Inkjet printer

Abstract

To provide an inkjet printer capable of preferably discharging ink even when printing is performed in a relatively low environmental temperature.SOLUTION: A printer 10 includes: a print head 40; an ink flow path 52; a first heater 71 provided in an upstream side of the print head 40; a second heater 72 provided in a downstream side from the first heater 71; and a fifth temperature sensor 85 that measures a peripheral temperature of the print head 40. By heating the ink using the first heater 71 and the second heater 72, the temperature of the ink approaches a desired temperature. As the temperature measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85 increases, a control device 90 of the printer 10 turns off the output of the first heater 71 and the second heater 72 in this order. As a result, the temperature of the heated ink can be preferably maintained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to inkjet printers. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, liquid ejection devices (inkjet printers) equipped with a plurality of head chips (nozzles) for ejecting ink and a heater for heating the ink have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid ejection device having an inkjet head (print head) equipped with a head chip, a holder for holding the head chip, and a heater. In such a liquid ejection device, the heater heats the holder, thereby heating the ink inside the inkjet head.

[0003] Generally, the viscosity of ink used in inkjet printers decreases as the temperature increases, and increases as the temperature decreases. Therefore, if the viscosity of the ink changes, the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle changes, and printing cannot be performed as desired. Therefore, in this inkjet head, the heater that heats the ink is controlled to keep the temperature of the ink constant, thereby keeping the viscosity of the ink constant. This makes it possible to keep the amount of ink ejected constant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-177467 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned print head, the heater that heats the ink is disposed only near the nozzle. Therefore, in the above-mentioned inkjet printer, only the ink near the print head is heated. For example, the ink is not heated between the ink tank in which the ink is stored and the print head. In other words, the area in which the heater is disposed is limited to a relatively small area in the inkjet printer.

[0006] In the inkjet printer described above, since the area for heating the ink is limited, for example, when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the temperature of the ink may not rise to a desired temperature. If the temperature of the ink does not rise to a desired temperature, the viscosity of the ink increases, and there is a possibility that ink ejection failure may occur. In particular, when the printer is started up, no heat is generated by driving the print head, so the above-mentioned problem is likely to occur.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer that is capable of ejecting ink well even when printing at a relatively low ambient temperature. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inkjet printer according to the present invention comprises a print head that ejects ink, an ink flow path connecting the print head to an ink tank that contains ink, a first heater that is provided upstream of the print head in the flow direction of ink flowing from the ink tank to the print head and heats the ink, a second heater that is provided downstream of the first heater in the flow direction and heats the ink, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature around the print head, and a control device that controls the first heater and the second heater. The control device comprises a temperature acquisition unit that acquires the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, a first output control unit that controls the output of the first heater, and a second output control unit that controls the output of the second heater. The first output control unit controls the output of the first heater to a first output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is lower than a predetermined first temperature, and controls the output of the first heater to a second output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than the first temperature, and the second output control unit controls the output of the second heater to a third output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is lower than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and controls the output of the second heater to a fourth output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than the second temperature. The second output is an output lower than the first output. The fourth output is an output lower than the third output.

[0009] According to the inkjet printer of the present invention, when the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element is lower than the first temperature, the output of the first heater is controlled to the first output by the first output control unit. Also, since the second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the output of the second heater is controlled to the third output by the second output control unit. When the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element rises to the first temperature, the output of the first heater is controlled to the second output by the first output control unit, and the output of the first heater is reduced. When the temperature of the ink further rises and the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element rises to the second temperature, the output of the second heater is controlled to the fourth output, and the output of the second heater is reduced. Therefore, when the temperature of the ink is lower than the first temperature, the inkjet printer heats the ink with the first heater and the second heater. That is, when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the ink is heated using the first heater and the second heater. Therefore, the ink can be heated over a relatively wide range, and the temperature of the ink can be brought close to a desired temperature. Furthermore, as the temperature of the ink rises, the control device reduces the output of the first heater and then the second heater. The first heater is disposed upstream of the second heater. Thus, the control device reduces the heating output from the upstream side in the flow direction as the temperature of the ink rises. When the temperature of the ink rises, the output of the second heater does not become lower than the output of the first heater, so that a decrease in the temperature of the ink is suppressed between when the ink is heated and when it is ejected. This makes it possible to maintain a good temperature of the heated ink. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inkjet printer that is capable of ejecting ink well even when printing at a relatively low ambient temperature. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a printer according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a carriage according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carriage according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the periphery of a print head according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a printhead according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a print head. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the damper. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adapter according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the inside of the carriage cover. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 11 is a table showing changes in output of the first heater, the second heater, and the third heater when the measured temperature changes during printing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] An inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer") according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described here is, of course, not intended to limit the present invention in any particular way. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for members and parts that perform the same function, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the printer 10. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings respectively mean the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom of the printer 10. The symbol Y in the drawings indicates the main scanning direction. In this embodiment, the main scanning direction Y is the left-right direction. The symbol X in the drawings indicates the sub-scanning direction. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction X is the front-back direction, and is a direction that intersects (here, perpendicular to) the main scanning direction Y in a plan view. However, these directions are merely defined for the convenience of explanation, and do not limit the installation mode of the printer 10, nor limit the present invention.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 prints on a recording medium 5. The recording medium 5 is, for example, formed into a long length and wound into a roll before use. The recording medium 5 may be in the form of a sheet. The recording medium 5 is, for example, recording paper. However, the recording medium 5 is not limited to recording paper. For example, the recording medium 5 includes a sheet formed from a resin material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyester, a sealing material made of a backing paper and a release paper laminated on the backing paper and coated with an adhesive, and the like.

[0015] 2, the printer 10 includes a printer body 11, a platen 13, a transport mechanism 20, a guide rail 15, a carriage 17, a head moving mechanism 30, a print head 40, an ink supply unit 50, and a control device 90. The printer 10 also includes a first heater 71, a second heater 72, a third heater 73, and a fourth heater 74 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), a first temperature sensor 81, a second temperature sensor 82, a third temperature sensor 83, a fourth temperature sensor 84, and a fifth temperature sensor 85 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5).

[0016] 2, the printer body 11 has a casing 11A extending in the main scanning direction Y. The printer body 11 is supported by legs 12. The legs 12 are provided on the bottom surface of the printer body 11 and extend downward from the bottom surface.

