Liquid discharge equipment

Abstract

A liquid discharge device is provided, which has: a head; a reservoir portion including a liquid reservoir chamber and an atmosphere communication path; a liquid flow path; a switching component; and a controller that performs a disconnection process and a discharge process after the disconnection process. The volume of the air portion in the reservoir portion is controlled to satisfy the formula: Vb = (Po + ΔP) * ΔV / ΔP and ΔP < = Pm. Po represents one atmospheric pressure. ΔV represents the change in the volume of the air portion due to the change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of liquid during the discharge process. ΔP represents the change in the pressure of the air portion according to the change in the volume of the liquid during the discharge process. Pm represents the pressure resistance of the meniscus formed by the liquid in the nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid discharging apparatus capable of performing a discharging action to discharge liquid at a sheet. Background Art

[0002] A liquid discharge device that can discharge liquid at a sheet is known. The liquid to be discharged can be supplied from a reservoir portion through a liquid supply path and discharged at the sheet from a nozzle of a head. The reservoir portion can have: an injection port through which liquid for refilling can be injected; and an atmosphere communication path. During the discharge action performed by the head, the injection port can be closed by a cover. At the same time, during the discharge action, the liquid supply path and the atmosphere communication path can be opened to the outside atmosphere by a valve unit, which can be operated in conjunction with the user's operation. Such a liquid discharge device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2017-081120. Summary of the invention

[0003] Sometimes, during the discharge action, the sheet may get stuck in the liquid discharge device, and the stuck sheet may undesirably contact the head. The sheet contacting the head may cause the liquid to leak from the nozzle of the head to the outside and contaminate the sheet. In this regard, when the liquid supply path and the atmosphere communication path are opened during the discharge action, air may continue to enter the reservoir portion through the atmosphere communication path as the liquid leaks out, and the liquid may continue to leak and spread to a greater extent.

[0004] In order to suppress the leakage of the liquid to a smaller extent, it can be considered that the liquid supply path and the atmosphere communication path should be closed. However, in the case where the liquid supply path and the atmosphere communication path are closed, as the discharge action continues, depending on the amount of liquid stored in the reservoir part, the air pressure in the reservoir part may drop soon. As a result, the liquid may not preferably form a meniscus in the nozzle during the discharge action, and the liquid may not be discharged correctly.

[0005] An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid discharging apparatus in which liquid leakage and liquid discharging failure that may occur during a discharging action can be suppressed to a greater extent.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a liquid discharge device is provided, which has a head, a reservoir, a liquid flow path, a switching component and a controller. The head has a nozzle, and the head is configured to discharge liquid through the nozzle. The reservoir has: a liquid reservoir chamber, the liquid reservoir chamber is configured to store the liquid; and an atmosphere communication path, the atmosphere communication path connects the inside and outside of the liquid reservoir chamber through the air part in the reservoir. The liquid flow path connects the head and the liquid reservoir chamber for the liquid to flow in the liquid flow path. The switching component is configured to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path between a connected state and a disconnected state, in which the inside and outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are connected, and in which the inside and outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are disconnected. The controller is configured to perform: a disconnection process, in which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the connected state to the disconnected state; and a discharge process after the disconnection process, in which the controller controls the head to discharge the liquid through the nozzle. The volume Vb of the air portion is set to satisfy formulas (1) and (2): Vb = (Po + ΔP) * ΔV / ΔP ... (1); and ΔP < = Pm ... (2). Po represents one atmospheric pressure. ΔV represents the change in the volume of the air portion due to the change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of the liquid during the discharge process. ΔP represents the change in the pressure of the air portion according to the change in the volume of the liquid during the discharge process. Pm represents the pressure resistance of the meniscus formed by the liquid in the nozzle.

[0007] Alternatively, ΔV may represent a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging the predetermined amount of the liquid in the discharging process under specified conditions to record a specified image on a sheet.

[0008] Optionally, the designated image may be a pattern image defined by the International Organization for Standardization. The designated condition may be to continuously record the pattern image for a designated time length.

[0009] Optionally, the specified time length may be 30 seconds. The pattern image may be a multi-color pattern image. The specified condition may be to continuously record the pattern image for 30 seconds on the sheet of A4 size in a standard mode defined by the International Organization for Standardization.

[0010] Optionally, the controller may be configured to perform a connection process, during which, in response to the duration of the discharge process reaching 30 seconds, the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the disconnected state to the connected state.

[0011] Alternatively, the predetermined amount may be an amount equal to or greater than a volume of the liquid to be discharged from the head in order to record an image in one pass on a specified sheet under the condition that the amount of the liquid discharged from the head per unit time is a maximum amount.

[0012] Alternatively, the predetermined amount may be equal to or greater than the volume of the liquid to be discharged from the head in order to record an image in the entire printable area on one side of a specified sheet under the condition that the amount of the liquid discharged from the head per unit time is a maximum amount.

[0013] Alternatively, the liquid discharge apparatus may further include a sheet storage portion. The specified sheet may be a sheet of a maximum size that can be stored in the sheet storage portion.

[0014] Alternatively, the liquid discharge apparatus may further include a sheet storage portion. The designated sheet may be a sheet of a largest size that can be selected by a user's operation among sheets of different sizes that can be stored in the sheet storage portion.

[0015] Optionally, the controller may be configured to, in response to the amount of change in pressure of the air portion caused by the discharge process reaching ΔP, perform a connection process, during which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmospheric communication path from the disconnected state to the connected state.

[0016] Alternatively, the reservoir portion may have an indicator indicating a surface level of a maximum amount of the liquid that can be stored in the liquid reservoir chamber. The volume Vb may be the volume of the air portion when the surface level of the liquid is at substantially the same position as the indicator.

[0017] Alternatively, the reservoir portion may have an air chamber located at an upper position relative to the liquid reservoir chamber, the air chamber being configured to store at least a portion of the air portion.

[0018] Alternatively, the reservoir portion may have a liquid supply path connecting the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber.The air chamber may be located at an upper position relative to a lower end of the liquid supply path.

[0019] Optionally, the reservoir portion may further have an outer wall, the outer wall delimiting the liquid reservoir chamber from the outside. A portion of the outer wall may be deformable by pressure changes inside the reservoir portion.

[0020] Alternatively, the controller may be configured to repeat the connection process and the disconnection process alternately for a plurality of rounds after starting to record an image on a sheet in the discharge process. A disconnection period between the disconnection process in a round later than a first round and the connection process immediately after the disconnection process in the round later than the first round may be longer than a disconnection period between the disconnection process in the first round and the connection process immediately after the disconnection process in the first round.

[0021] Optionally, the controller may have a memory storing an execution timing of executing the connection process for each of the plurality of rounds. The controller may be configured to execute the connection process at the execution timing corresponding to the first round after the liquid is injected into the liquid reservoir chamber.

[0022] Optionally, the liquid reservoir chamber may include a plurality of liquid reservoir chambers.

[0023] The atmosphere communication path may connect the inside and the outside of the plurality of liquid reservoir chambers through the air portion.

[0024] Optionally, the liquid reservoir chamber may include a plurality of liquid reservoir chambers.

[0025] The atmosphere communication path may include a plurality of atmosphere communication paths, each of which connects the inside and the outside of each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers through each of a plurality of air portions. The switching assembly may be configured to collectively switch the states of the plurality of atmosphere communication paths between a connection state in which the inside and the outside of the plurality of liquid storage chambers are connected and a disconnection state in which the inside and the outside of the plurality of liquid storage chambers are disconnected.

[0026] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a printer 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 is a top plan view of this embodiment according to the present disclosure, showing areas within the internal structure (including the reservoir portion 220 and adjacent structures).

[0030] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 2 is an explanatory diagram of the reservoir portion 220 and the adjacent structure viewed from the front side when the head 200 is located at the capping position P21 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] [ Figure 5A ] Figure 5A is a right side view of the reservoir portion 220 according to this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] [ Figure 5B ] Figure 5B According to this embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 5A 2 is an explanatory diagram of a vertical cross section C1 of the reservoir portion 220 cut at the dashed line VB-VB indicated in FIG. 2 and viewed from the front side.

[0033] [ Fig. 6A ] Fig. 6A According to this embodiment of the present disclosure Figure 5A 1 is an explanatory diagram of a vertical cross section C2 of the reservoir portion 220 cut along the dashed line VI-VI indicated in FIG.

[0034] [ Figure 6B ] Figure 6B 2 is an explanatory diagram showing how to determine the volume Vb of the air portion in the reservoir portion 220 according to this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] [ Figure 7 ] Figure 7 2 is an explanatory diagram of the reservoir section 220 and adjacent structures when the head 200 is separated from the capping position P21 in the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] [ Figure 8 ] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating functional blocks in the printer 100 according to this embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] [ Fig.9A ] Fig.9A 1 is a part of a flowchart illustrating steps in an image recording process to be performed in the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] [ Fig. 9B ] Fig. 9B is another part of the flowchart illustrating steps in the image recording process to be performed in the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] [ Fig. 10A ] Fig. 10A 2 is an explanatory diagram of a vertical cross section of the reservoir portion 220 viewed from the front side according to the second modification example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] [ Fig. 10B ] Fig. 10B An execution timing table and a pointer stored in the EEPROM in the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are shown.

[0041] [ Fig.11A ] Fig.11A A modification example of the opener member 250 connecting the atmosphere communication path 221K according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0042] [ Fig. 11B ] Fig. 11B This modification example of the opener member 250 that disconnects the atmosphere communication path 221K according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0043] [ Fig. 12A ] Fig. 12A A modification of the cap 260 and the lifting assembly at the capping position P31 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0044] [ Fig. 12B ] Fig. 12B The cap 260 and the modified example of the lifting assembly are illustrated at the cap removal position P32 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In the following paragraphs, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. Note that various connections may be set forth between elements in the following description. These connections may generally and unless otherwise specified be direct or indirect, and this specification is not intended to be limiting in this regard.

