Recording device

Abstract

To shorten the time required until the start of recording.SOLUTION: A recording device comprises: a tank having an inlet for injecting liquid inside and configured to store liquid supplied to a recording head; detection means that detects whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; and control means that, when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, stops the recording operation by the recording head and notifies a user of at least one of information prompting injection of liquid into the tank and information indicating that the liquid in the tank has run out. When notification of the information has been made, the control means executes recording preparation processing after the predetermined amount of liquid in the tank has been detected, but before completion of liquid injection into the tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device. [Background technology]

[0002] Some inkjet recording devices allow users to refill ink by injecting ink from a bottle into a tank located inside the device. Some of these tanks have a pair of electrodes inside, and detect whether there is a certain amount of ink in the tank by applying an electrical signal between the electrodes.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that suppresses a decrease in throughput by detecting the presence or absence of ink after a predetermined amount of ink has been consumed during printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-185623 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, when the printer runs out of a predetermined amount of ink during printing, it is not possible to suppress the decrease in throughput from when the user fills ink into the tank until printing is resumed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to shorten the time until recording starts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the recording device of the present invention comprises a tank having an injection port for injecting liquid therein and storing liquid to be supplied to a recording head, a detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank, and a control means for, when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, stopping the recording operation by the recording head and notifying the user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, wherein, when notifying the user of the information, the control means performs a recording preparation process after it has detected that the predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank and before the injection of liquid into the tank is complete. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a recording device is provided that can reduce the time required to start recording. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the ink supply configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a display unit and an operation unit when the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a recording device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative arrangements, shapes, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those alone.

[0011] "Recording" not only includes the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also the formation of images, patterns, designs, etc. on a recording medium, whether meaningful or insignificant, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether it is manifested in a way that can be perceived visually by humans. In addition, although paper is assumed as the "original" and "recording medium" in this embodiment, they may also be cloth, plastic, film, etc.

[0012] Furthermore, "ink" (sometimes called "liquid") should be interpreted broadly in the same way as the definition of "recording" above. Therefore, it refers to a liquid that can be applied to a recording medium to form an image, design, pattern, etc., to process the recording medium, or to process ink (for example, to solidify or insolubilize coloring materials in ink applied to the recording medium).

[0013] [First embodiment] <Hardware configuration of the recording device> The configuration of a recording device 100 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the recording device 100. The recording device 100 includes a printer unit 108, a scanner unit 110, and a tank 109. The recording device 100 also includes a CPU 101, a display unit 106, an operation unit 107, a network communication unit 104, and a network connection unit 105. Note that, in this embodiment, the recording device 100 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) as an example of an image recording device; however, the image recording device to which this embodiment is applicable is not limited to a multifunction peripheral. A copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like may be used as the image recording device, or a recording device without a scanner function may be used.

[0014] In the recording device 100, the function of printing onto a recording medium is realized by the printer unit 108, and the function of reading an original is realized by the scanner unit 110. The ink used for recording by the printer unit 108 is stored in the tank 109. The tank 109 has an inlet 112 (see FIG. 2) through which the user can inject ink from a bottle 113. The printer unit 108 has a print head 7 (recording head), and ink is supplied to the print head 7 from the tank 109 via a tube 214 serving as a supply path.

[0015] The printer unit 108 prints an image on a recording medium such as recording paper using an inkjet method based on image data received from an external device or image data read by the scanner unit 110. The printer unit 108 also manages ink information, including ink consumption information based on a dot count method that calculates the amount of ink ejected from the print head 7, and information about the remaining amount of ink in the tank 109.

[0016] Scanner unit 110 optically reads an original placed on platen 203, converts it into electronic data, and transmits the image data converted into a specified file format to an external device via a network or stores it in a storage area such as a HDD. The copy function is realized by reading an original placed on platen 203 with scanner unit 110, transferring the generated image data to printer unit 108, and printer unit 108 printing an image on a recording medium based on the image data.

[0017] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit for controlling each section within the recording device 100. The ROM 103 stores various program codes. The RAM 102 temporarily stores image data and the like when each function is executed, and performs buffering. The display unit 106 is composed of, for example, an LCD, and displays various information including notifications and inquiries to the user. The operation unit 107 is composed of switches and the like for the user to perform various input operations.

