink cartridge 10 is a non genuine branded product, an operation mode of head cleaning is switched to lengthen an ink suction time and enhance an ink suction force in comparison with the case of a genuine branded product, or to shorten a period of head cleaning. In the case where the non genuine branded product of a high viscosity and a large surface tension is attached, clogging is prevented in nozzles, and a decrease of the printing quality such as dot omission can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a head recovery processing method for an ink jet printer using an ink cartridge as an ink supply source. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ink jet printer head recovery processing method, an ink jet printer, and a printing system capable of performing an appropriate head recovery processing operation according to the type of an installed ink cartridge.

  In an ink jet printer, if the ink remaining in each nozzle of the ink jet head thickens or bubbles remain inside, ink droplet ejection failure or ejection failure due to clogging occurs, and empty ejection due to residual bubbles. Will occur and the print quality will deteriorate. Therefore, the head recovery process is performed manually or periodically.

  For example, the inkjet head is periodically moved to a position outside the printing area, and ink droplets that are not involved in printing are ejected from each nozzle so that thickened ink does not remain in the nozzle. In addition, by sucking ink from each nozzle, air bubbles entering the nozzles or the ink jet head are discharged, so that so-called idling does not occur. Further, the ink having increased viscosity in the ink supply tube from the ink cartridge to the ink jet head is also discharged.

In recent years, there are cases where a third party other than the manufacturer or seller of an inkjet printer manufactures and sells a so-called non-genuine ink cartridge that can be attached to the inkjet printer. The characteristics of the ink stored in the non-genuine ink cartridge may be inferior, unlike the ink of the genuine ink cartridge. For example, when the color development characteristics are different, adverse effects such as a decrease in color reproducibility occur. Therefore, in Patent Document 1 below, an IC memory carrying identification information of the ink cartridge is attached to the ink cartridge, and it is determined whether or not the mounted ink cartridge is a genuine product. The warning is displayed.
JP 2001-105625 A

  However, basically it is not possible to make non-genuine use impossible, and it is at the discretion of the user.

  Here, non-genuine products often have higher ink viscosity and surface tension than genuine products. For this reason, even if the head recovery process corresponding to genuine ink is performed, the ink viscosity is high, so that the ink cannot be sufficiently sucked from each nozzle, and the internal bubbles may not be reliably discharged. If such a state continues, the viscosity of the ink remaining in the nozzle, the ink jet head, etc. will increase significantly, and a large amount of residual bubbles will be generated, and clogging etc. will occur even if the head recovery process is executed. There is a high possibility of falling into a situation that cannot be resolved.

  In view of this point, an object of the present invention is to provide a head recovery processing method for an inkjet printer and an inkjet printer that can reliably prevent clogging of the inkjet head even when a non-genuine ink cartridge is mounted and used. And to propose a printing system.

  In order to solve the above problems, an ink jet printer head recovery method according to the present invention includes: causing an ink cartridge to carry identification information for identifying the ink cartridge; the ink cartridge being an ink cartridge mounting portion of the ink jet printer When mounted on the printer, the identification information carried on the ink cartridge is read; based on the identification information that has been read, a head recovery process that is executed to avoid clogging of the inkjet head of the inkjet printer, etc. An operation mode of the operation is determined; the head recovery processing operation according to the determined operation mode is executed.

  Since the identification information carries information such as a manufacturer and a vendor, such information can be used for identifying whether or not the ink cartridge is a genuine product. Here, the head recovery process may be executed in the first operation mode when a genuine product is mounted, and the head recovery process may be executed in the second operation mode if the genuine product is not installed.

  Instead, information for representing the viscosity and / or surface tension of the ink stored in the ink cartridge is directly carried in the identification information, and based on these, the operation mode of the head recovery process is determined. Also good. In this case, when the viscosity and / or surface tension is below a predetermined standard value, the head recovery process is executed in the first operation mode, and the viscosity and / or surface tension exceeds the standard value. The head recovery process may be executed in the second operation mode.

  Here, as the head recovery process, a manual head recovery process operation that starts by manual operation and sucks and discharges ink and air bubbles from each nozzle of the inkjet head, and a timer starts, from each nozzle of the inkjet head There is a timer head recovery processing operation for sucking and discharging ink and bubbles.

  Since the non-genuine product has a larger ink viscosity and surface tension than the genuine product in most cases, the manual head recovery process sucks ink from each nozzle in the second operation mode compared to the first operation mode. The time may be set to be long and / or the ink suction speed may be increased. Similarly, in the timer head recovery process, the timer period in the second operation mode may be set shorter than that in the first operation mode.