[0017] The platen 13 is a member that supports the recording medium 5 when printing is performed on the recording medium 5. The platen 13 extends in the main scanning direction Y. The recording medium 5 is placed on the platen 13.

[0018] The recording medium 5 supported by the platen 13 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction X by the conveying mechanism 20. The configuration of the conveying mechanism 20 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 20 includes a pinch roller 21, a grit roller 22, and a feed motor 23. The pinch roller 21 is provided above the platen 13 and below the guide rail 15, and presses the recording medium 5 from above. The pinch roller 21 is disposed behind the carriage 17 in a plan view. The grit roller 22 is provided on the platen 13 and is a member having a cylindrical outer periphery. The grit roller 22 is embedded in the platen 13 with its upper surface exposed. The grit roller 22 faces the pinch roller 21. The feed motor 23 is connected to the grit roller 22. When the feed motor 23 is driven with the recording medium 5 sandwiched between the pinch roller 21 and the grit roller 22, the grit roller 22 rotates. As a result, the recording medium 5 on the platen 13 is transported in the sub-scanning direction X.

[0019] The guide rail 15 is disposed above the platen 13. The guide rail 15 is disposed parallel to the platen 13 and extends in the main scanning direction Y. A carriage 17 is engaged with the guide rail 15. The carriage 17 is slidably provided on the guide rail 15 and configured to be movable in the main scanning direction Y.

[0020] The head moving mechanism 30 is a mechanism that moves the carriage 17 and the print head 40 in the main scanning direction Y relative to the recording medium 5 supported by the platen 13. Here, the head moving mechanism 30 moves the carriage 17 and the print head 40 in the main scanning direction Y. The configuration of the head moving mechanism 30 is not particularly limited.

[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the head moving mechanism 30 includes left and right pulleys 31a and 31b, a belt 32, a scan motor 33, and a carriage plate 34 (see FIG. 3). The left pulley 31a is provided around the left end of the guide rail 15. The right pulley 31b is provided around the right end of the guide rail 15. The belt 32 is, for example, an endless belt, and is wound around the left and right pulleys 31a and 31b. The carriage 17 is fixed to the belt 32. The scan motor 33 is connected to the right pulley 31b. However, the scan motor 33 may be connected to the left pulley 31a. When the scan motor 33 is driven and the pulley 31b rotates, the belt 32 runs between the pulleys 31a and 31b.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 17 is attached to a belt 32. The carriage 17 is disposed above the platen 13. The carriage 17 engages with the guide rail 15 via a carriage plate 34 (see FIG. 3), and is provided so as to be able to slide freely on the guide rail 15. A print head 40 is mounted on the carriage 17. In this embodiment, the head moving mechanism 30 moves the print head 40 mounted on the carriage 17 in the main scanning direction Y as the belt 32 runs due to the drive of the scan motor 33, and the carriage 17 moves in the main scanning direction Y.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the carriage 17. Of the print heads 40, only a second print head 40B (described later) is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage 17. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carriage plate 34 is a plate-shaped member extending in the main scanning direction Y and in the up-down direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide rail 15 is attached to the rear surface of the carriage plate 34. Therefore, the carriage 17 is attached to the carriage plate 34, and the carriage plate 34 is slidably attached to the guide rail 15, so that the carriage 17 moves in the main scanning direction Y. As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage plate 34 is attached to a right wall 18R and a left wall 18L of a carriage cover 18 (described later).