[0018] The network communication unit 104 is connected to a router (not shown) via the network connection unit 105. That is, the network communication unit 104 connects to a network such as the Internet via the network connection unit 105 and performs various communications. The various communications are controlled using HTTP, XMPP, or the like. Note that the protocols are not limited to these, and other protocols may be used. The RAM 102 also stores image data and the like received by the network communication unit 104. The above-mentioned units are connected to each other via a bus 111 and are capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from each other.

[0019] 2(a) is an external perspective view showing an example of the recording device 100. A user can access the inside of the main body (for example, the carriage 10 and the tank cover 202) by opening the main body cover 201 of the recording device 100. In this embodiment, the main body cover 201 is provided with a document table 203 for the scanner unit 110, but the scanner unit 110 is not an essential component. In other words, the configuration may include only the main body cover 201 for covering the inside of the main body.

[0020] The recording device 100 may be configured to use a sensor (not shown) to detect whether the body cover 201 is open or closed. If it is detected that the body cover 201 is open while the recording device 100 is operating, such as during recording by the print head 7 or during a recovery operation, the printer unit 108 will suspend operation.

[0021] The recording device 100 has tanks 109 that store ink to be supplied to the print head 7 that ejects the ink. Because the print head 7 is capable of ejecting four colors of ink: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, the number of tanks 109 provided corresponds to the four colors of ink. The four tanks 109 may be arranged separately on the left and right as shown in FIG. 2(a), for example, or may be arranged on either the left or right side of the recording device 100. Note that the number of ink colors ejected from the print head 7 is not limited to four, as long as there is one or more colors, and one or more tanks 109 may correspond to one color of ink.

[0022] 2(b) is an enlarged view of the area around the tank 109, showing ink being poured from the bottle 113. A user can open the tank cover 202 and the cap 115 that closes the filler port 112, insert the bottle 113 into the filler port 112, and pour (refill) ink from the bottle 113 into the tank 109.

[0023] In this embodiment, the tank cover 202 can be opened and closed by opening the main body cover 201, but it may be configured to be openable and closable without opening the main body cover 201. The tank 109 is configured so that the liquid level of the ink stored therein can be visually confirmed from the outside. The tank cover 202 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the tank 109.

[0024] 2, the display unit 106 and the operation unit 107 may be disposed, for example, on the main body cover 201 or on the front side of the device (the side on which the liquid level in the tank 109 can be seen). The display unit 106 and the operation unit 107 may be disposed close to each other, or may be disposed apart on different sides of the recording device 100.

[0025] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording device 100 taken in the depth direction. A plurality of recording media 1 are stacked on a feed tray 11 serving as a stacking section. The topmost recording medium 1 on the feed tray 11 is picked up by contact with a pickup roller 2. The picked-up recording medium 1 is sandwiched between a feed roller 3 and a driven roller 4 urged toward the feed roller 3, and is fed downstream in the transport direction.

[0026] The fed recording medium 1 is sandwiched between a transport roller 5 and a pinch roller 6 biased against the transport roller 5 and transported to a position opposite the print head 7. A platen 8 that supports the back surface of the recording medium 1 is disposed at a position opposite the print head 7. The print head 7 is mounted on a carriage 10 and performs recording on the recording medium 1 by ejecting ink while moving in a direction intersecting the transport direction (orthogonal in this embodiment). After recording has been performed by the print head 7, the recording medium 1 is sandwiched between an ejection roller 9 and a spur 13 and ejected outside the device.

[0027] The recording medium 1 is guided by a conveying guide 15 between a feeding nip portion formed by the feeding roller 3 and the driven roller 4 and a conveying nip portion formed by the conveying roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 .

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration related to ink supply in the recording device 100. For ease of explanation, the configuration for only one color will be described here, but the other colors have similar configurations. The carriage 10 is supported by a guide shaft 22. The carriage 10 is connected to a belt 31, and moves along the guide shaft 22 as the carriage motor 30 drives and rotates the belt 31.