  Next, the ink jet printer of the present invention includes: an ink jet head; an ink cartridge mounting portion for mounting the ink cartridge in a detachable state; and a waste ink recovery for sucking and recovering ink from each nozzle of the ink jet head Means for reading the identification information written in the memory of the ink cartridge mounted on the ink cartridge mounting section; and driving the waste ink collecting means based on the read identification information. And a control means for executing a head recovery processing operation.

  Even in this case, the identification information is used to identify whether or not the ink cartridge is a genuine product. When the ink cartridge is a genuine product, the control means performs the head recovery process in the first operation mode. If it is executed and it is not a genuine product, the head recovery process can be executed in the second operation mode.

  Further, the ink jet printer includes a manual input unit for starting the head recovery process and / or a command receiving unit for receiving a command from a host computer that provides print data. Manual head recovery processing operation that is started by an input operation or command receiving means and sucks and discharges ink and bubbles from each nozzle of the inkjet head, and a timer is started, and ink and bubbles are sucked from each nozzle of the inkjet head The timer head recovery processing operation to be discharged may be executed. Further, in the manual head recovery process, the timer is set so that the ink suction time from each nozzle in the second operation mode is longer and / or the ink suction speed is faster than in the first operation mode, and the timer In the head recovery process, the timer period can be set shorter than in the first operation mode.

  On the other hand, the present invention relates to a printing system, and includes an ink jet printer having the above-described configuration and an ink cartridge used as an ink supply source of the ink jet printer. The ink cartridge is identification information for identifying the ink cartridge. Is provided with a memory in which is written.

  In the present invention, the ink cartridge attached to the ink cartridge attachment portion of the ink jet printer is identified, and the head recovery processing operation corresponding to the ink characteristics of the attached ink cartridge is performed. Therefore, even when a non-genuine product having a high viscosity and surface tension is attached, the occurrence of clogging of the inkjet head can be reliably prevented.

  An example of a printing system to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The printing system of this example includes an inkjet printer, an ink cartridge used as an ink supply source, and a host computer that supplies print data to the inkjet printer.

(Description of configuration)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an ink jet printer in which an ink cartridge is mounted in a printing system, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a waste ink collection system and a control system in the printing system.

  First, referring to FIG. 1, the ink jet printer 1 is of a serial printing type, and an ink jet head 2 is mounted on a carriage 3. The carriage 3 reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 6 by a timing belt 5 driven by a carriage motor 4. A paper feed roller 7 is arranged in the main scanning direction in a state of facing the nozzle surface 2 a of the ink jet head 2 mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 3. Printing is performed by the inkjet head 2 on the recording paper 8 conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the paper feed roller 7.

  A cartridge mounting portion 9 is formed on the upper surface of the carriage 3, and includes ink cartridges 10BK, 10C, 10M for supplying black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, and ride magenta to the inkjet head 2, respectively. 10Y, 10LC, and 10LM are detachably mounted. In the following description, one of these ink cartridges or these may be collectively referred to as an ink cartridge 10.

  In the non-printing region (right end portion in FIG. 1) in the movement range of the inkjet head 2, the carriage 3 rises when it moves to the position, and the nozzle surface 2 a of the inkjet head 2 mounted on the carriage 3 is sealed. A capping mechanism 11 that can be used is arranged. The capping mechanism 11 functions to receive the ejected ink droplets while facing the inkjet head 2 with a certain gap during a flushing operation for ejecting ink droplets not involved in printing from the inkjet head 2. Further, it functions to seal the nozzle surface 2a of the inkjet head 2 during the printer pause period. Furthermore, the capping mechanism 11 forcibly sucks and discharges ink from the inkjet head 2 in response to the negative pressure from the suction pump 12 while the nozzle surface 2a is capped during head cleaning (head recovery processing). It is comprised so that it can be made to.

  A wiping member 13 in which an elastic material such as rubber is formed in a strip shape is disposed on the printing area side adjacent to the capping mechanism 11. When the carriage 3 moves to the capping mechanism 11, the wiping operation is performed to enter the movement locus of the nozzle surface 2a of the inkjet head 2 and wipe the nozzle surface 2a of the inkjet head 2 as necessary. Yes.