[0046] In the following description, the directivity indicated by the pointing arrow from the base of the handle toward the pointing head will be expressed by the term "orientation", and the movability back and forth along the line extending through the handle and the pointing head of the arrow will be expressed by the term "direction".

[0047] Furthermore, the printer 100 is configured based on the posture of the printer 100 under normal usable conditions. Figure 1 The bidirectional arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the positional relationship within the printer 100 and each part or article included in the printer 100. For example, in Figure 1A vertical axis between the upper side and the lower side in the printer 100 is defined as an up-down direction 7. A side where the opening 330 is formed is defined as a front side 320, and an axis between the front side and a rear side opposite to the front side is defined as a front-rear direction 8. The right-hand side and the left-hand side of the user facing the front side 320 of the printer 100 are defined as a right side and a left side, respectively. An axis between the right side and the left side is defined as a left-right direction 9. The up-down direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 intersect orthogonally with each other. In the following description, the up-down direction 7 and the left-right direction 9 may be referred to as a vertical direction 7 and a width direction 9, respectively.

[0048] Overall Configuration of Printer 100

[0049] As in Figure 1 The printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 as an example of a liquid discharge apparatus can record on a sheet M (see FIG. 1 ) by an inkjet recording method. Figure 2 ) in a plurality of, for example, four (4) colors. The sheet material M may be a sheet material such as paper or an OHP film. However, it may be noted that the method of recording an image on the sheet material M may not necessarily be limited to inkjet recording, but may be a different recording method such as, for example, thermal inkjet recording, which is also referred to as bubble jet (registered trademark) recording.

[0050] Internal Structure of Printer 100

[0051] As in Figure 2 The printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a feeder tray 110, an ejection tray 120, a feeder 130, an outer guide 140, an inner guide 150, a conveyor roller pair 160, an ejection roller pair 170, a platen 180, a carriage 190, a head 200, a conveyor 210 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 )、the storage portion 220、the cover 230、the valve unit 240 (see Figure 5B ), opener component 250 (see Figure 4 ), Cap 260 (see Figure 4 ) and controller 270 (see Figure 8 ). At least the conveyor 210, the valve unit 240 and the opener member 250 may form a switching assembly.

[0052] Shell 300

[0053] As in Figure 1 The housing 300 shown in FIG. 3 may have a substantially rectangular cuboid shape. The housing 300 may be supported by a frame not shown disposed inside. On the front face 320, an opening 330 opened forward is formed.

[0054] Feeder tray 110

[0055] A feeder tray 110 as an example of a sheet storage portion storing the sheets M may be installed in the housing 300 through the opening 330. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , on the bottom 111 of the feeder tray 110 , one or more sheets M can be stacked in the vertical direction 7 . The guide member 112 extends upward and rearward from the rear end of the bottom 111 to a position approximately below the lower end of the outer guide 140 .

[0056] Discharge tray 120

[0057] In the housing 300, at a position above the feeder tray 110, a sheet outlet 370 is formed. Through the sheet outlet 370, the sheet M on which the image is recorded in the printer 100 can be discharged. The sheet M on which the image is recorded can be referred to as a printed material M. The discharge tray 120 is arranged at a front lower position relative to the sheet outlet 370. The discharge tray 120 can support the printed material M.

[0058] Feeder 130

[0059] As in Figure 2 The feeder 130 shown in FIG. 1 includes a shaft 131 , a feeder arm 132 , a feeder roller 133 , and a driving force transmission assembly 134 .

[0060] The shaft 131 is supported by a frame not shown, and extends in the width direction 9 at a position above the bottom 111. The feeder arm 132 is supported by the shaft 131 at its base end. The feeder arm 132 can pivot in the circumferential direction 3B of the shaft 131. The feeder arm 132 extends rearward and downward from the base end. The feeder roller 133 is attached to the distal end of the feeder arm 132. The feeder roller 133 can rotate in the circumferential direction 3C of the shaft 135 parallel to the shaft 131. The driving force transmission assembly 134 may include a gear train and a drive belt, and may be arranged inside the feeder arm 132.

[0061] Here, the overall behavior of the feeder 130 is described. The feeder roller 133 can contact the uppermost sheet M among the sheets M stacked on the bottom 111 of the feeder tray 110. The driving force transmission assembly 134 can drive the feeder motor 271 (see FIG. 27) for feeding the sheet M. Figure 8 ) is transmitted to the feeder roller 133. The feeder roller 133 may be rotated by the transmitted force and apply a backward conveying force to the uppermost sheet M. Thus, the uppermost sheet M may be conveyed backward on the bottom 111 and guided to the conveyor path P through the sheet entrance P0 by the inclined surface of the guide member 112.

[0062] Conveyor Path P

[0063] As in Figure 2As shown in FIG. 1 , inside the housing 300, a conveyor path P for conveying the sheet M is formed. The sheet inlet P0 forms the upstream end of the conveyor path P, and is arranged just above the extended end of the guide member 112. The conveyor path P is a so-called U-turn path, and includes a curved path P1 and a straight path P2. The curved path P1 is curved substantially forward and upward from the sheet inlet P0. The straight path P2 extends substantially straight forward from the downstream end of the curved path P1 to the sheet outlet 370.

[0064] Outer guide member 140, inner guide member 150

[0065] The outer guide 140 and the inner guide 150 define the outermost and innermost parts of the curved path P1 , respectively.

[0066] Here, conveyance of the sheet M is described. The sheet M fed to the sheet entrance P0 may be guided by the outer guide 140 and the inner guide 150 to be conveyed in the curved path P1. Thereafter, the sheet M may be transferred to the conveyor roller pair 160.

[0067] Conveyor roller pair 160

[0068] The conveyor roller pair 160 includes a drive roller 161 and a pinch roller 162. The drive roller 161 and the pinch roller 162 are arranged to contact each other in the vertical direction 7 across the downstream end of the curved path P1 and extend in the width direction 9 along the downstream end of the curved path P1. The drive roller 161 in this embodiment contacts the pinch roller 162 from above. However, alternatively, the drive roller 161 may contact the pinch roller 162 from below.

[0069] The driving roller 161 can be driven by a conveyor motor 272 (see Figure 8 ) is rotated. The pinch roller 162 can be rotated by the rotation of the drive roller 161. The drive roller 161 and the pinch roller 162 can pinch the sheet M and rotate to convey the sheet M in the conveying orientation 4, for example, forward. Thus, the sheet M can be conveyed downstream in the straight path P2.

[0070] Discharge roller pair 170

[0071] As in Figure 2 As shown in , the discharge roller pair 170 includes a driving roller 171 and a toothed roller 172. The driving roller 171 and the toothed roller 172 are located at a position between the platen 180 and the sheet outlet 370 in the straight path P2, and are positioned to contact each other in the vertical direction 7 across the straight path P2 and extend in the width direction 9 along the straight path P2. The toothed roller 172 in this embodiment contacts the driving roller 171 from above. However, alternatively, the toothed roller 172 may contact the driving roller 171 from below.

[0072] The driving roller 171 may be rotated by the force generated by the conveyor motor 272. The gear roller 172 may be rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 171. The driving roller 171 and the gear roller 172 may nip the sheet M and rotate to convey the sheet M further downstream in the conveying orientation 4. Thus, the sheet M may be discharged to the outside through the sheet outlet 370.

[0073] Platen 180

[0074] The pressing plate 180 is located between the conveyor roller pair 160 and the discharge roller pair 170 in the front-rear direction 8. The pressing plate 180 has a support surface 181 extending in the front-rear direction 8 and the width direction 9. The support surface 181 defines the lowermost portion of the straight path P2 and can support the sheet M conveyed by the conveyor roller pair 160 from below. The support surface 181 may be formed by the upper end surfaces of a plurality of ribs protruding upward from the pressing plate 180 and extending longitudinally in the front-rear direction 8. However, alternatively, the support surface 181 may be a flat upper surface of the pressing plate 180.

[0075] Slide 190

[0076] As in Figure 2-3 The printer 100 shown in FIG. 1 further has guide rails 191A, 191B arranged inside the housing 300. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the guide rails 191A, 191B are located at a higher position than the support surface 181 and are supported by a frame not shown. In a top plan view, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 8 , the guide rails 191A, 191B are arranged to be spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8 to be located on both sides of the support surface 181 and to extend longitudinally in the width direction 9. In other words, the support surface 181 of the platen 180 is located between the guide rails 191A, 191B in the front-rear direction 8.

[0077] As in Figure 3 The carriage 190 shown in FIG. 1 has a width smaller than that of the platen 180, and is arranged across the guide rails 191A, 191B in the front-rear direction 8. The carriage 190 can be moved on the guide rails 191A, 191B by a force transmitted through the conveyor 210 to reciprocate in the width direction 9. In the following paragraphs, the direction in which the carriage 190 can move may be referred to as the scanning direction 9.

[0078] Head 200

[0079] As in Figure 2 The head 200 shown in FIG. 1 has: a lower surface 201; an upper surface 202; a plurality of nozzles 203; and an ink flow path 204 as an example of a liquid flow path. The plurality of nozzles 203 are formed to be arranged in the front-rear direction 8 and the width direction 9 on the lower surface 201. Figure 2, among the plurality of nozzles 203, only the nozzles 203 arranged along the front-rear direction 8 are shown. Each nozzle 203 has a downward discharge opening. The head 200 is mounted on the carriage 190 so that the lower face 201 of the head 200 can move in the scanning direction 9 together with the carriage 190 in a position separated from above the support surface 181. In this regard, the lower face 201 defines the uppermost portion of the straight path P2.

