JP3839517B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer that performs printing on a printing medium by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of an inkjet head (hereinafter abbreviated as a head) that ejects ink droplets from nozzles using the displacement of a conventional piezoelectric element. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a drive system of the head 90 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the head unit 92 provided with the ink cartridge 91 is detachably attached to the carriage 93.
[0003]
A driver IC substrate 94 on which the drive circuit 60 shown in FIG. 12 is mounted is attached to the bottom of the head unit 92. The driver IC substrate 94 is a dimple FPC (flexible printed circuit) attached to the upper surface of the carriage 93. ) 95 and the power supply circuit 40 and the control circuit 70 shown in FIG. From the control circuit 70, a clock signal (CLK) 62, a data signal (DATA) 63, a strobe signal (STB) 65 and a drive signal 100 shown in FIG. 13 are output to the drive circuit 60.
[0004]
A drive power line 74 connecting the power circuit 40 and the drive circuit 60 shown in FIG. 12 has a drive current V1 having a steep peak when the drive signal 100 output from the control circuit 70 rises (transition time). (See FIG. 13) flows. As a result, the power supply circuit 40 causes an instantaneous voltage drop due to the resistance of the dimple FPC 95 and the like, and the piezoelectric element is not sufficiently deformed.
[0005]
Therefore, in order to prevent the voltage drop, a smoothing capacitor 76 for smoothing the drive current between the drive power supply line 74 and the ground line 75 in the vicinity of the drive circuit 60, as shown in FIGS. To reduce the instantaneous voltage drop.
[0006]
When the head unit 92 has some trouble and needs to be repaired or replaced, the head unit 92 is replaced after the power supply of the power circuit 40 is stopped. .
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the power supply of the power supply circuit 40 is stopped, the electric charge charged in the bypass capacitor 76 remains, so that if the control system contact is released while the high voltage system contact is maintained, the latch-up current For example, the drive circuit 60 may be damaged.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention includes an informing means for informing whether or not the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor has been discharged when the head unit is removed from the head attaching means, thereby confirming the end of the discharge. An object of the present invention is to realize an ink jet printer capable of removing the head unit from the above.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an ink jet head that records ink on a recording medium by ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle and a drive circuit that drives the ink jet head are provided. A head unit having, and a head mounting means to which the head unit is detachably mounted; A power supply circuit for supplying a drive voltage to the drive circuit; Smoothing capacitor for smoothing the drive current supplied from the power supply circuit to the drive circuit And a contact that connects the drive circuit and the power supply circuit and is disconnected when the head unit is removed by the head mounting means. Is provided with Ta Supply of power supply voltage from the power supply circuit to the drive circuit And shut off Means for controlling By its control means After the supply of power supply voltage to the drive circuit is cut off, the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is A technical means that includes a detecting means for detecting whether or not the driving circuit is below a value at which there is no risk of destruction and a notifying means for notifying a detection result of the detecting means is employed.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first aspect, the technical means is adopted in which the smoothing capacitor is provided with a discharge circuit that discharges a charge charged in the capacitor. To do.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first or second aspect, the notifying unit charges the smoothing capacitor by causing a sounding member provided at a predetermined location to sound. Has a charge When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is The technical means of notifying whether or not the driving circuit is below a value that does not cause destruction is adopted.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first or second aspect, the notifying means causes the sounding member provided at a predetermined location to emit a sound, thereby charging the smoothing capacitor. But When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is The technical means is used to notify whether or not the drive circuit is below a value at which there is no possibility of destroying the drive circuit.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a head unit moving unit that moves a carriage on which the head unit is mounted to a position where the head unit can be replaced is provided, and the notification is performed. After the notification by means, a technical means is adopted in which the head unit moving means moves the carriage to a position where the head unit can be replaced.
[0014]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet printer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the ink jet head changes the volume of the ink chamber by driving a piezoelectric element, and the ink A technical means is adopted in which ink droplets are ejected from nozzles provided in the chamber to perform recording on a recording medium.