[0029] While the print head 7 is not recording, the ejection surface where the ejection ports are provided is capped with the cap unit 34 to prevent the ejection ports from drying out and reduce the occurrence of ejection failures. The cap unit 34 also receives ink ejected by preliminary ejection, which is when the print head 7 ejects ink for recovery.

[0030] Furthermore, the cap unit 34 is connected to a waste liquid tank 217 via a discharge tube 215. By driving a pump 216 provided midway through the discharge tube 215, the ink accumulated in the cap unit 34 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 217. Also, by driving the pump 216 with the discharge surface capped with the cap unit 34, ink is sucked from the discharge ports and the solidified ink is discharged to the waste liquid tank 217.

[0031] Ink 210 is stored in the tank 109, and a pair of electrodes 211, 212 are provided inside so as to be able to come into contact with the ink 210. A voltage is applied to the electrodes 211, 212 to detect the resistance between the electrodes, and whether the resistance value is greater than or less than a threshold value is used to detect whether the liquid level is below the lower end of at least one of the electrodes 211, 212. In other words, the electrodes 211, 212 detect whether the ink 210 is at least a predetermined amount.

[0032] A choke valve 213 is provided in a tube 214 for supplying ink from the tank 109 to the print head 7. The choke valve 213 is used to fill the print head 7 with ink from the tank 109 and to recover the print head 7. For example, by closing the choke valve 213 and driving the pump 216 with the ejection surface of the print head 7 capped by the cap unit 34, the space between the print head 7 and the choke valve 213 is put into a negative pressure state. By subsequently opening the choke valve 213, ink is supplied to the print head 7 by the negative pressure accumulated in that space, thereby speeding up the ink filling process. Furthermore, by performing the same operation when the print head 7 is filled with ink, air bubbles in the tube 214 can also be removed.

[0033] <Processing after detecting ink shortage> Next, processing after detecting no ink will be described using Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the recording device 100. A series of processes is implemented by the CPU 101 of the recording device 100 by loading program code stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 102 and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 5 may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit. Furthermore, the individual processes shown below may be executed by different electronic circuits, or may be executed collectively by a single electronic circuit. Below, "step S~" will be abbreviated as "S~". Figure 6 shows an example of the display unit 106 and operation unit 107 when the flowchart in Figure 5 is executed.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows the process after the recording device 100 has completed recording one page and ejected the recording medium 1. In this embodiment, after the electrodes 211 and 212 detect that there is no ink left, the remaining ink amount is further managed by dot counting. That is, the amount of ink ejected from the print head 7 is estimated based on image data and the like using the function of an ASIC (not shown) that controls the printer unit 108 via the CPU 101. Therefore, even if the electrodes 211 and 212 detect that there is no ink left, the recording device 100 does not immediately stop operating but continues to operate. If the dot count subsequently detects that there is no ink left, the recording device 100 (CPU 101) stops operations such as recording by the print head 7 and recovery operations for the print head 7.

[0035] Furthermore, the CPU 101 detects the presence or absence of ink by using the electrodes 211 and 212 at a predetermined timing to determine whether or not a predetermined amount of ink is present. For example, this may be done when printing of one page is completed, when printing of a predetermined number of lines is completed, or at predetermined intervals during printing of one page. Detection of ink absence by dot counting may also be done at the same timing.

[0036] Fig. 5 shows the process after out-of-ink detection by dot counting. After out-of-ink detection, the recording device 100 (CPU 101) enters a recording-disabled state and stops operating. In S501, the CPU 101 notifies the user that out-of-ink has occurred and prompts the user to fill ink into the tank 109. At this time, the display unit 106 displays, for example, a screen shown in Fig. 6.

[0037] 6 is merely an example, and it is sufficient if the user is notified of both or at least one of the information that the ink in the tank 109 has run out and the information that urges the user to refill the ink into the tank 109. Furthermore, the notification to the user in S501 is not limited to being made using the display unit 106 and operation unit 107 provided in the recording device 100, and may be displayed on the screen of a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer connected via the network connection unit 105.