[0080] The head 200 accommodates piezoelectric devices (not shown) corresponding on a one-to-one basis to the nozzles 203. A driving waveform modulated by the controller 270 may be applied to these piezoelectric devices in the head 200, and thereby the head 200 may discharge ink through the nozzles 203 in a discharge orientation 7D, i.e., downward, and consume the ink stored in the head 200.

[0081] Transmitter 210 (part of the switching assembly)

[0082] As in Figure 3 The conveyor 210 shown in the figure includes two (2) pulleys 211 and an endless belt 212. The conveyor 210 forms part of a switching assembly and can switch the state of a valve body 242, which will be further described below, between an open state and a closed state. These pulleys 211 are separated from each other in the width direction 9 on the guide rail 191A. Each pulley 211 can rotate in the circumferential direction of its axis extending along the vertical direction 7. The endless belt 212 is tightened around the pulleys 211 and is connected to the carriage 190. One pulley 211, such as the right pulley 211, is connected to a carriage motor 273 (see Figure 8 ). The carriage motor 273 can operate under the control of the controller 270 and generate a driving force. The right pulley 211 can be driven by the driving force from the carriage motor 273 to rotate in the forward direction or the reverse direction. Therefore, the head 200 connected to the endless belt 212 can reciprocate in the width direction 9 between the capping position P21 and the flushing position P22 pre-set between these pulleys 211. The capping position P21 can be moved rightward from the platen 180 and from the frame 301 (see Figure 4 ) The cap 260 separated leftward is at substantially the same position in the width direction 9. The flushing position P22 is separated leftward from the platen 180. The ink receiver 194 is arranged at the flushing position P22.

[0083] While the carriage 190 moves leftward or rightward in one swath or one pass under the control of the controller 270, the head 200 may be within an ink dischargeable range R11 (see FIG. 1 ) which will be further described below. Figure 7). The head 200 and the ink reservoir chamber 220B are connected by ink flow paths 204, which allow liquid to flow therein. While moving in the width direction 9, the head 200 can discharge the ink supplied from the reservoir portion 220 through the ink flow path 204. In other words, one line of image can be recorded on the sheet M in one pass.

[0084] Storage unit 220, cover 230

[0085] As in Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 6B As shown in FIG. 1 , the reservoir portion 220 as an ink tank is attached to the upper surface 202 of the head 200 so that the reservoir portion 220 cannot be easily removed from the head 200. In other words, the printer 100 in the present embodiment may be a so-called carriage-integrated printer in which the reservoir portion 220 and the head 200 are mounted on the carriage 190 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 The reservoir portion 220 may be located completely at an upper position relative to the head 200. However, alternatively, the reservoir portion 220 may be at least partially located above the upper surface 202 of the head 200, and another portion of the reservoir portion 220 may be located below the upper surface 202 of the head 200.

[0086] As in Figure 4 and Figure 5A As shown in , the reservoir portion 220 has an outer wall 221, four (4) upper indicia 223U, four (4) lower indicia 223L, and four (4) lids 230. Also, as shown in Fig. 6A As shown in , the reservoir portion 220 has a plurality of partition walls 222 and a cylindrical wall 224 .

[0087] As in Figure 5B and Figure 6A-6B As shown in FIG. 2 , the outer wall 221 defines the inner space 220A of the reservoir portion 220 from the external environment. The reservoir portion 220 may be mainly made of a light-transmitting material such as a transparent resin. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the amount of ink stored in the reservoir portion 220.

[0088] As in Figure 4 , Figure 5A-5B and Fig. 6A As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer wall 221 includes a bottom wall 221A, a first front wall 221B, a rear wall 221C, a first upper wall 221D, a second upper wall 221E, a second front wall 221F, a left side wall 221G, and a right side wall 221H. The bottom wall 221A, the first upper wall 221D, and the second upper wall 221E are substantially rectangular in a plan view along the vertical direction 7. The first front wall 221B, the second front wall 221F, and the rear wall 221C are substantially rectangular in a view along the front-rear direction 8.

[0089] The bottom wall 221A extends on the upper surface 202 of the head 200. The front edge and the rear edge of the bottom wall 221A are substantially parallel to the front-rear direction 8.

[0090] The first front wall 221B and the rear wall 221C extend upward from the front edge and the rear edge of the bottom wall 221 A, respectively. The extending end, ie, the upper end, of the first front wall 221B is positioned lower than the extending end of the rear wall 221C.

[0091] The first upper wall 221D is located at an upper end of the first front wall 221B and at a middle position P41 (see FIG. 41 ) between the first front wall 221B and the rear wall 221C. Figure 5A The second upper wall 221E extends between the upper end of the rear wall 221C and the middle position P41.

[0092] In the first upper wall 221D, as in Fig. 6A As shown in FIG. 7 , four (4) through holes 221J are formed through the first upper wall 221D in the vertical direction 7 , through which ink can be injected into the reservoir portion 220 .

[0093] As in Figure 4 and Figure 5A As shown in FIG. 2 , the second front wall 221F extends between the rear edge of the first upper wall 221D and the front edge of the second upper wall 221E.

[0094] As in Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 2 , the left side wall 221G and the right side wall 221H close the left end and the right end of the reservoir portion 220 , respectively.

[0095] Next, refer to Figure 5B and Fig. 6A The plurality of partition walls 222 are described. Figure 5B Shown in Figure 5A 2 is a vertical cross section C1 of the reservoir portion 220 cut along the dot-dash line VB-VB indicated in FIG. Fig. 6A Shown in Figure 5A 2. A vertical section C2 of the reservoir portion 220 cut at the dashed line VI-VI indicated in FIG. The vertical sections C1 and C2 are parallel to the vertical direction 7 and the width direction 9. The vertical section C1 extends from the second upper wall 221E to the bottom wall 221A, and the vertical section C2 extends from the upper end of the cover 230 to the bottom wall 221A.

[0096] The multiple dividing walls 222 include three (3) vertical dividing walls 222A and one vertical dividing wall 222B, and the three (3) vertical dividing walls 222A and the vertical dividing wall 222B together with the outer wall 221 define the internal space 220A into four (4) ink storage chambers 220B (which are examples of liquid storage chambers), one air chamber 220C and one valve placement space 220D.

[0097] These vertical partition walls 222A are arranged in the internal space 220A at intervals in the width direction 9. In particular, these vertical partition walls 222A extend upward from the bottom wall 221A at different positions and expand in the front-rear direction 8 and the vertical direction 7. Each vertical partition wall 222A is connected to the first upper wall 221D (see FIG. 2 ) at a position between two adjacent through holes 221J in the width direction 9. Fig. 6A ). At the same time, none of these vertical partition walls 222A is connected to the second upper wall 221E (see Figure 5B ). In other words, the extended end of the vertical partition wall 222A is separated from the lower side of the second upper wall 221E. Each vertical partition wall 222A is connected to the first front wall 221B at its front end and to the rear wall 221C at its rear end. None of these vertical partition walls 222A is connected to the second front wall 221F.

[0098] The vertical partition wall 222B extends downward from the second upper wall 221E at a position separated leftward from the right side wall 221H, and expands in the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. The vertical partition wall 222B extends in the vertical direction 7 to a position separated above the extending end of the vertical partition wall 222A.

[0099] The four ink reservoir chambers 220B are spaces surrounded by the bottom wall 221A, the first front wall 221B, the rear wall 221C, the first upper wall 221D, the left side wall 221G, the right side wall 221H, and the three vertical partition walls 222A. The four ink reservoir chambers 220B can store inks of four (4) different colors (e.g., yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). Each ink reservoir chamber 220B can be connected to the outside of the reservoir portion 2210 through a corresponding through hole 221J.

[0100] The air chamber 220C is a space surrounded by the second front wall 221F, the rear wall 221C, the second upper wall 221E, the left side wall 221G, and the right side wall 221H. The air chamber 220C is located at an upper position relative to the upper indicator 223U. The air chamber 220C can store at least a part of the air in the reservoir portion 220, that is, the air portion. Alternatively, the air chamber 220C may be surrounded by other partition walls, or may be a so-called labyrinth flow path.

[0101] As in Figure 5B As shown in FIG. 2 , the valve placement space 220D is a space defined by the second upper wall 221E, the right side wall 221H, and the vertical partition wall 222B, and accommodates the valve unit 240. The lower side of the valve placement space 220D is opened downward. Therefore, the valve placement space 220D is continuous with the ink reservoir chamber 220B through the air chamber 220C.

[0102] As in Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the upper indicator 223U is arranged on the outer surface of the first front wall 221B and is arranged at a position close to the upper edge of the first front wall 221B. Each upper indicator 223U is arranged at the front side of a corresponding ink reservoir chamber 220B. These upper indicators 223U are located at the same position in the vertical direction 7 and are arranged spaced apart from each other in the width direction 9.

[0103] The lower index 223L is arranged on the outer surface of the first front wall 221B and is arranged at a position lower than the upper index 223U. Each lower index 223L is arranged at a lower position relative to a corresponding upper index 223U. These lower indexes 223L are located at the same position in the vertical direction 7 and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction 9.