[0015]
[Action]
According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the drive circuit includes a smoothing capacitor that smoothes the drive current supplied from the power supply circuit, and after the supply of the power supply voltage to the drive circuit is cut off, the smoothing capacitor is charged. Has been charged When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is It is detected whether or not the drive circuit is below a value at which there is no possibility of destroying the drive circuit, and the detection result is notified.
Therefore, after confirming that the informing means has informed that the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor has fallen below the value that does not cause the drive circuit to be destroyed, the head unit is attached to the head attaching means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driving circuit from being destroyed by the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor.
[0016]
In particular, in the invention described in claim 2, a discharge circuit forcing the discharge of the smoothing capacitor is provided, and the discharge circuit enables rapid and reliable discharge. As a result, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor can be reduced.
Therefore, destruction of the drive circuit can be reliably prevented.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the notification means is driven by causing the light-emitting member provided at a predetermined location to emit light, so that the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is discharged or the like. Indicates that the value has been reduced to a value that does not cause damage to the circuit. Therefore, it is possible to visually confirm when the head unit can be completely removed.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the notification means is driven by causing the sounding member provided at a predetermined location to emit a sound so that the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is discharged. Indicates that the value has been reduced to a value that does not cause damage to the circuit. Therefore, it is possible to visually confirm when the head unit can be completely removed.
[0019]
Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 5, the head unit moving means for moving the carriage on which the head unit is mounted to a position where the head unit can be replaced is provided. The means moves the carriage to a position where the head unit can be replaced. In other words, it is necessary to replace the head unit only after the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor has fallen below the value that does not cause damage to the drive circuit. We can do everything to prevent it.
[0020]
Further, as in the invention described in claim 6, the ink jet head drives the piezoelectric element to change the volume of the ink chamber and eject ink droplets from the nozzle provided in the ink chamber. When recording on a recording medium, the value of the driving current is larger than that of an ink jet printer that does not use a piezoelectric element, so that the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor destroys the driving circuit. If the head unit is not removed from the carriage after the value is less than the value at which it is unlikely to occur, there is a high risk of destroying the drive circuit. However, the technical means according to any one of claims 1 to 5 The charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is set to a value that does not cause the driver circuit to be damaged, and value By notifying that the following has occurred, it is possible to prevent the drive circuit from being destroyed.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the main structure of the printer of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing its control system.
In the embodiment described below, as a representative of a printer, a color ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) that performs color printing by pressurizing an ink chamber by the piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric element and discharging ink in the ink chamber from a nozzle. (Abbreviated) will be described as a representative.
[0022]
First, the overall configuration of the printer will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a platen 12 on which printing paper 11 as a recording medium is loaded. The platen 12 is a paper connected to an LF motor (paper feed motor) 58. It is rotated by the feed mechanism 81 (see FIG. 2). A print head (hereinafter abbreviated as a head) 20 is provided at a position facing the platen 12, and this head 20 is mounted on a carriage 21 as a head mounting means. A guide shaft 14 attached in the width direction of the printer 10 is slidably inserted in the lower front portion of the carriage 21.
[0023]
Further, the carriage 21 is connected to an endless belt 30 that is hung on a pulley of a CR motor (carriage moving motor) 18.
That is, the head 20 reciprocates on the guide shaft 14 opposite the platen 12 by the rotation of the CR motor 18. The LF motor 58 is a step motor, and the CR motor 18 is a DC motor whose rotational speed is controlled by PWM control.
[0024]
Although not shown, the head 20 includes a black head that ejects black ink, a yellow head that ejects yellow ink, a cyan head that ejects cyan ink, and a magenta ink that ejects magenta ink. And a head. In addition, the head 20 is provided with an ink cartridge 22 as an ink storage unit that is detachably mounted on the carriage 21. Although not shown, the ink cartridge 22 is divided into ink cartridges dedicated to the heads of the respective colors.