[0024] 3, the carriage 17 is provided with a carriage cover 18 that covers the print head 40. An internal space 18A is formed by the carriage cover 18. The print head 40 is disposed in the internal space 18A.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage cover 18 has an upper wall 18U covering the upper part of the print head 40, a front wall 18F, a right wall 18R, a left wall 18L, a first rear wall 18Rra, a second rear wall 18Rrb, a first bottom wall 18Da, and a second bottom wall 18Db. The front wall 18F, the right wall 18R, the left wall 18L, and the first rear wall 18Rra are examples of side walls. In this embodiment, the upper wall 18U includes a first upper wall 18Ua extending horizontally in the front-rear direction, and a second upper wall 18Ub extending obliquely downward from the first upper wall 18Ua. The front wall 18F, the right wall 18R, the left wall 18L, the first rear wall 18Rra, and the second rear wall 18Rrb extend almost vertically in the up-down direction. The front wall 18F is connected to the second upper wall 18Ub. The material forming the carriage cover 18 is not particularly limited. For example, the carriage cover 18 is made of plastic.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the right wall 18R and the left wall 18L are connected to the first upper wall 18Ua and the second upper wall 18Ub. The right wall 18R includes a right front portion 18Ra located forward of the first rear wall 18Rra, a right rear portion 18Rb extending rearward of the first rear wall 18Rra above the first rear wall 18Rra, and a right mounting portion 18Rc. That is, the first rear wall 18Rra is attached to the rear ends of the right front portion 18Ra and the left front portion 18La. The right mounting portion 18Rc is connected to the rear end of the right front portion 18Ra and is bent together with the right front portion 18Ra to form an L-shape in a plan view. A screw 18Rs is attached to the right mounting portion 18Rc. The carriage cover 18 is fixed to the carriage plate 34 by the screw 18Rs. The left wall 18L includes a left front portion 18La located forward of the first rear wall 18Rra, a left rear portion 18Lb extending above the first rear wall 18Rra to a position rearward of the first rear wall 18Rra, and a left mounting portion (not shown). Although not shown, the left mounting portion is a portion bent to form an L-shape together with the left front portion 18La in a plan view, similar to the right mounting portion 18Rc. The left mounting portion is fixed to the carriage plate 34 by a screw, similar to the right mounting portion 18Rc.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the first bottom wall 18Da is connected to the lower ends of the right front portion 18Ra, the left front portion 18La, and the first rear wall 18Rra, and is approximately parallel to the first upper wall 18Ua. The first print head 40A and the second print head 40B are disposed on the first bottom wall 18Da. That is, the first bottom wall 18Da has a rectangular shape in a plan view with the outer shapes of the first print head 40A and the second print head 40B hollowed out. The second bottom wall 18Db is connected to the upper ends of the right rear portion 18Rb, the left rear portion 18Lb, and the first rear wall 18Rra, and is approximately parallel to the first upper wall 18Ua. The second bottom wall 18Db has a rectangular shape in a plan view and is formed with a hole 18Dc penetrating in the vertical direction. The hole 18Dc is a hole that connects the internal space 18A of the carriage cover 18 to the outside of the carriage cover 18, and is a hole through which the ink flow path 52 (see FIG. 3) passes. The second rear wall 18Rrb is connected to the rear ends of the second bottom wall 18Db, the right rear portion 18Rb, the left rear portion 18Lb, and the first upper wall 18Ua. The second rear wall 18Rrb is approximately parallel to the front wall 18F.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 17 is provided with a print head 40. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the print head 40 and its surroundings. As shown in FIG. 5, the print head 40 is disposed below a damper 53 and an adapter 54, which will be described later. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the print head 40. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the print head 40 has a first print head 40A and a second print head 40B. The first print head 40A has a plurality of nozzles 41A aligned in the sub-scanning direction X and a nozzle surface 42A on which the nozzles 41A are formed. The second print head 40B has a plurality of nozzles 41B aligned in the sub-scanning direction X and a nozzle surface 42B on which the nozzles 41B are formed. The nozzles 41A and the nozzles 41B are minute holes that eject ink. Since each nozzle 41A and each nozzle 41B is minute, in FIG. 6, the plurality of nozzles 41A aligned in the sub-scanning direction X and the plurality of nozzles 41B aligned in the sub-scanning direction X are each represented by a straight line. The first print head 40A and the second print head 40B are formed in a shape in which the length in the sub-scanning direction X is longer than the length in the main scanning direction Y. The first print head 40A and the second print head 40B are arranged in a so-called staggered arrangement, in which they are arranged offset from each other in the sub-scanning direction X. Here, a part of the first print head 40A is arranged forward of the second print head 40B. That is, a part of the first print head 40A overlaps with the second print head 40B in the sub-scanning direction X. However, the arrangement of the print heads 40 is not limited to the staggered arrangement. The first print head 40A and the second print head 40B may be arranged at the same position in the sub-scanning direction X. In this embodiment, the nozzles 41A and the nozzles 41B are each arranged in four rows. However, the arrangement of the nozzles 41A and the nozzles 41B is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the number of print heads is two, but is not limited to this. The number of print heads may be one or three or more. Furthermore, in the following description, when matters that apply to both the first print head 40A and the second print head 40B are described, the term print head 40 will be used as appropriate.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the print head 40, and more specifically, a vertical cross-sectional view passing through the center of the print head 40 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the print head 40 has a pressure chamber 45 filled with ink, an actuator 46 that is driven to eject the ink in the pressure chamber 45, and a connection port 48. The nozzles 41A and 41B are connected to the pressure chamber 45. In this embodiment, the actuator 46 is made of a piezoelectric element and is connected to a vibration plate 47 that partitions a part of the pressure chamber 45. The actuator 46 is electrically connected to a control device 90. When the control device 90 applies a potential to the actuator 46, the actuator 46 is distorted, thereby bending the vibration plate 47, and the ink in the pressure chamber 45 is pressurized or depressurized. As a result, the ink is ejected from the nozzles 41A and 41B. The control device 90 is configured to transmit a drive signal having a predetermined drive waveform to the actuator 46. However, the type of the actuator is not particularly limited. For example, the print head 40 may be a thermal type print head or the like. The connection port 48 is a portion that connects the inside and outside of the print head 40. The connection port 48 is formed by a connector having an upwardly convex shape. A plurality of connection ports 48 are provided lined up in the main scanning direction Y. The connection port 48 has a flow path formed therein through which ink passes, and the flow path communicates with the pressure chamber 45. The connection port 48 is connected to a head connection portion 54b (see FIG. 5) of an adapter 54 described later.

[0030] 2, the ink supply unit 50 has an ink tank 51, an ink flow path 52, a damper 53, and an adapter 54 (see FIG. 5). The ink tank 51 is a container that contains ink. The ink tank 51 may be, for example, an ink cartridge or a pouch-shaped container.

[0031] The ink tank 51 stores a photocurable ink (photocurable ink) containing a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator. The photocurable ink is an ultraviolet curable ink (UV ink) that is cured by ultraviolet irradiation. In this embodiment, the number of ink tanks 51 is four, but the number of ink tanks 51 is not particularly limited. The type of ink stored in the ink tank 51 is also not particularly limited. The ink may be, for example, a solvent-based pigment ink or a water-based pigment ink. The color of the ink is also not particularly limited. The ink tank 51 may store, for example, a process color ink and a special color ink (for example, a white ink, a clear ink, etc.). The ink may be a colorless ink.

[0032] The ink flow path 52 is a flow path that connects the ink tank 51 and the print head 40. The configuration of the ink flow path 52 is not particularly limited, but the ink flow path 52 is, for example, configured by a flexible tube. The ink in the ink tank 51 flows through the ink flow path 52 and is supplied to the print head 40. Therefore, the ink tank 51 is located upstream in the ink flow direction, and the print head 40 is located downstream in the ink flow direction. In this embodiment, a part of the ink flow path 52 passes through a hole 18Dc formed in the second bottom wall 18Db of the carriage cover 18 shown in FIG. 4 and is disposed inside the carriage cover 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the end of the ink flow path 52 that is disposed inside the carriage cover 18 is connected to a connection portion 53aa of a damper 53 described later.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the damper 53 is disposed above the print head 40. The damper 53 includes a storage chamber RS ​​therein. Ink is temporarily stored in the storage chamber RS. The damper 53 is connected to the print head 40 via an adapter 54. The damper 53 includes a case body 53a. The case body 53a is a case that covers the storage chamber RS. The case body 53a is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Although not shown in detail, a hole that connects the inside and outside of the damper 53 is formed in the bottom surface of the case body 53a. The adapter 54 is connected to the storage chamber RS ​​inside the damper 53 through the hole. In addition, a connection portion 53aa is provided on the upper portion of the case body 53a. The connection portion 53aa is a portion to which the ink flow path 52 (see FIG. 3) is connected. That is, ink flows into the inside of the damper 53 from the connection portion 53aa. In this embodiment, the connection portion 53aa is configured by a resin connector having an upwardly convex shape. However, the material and shape of the connection portion 53aa are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection portion 53aa has four connectors, but the number of connectors is not limited.