[0104] Each of the upper indicator 223U and the lower indicator 223L has a linear form extending in the width direction 9. The upper indicator 223U and the lower indicator 223L may be marked on the outer surface of the first front wall 221B by engraving, embossing, or painting with a colorant. Each of the upper indicators 223U is a symbol indicating the surface level of the maximum amount of ink that can be stored in the ink reservoir chamber 220B behind the upper indicator 223U. Each of the lower indicators 223L is a symbol indicating the surface level of ink at which the ink reservoir chamber 220B should be refilled with ink.

[0105] As in Fig. 6A As shown in , the cylindrical wall 224 extends upward and downward in a cylindrical shape from the circumferential edge of the through hole 221J in the first upper wall 221D. Each cylindrical wall 224 has an injection port 224A at its upper end. In other words, the upper end of each cylindrical wall 224 forms an injection port 224A. The injection port 224A is an opening that opens upward or outward from the reservoir portion 220. The inner peripheral surface of each cylindrical wall 224 defines an ink supply path 224B that extends from the injection port 224A through the through hole 221J to the ink reservoir chamber 220B. In other words, the injection port 224A is continuous with the ink reservoir chamber 220B, and the ink supply path 224B connects the inside and outside of the ink reservoir chamber 220B. The lower end of the ink supply path 224B is positioned lower than the air chamber 220C. In other words, the air chamber 220C is located at an upper position relative to the lower end of the ink supply path 224B.

[0106] Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Fig. 6A The cap 230 shown in FIG. 2 may be formed of, for example, a flexible resin. The cap 230 is attachable to and detachable from the upper end of the cylindrical wall 224 by a user to close and open the injection port 224A.

[0107] As in Figure 5A-5B As shown in FIG. 1 , an atmosphere communication path 221K is formed in the right side wall 221H at a position that coincides with the vertical partition wall 222B in the width direction 9. The atmosphere communication path 221K is a through hole formed through the right side wall 221H in the width direction 9. The atmosphere communication path 221K connects the ink reservoir chamber 220B and the outside of the reservoir portion 220 through the valve placement space 220D and the air chamber 220C.

[0108] In the bottom wall 221A, four (4) outflow ports 221L are formed at positions that coincide with the lower ends of the four ink reservoir chambers 220B. Each outflow port 221L is a through hole formed vertically through the bottom wall 221A and is continuous with a corresponding one of the ink flow paths 204. Through the outflow ports 221L, the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 220B can be supplied to the head 200. In the present embodiment, the air chamber 220C is completely positioned higher than the outflow port 221L. However, alternatively, the air chamber 220C may be at least partially located at an upper position relative to the outflow port 221L.

[0109] Valve unit 240, opener component 250 (part of the switching assembly)

[0110] As in Figure 5B As shown in FIG. 2 , the valve unit 240 has a spring 241 and a valve body 242 .

[0111] The spring 241 may be a compression coil spring, the natural length of which is substantially equal to or greater than the distance between the right side wall 221H and the vertical partition wall 222B in the width direction 9. The spring 241 is accommodated in the valve placement space 220D with its axis aligned parallel to the width direction 9. The left end of the spring 241 is fixed to the vertical partition wall 222B. The valve body 242 is fixed to the right end of the spring 241.

[0112] When the opener member 250 does not contact the valve body 242, with the inner surface of the right side wall 221H serving as a valve seat, the valve body 242 can close the atmosphere communication path 221K by the urging force of the spring 241. Thus, the atmosphere communication path 221K is placed in a disconnected state in which the ink reservoir chamber 220B and the outside of the reservoir portion 220 are disconnected.

[0113] As in Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , the frame 301 is arranged inside the housing 300. The frame 301 extends in the vertical direction 7 at a position separated to the right from the cap 260, and the frame 301 faces the right side wall 221H of the storage portion 220 in the width direction 9. The opener member 250 is connected to the atmosphere communication path 221K (see FIG. 1 ) in the width direction 9 from the frame 301. Figure 5A-5B ) protrudes to the left at a position consistent with the head 200. The cross-sectional area of ​​the opener component 250 at the cross section along the vertical direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8 is smaller than the opening of the atmosphere communication path 221K over the entire range in the width direction 9. The length of the opener component 250 in the width direction 9 is greater than the distance between the valve body 242 and the frame 301 when the head 200 is at the capping position P21. When the carriage 190 moves in the width direction 9, and shortly before the head 200 on the carriage 190 reaches the capping position P21, the protruding end of the opener component 250 can enter the atmosphere communication path 221K and contact the valve body 242. While the head 200 stays in the capping position P21, the valve body 242 is separated from the right side wall 221H by the contact force from the opener component 250 to overcome the pushing force of the spring 241. Therefore, the valve body 242 can open the atmosphere communication path 221K. In other words, the opener component 250 can switch the valve body 242 from a closed state to an open state. Therefore, the valve body 242 can switchably open and close the atmosphere communication path 221K. Accordingly, the atmosphere communication path 221K can be placed in a connection state in which the ink tank chamber 220B and the outside of the reservoir portion 220 are connected to communicate.

[0114] Cap 260

[0115] As in Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown in , the cap 260 is located at substantially the same position as the head 200 in the front-rear direction 8, and has a generally rectangular box shape in a top plan view. The upper end of the cap 260 is opened upward. The cap 260 may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber.

[0116] The cap 260 is supported by the frame 302 extending in the front-rear direction 8 and the width direction 9 through the lifting assembly 261. The lifting assembly 261 can be driven by the lifting motor 274 (see Figure 8 ) The driving force generated under the control of the controller 270 moves the cap 260 vertically between the capping position P31 and the capping position P32. Figure 4 As shown in , the capping position P31 is a position where the upper end of the cap 260 contacts the lower surface 201 of the head 200 located at the capping position P21. The cap 260 at the capping position P31 can cover the nozzle 203 formed in the lower surface 201 of the head 200. Figure 7As shown in FIG. 2 , the capping position P32 is lower than the capping position P31 and is a position where the upper end of the cap 260 is separated from the lower surface 201 of the head 200 .

[0117] A plurality of through holes 263 are formed on the bottom 262 of the cap 260, but Figure 4 and Figure 7 Only one through hole 263 is shown in the figure. A tube 264 is connected to each through hole 263 at one end so that the through hole 263 and the tube 264 are in fluid communication. The other end of the tube 264 is connected to a pump not shown. When the cap 260 is at the capping position P31, the pump can be started by the controller 270. Accordingly, the obstacles and ink remaining in the head 200 can be evacuated and collected on the cap 260. The collected obstacles on the cap 260 can be transported to a waste tank not shown through the tube 264.

[0118] Volume of air part Vb

[0119] Next, refer to Figure 6B , the volume Vb of the air portion will be described. The air portion is a portion of the internal space 220A that is not occupied by ink, i.e., a cavity. The volume Vb is the volume of the air portion when the surface of the ink is at substantially the same vertical position as the upper indicator 223U. The volume Vb can be determined in the following manner while being designed by the manufacturer.

[0120] In the valve body 242 (see Figure 5B ) while the atmospheric communication path 221K is closed, in other words, while the atmospheric communication path 221K is in a disconnected state, a discharge process may be performed under the control of the controller 270. The discharge process is a process in which the head 200 discharges ink at the sheet M on the support surface 81 under specified conditions to record a specified image based on specified image data. This discharge process will be further described below. During the discharge process, over time, when the atmospheric communication path 221K is in a disconnected state, the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 220B may be consumed, and the volume of the air portion may increase; therefore, the air pressure in the air portion may decrease.

[0121] Meanwhile, the printer 100 may perform a flushing action before or during recording an image on the sheet M in the discharge process. In particular, the head 200 may discharge ink through the nozzle 203 at the ink receiver 194 under the control of the controller 270. Therefore, through the flushing action, the volume of the air portion may increase even more, and the air pressure in the air portion may decrease over time. In the present embodiment, the discharge process includes the action of the controller 270 for the flushing action.

[0122] In this regard, the duration of the discharge process may be a factor in changing the air pressure in the reservoir portion 220 .

[0123] In the present embodiment, the air pressure of the air portion in the reservoir portion 220, i.e., one atmosphere (1 atm), when the atmosphere communication path 221K is in the disconnected state can be represented by the symbol Po. While the change in the volume of the air portion due to the change in the volume of the ink caused by the discharge process can be represented by the symbol ΔV and the change in the pressure of the air portion can be represented by the symbol ΔP, the volume Vb is controlled to satisfy the formula: Vb=(Po+ΔP)*ΔV / ΔP ... (Vb is equal to (Po plus ΔP) multiplied by ΔV divided by ΔP) (1).

[0124] Furthermore, while the withstand pressure of the meniscus formed by the ink in the nozzle 203 can be represented by the symbol Pm, ΔP satisfies the formula: ΔP<=Pm (ΔP is less than or equal to Pm) (2).

[0125] The pressure resistance Pm may be predetermined based on the specifications of the ink and the head 200. In order to calculate the pressure resistance Pm of the ink meniscus, the surface tension of the genuine ink and the contact angle with the genuine ink provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the printer 100 may be used. In particular, if the diameter of each nozzle 203 is d, the surface tension of the ink may be represented by the symbol σ, and the contact angle of the ink at the bottom 201 of the nozzle 203 may be represented by the symbol θ, then Pm may be obtained from the following formula: Pm=4*σ*cosθ / d…(Pm is equal to 4 times σ times cosθ divided by d)(3). Meanwhile, the diameter d of the nozzle 203 may be based on the exit diameter of the nozzle 203.

[0126] The surface tension σ can be obtained, for example, by the Wilhelmy method. The contact angle θ may be a contact angle when an ink droplet lands on the lower face 201 which is a flat ink discharge surface, and can be obtained, for example, by the θ / 2 method.