[0038] Next, in S502, the CPU 101 caps the ejection surface with the cap unit 34 to prevent drying of the print head 7. Note that S501 and S502 may be performed in parallel, or may be performed in the reverse order.

[0039] Next, in S503, the CPU 101 determines whether data for the next page exists in the RAM of the recording device 100. If the determination result shows that data for the next page does not exist, the CPU 101 ends the process. If the determination result shows that data for the next page exists, the CPU 101 proceeds to S504 and waits using the electrodes 211 and 212 arranged in the tank 109 until the ink injected by the user reaches a predetermined amount. In other words, it waits until the ink level reaches the lower ends of the electrodes 211 and 212.

[0040] When it is detected that the ink has reached a predetermined amount, the CPU 101 executes a recording preparation process in S505. In this embodiment, the recording preparation process includes, for example, a process of opening the cap unit 34. After that, in S506, the CPU 101 monitors whether a notification of ink injection completion has been input by the user via the operation unit 107. The notification of ink injection completion is executed, for example, when the user presses the OK button shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] In parallel with the processing of S506, the CPU 101 determines in S508 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed without the user notifying the completion of ink injection, it determines that an abnormal state has occurred, and in S509 the ejection surface is capped again with the cap unit 34, thereby ending the processing. The predetermined time in S509 can be determined, for example, based on the time that the print head 7 can remain in a recording-enabled state. If the user inputs an ink injection completion notification within the predetermined time in S506, the CPU 101 starts recording with the print head 7 in S507.

[0042] Conventionally, after confirming the user's input of the ink injection completion notification, the recording preparation process, including opening the cap unit 34, was performed, and once the recording preparation process was completed, recording with the print head 7 began. As a result, it took some time from the time the user input the ink injection completion notification until recording began. In other words, conventionally, S505 and S506 were performed in the reverse order, and S504 was not processed.

[0043] In contrast, in this embodiment, once it is confirmed in S504 that a predetermined amount of ink has been stored in the tank 109, the process of opening the cap is started as a recording preparation process in S505. In this way, by performing the recording preparation process by the recording device 100 and the ink filling operation by the user in parallel, recording can be started immediately after the ink filling operation is completed, thereby improving usability. In other words, the time until recording starts after the user has completed the ink filling operation can be shortened.

[0044] [Second embodiment] <Processing after detecting ink shortage> Next, a different form of post-ink-out detection processing from the first embodiment will be described using the flowchart in Figure 7. The second embodiment can also be realized with a hardware configuration for the recording apparatus 100 similar to that of the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment is provided with a sensor 114 (see Figure 8) that can detect the opening and closing of the tank cover 202. Figure 8 shows the block diagram of Figure 1 to which the sensor 114 has been added, with the remaining configuration being the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0045] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the recording device 100. A series of processes is realized by the CPU 101 of the recording device 100 expanding program code stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 102 and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 7 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit. Hereinafter, "step S~" will be abbreviated to "S~".

[0046] FIG. 7 shows the processing that occurs after the recording device 100 has completed recording one page and ejected the recording medium 1. If the recording device 100 is out of ink and is unable to record, it stops operating. In S701, the CPU 101 notifies the user that the ink has run out and prompts the user to refill the ink. The notification in S701 is displayed on the display unit 106 or on the screen of an external terminal connected via the network connection unit 105, as shown in FIG. 6, for example. In the second embodiment, the out-of-ink state is also determined by estimating the amount of ink ejected from the print head 7 using, for example, the function of an ASIC that controls the printer unit 108 via the CPU 101.

[0047] Next, in S702, the CPU 101 performs cap closing, which caps the ejection surface with the cap unit 34 to prevent the print head 7 from drying out. Next, in S703, the CPU 101 determines whether data for the next page exists in the RAM of the recording device 100. If it is determined that data for the next page does not exist, the CPU 101 ends the process.

[0048] If it is determined that data for the next page exists, the CPU 101 proceeds to S704 and waits until the user opens the tank cover 202 by monitoring the sensor 114 of the tank cover 202. When it detects that the tank cover 202 has been opened by the user, the CPU 101 executes a recording preparation process (for example, a cap open process to open the cap unit 34) in S705.