[0034] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a case main body 53a (see Fig. 5) of the damper 53. The damper 53 reduces pressure fluctuations of the ink to stabilize the ink ejection operation from the print head 40 (see Fig. 2). In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the damper 53 is provided therein with a main body 53b, a damper film 53c, and a detection device 60.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 8, the main body 53b has a hollow structure with an opening 53ba formed on one surface (the surface on the right side in FIG. 8). The main body 53b is typically formed of a resin material. The damper film 53c is attached to the outer wall surface of the main body 53b so as to cover the opening 53ba. The storage chamber RS ​​is a space surrounded by the main body 53b and the damper film 53c. The damper film 53c is made of, for example, a flexible resin film. The damper film 53c is configured to be flexible and deformable according to the amount of ink stored in the storage chamber RS ​​and the pressure in the storage chamber RS. The damper film 53c is flexible and deformable to the inside and outside of the storage chamber RS. The damper film 53c is attached to the main body 53b with a tension that allows the damper film 53c to bend to the inside and outside of the storage chamber RS. Although not shown in detail, the storage chamber RS ​​is connected to a connection portion 54ab (see FIG. 9) of an adapter 54 (see FIG. 9) described later. The storage chamber RS ​​has a connection port formed therein that is connected to the connection portion 54ab. The storage chamber RS ​​is also connected to the connection portion 53aa of the case main body 53a (see FIG. 5). The storage chamber RS ​​has a connection port (not shown) formed therein that is connected to the connection portion 53aa.

[0036] A spring 53d is provided in the storage chamber RS. The spring 53d is arranged in the storage chamber RS ​​in a compressed state, and applies an elastic force toward the damper membrane 53c. Here, the spring 53d is in contact with the surface of the damper membrane 53c on the storage chamber RS ​​side. The type of the spring 53d is not particularly limited. The damper membrane 53c is provided with a pressing body 53e. The pressing body 53e is supported by the spring 53d. The pressing body 53e can move inside and outside the storage chamber RS ​​following the flexural deformation of the damper membrane 53c.

[0037] The detection device 60 is disposed to the side of the damper 53. The detection device 60 detects the pressure inside the storage chamber RS ​​of the damper 53 (in other words, the amount of ink flowing into the storage chamber RS). The printer 10 may be configured to include, for example, a liquid feed pump (not shown) that sends ink to the damper 53, and to control the liquid feed pump based on the pressure inside the storage chamber RS.

[0038] The detection device 60 includes a lever 61. The lever 61 is provided on the main body 53b so as to be able to come into contact with the pressing body 53e. In this embodiment, a support spring 62 is provided on the main body 53b, and the lever 61 is supported by the support spring 62. The shape of the lever 61 is not particularly limited. Here, the lever 61 is formed in a substantially U-shape. A support portion 61B that forms the rear end of the lever 61 and extends in the left-right direction is supported by the support spring 62. A detected portion 61C that forms the front end of the lever 61 and extends in the left-right direction is a portion that is detected by a detection unit 65 described later.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, the detection device 60 includes a detection unit 65. The detection unit 65 includes a light-emitting unit 66a having a light-emitting element that emits light such as infrared light, a light-receiving unit 66b having a light-receiving element that detects the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 66a, and a detection area 66c provided between the light-emitting unit 66a and the light-receiving unit 66b. The light-emitting unit 66a and the light-receiving unit 66b are arranged to face each other. The detection device 60 can detect whether the pressure in the storage chamber RS ​​is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure based on the position change of the lever 61. As the pressure in the storage chamber RS ​​becomes greater than the predetermined pressure, the damper film 53c bends to the outside of the storage chamber RS. At this time, the lever 61 is pushed to the outside of the storage chamber RS ​​by the pressing body 53e, and the lever 61 rotates around the support spring 62. Then, when the pressure in the storage chamber RS ​​becomes greater than the predetermined pressure, the detection target portion 61C of the lever 61 moves to a position outside the detection area 66c of the detection device 60. When the detection target portion 61C of the lever 61 moves outside the detection area 66c (i.e., when the detection target portion 61C is not located in the detection area 66c), the detection device 60 detects that the pressure in the storage chamber RS ​​is greater than the predetermined pressure. On the other hand, when the detection target portion 61C of the lever 61 blocks the detection area 66c (i.e., when the detection target portion 61C is located in the detection area 66c), the detection device 60 detects that the pressure in the storage chamber RS ​​is equal to or less than the predetermined pressure.

[0040] 5, the adapter 54 is disposed below the damper 53 and above the print head 40. The adapter 54 is a member that connects the damper 53 and the print head 40. More specifically, ink stored in the storage chamber RS ​​of the damper 53 passes through the adapter 54 and flows to the print head 40.

[0041] 9 is a perspective view of the adapter 54. In this embodiment, the adapter 54 includes an attachment portion 54a and a head connection portion 54b. A heat insulating material 54ba is wrapped around the head connection portion 54b.

[0042] The mounting portion 54a is a portion to which the storage chamber RS ​​(see FIG. 8) of the damper 53 is attached. The mounting portion 54a includes a recess 54aa, which is a recess formed in a circular or substantially circular shape in a plan view, and a connection portion 54ab, which is disposed at the radial center of the recess 54aa in a plan view and has an upwardly convex shape. As described above, a hole is formed in the bottom surface of the case body 53a (see FIG. 8) of the damper 53. When the damper 53 is disposed above the adapter 54, the hole passes through the connection portion 54ab and is connected to the storage chamber RS ​​disposed inside the case body 54a. In this embodiment, four recesses 54aa and four connection portions 54ab are provided. However, the number of recesses 54aa and four connection portions 54ab is not particularly limited. A flow path through which ink flows is formed inside the connection portion 54ab. The flow path connects the inside of the connection portion 54ab to the inside of the head connection portion 54b.