[0025]
In addition, a plurality of ink chambers (not shown) in which the ink supplied from the ink cartridge is accommodated are formed in the head 20, and a surface (nozzle formation surface) facing the platen 12 of each ink chamber is formed. Are each formed with a nozzle for discharging ink in the ink chamber. Each ink chamber is provided with a piezoelectric element. By applying a driving voltage to the piezoelectric element, the volume of the ink chamber changes and the ink in the ink chamber is pressurized, and the ink is printed from the nozzle. Printing is performed by discharging toward the paper 11.
[0026]
A linear type timing slit 16 is provided below the guide shaft 14, and at the lower part of the front surface of the carriage 21, the interval between the slits marked on the timing slit 16 is read to the position of the carriage 21. A sensor element (not shown) that outputs a corresponding pulse signal is provided. These timing slits 16 and sensor elements constitute an encoder 55 (see FIG. 2).
[0027]
In addition, the printer 10 is provided with a flushing function that periodically discharges defective ink containing bubbles to an ink absorber (not shown) to maintain a good printing state. Further, the printer 10 is provided with a purging mechanism 34 that periodically sucks dry ink or foreign matters clogged in the nozzles to keep the ink discharge state in a good condition. A suction cap 34a is provided to cover the purging head.
[0028]
The printer 10 also includes a capping mechanism 35 (see FIG. 2) that covers the nozzle forming surface of the head 20 with a suction cap 34a when the head 20 is not used for a certain period of time. Further, the printer 10 includes a wiping mechanism 33 (see FIG. 2) that wipes and cleans ink adhering to the nozzle formation surface of the head 20, and a wiper member 33a is provided on the right side of the suction cap 34a. (See FIG. 1).
[0029]
Next, the main configuration of the printer control system will be described with reference to FIG.
The printer 10 is provided with a CPU 50 that performs various arithmetic processes described later. The CPU 50 includes a discharge circuit 71 that discharges the smoothing capacitor 76 connected to the drive circuit 60 that drives the head 20, a notification circuit 73 that notifies that the discharge has been performed, and a print output from the host computer 51. An interface 52 for receiving a signal such as data and a control circuit 70 for controlling the drive circuit 60 are connected. Further, a ROM 53 and a RAM 54 storing a printing program for printing by driving the head 20, and a gate array 56 for inputting an encoder signal output from the encoder 55 and calculating the position of the carriage 21 are connected. Yes.
[0030]
The CPU 50 stores print data received from the host computer 51 via the interface 52 in a predetermined area of the RAM 54, and in accordance with a print program stored in advance in the ROM 53, the LF motor 58, the CR motor 18 and the head. Various control signals for driving 20 are output.
Of the control signals, an LF motor drive control signal for driving the LF motor 58 is input to the LF drive circuit 57, and the LF motor 58 is driven in accordance with the LF motor drive signal output from the LF drive circuit 57. Is done. In other words, the LF motor 58 is driven to feed the printing paper 11 in the vertical direction.
[0031]
The wiping mechanism 33, the purging mechanism 34, and the capping mechanism 35 are driven by the LF motor 58 via the switching mechanism 80, respectively. Further, among the control signals, a CR motor drive control signal for driving the CR motor 18 is input to the CR drive circuit 59, and the CR motor 18 is driven in accordance with the CR motor drive signal output from the CR drive circuit 59. Is done. By driving the CR motor 18, the carriage 21 is reciprocated, and the position of the carriage 21 is detected by the encoder 55.
[0032]
The encoder signal output from the encoder 55 is input to the gate array 56, and the gate array 56 receives the speed data signal of the carriage 21 and the position control pulse (reference) of the carriage 21 based on the input encoder signal. Pulse), a printing timing pulse for driving the head 20, and the like are generated.