[0049] Thereafter, in S706, the CPU 101 uses the electrodes 211 and 212 arranged in the tank 109 to wait until the ink injected by the user reaches a predetermined amount. That is, it waits until the ink level reaches the lower ends of the electrodes 211 and 212. Then, in parallel with the processing of S706, the CPU 101 determines in S709 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed without the user injecting ink up to the predetermined amount, the CPU 101 determines that an abnormal state has occurred, and in S711, the CPU 101 caps the ejection surface with the cap unit 34 (closes the cap) and ends the processing. As described in the first embodiment, the predetermined time in S709 can be determined, for example, based on the time during which the print head 7 can remain in a printable state.

[0050] If it is detected in S706 that a predetermined amount of ink has been injected within a predetermined time, the CPU 101 monitors in S707 whether the user has closed the tank cover 202 using the sensor 114. In parallel with the processing of S707, the CPU 101 determines in S710 whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed without the user closing the tank cover 202, it determines that an abnormal state has occurred, and in S711 the ejection surface is capped again with the cap unit 34, ending the processing. The predetermined time in S711 can be determined, for example, based on the time that the print head 7 can remain in a printable state, and may or may not be the same as the predetermined time in S709.

[0051] If it is detected in S707 that the user has closed the tank cover 202 before the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 101 starts recording with the print head 7 in S708.

[0052] As described above, in the second embodiment, the detection by the sensor 114 that the tank cover 202 has been opened triggers the recording preparation process, which includes the cap open process of opening the cap unit 34. This improves the throughput until the start of recording and improves usability compared to when recording preparation is performed after the user has completed the ink filling operation. In other words, the time until recording starts after the user has completed the ink filling operation can be shortened.

[0053] In the second embodiment, the sensor 114 detects whether the tank cover 202 is open or closed, but similar control can also be performed using a sensor that detects whether the main body cover 201 is open or closed. This can also be applied to a configuration that does not have the tank cover 202, for example.

[0054] Although cap opening has been described as an example of the recording preparation process in all of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this. Other examples may include an operation of wiping the ejection surface with a flexible wiper or an operation of pre-ejecting ink into the cap unit 34. Furthermore, with the ejection surface capped by the cap unit 34, an operation of driving the pump 216 to suck ink from the ejection ports may also be included.

[0055] Furthermore, in all of the above-described embodiments, a configuration has been described in which the operation of the recording device 100 is stopped when it is determined that there is no ink by estimating the amount of ink ejected from the print head 7 (dot count), but the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may also be such that the operation of the recording device 100 is stopped when there is no ink detected by the electrodes 211, 212 (when the ink liquid level falls below the lower end of either of the electrodes 211, 212). Furthermore, the method of determining there is no ink is not limited to these two types, and other methods, such as a determination method using electrostatic capacitance, a determination method using a float member, or a determination method using optical detection, may also be used.

[0056] Furthermore, in all of the above-described embodiments, a serial printer in which the print head 7 is mounted on a carriage 10 and performs printing while moving has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be adopted in a printer that performs printing using a line head that has ejection openings over a length corresponding to the width of the printing medium 1 and performs printing without moving.

[0057] The disclosure of the above-described embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0058] (Configuration 1) a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the recording operation of the recording head when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The recording device is characterized in that, when the control means notifies the information, it performs recording preparation processing after it is detected that there is the predetermined amount of liquid in the tank and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

[0059] (Configuration 2) a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a detection means for detecting whether a first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; an estimation means for estimating whether a second predetermined amount of liquid, which is less than the first predetermined amount, is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the printing operation of the print head when the estimation means estimates that there is less than the second predetermined amount of liquid, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The recording device is characterized in that, when the control means notifies the information, it performs recording preparation processing after it is detected that there is the first predetermined amount of liquid in the tank and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

[0060] (Configuration 3) a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a cover that covers at least a portion of the tank; a sensor that detects whether the cover is open or closed; a detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the recording operation of the recording head when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The control means, when notifying the information, performs a recording preparation process after the sensor detects that the cover has been opened and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

[0061] (Configuration 4) a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a cover that covers at least a portion of the tank; a sensor that detects whether the cover is open or closed; a detection means for detecting whether a first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; an estimation means for estimating whether a second predetermined amount of liquid, which is less than the first predetermined amount, is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the printing operation of the print head when the estimation means estimates that there is less than the second predetermined amount of liquid, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The control means, when notifying the information, performs a recording preparation process after the sensor detects that the cover has been opened and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

[0062] (Configuration 5) a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the control unit caps the ejection surface with the cap when the recording operation is stopped, and performs processing to open the cap as the recording preparation processing.