  Next, the waste ink recovery system will be described mainly with reference to FIG. One end of a tube in a suction pump (for example, a tube pump) 12 that sucks the internal space to a negative pressure is connected to the capping mechanism 11, and the discharge side of the suction pump 12 is connected to a waste liquid tank 14. . The ink waste liquid discharged into the capping mechanism 11 by the cleaning operation or the like is configured to be absorbed and held by the waste liquid absorber 15 accommodated in the waste liquid tank 14.

  Next, the control system of the printing system A will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a host computer. A printer driver 31 is mounted on the host computer 30, and a known paper size and monochrome are displayed on the utility of the printer driver 31 in response to a command from the input device 32. / Selection of color printing, selection of recording mode, data such as fonts, and print commands can be input.

  Further, a display 33 is connected to the host computer 30, and as is well known, the input status by the input device 32 can be confirmed, the status of the inkjet printer 1, for example, the remaining ink level of each installed ink cartridge, genuine Information such as whether or not it is a product can also be displayed visually.

  Reference numeral 34 denotes a print control unit, which generates bitmap data based on print data sent from the host computer 30 side, and generates a drive signal from the head drive unit 35 based on this data. Ink droplets can be ejected. In addition to the ink droplet ejection operation based on the print data, the head drive unit 35 receives an instruction from the flushing control unit 36 and also acts to cause the ink droplets to be ejected idle.

  The flushing control unit 36 is configured so that the flushing operation (periodic flushing) is performed when the printing operation continues for a certain period of time as measured by the print timer 37. In this case, the carriage 3 is in the flushing position, for example, capping. It is transferred to the position of the mechanism 11. In order to prevent clogging of nozzle openings and to eliminate clogging, control is performed such that a predetermined number of ink droplets are ejected from all nozzle openings of the inkjet head 2.

  The cleaning control unit 38 receives, for example, a command from the host computer 30 and receives a control signal via the print control unit 34, or when a cleaning switch 41 disposed on the operation panel of the inkjet printer 1 is operated. It is configured to be activated. When the head cleaning process is started, a control signal is output to the pump drive unit 39 with the nozzle surface 2a of the inkjet head 2 blocked by the capping mechanism 11, and the suction pump 12 is driven for the time set in the suction timer 40. Thus, a manual cleaning operation for sucking and discharging ink from the nozzle openings of the inkjet head 2 is performed. In addition, the cleaning control unit 38 has a power-on cleaning operation that is performed when the operation power of the inkjet printer 1 is turned on, a timer cleaning operation that is executed every predetermined time set by the cleaning timer 45, and an ink cartridge has been replaced. It also functions to perform an exchange cleaning operation or the like performed at the time.

  Here, an IC memory 42 in which the identification information 10a of the ink cartridge is written is attached to the side surface of each ink cartridge 10 of this example. In the identification information 10a, information such as genuine product identification information indicating the manufacturer or distributor of the ink cartridge, ink type, model number, date of manufacture, and the like are written. A terminal 43 for reading out information stored in the IC memory 42 of each ink cartridge 10 is disposed in the cartridge mounting portion 9 in which each ink cartridge 10 having this configuration is mounted. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 9, a state is formed in which the output terminals (not shown) of each IC memory 42 are connected to the respective terminals 43 on the cartridge mounting portion 9 side. Can be read by the identification information reading / discriminating unit 44 via each terminal 43.

  The identification information reading / determination unit 44 determines whether the mounted ink cartridge 10 is a genuine product based on the genuine product identification information included in the read identification information 10a of the IC memory 42. If it is a genuine product, an identification signal indicating the first operation mode is output to the cleaning control unit 38, and if it is a non-genuine product, an identification signal indicating the second operation mode is output to the cleaning control unit 38. The When the cleaning control unit 38 receives the identification signal indicating the first operation mode, the cleaning control unit 38 executes a normal head cleaning process. However, when an identification signal representing the second operation mode is received, a head cleaning process different from this is executed. The processing contents will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In this example, the nozzle surface 2a of the inkjet head 2 that discharges the ink of each color supplied from each ink cartridge 10 is capped by the common capping mechanism 11, and the ink suction operation is simultaneously performed. Accordingly, when any one of the six ink cartridges 10 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 9 is a non-genuine product, a head cleaning process different from the normal one is executed. Of course, if there is a waste ink recovery system that can be individually capped by a different capping mechanism for each ink jet head that ejects ink of each color and can individually suck ink, the head cleaning process mode for each ink jet head can be changed. It can also be different.