[0127] The designated image is a multi-color pattern image defined in ISO / IEC 24734 established by the International Organization for Standardization. The color pattern image is an image defined in ISO / IEC 24734 and is described in image data in a predetermined data format (doc format, xls format, pdf format, etc.).

[0128] The specified condition is to continuously record the specified image for 30 seconds on an A4-sized sheet as an example of a sheet in the standard mode defined in ISO / IEC24734, 30 seconds being an example of a specified time length. The specified conditions specifically include a resolution (CR×LF) and a margin size. The resolution may be, for example, 600×300 dpi. In the case of the doc format, the margin size is 34.3 mm on each of the top and bottom, and 29.2 mm on each of the left and right sides of the sheet. In the case of the xls format, the margin size is 3 mm on each of the top and bottom, and 3 mm on each of the left and right sides of the sheet.

[0129] Controller 270

[0130] As in Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , the controller 270 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and an ASIC connected to each other through an internal bus. The ROM, the RAM, and the EEPROM are examples of memories. The ROM can store programs to control operations in the printer 100. The CPU can execute the programs by using the RAM and the EEPROM.

[0131] The ASIC is electrically connected to the motors 271 - 274. The ASIC may generate and output control signals V21, V22, V23, V24 to rotate the feeder motor 271, the conveyor motor 272, the carriage motor 273, and the lifting motor 274, respectively.

[0132] The controller 270 has a total consumption counter for each of the four colors of ink in, for example, an EEPROM. The total consumption counter can be used to cumulatively estimate the amount of ink consumed in the reservoir portion 220. The accumulation by the total consumption counter can be started immediately after the ink injection process.

[0133] The controller 270 has a timer 275 as an internal circuit of the CPU. The timer 275 can accumulate the time length from the point when the start command is input to the point when the stop command is input as the duration according to the instruction from the CPU. When the duration reaches a predetermined time threshold, the timer 275 returns a response indicating the reaching to the CPU. The time threshold is set to a time length shorter than the time length that can cause the meniscus destruction in the nozzle 203 due to the increased negative pressure in the internal space 220A. The time length that can cause the meniscus destruction in the nozzle 203 can be predetermined by, for example, experiments while the printer 100 is being designed by the manufacturer. In the present embodiment, the time threshold is 30 seconds (this is an example of a specified condition), or it can be a time length including 30 seconds and a margin.

[0134] Image recording process performed by controller 270

[0135] When the printer 100 is waiting for image recording, the head 200, the cap 260 and the valve unit 240 are in Figure 4 . In this arrangement, the head 200 waits at the home position, which in the present embodiment may be the capping position P21. At the same time, the capping position P21 may also be the origin from which the head 200 moves in the width direction 9. However, alternatively, the home position may be any position between the pressure plate 180 and the cap 260 in the width direction 9, or may be at a position to the right relative to the cap 260. The cap 260 stays at the capping position P31 and covers the nozzle 203 of the head 200. The valve body 242 is subjected to the contact force of the opener component 250 and opens the atmospheric communication path 221K to place the atmospheric communication path 221K in a connected state. The cover 230 closes the injection port 224A (see Fig. 6A ).

[0136] When the printer 100 is waiting for or running the image recording process, the controller 270 can receive a print job and store the received print job in, for example, a RAM. The sender of the print job can be a personal computer or a smart phone that can communicate with the printer 100. The print job is an execution command for the image recording process and includes at least image data and setting information. The image data describes the image to be recorded in the image recording process. The image data can describe an image to be recorded on a single sheet M or multiple images to be recorded on multiple sheets M. The setting information describes the settings for the image recording process, which include, for example, a print mode, a size of a sheet M, a margin on a sheet M, and a resolution of an image. It can be pointed out that the size of a sheet M, a margin on a sheet M, and a resolution of an image were explained before.

[0137] The controller 270 may select one of the print jobs stored in the RAM and start an image recording process based on the selected print job (see FIG. 9A to FIG. 9B ).

[0138] As in Fig.9A As shown in, in S101, the controller 270 generates drive signals in the RAM based on the image data and the setting information. These drive signals can be used to drive the piezoelectric device in the head 200, and these drive signals are generated for all the passes required for recording the image described by the image data for each ink in the different colors of ink.

[0139] In S102, the controller 270 performs an estimation process and an accumulation process for an estimated total consumable amount of ink. The estimated total consumable amount is the amount of each ink consumed by the head 200 when all the driving signals generated in S101 drive the piezoelectric device. Also, in S102, the controller 270 adds the estimated total consumable amount of ink to the counter value in the corresponding total consumption counter.

[0140] In S103, the controller 270 determines whether any current counter value exceeds a volume threshold value. The volume threshold value indicates a predetermined amount of ink that can be stored between the lower index 223L and the upper index 223U in the ink reservoir chamber 220B. In this embodiment, the volume threshold values ​​for the four inks are the same. When the controller 270 determines that any current counter value exceeds the volume threshold value, the controller 270 proceeds to S117. When the controller 270 determines that none of the current counter values ​​exceeds the volume threshold value, the controller 270 proceeds to S104.

[0141] In S104, the controller 270 determines whether the empty flag in the RAM or EEPROM is off. The empty flag may be set to off after the ink injection process (S117-S119) described further below. The empty flag may be set to off in S115 (see S116-S117) described further below. Fig. 9B ) is set to on in the remaining amount confirmation process. When the empty flag is off, the controller 270 proceeds to S105; but when the empty flag is on, the controller 270 proceeds to S117.

[0142] In S105, the controller 270 performs a flushing process. In particular, as an early step in the flushing process, the controller 270 performs a separation step in which the controller 270 outputs a control signal V24 to control the lifting assembly 261 to lower the cap 260 from the capping position P31 to the capping position P32 (see FIG. Figure 7 ).

[0143] As a later step in the flushing process, the controller 270 moves the head 200 to the flushing position P22 in the width direction 9. Specifically, the controller 270 outputs a control signal V23 to the carriage motor 273 to control the conveyor 210 to move the carriage 190 in the width direction 9. While the carriage 190 is being moved, the controller 270 generates a control signal V23 based on the linear encoder 193 (see FIG. Figure 3) outputted by the controller 270 determines the update position of the head 200. Until the update position matches the flushing position P22, the controller 270 continues to move the head 200 toward the flushing position P22 in the width direction 9. When the update position of the head 200 matches the flushing position P22, the controller 270 stops the head 200 at the flushing position P22 and controls the head 200 resting on the ink receiver 194 to discharge ink at the ink receiver 194. The flushing process is performed in this way. During the flushing process, the controller 270 starts the timer 275 to count the time between the start and end of ink discharge from the head 200.

[0144] After the flushing process, further in S105, the controller 270 performs a moving process, in which the controller 270 outputs a control signal V23 to the carriage motor 273 and moves the head 200 from the flushing position P22 to the home position, i.e., the capping position P21. At the same time, the controller 270 periodically monitors the update position of the head 200, and when the update position matches the capping position P21, the controller 270 stops outputting the control signal V23. The process in S105 ends here.

[0145] In S106, the controller 270 selects a driving signal for one unit of one pass to be performed in the discharge process in S110 from among those driving signals stored in the RAM (see Fig. 9B ).

[0146] In S107, the controller 270 performs a cueing process and controls the sheet M in the feeder tray 110 to be conveyed to the queuing position which is located at the position between the sheet sensor 205 (see FIG. 1 ) and the sheet sensor 205 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 2 ). The sheet sensor 205 may be arranged at a position close to the front end of the lower surface 201. The sheet sensor 205, which is an optical sensor, is arranged to face the support surface 181 of the platen 180.

[0147] In the queuing process, in particular, the controller 270 outputs a control signal V21 to the feeder motor 271 to control the feeder roller 133 to convey the sheet M in the curved path P1. Thereafter, the controller 270 outputs a control signal V22 to the conveyor motor 272 to control the conveyor roller pair 160 to convey the sheet M to the queuing position in the straight path P2. While outputting the control signal V22, the controller 270 periodically obtains a signal from the sheet sensor 205, and stops outputting the control signal V22 in response to a change in the level of the obtained signal. Therefore, in the case where the leading edge of the sheet M is located at the queuing position, the sheet M can be suspended on the support surface 181.

[0148] In S108, the controller 270 determines the ink dischargeable range R11 (see FIG. 104 ) based on the size of the sheet M and the margin size included in the setting information in the print job. Figure 4 ). The ink dischargeable range R11 is a range in which ink can be discharged at the sheet M on the supporting surface 181, and is a difference obtained by subtracting a margin size from each side of the sheet M.

[0149] In S109 (see Fig. 9B ), the controller 270 outputs a control signal V23 to the carriage motor 273 to move the head 200 from the capping position P21 to a position just above the discharge start position in the ink dischargeable range R11. The discharge start position is an initial position for the head 200 when a single-pass image is to be recorded on the sheet M on the support surface 181.

[0150] Before S109, in other words, when the head 200 is located at the capping position P21, as in Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the atmosphere communication path 221K is in a connected state. From this position, while the head 200 moves from the capping position P21 to a position above the ink dischargeable range R11 in S109, the valve body 242 separates from the opener member 250 and closes the atmosphere communication path 221K by the urging force of the spring 241 (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 7 ). Therefore, the atmosphere communication path 221K is turned into the disconnected state. S109 is an example of the disconnection process, in which the switching component puts the atmosphere communication path 221K into the disconnected state.

[0151] Furthermore, in S109, the controller 270 performs a measurement start process. Specifically, as the controller 270 starts to output the control signal V23, in other words, as the head 200 starts to move from the capping position P21, the controller 270 performs a measurement start process in which the controller 270 starts the timer 275 to start measuring time.