[0063] (Configuration 6) 5. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the detecting means includes a pair of electrodes.

[0064] (Configuration 7) 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the estimation means estimates the amount of liquid ejected from the recording head.

[0065] (Configuration 8) 3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when a user inputs a notification that an injection has been completed.

[0066] (Configuration 9) a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device according to configuration 8, wherein the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if the injection completion notification is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

[0067] (Configuration 10) a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device according to configuration 2 or 4, wherein the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if it is not detected that there is the first predetermined amount of liquid in the tank even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

[0068] (Configuration 11) a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device according to configuration 3 or 4, wherein the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if the sensor does not detect that the cover has been closed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

[0069] (Configuration 12) The recording device according to configuration 3, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when the sensor detects that the cover has been closed after the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank.

[0070] (Configuration 13) The recording device according to configuration 4, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when the sensor detects that the cover has been closed after the detection means detects that the first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 7 Printhead 100 Recording device 101 CPU 109 Tank 112 Inlet 211, 212 electrode

Claims

1. a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the recording operation of the recording head when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The recording device is characterized in that, when the control means notifies the information, it performs recording preparation processing after it is detected that there is the predetermined amount of liquid in the tank and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

2. a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a detection means for detecting whether a first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; an estimation means for estimating whether a second predetermined amount of liquid, which is less than the first predetermined amount, is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the printing operation of the print head when the estimation means estimates that there is less than the second predetermined amount of liquid, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The recording device is characterized in that, when the control means notifies the information, it performs recording preparation processing after it is detected that there is the first predetermined amount of liquid in the tank and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

3. a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a cover that covers at least a portion of the tank; a sensor that detects whether the cover is open or closed; a detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the recording operation of the recording head when the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is not present, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The control means, when notifying the information, performs a recording preparation process after the sensor detects that the cover has been opened and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

4. a tank having an inlet for injecting a liquid thereinto and storing the liquid to be supplied to the recording head; a cover that covers at least a portion of the tank; a sensor that detects whether the cover is open or closed; a detection means for detecting whether a first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank; an estimation means for estimating whether a second predetermined amount of liquid, which is less than the first predetermined amount, is present in the tank; a control means for stopping the printing operation of the print head when the estimation means estimates that there is less than the second predetermined amount of liquid, and for notifying a user of at least one of information urging the user to inject liquid into the tank and information that the liquid in the tank has run out, The control means, when notifying the information, performs a recording preparation process after the sensor detects that the cover has been opened and before the liquid has been completely poured into the tank.

5. a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit caps the ejection surface with the cap when the recording operation is stopped, and performs processing to open the cap as the recording preparation processing.

6. 5. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes a pair of electrodes.

7. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the estimation means estimates the amount of liquid ejected from the print head.

8. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when a user inputs a notification of completion of injection.

9. a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device described in claim 8, characterized in that the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if the injection completion notification is not input even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

10. a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device described in claim 2 or 4, characterized in that the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if it is not detected that there is the first predetermined amount of liquid in the tank even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

11. a cap for capping the ejection surface of the recording head; The recording device described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control means caps the ejection surface with the cap when stopping the recording operation, performs a process of opening the cap as the recording preparation process, and if the sensor does not detect that the cover has been closed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cap was opened, caps the ejection surface with the cap again.

12. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when the sensor detects that the cover has been closed after the detection means detects that the predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank.

13. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control means starts the recording operation when the sensor detects that the cover has been closed after the detection means detects that the first predetermined amount of liquid is present in the tank.

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