[0043] The head connection part 54b is disposed in front of the mounting part 54a and is a part extending in the vertical direction. The head connection part 54b has a flow path formed therein through which ink flows, and the flow path is connected to a flow path formed inside the connection part 54ab. The head connection part 54b is connected to the print head 40 (see FIG. 5) at its lower end. More specifically, the head connection part 54b communicates with the connection port 48 (see FIG. 7) of the print head 40. Therefore, when the connection part 54ab is connected to the storage chamber RS, the ink inside the storage chamber RS ​​passes through the connection part 54ab and the head connection part 54b and flows to the print head 40. In this embodiment, a heat insulating material 54ba is wrapped around the head connection part 54b. The material of the heat insulating material 54ba is not particularly limited, but is formed of polyurethane, for example. The heat insulating material 54ba is wrapped around the outer periphery of the head connection part 54b. In this embodiment, the third heater 73 and the third temperature sensor 83, which will be described later, are wrapped with the heat insulating material 54ba together with the head connecting portion 54b. The heat insulating material 54ba does not have to be wrapped around the outer periphery of the head connecting portion 54b. The heat insulating material 54ba may be attached to a part of the head connecting portion 54b.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the first heater 71 is provided in the ink flow path 52. The first heater 71 heats the ink passing through the ink flow path 52. The first heater 71 is electrically connected to the control device 90 (see FIG. 2) and controlled by the control device 90. In this embodiment, the first heater 71 is disposed downstream of the middle position of the ink flow path 52 in the ink flow direction in the ink supply unit 50 and the print head 40. It is preferable that the first heater 71 is provided at a position immediately before the ink flows into the damper 53 in the ink flow direction, as shown in FIG. 3. The first heater 71 is, for example, a tape heater, and is wrapped around the ink flow path 52. However, the configuration of the first heater 71 is not particularly limited. The first heater 71 can be realized by various configurations, such as a rubber heater, a heater wire, a silicon rubber heater, a carbon heater, and a polyimide heater. A first temperature sensor 81 is attached to the first heater 71. The first temperature sensor 81 is electrically connected to the control device 90. The first temperature sensor 81 is configured to be able to transmit the measured temperature to the control device 90. The first temperature sensor 81 is, for example, a thermistor. The first temperature sensor 81 detects the temperature of the first heater 71. Note that the first temperature sensor 81 is desirably disposed on the most downstream side of the area heated by the first heater 71.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the second heater 72 is provided in the case body 53a of the damper 53. The second heater 72 heats the ink stored in the storage chamber RS ​​of the damper 53. The second heater 72 is electrically connected to the control device 90 (see FIG. 2) and is controlled by the control device 90. In this embodiment, the second heater 72 is a film heater. The second heater 72 is attached to the case body 53a so as to make one turn in the horizontal direction. However, the method of attaching the second heater 72 is not limited to this. In addition, the configuration of the second heater 72 is not particularly limited. The second heater 72 can be realized by various configurations such as a tape heater, a rubber heater, a heater wire, a silicon rubber heater, a carbon heater, and a polyimide heater. The second heater 72 is attached with a second temperature sensor 82. The second temperature sensor 82 is electrically connected to the control device 90. The second temperature sensor 82 is configured to be able to transmit the measured temperature to the control device 90. The second temperature sensor 82 is, for example, a thermistor. The second temperature sensor 82 detects the temperature of the second heater 72. Note that the second temperature sensor 82 is desirably disposed on the most downstream side of the area heated by the second heater 72.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, the third heater 73 is provided on the head connection portion 54b of the adapter 54. The third heater 73 heats the ink passing through the head connection portion 54b. The third heater 73 is electrically connected to a control device 90 (see FIG. 2) and is controlled by the control device 90. In this embodiment, the third heater 73 is a film heater. The third heater 73 is attached to the front and rear surfaces (see also FIG. 3) of the head connection portion 54b. In this embodiment, the third heater 73 is wrapped with a heat insulating material 54ba as described above. However, the method of attaching the third heater 73 is not limited to this. In addition, the configuration of the third heater 73 is not particularly limited. The third heater 73 can be realized by various configurations such as a tape heater, a rubber heater, a heater wire, a silicon rubber heater, a carbon heater, and a polyimide heater. A third temperature sensor 83 is attached to the third heater 73. The third temperature sensor 83 is electrically connected to the control device 90. The third temperature sensor 83 is configured to be able to transmit the measured temperature to the control device 90. The third temperature sensor 83 is, for example, a thermistor. The third temperature sensor 83 detects the temperature of the third heater 73. Note that the third temperature sensor 83 is desirably disposed on the most downstream side of the area heated by the third heater 73.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 7, the fourth heater 74 is provided inside the print head 40. The fourth heater 74 heats the ink inside the print head 40. The fourth heater 74 is electrically connected to a control device 90 (see FIG. 2) and is controlled by the control device 90. In this embodiment, the fourth heater 74 is a plate-shaped heater in which heating wires are arranged and which extends in the horizontal direction. However, the configuration of the fourth heater 74 is not limited to this. The fourth heater 74 can be realized by various configurations such as a tape heater, a film heater, a rubber heater, a silicon rubber heater, a carbon heater, and a polyimide heater. The fourth temperature sensor 84 is provided inside the print head 40. The fourth temperature sensor 84 is electrically connected to the control device 90. The fourth temperature sensor 84 is configured to be able to transmit the measured temperature to the control device 90. The fourth temperature sensor 84 is, for example, a thermistor. The fourth temperature sensor 84 measures the temperature of the ink heated by the fourth heater 74. The fourth temperature sensor 84 is desirably disposed on the most downstream side of the area heated by the fourth heater 74.

[0048] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the inside of the carriage cover 18. As shown in FIG. 10, the fifth temperature sensor 85 is provided on the first bottom wall 18Da of the carriage cover 18. The fifth temperature sensor 85 is an example of a temperature measuring element in the present invention. In this embodiment, the fifth temperature sensor 85 is disposed at a position behind the first print head 40A and to the left of the second print head 40B. However, the location where the fifth temperature sensor 85 is disposed is not limited to this position. The fifth temperature sensor 85 is, for example, a thermistor. The fifth temperature sensor 85 measures the temperature near the print head 40. The fifth temperature sensor 85 is connected to the control device 90 (see FIG. 2). The fifth temperature sensor 85 is configured to be able to transmit the measured temperature to the control device 90. Note that the first temperature sensor 81 to the fifth temperature sensor 85 may be entirely or partially configured with the same thermistor.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a control device 90. The control device 90 is a device that controls printing on the recording medium 5. The configuration of the control device 90 is not particularly limited. The control device 90 is, for example, a microcomputer. The hardware configuration of the microcomputer is not particularly limited, but includes, for example, an interface (I / F) that receives print data and the like from an external device such as a host computer, a central processing unit (CPU) that executes instructions of a control program, a read only memory (ROM) that stores the program executed by the CPU, a random access memory (RAM) used as a working area for expanding the program, and a storage device such as a memory that stores the above-mentioned program and various data. The control device 90 is provided inside the right part 11R of the printer main body 11. However, the control device 90 does not necessarily have to be provided at this position, and may be, for example, a computer installed outside the printer 10. In this case, the control device 90 is connected to the printer main body 11 so as to be able to communicate with it via wire or wirelessly. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the control device 90 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the control device 90 controls the feed motor 23, the scan motor 33, and the print head 40. The control device 90 also controls the outputs of the first heater 71, the second heater 72, the third heater 73, and the fourth heater 74. In this embodiment, the fourth heater 74 is controlled by a constant output. The control device 90 is also connected to the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, the fourth temperature sensor 84, and the fifth temperature sensor 85 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The control device 90 includes a temperature acquisition unit 90a, a limit temperature determination unit 90b, a control temperature determination unit 90c, a first output control unit 90d, a second output control unit 90e, and a third output control unit 90f.