[0152] In S110, the controller 270 performs: a conveying process of conveying the head 200 in the scanning direction 9, i.e., the width direction 9; and a discharge process. The conveying process of conveying the head 200 in the scanning direction 9 may be referred to as a scanning process hereinafter. In particular, in this scanning process, the controller 270 outputs a control signal V23 to the carriage motor 273 to control the conveyor 210 to convey the head 200 in the scanning direction 9 in a unidirectional manner, i.e., rightward or leftward, once.

[0153] In the case where the atmosphere communication path 221K is being closed, and while the control signal V23 is being output during scanning, the discharge process can be performed. In particular, while the head 200 is moving above the ink dischargeable range R11, the controller 270 will in S106 (see Fig.9A ) or S114 (see Fig. 9B ) is applied to the piezoelectric device in the head 200. Therefore, the piezoelectric device can be driven, and ink can be discharged from the head 200 through the nozzle 203. Accordingly, an image of this pass along the scanning direction can be recorded on the sheet M.

[0154] Having finished outputting the driving signal in this pass, the controller 270 stops outputting the control signal V23. Furthermore, the controller 270 instructs the timer 275 to stop measuring. Thereafter, the controller 270 exits S110.

[0155] In S111, the controller 270 performs a condition determination process to determine whether a predetermined connection condition is satisfied. In particular, the controller 270 may determine whether the duration measured by the timer 275 reaches a time threshold. More specifically, based on whether the controller 270 receives a response from the timer 275 on or before S111, the controller 270 may determine whether the duration reaches the time threshold. If the controller 270 does not receive a response from the timer 275, the controller 270 may determine that the duration does not reach the time threshold, and the controller 270 may proceed to S113. If the controller 270 receives a response from the timer 275, the controller 270 may determine that the duration reaches the time threshold, and the controller 270 may proceed to S112.

[0156] In S112, the controller 270 performs a retreat process and a connection process to move the head 200 so as to reciprocate between the update position and the capping position P21 in the scanning direction 9. Specifically, the controller 270 performs a retraction process and a connection process based on the data from the linear encoder 193 (see Figure 3 ) signal to obtain the updated position of the head 200, and the controller 270 stores the updated position as a recovery position for the ink discharge process in, for example, a RAM. Fig.9A ), the controller 270 may move the head 200 to the right to retreat to the capping position P21 (i.e., retreat process). When the head 200 reaches the capping position P21, the valve body 242 may receive the contact force of the opener member 250, and the valve body 242 converts the atmosphere communication path 221K into a connection state (i.e., connection process). Thereafter, the controller 270 moves the head 200 to the left from the capping position P21 to return to the recovery position. Further, in S112, the controller 270 issues a reset command from the CPU to initialize the timer 275.

[0157] In S113, the controller 270 determines whether the entire image for the sheet M is completely recorded. When the controller 270 determines that image recording is not completed, the controller 270 proceeds to S114, or when the controller 270 determines that image recording is completed, the controller 270 proceeds to S115.

[0158] In S114, the controller 270 selects another unit of drive signals for the next pass from those drive signals. Moreover, the controller 270 performs an intermittent conveying process. In particular, in this intermittent conveying process, the controller 270 outputs a control signal V22 to the conveyor motor 272 to control the conveyor roller pair 160 to convey the sheet M in the conveying orientation 4, for example, forward, by a distance equal to a single pass in the conveying orientation 4, and the controller 270 controls the conveyor roller pair 160 to stop rotating. The controller 270 proceeds to S109.

[0159] In S115 , the controller 270 performs a discharge process to discharge the printed material M. Specifically, the controller 270 may output a control signal V22 to the conveyor motor 272 to control the conveyor roller pair 160 and the discharge roller pair 170 to discharge the printed material M at the discharge tray 120 through the sheet outlet 370 .

[0160] Furthermore, in S115, the controller 270 performs a remaining amount confirmation process, and when the controller 270 determines that the surface of the ink is above the lower indicator 223L based on a signal output from a liquid amount sensor (not shown) in the reservoir portion 220, the controller 270 sets the empty flag to OFF. On the other hand, when the controller 270 determines that the surface of any ink is equal to or lower than the lower indicator 223L, the controller 270 determines that the amount of at least one ink in the reservoir portion 220 reaches the injection threshold amount, and sets the empty flag to ON.

[0161] In S116, the controller 270 determines whether the image recording of recording all images on the sheet M is completed. When the controller 270 determines that the image recording is not completed, the controller 270 proceeds to S104 (see Fig.9A ); or when the controller 270 determines that the image recording is completed, the controller 270 ends in FIG. 9A to FIG. 9B The image recording process shown in .

[0162] Ink injection process (S117-S119)

[0163] In S117 (see Fig.9A), the controller 270 performs an ink injection process. In particular, the controller 270 performs a movement process in which, similar to S106, the controller 270 moves the head 200 from the update position to the capping position P21. The controller 270 may output an audio message or an image to warn the user that at least one ink reservoir chamber 220B needs to be refilled with ink. The user who recognizes the warning may access the reservoir portion 220 and open the cover 230, and then perform a predetermined process for refilling. The user may attach a bottle (not shown) containing ink to the injection port 224A and pour the ink in the bottle into the ink reservoir chamber 220B until the surface of the ink reaches the upper indicator 223U. In S118, the user may input a notification indicating that the ink reservoir chamber 220B is refilled through, for example, an operation interface (not shown) in the printer 100. In response to the user's input, in S119, the controller 270 initializes the counter value to zero (0), sets the empty flag to off, and resets the timer 275. Thereafter, the controller 270 proceeds to S105.

[0164] benefit

[0165] In the above-described embodiment, during the intermittent conveying process, the sheet M being conveyed in the straight path P2 may contact the nozzle 203 of the head 200, and the ink in the head 200 may leak out and contaminate the sheet M. However, in this case, after S109, the atmospheric communication path 221K is placed in a disconnected state. Therefore, the negative pressure in the internal space 220A of the reservoir portion 220 can be maintained. Accordingly, the aggravation of ink leakage that may occur during the intermittent conveying process or the discharge process can be suppressed. At the same time, based on the formula (1) and formula (2) described above, the volume Vb of the air portion is predetermined. In other words, the volume Vb of the air portion is controlled to satisfy formula (1) and formula (2). Moreover, it can be determined in S111 (see Fig. 9B ) is satisfied. This allows the air pressure in the inner space 220A, which has become negative due to the discharge process, to return to the atmospheric pressure, i.e., 1 atm. Therefore, even if the volume of the air portion changes during the discharge process, the ink can preferably form a meniscus in the nozzle 203.

[0166] According to the embodiment described above, the user can easily visually recognize the surface liquid level of the ink in the ink reservoir chamber 220B with reference to the upper indicator 223U. Therefore, the user can easily pour the ink into the ink reservoir chamber 220B and stop the pouring at the liquid level of the upper indicator 223U. Accordingly, while the ink may be reduced from the amount preferably refilled, even if the volume of the air portion changes during the discharge process, the ink can preferably form a meniscus in the nozzle 203.

[0167] According to the embodiment described above, the air chamber 220C is located at an upper position relative to the ink reservoir chamber 220B. Therefore, ink cannot easily enter the air chamber 220C, and in the absence of ink, air can be easily and sufficiently sucked into the air chamber 220C during the connection process.

[0168] According to the embodiment described above, the air chamber 220C is located at an upper position relative to the lower end of the ink supply path 224B. Therefore, again, ink cannot easily enter the air chamber 220C, and in the absence of ink, air can be easily and sufficiently sucked into the air chamber 220C during the connection process.

[0169] According to the embodiment described above, the reservoir section 220 has: the plurality of ink reservoir chambers 220B; and the atmosphere communication path 221K connecting the inside and the outside of the ink reservoir chamber 220B. The switching assembly can switch the state of the atmosphere communication path 221K between a connection state in which the plurality of ink reservoir chambers 220B are collectively connected to the outside and a disconnection state in which the plurality of ink reservoir chambers 220B are collectively disconnected from the outside. Therefore, the controller 270 can be released from the burden of switching the states of the ink reservoir chambers 220B individually.

[0170] Variations

[0171] Although examples of implementing the present invention have been described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are many variations and permutations of the liquid discharge device that fall within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. It should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specified features or actions described above. On the contrary, the specified features and actions described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. At the same time, the terms used to represent the components in the above embodiments may not necessarily be identical to the terms recited in the appended claims, but the terms used in the above embodiments may be regarded only as examples of the subject matter claimed for protection. Modifications of this embodiment will be described below.

[0172] First Modification Example (First Modification Example of Storage Section 220)

[0173] As a first modification of the reservoir portion 220, at least a portion of the outer wall 221 may be deformable by a pressure change of the air portion in the reservoir portion 220. For example, a portion of the outer wall 221 may be made of a resin film that is elastically deformable by a pressure change, and another portion of the outer wall 221 may be made of a resin that is not deformable by a pressure change and is in a form thicker than the resin film.

[0174] According to the first modification, when the pressure of the air portion is reduced, the volume of the air portion can be reduced due to the deformation of the deformable portion of the outer wall 221. Therefore, the increase of negative pressure in the air portion due to the discharge process can be suppressed. As a result, the number of times the connection process is performed can be reduced, and the number of images that can be recorded per unit time, ipm, can be increased.