[0033]
Further, the CPU 50 inputs the speed data (time interval value between each edge of the encoder signal) output from the gate array 56 and receives a PWM signal (pulse width of the drive signal of the CR motor 18) necessary for speed control of the carriage 21. ). In addition, a position control pulse (reference pulse) is input to calculate the current position of the carriage 21. Further, the CPU 50 performs a control operation such as writing a delay count value for matching the printing position and data for permitting a print start signal to a register in the gate array 56 when the printing direction is reversed.
[0034]
Further, the CPU 50 counts a pulse signal which is a drive signal of the LF motor 58 and drives the printing paper feed amount, the purging mechanism 34 or the capping mechanism 35 executed by the LF motor 58 and the paper feed mechanism 81. Count the amount of cam rotation. The capping mechanism 35 has an HP (home position) sensor 82 that detects that the carriage 21 has returned to the capping position (home position), and the paper feed mechanism 81 has an insertion or discharge of printing paper. PE (paper empty) sensors 83 for detecting the above are provided.
[0035]
Next, a configuration for discharging the smoothing capacitor 76 for smoothing the drive current for driving the head 20 and notifying the discharge will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the electrical connection relationship between the head unit 23 and the carriage 21 will be described. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of the periphery of the head 20.
As shown in FIG. 3, a driver IC substrate 24 on which a drive circuit 60 is mounted is attached to the lower part of the head unit 23 on which the head 20 is provided. A dimple FPC 25 that is electrically connected to the driver IC substrate 24 is mounted on the carriage 21 on which the head unit 23 is mounted.
[0036]
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the dimple FPC 25 uses various signals output from the control circuit 70 and drive signals output from the power supply circuit 40 via the drive power supply line 74 and the ground line 75 as drivers. It plays the role of a contact for outputting to the drive circuit 60 mounted on the IC substrate 24.
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a connection portion between the driver IC substrate 24 and the dimple FPC 25. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of contacts 24a electrically connected to the drive circuit 60 are formed on the lower surface of the driver IC substrate 24, and the upper surface of the dimple FPC 25 is in contact with the contacts 24a. A plurality of convex contact points 25a are formed.
[0037]
A back-up rubber 26 having a plurality of convex portions 26a matching the concave portions formed on the back surface of the contact 25a is attached to the lower surface of the dimple FPC 25, and these convex portions 26a are fitted into the respective concave portions. That is, the electrical connection state between the contact 25a of the dimple FPC 25 and the driver IC substrate 24 is maintained by using the elasticity of the backup rubber 26.
The head unit 23 and the carriage 21 are detachably locked by a lock mechanism (not shown).
[0038]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the power supply circuit 40 and the driver IC substrate 24 are electrically connected by a drive power supply line 74 and a ground line 75 for supplying a drive voltage V1 through the dimple FPC 25. A smoothing capacitor 76 is connected between the line 74 and the ground line 75 for preventing a voltage drop when a drive current flows. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 21 is provided with an LED 27 for notifying that the smoothing capacitor 76 has been discharged.
[0039]
Next, a discharge circuit for discharging the smoothing capacitor 76 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge circuit 71 is connected between the power supply circuit 40 and the driver IC substrate 24 via the dimple FPC 26, and is also connected to the CPU 50.
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the discharge circuit 71. During normal head driving, the power cutoff signal V2 is output to the high level from the CPU 50, so that the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are in the ON state. That is, the drive voltage V1 is being supplied to the driver IC substrate 24 via the transistor Tr1. When the printer 10 is instructed to replace the head unit 23, the power cutoff signal V2 output from the CPU 50 to the discharge circuit 71 changes from the high level to the low level, so that the transistor Tr2 is turned off and the transistor Tr1 Is turned off.
[0041]
Thereby, the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor 76 is discharged by being consumed by flowing through the resistor R5, the light emitting diode D1 (LED 27) as the light emitting member is turned off, and the smoothing capacitor 76 is discharged. It is reported that it was broken.
Therefore, if the head unit 23 is replaced after confirming that the light emitting diode D1 is turned off, it is possible to prevent the drive circuit 60 mounted on the driver IC board 24 from being destroyed by the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor 76. it can.