[0050] The temperature acquisition unit 90a acquires the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, the fourth temperature sensor 84, and the fifth temperature sensor 85, respectively. The temperature acquisition unit 90a may acquire the constant temperature at all times, or may acquire the temperature at regular intervals. Also, the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 90a may be the temperature at the time when the temperature is acquired, or may be the average value of the temperatures measured within a certain period of time.

[0051] The limit temperature determination unit 90b determines whether or not the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84 among the temperatures acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 90a are equal to or higher than the limit temperature. Here, the limit temperature refers to the temperature that each component to which the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84 are attached can withstand. In this embodiment, the limit temperature is 60°C. Note that the limit temperature may be individually set for each of the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84. Also, among the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84, the limit temperatures of any two or three of them may be the same.

[0052] The control temperature determination unit 90c determines whether or not the temperature measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85 is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, equal to or higher than the second temperature T2, and equal to or higher than the third temperature T3. The first temperature T1, the second temperature T2, and the third temperature T3 are predetermined temperatures. The second temperature T2 is a temperature higher than the first temperature T1. The third temperature T3 is a temperature higher than the second temperature T2. Therefore, the relationship of T1 < T2 < T3 holds for the first temperature T1, the second temperature T2, and the third temperature T3. Here, in this embodiment, the first temperature T1 is set to 21°C, the second temperature T2 is set to 26°C, and the third temperature T3 is set to 28°C. However, the temperature values of the first temperature T1, the second temperature T2, and the third temperature T3 are not limited to these.

[0053] The first output control unit 90d switches the output of the first heater 71 between a first output and a second output. The second output is an output lower than the first output, or the output is OFF. Therefore, the first heater 71 controlled to the second output heats the ink less powerfully than when the first heater 71 is controlled to the first output, or does not heat the ink at all. In this embodiment, the second output is OFF, and the first heater 71 does not heat the ink when controlled to the second output.

[0054] The second output control unit 90e switches the output of the second heater 72 between a third output and a fourth output. The fourth output is an output lower than the third output, or the output is OFF. Therefore, the second heater 72 controlled to the fourth output heats the ink less powerfully than when the second heater 72 is controlled to the third output, or does not heat the ink at all. In this embodiment, the fourth output is OFF, and the second heater 72 does not heat the ink when controlled to the fourth output.

[0055] The third output control unit 90f switches the output of the third heater 73 between a fifth output and a sixth output. The sixth output is an output lower than the fifth output, or the output is OFF. Therefore, when the third heater 73 is controlled to the sixth output, the ink heating power is weaker than when the third heater 73 is controlled to the fifth output, or the ink is not heated at all. In this embodiment, the sixth output is OFF, and the third heater 73 does not heat the ink when controlled to the sixth output.

[0056] The configuration of the printer 10 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, the operation of the printer 10 when heating ink will be described. Here, the operation during printing, during maintenance, during standby, and during abnormal heating will be described.

[0057] First, the printing process will be described. The printing process refers to the time when the carriage 17 shown in FIG. 2 moves in the main scanning direction Y and ink is ejected from the print head 40 toward the recording medium 5 to perform printing. Here, when starting printing, for example, when the printer 10 is activated, it is assumed that the measured temperature of the fifth temperature sensor 85 acquired by the temperature acquisition unit 90a shown in FIG. 11 (hereinafter referred to as "measured temperature Tc") is less than the first temperature T1. FIG. 12 is a table showing the changes in the outputs of the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 when the measured temperature Tc changes during printing. When the measured temperature Tc is less than the first temperature T1 (Tc < T1 < T2 < T3), the first output control unit 90d (see FIG. 11) sets the output of the first heater 71 to the first output. Also, since T1 < T2 < T3, the measured temperature Tc is lower than the second temperature T2 and the third temperature T3. Therefore, at this time, the second output control unit 90e (see FIG. 11) controls the output of the second heater 72 to the third output. The third output control unit 90f (see FIG. 11) controls the output of the third heater 73 to the fifth output. Therefore, the ink flowing from the ink tank 51 toward the print head 40 is heated by the first heater 71 provided in the ink flow path 52, the second heater 72 provided in the damper 53, and the third heater 73 provided in the head connection portion 54b. Further, the ink flowing into the print head 40 is heated by the fourth heater 74. As a result, the temperature of the ejected ink is raised to a temperature suitable for ink ejection. Here, the temperature suitable for ejection is, for example, about 45°C. As printing progresses, for example, the temperature around the print head 40 rises due to the driving of the actuator 46 (see FIG. 7). When the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the first temperature T1 (T1 ≤ Tc < T2 < T3), the first output control unit 90d switches the first heater 71 to the second output. That is, the output of the first heater 71 is turned off. Therefore, at this time, on the upstream side of the print head 40, heating is performed by the second heater 72 and the third heater 73. Further, as the temperature around the print head 40 rises and the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature T2 (T1 < T2 ≤ Tc < T3), the second output control unit 90e switches the output of the second heater 72 to the fourth output.That is, the output of the second heater 72 is turned off. Therefore, at this time, upstream of the print head 40, heating is performed only by the third heater 73. Further, as the temperature around the print head 40 rises and the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the third temperature T3 (T1 ≦ T2 ≦ T3 < Tc), the third output control unit 90f switches the output of the third heater 73 to the sixth output. That is, the output of the third heater 73 is turned off. At this time, upstream of the print head 40, ink is not heated. Therefore, during printing, as the measured temperature Tc, which is the temperature around the print head 40, rises, the outputs are sequentially switched off from the heaters arranged on the upstream side in the ink flow direction.