[0175] Second Modification Example (Second Modification Example of Storage Unit 220)

[0176] In the above-described embodiment, the air chamber 220C is not divided into a plurality of sections. However, for example, as in Fig. 10A As shown in , the internal space 220A in the reservoir portion 220 can be divided into four (4) sections by three (3) vertical partition walls 222A, each section having an ink reservoir chamber 220B and an air chamber 220C. In other words, the reservoir portion 220 may include four (4) ink reservoir chambers 220B, four (4) air chambers 220C, and four (4) air sections. With this arrangement, each ink reservoir chamber 220B can be individually connected to the outside of the reservoir portion 220 through one of the four air sections in the four (4) individual atmospheric communication paths 221K as an example of the plurality of atmospheric communication paths. Moreover, for each air chamber 220C, a separate valve placement space 220D can be arranged at a right position relative to the air chamber 220C. In each valve placement space 220D, a valve unit 240 can be arranged. The frame 301 may have four (4) opener components 250, each of which corresponds to one of the four valve units 240. As the head 200 moves to the capping position P21, the opener components 250 may collectively and substantially simultaneously switch the respective valve units 240 to a connected state, and as the head 200 leaves the capping position P21, the opener components 250 may switch the corresponding valve units 240 to a disconnected state.

[0177] Third Modification (Modification of Image Recording Process)

[0178] As a third modification, the controller 270 may set the time threshold Ti (see Fig. 10B ) is set in the timer 275. The time threshold T1 may be set in the timer 275 when the printer 100 is shipped from the factory or when the printer 100 is powered on.

[0179] EEPROM can store information such as Fig. 10BThe execution timing table shown in . The execution timing table can define a time threshold Ti for each round i of the connection process, that is, an execution timing for executing the connection process (S112). The symbol i represents a natural number such as 1, 2, ..., n-1, n. In other words, the execution timing table defines time thresholds T1, T2, ..., Tn-1, Tn corresponding to rounds 1, 2, ..., n-1, n, respectively. The time threshold T1 can be, for example, 30 seconds. The time thresholds T2, ..., Tn can be respectively greater than the time thresholds T1, ..., Tn-1. However, optionally, the time thresholds T2, ..., Tn may not necessarily be greater than the time thresholds T1, ..., Tn-1, respectively, as long as at least one of the time thresholds T2, ..., Tn is greater than the time threshold T1.

[0180] Moreover, as in Fig. 10B As shown in , the EEPROM may have a pointer indicating the next time threshold Ti to be set in the timer 275. When the printer 100 is shipped out of the factory, the time threshold T2 may be set in the pointer.

[0181] The controller 270 may be configured to perform the following operations at S112 (see Fig. 9B ) after initializing the timer 275, the time threshold Ti indicated by the pointer is set to the timer 275. Moreover, the controller 270 can update the time threshold Ti indicated by the pointer with the new time threshold Ti+1. However, when the number of rounds i is n (i=n), the controller 270 can update the time threshold Ti indicated by the pointer with the time threshold T1.

[0182] The controller 270 may be configured to perform the following operations at S119 (see Fig.9A ) After initializing timer 275, the time threshold T1 indicated by the pointer is set in timer 275.

[0183] Benefits of the Third Modification

[0184] according to FIG. 9A to FIG. 9B In the process shown in FIG. 1 , the controller 270 may alternately repeat the connection process (S112) and the disconnection process (S109) for multiple rounds. In a third variant, the controller 270 may perform the connection process (S112) and the disconnection process (S109) according to the execution timing table (see FIG. Fig. 10B ) sets the time threshold Ti for the timer 275; thereby, the disconnection period between the disconnection process in a round later than the first round and the connection process immediately after the disconnection process in the round later than the first round can be longer than the disconnection period between the disconnection process in the first round and the connection process immediately after the disconnection process in the first round. Therefore, as image recording continues longer, the number of times the switching component performs the retreat process and the connection process while the image is being recorded can be reduced.

[0185] Moreover, in the case where at least one of the time thresholds T2, ..., Tn is greater than the time threshold T1, the number of times the switching component performs the retreat process and the connection process while images are being recorded can still be reduced compared to the earlier described embodiments.

[0186] Moreover, in the third modification, the timer 275 may be set at the time threshold T1 in S119, which is after the ink is injected into the ink reservoir chamber 220B. Therefore, the connection process (S112) to be performed for the first time after the ink is injected may be performed in response to the duration reaching the time threshold T1. In other words, after the ink is injected into the ink reservoir chamber 220B, the controller 270 may perform the connection process at the execution timing of the first round. Therefore, even if the volume of the air portion changes due to the discharge process after refilling, the ink may preferably form a meniscus in the nozzle 203.

[0187] Fourth Modified Embodiment (Modified Example of Image Recording Process)

[0188] In the embodiment described earlier, the controller 270 performs the connection process based on the duration measured by the timer 275. Alternatively, instead of the timer 275, the controller 270 may have an air pressure sensor to detect the air pressure of the air portion. Through the air pressure sensor, the controller 270 may not start timing by the timer 275 in S109, stop timing by the timer 275 in S110, or reset the timer 275 in S112, S119. Instead, the controller 270 may determine the amount of air pressure that has been changed by subtracting the air pressure detected by the air pressure sensor in S110 from an atmospheric pressure, and in S111, determine whether the amount of change in air pressure has reached ΔP as an air pressure threshold. If the controller 270 determines in S111 that the amount of change in air pressure has reached ΔP, the controller 270 may proceed to S112, and if the controller 270 determines in S111 that the amount of change in air pressure has not reached ΔP, the controller 270 may proceed to S113.

[0189] Fifth Modification (Modification of Switching Component)

[0190] The switching assembly need not have a transmitter 210, a valve unit 240, and an opener component 250, but may be composed of, for example, a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve may include a solenoid and a valve body made of, for example, iron. The controller 270 may apply an electric current to the solenoid, and thereby the valve body may be attracted to the solenoid. Accordingly, the atmosphere communication path 221K may be converted into a connected state. On the other hand, when the controller 270 does not apply an electric current to the solenoid, the valve body may be separated from the solenoid, and the atmosphere communication path 221K may be converted into a disconnected state.

[0191] Sixth Modification (Modification of Opener Member 250)

[0192] In the above embodiment, the opener member 250 protrudes from the frame 301 toward the valve body 242 (see, for example, Figure 4 ). However, alternatively, as in FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B As shown in FIG. 1 , the opener member 250 can protrude outward from the outer wall 221 through the atmosphere communication path 221K from the valve body 242. With this arrangement, as the head 200 moves toward the capping position P21, the opener member 250 can contact the frame 301, and thereby the valve body 242 can convert the atmosphere communication path 221K into a connected state (see FIG. 1 ). Fig.11A On the other hand, as the head 200 leaves the capping position P21, the opener member 250 can be separated from the frame 301, and thereby the valve body 242 can turn the atmosphere communication path 221K into a disconnected state (see Fig. 11B ).

[0193] Seventh Modification (Modification of Cap 260 and Lifting Assembly 261)

[0194] In the above-described embodiment, the lifting assembly 261 can be moved between the capping position P31 and the capping position P32 by the driving force transmitted from the lifting motor 274. Alternatively, the cap 260 and the lifting assembly 261 may be moved by using the carriage 190 that moves in the scanning direction 9. While the cap 260 and the lifting assembly 261 are of known configurations, in the following paragraphs, descriptions of the cap 260 and the lifting assembly 261 will be simplified.

[0195] Cap 260 may be as in Fig. 12B , there is shown a contact member 265 that can contact the carriage 190 that moves in the scanning direction 9. As the contact member 265 is pushed by the carriage 190, the cap 260 can move in the scanning direction 9.

[0196] The lifting assembly 261 may have a first guide surface 266, a second guide surface 267, and an inclined surface 268. The first guide surface 266 may be expanded in the front-rear direction 8 and the width direction 9 at a position on the right relative to the platen 180, and the first guide surface 266 may support the cap 260 at the cap removal position P32. The second guide surface 267 may be expanded in the front-rear direction 8 and the width direction 9 at a position on the right relative to the first guide surface 266, and the second guide surface 267 may support the cap 260 at the capping position P31. The inclined surface 268 is a flat surface connecting the right end of the first guide surface 266 and the left end of the second guide surface 267.

[0197] The cap 260 moving in the scanning direction 9 can move between the first guide surface 266 and the second guide surface 267 via the inclined surface 268. Therefore, when the cap 260 is supported by the second guide surface 267 (see Fig. 12A ), the cap 260 can cover the nozzle 203 at the capping position P31 (at FIG. 12A to FIG. 12B On the other hand, when the cap 260 is supported by the first guide surface 266 (see Fig. 12B ), the cap 260 may be located at the cap removal position P32.

[0198] Eighth Modification (Alternative Example of Volume of Air Portion)

[0199] In the above-described embodiment, the symbol ΔV represents the change in the volume of the air portion caused by the change in the volume of the ink in the reservoir portion 220 when a predetermined volume of ink is discharged at the sheet M under specified conditions during the discharge process to record a specified image. However, alternatively, ΔV may be determined in the following manner. The feeder tray 110 may be adapted to store sheets M of different sizes on the bottom 111. In other words, the feeder tray 110 may store sheets M of one size among different sizes. The feeder tray 110 is an example of a sheet storage portion. For example, ΔV may be equal to or greater than the volume of ink that can be discharged from the head 200 for recording a specified image (e.g., a solid image) for one pass on the specified sheet M under the specified ink amount condition that the amount of ink discharged from the head 200 per unit time is the maximum amount. As another example, ΔV may be equal to or greater than the volume of ink that can be discharged from the head 200 for recording an image in the entire printable area on one side of the specified sheet M under the specified ink amount condition that the amount of ink discharged from the head 200 per unit time is the maximum amount. The designated sheet M may be a sheet M of the largest size among the plurality of sheets M of different sizes that can be stored in the feeder tray 110 .