It is also possible to employ a configuration in which characters that can be exchanged are displayed on an LCD on the display panel of the printer 10.
[0042]
Next, another configuration of the discharge circuit will be described with reference to FIG.
This embodiment is characterized in that it operates based on detection that the voltage of the drive voltage supplied from the smoothing capacitor 76 to the driver IC substrate 24 is equal to or less than a reference value.
As shown in FIG. 7, the drive power supply line 74 that connects the discharge circuit 79 and the driver IC substrate 24 and the CPU 50 are connected by a detection line 78, and the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor 76 is sent to the A / D port of the CPU 50. Can be detected.
[0043]
Hereinafter, the control of the discharge circuit 79 by the CPU 50 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, when a user instructs the printer 10 to replace the head unit using a panel device (not shown), the CPU 50 changes the power cutoff signal V2 from a high level to a low level (step 110). Then, the transistor Tr1 is turned off by turning off the transistor Tr2, and the supply of the power supply voltage V1 from the power supply circuit 40 is stopped. Further, the transistor Tr3 is turned on and the transistor Tr4 is turned on by the output of the inverting circuit D2. Then, the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor 76 is discharged by being consumed by the resistor R10 through the transistor Tr4.
[0044]
At this time, the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 76 is detected by the CPU 50, and whether or not the voltage is equal to or lower than the reference value set in the CPU 50, that is, the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor 76 is driven. A determination is made as to whether or not the value has become sufficiently small so as not to destroy the circuit 60 (step 120). When the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 76 becomes equal to or lower than the reference value, an operation command is output to the notification circuit 73 (see FIG. 2) (step 130), and the head unit 23 can be replaced by turning off the LED, LCD, etc. Notify that
[0045]
In the configuration in which the CPU 50 detects that the head unit 23 is in a replaceable state, as shown in FIG. 9, after the power cut-off signal V2 changes from the high level to the low level, the head 20 is flushed. A step 112 for performing a dummy injection operation such as an operation may be provided.
That is, the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor 76 is consumed by the dummy injection operation. In this case, no special discharge resistance is required.
[0046]
By the way, it is conceivable that the user of the printer 10 inadvertently removes the head unit 23 before the notification is performed.
Therefore, the head unit 23 must be configured so that it cannot be removed unless it is a specific part in the printer 10, and as shown in FIG. 10, after the notification is given (step 130), the carriage 21 is moved to the specific part. The head unit 23 can be prevented from being inadvertently removed by forcibly moving it to a location (step 140).
Thereby, it is possible to take all possible measures to prevent the drive circuit 60 from being destroyed.
[0047]
In addition to the visual notification means using the light emitting diode D1 or LCD, the means for notifying that the smoothing capacitor 76 has been discharged may be sounded by a buzzer or by voice. It can also be configured to appeal to human hearing, such as pronounced.
[0048]
In the embodiments of the invention, a color ink jet printer using piezoelectric elements has been described as a representative of the ink jet printer. However, the invention can also be applied to other printers having a contact point for power supply between the head unit and the carriage. Of course.
Step 120 corresponds to the detection means according to the present invention, and step 140 corresponds to the head unit moving means. Further, the notification circuit 73 and the LED 27 constitute a notification unit according to the present invention, and the CPU 50 that executes Step 130 functions as the notification unit.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is The smoothing capacitor is charged because the head unit can be removed from the head mounting means after confirming that the reporting means has notified that the driving circuit has become less than or equal to a value that does not cause destruction. It is possible to prevent the drive circuit from being destroyed by the generated charge.
[0050]
In particular, in the invention described in claim 2, a discharge circuit forcing the discharge of the smoothing capacitor is provided, and the discharge circuit enables rapid and reliable discharge. As a result, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is lowered.
Therefore, destruction of the drive circuit can be reliably prevented.