[0058] Next, the operation during maintenance will be described. Here, maintenance includes, for example, a so-called flushing operation of discharging ink to eliminate clogging inside the print head 40, an operation of attaching a cap (not shown) that covers the nozzles 41A and 41B, and an operation of sucking ink from the nozzles 41A and 41B. These operations performed during maintenance consume relatively more ink than when printing on the recording medium 5. During maintenance, the first output control unit 90d controls the first heater 71 to the first output, and the second output control unit 90e controls the second heater 72 to the third output, and the third output control unit 90f controls the third heater 73 to the fifth output. That is, the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 heat the ink. During maintenance, the control of each of the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 is maintained as described above regardless of the temperature of the measured temperature Tc.

[0059] Next, the operation during standby will be described. Here, during standby means that the printer 10 is running but printing or maintenance is not being performed. During standby, the first output control unit 90d controls the first heater 71 to the second output, the second output control unit 90e controls the second heater 72 to the third output, and the third output control unit 90f controls the third heater 73 to the fifth output. That is, the second heater 72 and the third heater 73 heat the ink. During maintenance, the respective controls of the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 are maintained as described above, regardless of the temperature of the measured temperature Tc.

[0060] Next, the operation during abnormal heating will be described. Here, abnormal heating refers to a state in which at least one of the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84 is equal to or higher than the limit temperature. That is, during abnormal heating, the temperature of any of the components to which the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84 are attached is equal to or higher than the limit temperature. For example, the abnormal heating state may occur when the temperature around the printer 10 is relatively high or when waste heat generated from each component of the printer 10 is prevented. At this time, the first output control unit 90d controls the first heater 71 to the second output, the second output control unit 90e controls the second heater 72 to the fourth output, and the third output control unit 90f controls the third heater 73 to the sixth output. That is, the outputs of the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 are turned OFF. Furthermore, the control device 90 also turns off the output of the fourth heater 74. At this time, the output of all heaters that heat the ink is turned off. Therefore, the first temperature sensor 81, the second temperature sensor 82, the third temperature sensor 83, and the fourth temperature sensor 84 function as safety devices to prevent the temperatures of the components of the printer 10 from reaching or exceeding the limit temperature.

[0061] As described above, according to the printer 10 of this embodiment, when the measured temperature Tc measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85 is lower than the first temperature T1, the output of the first heater 71 is controlled to the first output. At this time, the output of the second heater 72 is controlled to the third output. Therefore, at this time, the ink is heated by the first heater 71 and the second heater 72. When the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, the first heater 71 is controlled to the second output and the output is turned OFF. When the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature T2, the second heater 72 is controlled to the fourth output and the output is turned OFF. The second temperature T2 is a temperature higher than the first temperature T1. Therefore, when the measured temperature Tc is lower than the first temperature T1, for example, when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the printer 10 heats the ink by the first heater 71 and the second heater 72. At this time, since the ink can be heated over a relatively wide range, the temperature of the ink can be brought close to a desired temperature before the ink flows into the print head 40. Furthermore, as the temperature of the ink rises, the control device 90 turns off the output of the first heater 71 and then the second heater 72 in that order. The first heater 71 is disposed upstream of the second heater 72. Thus, as the temperature of the ink rises, the control device 90 stops heating the heaters from the upstream side in the ink flow direction. Thus, the output of the second heater 72 disposed downstream in the ink flow direction does not become lower than the output of the first heater 71. Therefore, the ink temperature is prevented from decreasing after it is heated until it is ejected from the print head 40. This makes it possible to maintain a good temperature of the heated ink. Therefore, the ink can be ejected well even when printing at a relatively low ambient temperature.

[0062] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the damper 53 has a storage chamber RS ​​and is disposed upstream of the print head 40. The third heater 73 is disposed downstream of the damper 53. When the measured temperature Tc measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85 is lower than the third temperature T3, the control device 90 controls the third heater 73 to the fifth output. The third temperature T3 is higher than the second temperature T2. When the measured temperature Tc becomes equal to or higher than the third temperature T3, the third heater 73 is controlled to the sixth output. The first heater 71 is disposed upstream of the damper 53, and the second heater 72 is disposed in the damper 53. That is, the ink is heated at the damper 53 and at positions upstream and downstream of the damper 53. Here, since the ink is stored in the storage chamber RS, the ratio of the volume of the ink in the storage chamber RS ​​to the volume of the entire flow path from the ink flow path 52 to the flow path into the print head 40 is relatively large. Therefore, by the second heater 72 heating the damper 53, a relatively large amount of ink can be heated. Furthermore, by heating the upstream side of the damper 53 as well, the temperature of the ink flowing into the storage chamber RS ​​can be increased. Furthermore, by heating the downstream side of the damper 53 as well, a decrease in temperature of the ink flowing out of the storage chamber RS ​​until it flows into the print head 40 is suppressed. Therefore, by heating the damper 53 and positions upstream and downstream of the damper 53, the ink can be heated more efficiently.

[0063] Moreover, according to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the ink is heated using the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73. Here, in order to heat the ink sufficiently, for example, it is conceivable to provide one heater upstream of the print head 40 and heat the ink to a desired temperature. However, if one heater is used to heat the ink, the size of the heater becomes relatively large. This increases the size of the periphery of the print head 40. As in this embodiment, by using the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73, the temperature of the ink can be raised to a desired temperature even if each heater is relatively small. Therefore, the size of the vicinity of the print head 40 can be made relatively compact.

[0064] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the adapter 54 includes a head connection portion 54b. The head connection portion 54b is a member that connects the storage chamber RS ​​and the print head 40 and extends in the vertical direction. The third heater 73 is attached to the head connection portion 54b. Therefore, the third heater 73 heats the ink passing through the inside of the head connection portion 54b. The ink passing through the head connection portion 54b is the ink heated by the second heater 72 in the storage chamber RS ​​of the damper 53. By heating the ink in the head connection portion 54b, which is a flow path between the storage chamber RS ​​and the print head 40, the temperature of the ink passing through the storage chamber RS ​​is suppressed from decreasing before flowing into the print head 40.

[0065] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the head connection portion 54b and the third heater 73 are covered with a heat insulating material 54ba. This further suppresses the temperature drop of the ink heated in the ink storage chamber RS ​​when the ink passes through the head connection portion 54b.