  Next, the ink consumption calculation unit 51 has a function of calculating the consumption of ink stored in each ink cartridge 10, and the ink consumption calculation unit 51 is ejected by a printing operation or a flushing operation. The number of ink droplets counted is counted, and this is multiplied by the amount of ink per droplet stored in the coefficient setting unit 52 to calculate the amount of ink consumed. Further, during the head cleaning operation, the amount of ink discharged from the inkjet head 2 is also calculated at the stage when the suction command is output to the pump drive unit 39.

  The count value related to the ink consumption calculated by the ink consumption calculation unit 51 is sent to an ink consumption counter 53 that monitors the remaining amount of ink. In the ink consumption counter 53, the remaining ink amount of each mounted ink cartridge. Is monitored. The ink consumption counter 53 is configured to be able to exchange data with the arithmetic control unit 54 in both directions. The arithmetic control unit 54 is configured to be supplied with a control signal from the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 55.

  The ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 55 detects whether or not the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 9 on the carriage 3. For example, the ink cartridge 10 is removed along with the replacement of the ink cartridge 10. When this is detected, an operation for setting an ink cartridge replacement flag is performed. The function of the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 55 may be included in the identification information reading / determination unit 44 so that the identification information reading / determination unit 44 detects attachment / detachment.

  Data relating to the ink consumption count value from the ink consumption counter 53 and data (flag) from the ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 55 are supplied to the arithmetic control unit 54, and corresponding to the cartridge 10 as the ink cartridge 10 is replaced. Reset the ink consumption count value to zero.

  In addition, data from the ink consumption counter 53 is supplied to the verification unit 56 via the arithmetic control unit 54. The verification unit 56 is configured to be supplied with threshold information from the threshold setting unit 57, and the verification unit 56 compares the threshold information from the threshold setting unit 57 with the data from the ink consumption counter 53. Also, it functions to display the state of each ink cartridge 10 on the display unit 58.

(Head cleaning operation)
FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a head cleaning processing operation performed by the inkjet printer 1 in the printing system having the above-described configuration.

  First, in step ST1, a head cleaning request is awaited. In response to the head cleaning request, for example, when the cleaning control unit 38 receives a command from the host computer 30 and receives a control signal via the print control unit 34, and a cleaning switch disposed on the operation panel of the inkjet printer 1. A manual cleaning request when 41 is operated, a power-on cleaning request made when the operation power of the inkjet printer 1 is turned on, a timer cleaning request executed every predetermined time set by the cleaning timer 45, and an ink cartridge There is a replacement cleaning request made when 10 is replaced.

  When there is such a head cleaning request, the identification information reading / determination unit 44 reads the identification information 10a written in the IC memory 42 of each ink cartridge 10 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 9 (step ST2). Next, it is determined from the read identification information 10a whether or not the mounted ink cartridge 10 is a genuine product (step ST3). When all genuine ink cartridges 10 are mounted, an identification signal indicating the first operation mode is output to the cleaning control unit 38 and the cleaning timer 45. As a result, the head cleaning sequence in the first operation mode is selected (step ST4), and the cleaning sequence is activated (step ST6).

  On the other hand, when a non-genuine ink cartridge is included, an identification signal indicating the second operation mode is output to the cleaning control unit 38 and the cleaning timer 45. As a result, the head cleaning sequence in the second operation mode is selected (step ST5), and the cleaning sequence is activated (step ST6).

  In general, a non-genuine product has higher ink viscosity and surface tension than a genuine product. Therefore, even if the nozzles are sucked with the same suction force, the amount of ink sucked is small and the ink suction speed is also reduced, so that the thickened residual ink and residual bubbles may not be reliably discharged. Therefore, in the second operation mode when a non-genuine product is mounted, the drive time of the suction pump 12 by the suction timer 40 is lengthened so that the ink suction amount in the head cleaning becomes the same amount as that of the genuine product. You can do it. Further, the suction force of the suction pump 12 is increased to increase the ink suction speed, and the ink is sucked at the same suction speed as that of a genuine product to reliably discharge the remaining bubbles. Furthermore, the timer interval set by the cleaning timer 45 may be shortened so that the timer cleaning operation is performed more frequently.

  As described above, in the printing system of this example, when the non-genuine product is included in the ink cartridge 10 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 9, the first operation mode different from the normal head cleaning operation, For example, the head cleaning is performed in a mode such as increasing the ink suction time, increasing the ink suction speed, and shortening the timer interval. Therefore, even when a non-genuine product having a large ink viscosity and surface tension is mounted, nozzle clogging can be surely prevented and the print quality can be maintained satisfactorily.