[0200] Eighth Modification (Other Matters)

[0201] For example, the printer 100 may have a plurality of feeder trays 110. The plurality of feeder trays 110 are another example of a sheet storage portion. Each of the plurality of feeder trays 110 may store sheets M of different sizes. The controller 270 may perform the image recording process described earlier with the sheets M of a size selected by the user through an operation of an operation panel not shown (see FIG. 1 ). FIG. 9A to FIG. 9B ). With this arrangement, the designated sheet M may be a sheet M of the largest size that can be selected by a user's operation among the sheets M of different sizes that can be stored in the plurality of feeder trays 110 .

[0202] More Examples

[0203] As another example, the liquid discharge device may not necessarily be limited to the printer 100 as described above, but may be a multifunction peripheral machine, a copier, and a fax machine. The multifunction peripheral machine may be a device equipped with multiple functions among a printing function, a copying function, and a fax transmission / reception function.

[0204] As another example, when the switching assembly is constituted by a solenoid valve, the printer 100 may have a line form print head instead of the serial form print head 200. In the printer 100 with the line form print head 200, the head 200 may not be transported in the scanning direction 9 but may remain stationary at a position above the platen 180.

[0205] As another example, the printer 100 may not necessarily be limited to a carriage-integrated printer, but may be a so-called off-carriage printer, in which the reservoir portion 220 may not be mounted on the carriage 190, but may be positioned separately from the carriage 190. When the printer 100 is an off-carriage printer, the reservoir portion 220 may not move in the width direction 9 inside the housing 300; therefore, the switching component may preferably be constituted by a solenoid valve.

[0206] As another example, the reservoir portion 220 may not have the plurality of ink reservoir chambers 220B to store the plurality of different colors of ink, but may have a single ink reservoir chamber 220B to store a single color of ink, such as black. In other words, the reservoir portion 220 may not have the three vertical partition walls 222A. With this arrangement, again, the volume Vb of the air portion can still be determined to satisfy Formula (1) and Formula (2).

[0207] Meanwhile, if the reservoir portion 220 has only a single reservoir chamber 220B to store a single color ink alone, the designated image may be a monochrome pattern image described in ISO / IEC 24734 established by the International Organization for Standardization. The designated condition may be the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

[0208] As another example, the reservoir portion 220 may not necessarily be an ink tank fixed to the head 200 , but may be a cartridge detachably attached to the head 200 .

Claims

1. A liquid discharge device, comprising: a head having a nozzle, the head being configured to discharge a liquid through the nozzle; A storage unit, the storage unit comprising: a liquid reservoir chamber configured to store the liquid; and an atmosphere communication path connecting the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber through an air portion in the reservoir portion; a liquid flow path connecting the head and the liquid reservoir chamber for the liquid to flow in the liquid flow path; a switching assembly configured to switch a state of the atmosphere communication path between a connected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are connected and a disconnected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are disconnected; and A controller configured to: a disconnection process, in which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the connected state to the disconnected state; and a discharge process after the disconnection process, in which the controller controls the head to discharge the liquid through the nozzle, The volume Vb of the air portion is set to satisfy equations (1) and (2): Vb=(Po+ΔP)*ΔV / ΔP…(1); and ΔP<=Pm…(2), Where Po represents one atmosphere of pressure, wherein ΔV represents a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of the liquid during the discharging process, Where ΔP represents the change in pressure of the air portion according to the change in volume of the liquid during the discharge process, where Pm represents the withstand pressure of the meniscus formed by the liquid in the nozzle, and wherein the predetermined amount is an amount equal to or greater than a volume of the liquid to be discharged from the head in order to record an image in the entire printable area on one side of a designated sheet under the condition that the amount of the liquid discharged from the head per unit time is a maximum amount.

2. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, Here, ΔV represents a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging the predetermined amount of the liquid in the discharging process under specified conditions to record a specified image on a sheet.

3. The liquid discharge device according to claim 2, The designated image is a pattern image defined by the International Organization for Standardization, and The specified condition is to continuously record the pattern image for a specified length of time.

4. The liquid discharge device according to claim 3, The specified time length is 30 seconds. wherein the pattern image is a multi-color pattern image, The specified condition is to continuously record the pattern image on the A4-size sheet for 30 seconds in a standard mode defined by the International Organization for Standardization.

5. The liquid discharge device according to claim 4, The controller is configured to perform a connection process, during which, in response to the duration of the discharge process reaching 30 seconds, the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the disconnected state to the connected state.

6. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is an amount equal to or greater than a volume of the liquid to be discharged from the head in order to record an image in one pass on a specified sheet under a condition that the amount of the liquid discharged from the head per unit time is a maximum amount.

7. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 and 6, further comprising a sheet storage portion, The designated sheet is a sheet of a maximum size that can be stored in the sheet storage portion.

8. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 and 6, further comprising a sheet storage portion, The designated sheet is a sheet of a largest size that can be selected by a user's operation among sheets of different sizes that can be stored in the sheet storage unit.

9. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reservoir portion has an indicator indicating a surface level of a maximum amount of the liquid that can be stored in the liquid reservoir chamber, and The volume Vb is the volume of the air portion when the surface level of the liquid is at the same position as the indicator.

10. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reservoir portion further has an outer wall, the outer wall externally defining the liquid reservoir chamber, and A portion of the outer wall is deformable by a pressure change inside the reservoir portion.

11. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid reservoir chamber comprises a plurality of liquid reservoir chambers, and The atmosphere communication path connects the inside and the outside of the plurality of liquid storage chambers through the air portion.

12. The liquid discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid storage chamber comprises a plurality of liquid storage chambers, wherein the atmosphere communication path comprises a plurality of atmosphere communication paths, each of the plurality of atmosphere communication paths connecting the inside and the outside of each of the plurality of liquid storage chambers through each of the plurality of air portions, and The switching assembly is configured to collectively switch the states of the plurality of atmosphere communication paths between a connected state in which the interior and exterior of the plurality of liquid reservoir chambers are connected and a disconnected state in which the interior and exterior of the plurality of liquid reservoir chambers are disconnected.

13. A liquid discharge device comprising: a head having a nozzle, the head being configured to discharge a liquid through the nozzle; A storage unit, the storage unit comprising: a liquid reservoir chamber configured to store the liquid; and an atmosphere communication path connecting the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber through an air portion in the reservoir portion; a liquid flow path connecting the head and the liquid reservoir chamber for the liquid to flow in the liquid flow path; a switching assembly configured to switch a state of the atmosphere communication path between a connected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are connected and a disconnected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are disconnected; and A controller configured to: a disconnection process, in which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the connected state to the disconnected state; and a discharge process after the disconnection process, in which the controller controls the head to discharge the liquid through the nozzle, The volume Vb of the air portion is set to satisfy equations (1) and (2): Vb=(Po+ΔP)*ΔV / ΔP…(1); and ΔP<=Pm…(2), Where Po represents one atmosphere of pressure, wherein ΔV represents a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of the liquid during the discharging process, Where ΔP represents the change in pressure of the air portion according to the change in volume of the liquid during the discharge process, where Pm represents the withstand pressure of the meniscus formed by the liquid in the nozzle, and The controller is configured to, in response to the amount of change in the pressure of the air portion caused by the discharge process reaching ΔP, perform a connection process, in which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the disconnected state to the connected state.

14. The liquid discharge device according to claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to alternately repeat the connecting process and the disconnecting process a plurality of times after starting to record an image on the sheet in the discharging process, and wherein a disconnection period between the disconnection process in a round later than the first round and the connection process immediately following the disconnection process in the round later than the first round is longer than a disconnection period between the disconnection process in the first round and the connection process immediately following the disconnection process in the first round.

15. The liquid discharge device according to claim 14, wherein the controller has a memory storing an execution timing of executing the connection process for each of the plurality of rounds, and The controller is configured to execute the connection process at the execution timing corresponding to the first round after the liquid is injected into the liquid reservoir chamber.

16. A liquid discharge device comprising: a head having a nozzle, the head being configured to discharge a liquid through the nozzle; A storage unit, the storage unit comprising: a liquid reservoir chamber configured to store the liquid; and an atmosphere communication path connecting the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber through an air portion in the reservoir portion; a liquid flow path connecting the head and the liquid reservoir chamber for the liquid to flow in the liquid flow path; a switching assembly configured to switch a state of the atmosphere communication path between a connected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are connected and a disconnected state in which the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber are disconnected; and A controller configured to: a disconnection process, in which the controller controls the switching component to switch the state of the atmosphere communication path from the connected state to the disconnected state; and a discharge process after the disconnection process, in which the controller controls the head to discharge the liquid through the nozzle, The volume Vb of the air portion is set to satisfy equations (1) and (2): Vb=(Po+ΔP)*ΔV / ΔP…(1); and ΔP<=Pm…(2), Where Po represents one atmosphere of pressure, wherein ΔV represents a change in the volume of the air portion due to a change in the volume of the liquid caused by discharging a predetermined amount of the liquid during the discharging process, Where ΔP represents the change in pressure of the air portion according to the change in volume of the liquid during the discharge process, where Pm represents the withstand pressure of the meniscus formed by the liquid in the nozzle, and The reservoir portion has an air chamber located at an upper position relative to the liquid reservoir chamber, and the air chamber is configured to store at least a portion of the air portion.

17. The liquid discharge device according to claim 16, wherein the reservoir portion has a liquid supply path connecting the inside and the outside of the liquid reservoir chamber, and The air chamber is located at an upper position relative to a lower end of the liquid supply path.

Images