[0066] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the damper 53 forms a storage chamber RS ​​by a main body 53b and a damper film 53c. The damper film 53c can be deformed inward and outward of the storage chamber RS ​​based on the amount of ink stored. Therefore, the storage chamber RS ​​of this embodiment is configured to be deformable. In this embodiment, the second heater 72 is provided in the case main body 53a covering the storage chamber RS. When the storage chamber RS ​​is deformed, it may be difficult to provide a heater in the storage chamber RS ​​depending on the shape and type of the heater. However, as in this embodiment, by providing the second heater 72 in the case main body 53a covering the storage chamber RS, a heater can be provided even in the damper 53 equipped with the storage chamber RS.

[0067] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the fifth temperature sensor 85 is provided on the first bottom wall 18Da of the carriage cover 18. The first bottom wall 18Da is connected to the lower ends of the right front part 18Ra of the right wall 18R and the left front part 18La of the left wall 18R, which are provided on the side of the print head 40 and extend in the vertical direction. The print head 40 is attached to the first bottom wall 18Da. Therefore, the fifth temperature sensor 85 measures the temperature in the vicinity of the print head 40. That is, the difference between the temperature measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85 and the temperature flowing into the print head 40 is relatively small. The control device 90 controls the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73 using the measured temperature Tc, which is the temperature measured by the fifth temperature sensor 85. Therefore, by providing the fifth temperature sensor 85 on the first bottom wall 18Da, the first heater 71, the second heater 72 and the third heater 73 can be controlled based on a temperature that is relatively close to the actual temperature of the ink flowing into the print head 40.

[0068] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, the first heater 71 is provided in the ink flow path 52. Therefore, the distance between the first heater 71 and the second heater provided in the damper 53 is relatively short. This prevents the temperature of the ink heated by the first heater 71 from decreasing until it reaches the damper 53.

[0069] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the first heater 71 is disposed downstream in the ink flow direction of the ink flow path 52 from the midpoint between the ink tank 51 and the print head 40. This makes the distance between the first heater 71 and the second heater 72 closer. Therefore, the temperature drop of the ink heated by the first heater 71 until it reaches the damper 53 is more effectively suppressed.

[0070] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, during maintenance of the printer 10, the first output control unit 90d controls the first heater 71 to the first output, the second output control unit 90e controls the second heater 72 to the third output, and the third output control unit 90f controls the third heater 73 to the fifth output. During maintenance, a relatively large amount of ink is ejected. By heating the ink using the first heater 71, the second heater 72, and the third heater 73, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the temperature of the ink in the print head 40. This makes it possible to shorten the time until the ink reaches a temperature suitable for ejection after maintenance is completed.

[0071] According to the printer 10 of this embodiment, during standby, the first output control unit 90d controls the first heater 71 to the second output, the second output control unit 90e controls the second heater 72 to the third output, and the third output control unit 90f controls the third heater 73 to the fifth output. Therefore, during standby, the ink is heated using the second heater 72 and the third heater 73. Here, during standby of the printer 10, the temperature of the ink in the print head 40 may drop due to the influence of the air around the printer 10, etc. As in this embodiment, by heating the ink using the second heater 72 and the third heater 73 during standby, it is possible to suppress the drop in the temperature of the ink during standby when no ink is ejected.

[0072] The technology disclosed herein can be applied to various types of printers. In addition to the flatbed type printer described in the above embodiment, the technology can also be applied to so-called roll-to-roll type printers that transport a roll-shaped printing material in the front-rear direction. The technology can also be applied to so-called gantry type printers that place the printing material on a table and move the carriage left-right and front-rear relative to the table to print. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Printer (inkjet printer) 40 Ink Head 51 Ink tank 52 Ink flow path 71 No. 1 Heater 72 Second Heater 85 5th temperature sensor (temperature sensor) 90 Control device 90a Temperature acquisition part 90d First output control section 90e Second output control section T1 1st temperature T2 2nd temperature

Claims

1. A print head that ejects ink; an ink flow path connecting an ink tank containing ink and the print head; a first heater that is provided upstream of the print head in a flow direction of ink flowing from the ink tank toward the print head and that heats the ink; a second heater that is provided downstream of the first heater in the flow direction and heats the ink; A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature around the print head; A control device that controls the first heater and the second heater, The control device includes: A temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature measured by the temperature measuring element; A first output control unit that controls an output of the first heater; A second output control unit that controls an output of the second heater, the first output control unit controls an output of the first heater to a first output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is lower than a predetermined first temperature, and controls an output of the first heater to a second output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than the first temperature; the second output control unit controls an output of the second heater to a third output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is lower than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and controls an output of the second heater to a fourth output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than the second temperature; the second output is lower than the first output, The fourth output is lower than the third output.

2. a damper provided upstream of the print head in the flow direction and having a storage chamber for temporarily storing the ink; a third heater that is disposed downstream of the damper in the flow direction and heats the ink; The control device includes a third output control unit that controls an output of the third heater, the third output control unit controls an output of the third heater to a fifth output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is lower than a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature, and controls an output of the third heater to a sixth output when the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition unit is equal to or higher than the third temperature; the sixth output is lower than the fifth output, the first heater is provided upstream of the damper in a flow direction of the ink, The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the second heater is provided in the damper.

3. an adapter connecting the reservoir and the print head, the adapter having a head connection portion extending below the damper and positioned above the print head; The inkjet printer according to claim 2 , wherein the third heater is attached to the head connection portion.

4. The inkjet printer according to claim 3 , wherein the head connection portion and the third heater are covered with a heat insulating material.

5. The damper is A case body covering the storage chamber; a damper membrane attached to the case body, which defines the storage chamber together with the case body, and which is deformable inward and outward with respect to the storage chamber based on the amount of the ink stored in the storage chamber; The inkjet printer according to claim 3 , wherein the second heater is provided in the case body.

6. a carriage on which the print head is mounted; a carriage cover that covers the carriage, The carriage cover includes: a side wall provided on a side of the print head and extending in a vertical direction; a bottom wall connected to a lower end of the side wall and having the print head attached thereto; The inkjet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the bottom wall.

7. The inkjet printer according to claim 2 , wherein the first heater is provided in the ink flow path.

8. 8. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein the first heater is disposed downstream of a midpoint between the ink tank and the print head in the ink flow path.

9. 3. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein, when performing maintenance of the inkjet printer, the first output control unit controls the first heater to the first output, the second output control unit controls the second heater to the third output, and the third output control unit controls the third heater to the fifth output.

10. 3. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein, when the print head is not ejecting ink, the first output control unit controls the first heater to the second output, the second output control unit controls the second heater to the third output, and the third output control unit controls the third heater to the fifth output.

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