  In this example, the head cleaning operation mode is switched when a non-genuine ink cartridge is installed. At the same time, the mode of the flushing operation performed periodically may be changed. For example, when a non-genuine product is mounted, nozzle clogging may be prevented by increasing the number of wasted inks used during the flushing operation.

  In this example, genuine products and non-genuine products are identified from information such as manufacturers. Instead, the identification information written in the IC memory 42 of the ink cartridge may directly carry information on the viscosity or surface tension of the ink, and based on this, the operation mode of the head recovery process may be changed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet printer constituting a printing system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a control system and an ink recovery system of the printing system in FIG. 1. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing an operation of the printing system of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

A printing system, 1 inkjet printer, 2 inkjet head, 3 carriage, 9 cartridge mounting unit, 10, 10BK, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10LC, 10LM, ink cartridge, 10a identification information, 11 capping mechanism, 12 suction pump, 30 host Computer, 31 Printer driver, 33 Display unit, 38 Cleaning control unit, 39 Pump drive unit, 40 Suction timer, 41 Cleaning switch, 42 IC memory, 43 terminal, 44 Identification information reading / determination unit, 45 Cleaning timer

Claims (9)

The ink cartridge carries identification information for identifying the ink cartridge,
When the ink cartridge is mounted on an ink cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet printer, the identification information carried on the ink cartridge is read,
Based on the read identification information, determine the operation mode of the head recovery processing operation to be performed to avoid clogging of the inkjet head of the inkjet printer,
A head recovery processing method for an ink jet printer, which performs the head recovery processing operation according to the determined operation mode. In claim 1,
The identification information is for identifying whether or not the ink cartridge is a genuine product,
In the case of a genuine product, the head recovery process is executed in the first operation mode,
A head recovery processing method for an ink jet printer that executes the head recovery processing in a second operation mode if the product is not a genuine product. In claim 1,
The identification information is for representing the viscosity and / or surface tension of ink stored in the ink cartridge,
A head recovery processing method for an inkjet head, wherein an operation mode of the head recovery processing is determined based on the viscosity and / or surface tension. In claim 3,
When the viscosity and / or surface tension is equal to or less than a predetermined standard value, the head recovery process is executed in the first operation mode,
A head recovery processing method for an ink jet printer, wherein the head recovery processing is implemented in a second operation mode when the viscosity and / or surface tension exceeds the standard value. In claim 2 or 4,
The head recovery process includes a manual head recovery process operation that is started by manual operation and sucks and discharges ink and bubbles from each nozzle of the inkjet head, and a timer is started and ink and ink are discharged from each nozzle of the inkjet head. Timer head recovery processing operation that sucks and discharges bubbles is included,
In the manual head recovery process, the ink suction time from each nozzle in the second operation mode is set longer and / or the ink suction speed is faster than in the first operation mode,
In the timer head recovery process, an ink jet printer head recovery process method is set such that a timer period in the second operation mode is shorter than that in the first operation mode. An inkjet head;
An ink cartridge mounting portion for mounting the ink cartridge in a removable state;
Waste ink collecting means for sucking and collecting ink from each nozzle of the inkjet head;
Identification information reading means for reading identification information written in a memory of the ink cartridge mounted on the ink cartridge mounting unit;
An ink jet printer comprising: control means for driving the waste ink collecting means to execute a head recovery processing operation based on the read identification information. In claim 6,
The identification information is for identifying whether or not the ink cartridge is a genuine product,
In the case of a genuine product, the control means executes the head recovery process in a first operation mode, and if not a genuine product, the control means executes the head recovery process in a second operation mode. In claim 7,
The inkjet printer includes manual input means for starting the head recovery process and / or command receiving means from the host computer side to which print data is supplied,
The control means includes
Manual input operation or manual command recovery means that is activated by the command receiving means, sucks and discharges ink and air bubbles from each nozzle of the inkjet head, and a timer is activated to start the inkjet head from the ink cartridge mounting portion. The timer head recovery processing operation that sucks and discharges ink and bubbles from each nozzle is executed.
The manual head recovery process is set such that the ink suction time from each nozzle in the second operation mode is longer and / or the ink suction speed is faster than in the first operation mode,
In the ink jet printer, the timer head recovery process is set so that a timer period in the second operation mode is shorter than that in the first operation mode. An ink jet printer according to claim 6, 7 or 8,
An ink cartridge used as an ink supply source of the ink jet printer,
The printing system, wherein the ink cartridge includes a memory in which identification information for identifying the ink cartridge is written.

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