[0051]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the informing means emits light from a light emitting member provided at a predetermined location so that the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is reduced. When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is Indicates that the value is below the value that does not cause the drive circuit to be destroyed. Therefore, it can be visually confirmed that the head unit can be safely removed.
[0052]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the notifying means causes the sounding member provided at a predetermined location to generate a sound so that the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is reduced. When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is Indicates that the value is below the value that does not cause the drive circuit to be destroyed. Therefore, it can be confirmed by hearing that the head unit can be safely removed.
[0053]
Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 5, the head unit moving means for moving the carriage on which the head unit is mounted to a position where the head unit can be replaced is provided. After the notification by the notification means, The head unit moving means moves the carriage to a position where the head unit can be replaced. In other words, the charge that is always charged to the smoothing capacitor When discharged, the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor is By making it impossible to replace the head unit only after the driving circuit is not less than a value at which there is no possibility of destroying the driving circuit, the driving circuit can be completely prevented from being destroyed.
[0054]
Further, as in the invention described in claim 6, the ink jet head drives the piezoelectric element to change the volume of the ink chamber and eject ink droplets from the nozzle provided in the ink chamber. When recording on a recording medium, since the value of the driving current is larger than that of an ink jet printer that does not use a piezoelectric element, the head unit is not detached from the carriage after the discharging. And there is a high possibility of destroying the drive circuit. By the technical means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the discharge is performed, and the fact that the discharge is completed is notified, The destruction of the drive circuit can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a main structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view around the head 20;
4 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view showing a connection portion between a driver IC substrate 24 and a dimple FPC 25. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining an installation location of the discharge circuit 71;
6 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a discharge circuit 71. FIG.
7 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a discharge circuit 79. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a CPU.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control contents of a CPU.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control content of a CPU.
FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of a conventional head periphery.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional drive system.
13 is a timing chart of signals output from the control circuit 70 and the power supply circuit 40 to the drive circuit 60. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Printer
20 heads
21 Carriage
23 Head unit
24 Driver IC board
25 Dimple FPC
26 Backup rubber
27 LED
40 Power supply circuit
50 CPU
60 Drive circuit
70 Control circuit
76 Smoothing capacitor

Claims (6)

An ink-jet head that records ink on a recording medium by discharging ink droplets from nozzles, and a head unit that has a drive circuit that drives the ink-jet head;
A head mounting means for detachably mounting the head unit;
A power supply circuit for supplying a drive voltage to the drive circuit;
A smoothing capacitor for smoothing a drive current supplied from a power supply circuit to the drive circuit ;
And connecting the power supply circuit and the driving circuit, the inkjet cartridges that contact and <br/> is provided to release the connection with the removal of the head unit by said Het attachment means,
Means for controlling supply and cut-off of power supply voltage from the power supply circuit to the drive circuit;
After the supply of power supply voltage to the drive circuit is cut off by the control means, the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is discharged, and the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor does not possibly destroy the drive circuit. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the value is equal to or less than a value;
An ink jet printer comprising: an informing means for informing a detection result of the detecting means.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing capacitor includes a discharge circuit that discharges the electric charge charged in the capacitor. The informing means emits light from a light emitting member provided at a predetermined location, so that the electric charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is discharged, and the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor may destroy the drive circuit. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a notification is made as to whether or not the value has fallen below a certain value. The informing means may cause the sounding member provided at a predetermined location to emit a sound so that the charge charged in the smoothing capacitor is discharged, and the output voltage of the smoothing capacitor may destroy the drive circuit. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a notification is made as to whether or not the value has fallen below a certain value. A head unit moving means for moving the carriage on which the head unit is mounted to a position where the head unit can be replaced;
3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein after the notification by the notification unit, the head unit moving unit moves the carriage to a position where the head unit can be replaced. 4.   The inkjet head drives a piezoelectric element to change the volume of the ink chamber and discharge ink droplets from nozzles provided in the ink chamber to perform recording on a recording medium. 6. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printer is characterized in that:

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