Recording apparatus and control method for the same

Abstract

To issue instructions on an efficient operation.SOLUTION: A recording apparatus comprises: a holder capable of being fitted with a plurality of tanks for storing a liquid; a recording head that discharges the liquid supplied from the plurality of tanks; and control means for simultaneously providing notifications of instructions on agitation of two or more of the plurality of tanks.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with an ink tank and an agitation unit for agitating the ink in the ink tank. The apparatus further includes a measuring unit for measuring the time elapsed since the previous agitation operation and an acquisition unit for acquiring the amount of ink consumed since the previous agitation operation, and determines whether to perform an agitation operation based on both the time elapsed since the previous agitation operation and the amount of ink consumed. This allows the apparatus to propose a method for efficiently agitating the ink at an appropriate timing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-45891 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of an inkjet recording apparatus that does not have a stirring unit and in which the user stirs the ink tank manually, the configuration of Patent Document 1 may cause the user to be instructed to perform an inefficient stirring operation.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a recording device that efficiently issues work instructions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the recording device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a holder capable of mounting multiple tanks containing liquid, a recording head that ejects liquid supplied from the multiple tanks, and a control means that simultaneously issues instructions to stir two or more of the multiple tanks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a recording device that gives efficient work instructions is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a supply control unit of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are conceptual diagrams illustrating a process for adjusting the agitation timing of the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for adjusting the agitation timing of the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for adjusting the agitation timing of the recording device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the recording device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 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.

[0010] "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.

[0011] 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).

[0012] [First embodiment] 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the inkjet recording apparatus is shown as having only a printing function, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inkjet recording apparatus may be an apparatus further equipped with a reading unit that reads images from an original document and functions as a copier, or may be a multi-function peripheral (MFP) equipped with other functions such as a fax machine.

[0013] An inkjet recording apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as recording apparatus 100) can be connected to a host computer 190 via a network 191. The recording apparatus 100 has an input / output unit I / F 122, a ROM I / F 125, a memory controller 126, a host I / F 127, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 128, and an image processing unit 130, which are connected via a system bus 132. The recording apparatus 100 also has a flash ROM 123 and a RAM 124, which are connected to the system bus 132 via the ROM I / F 125 and the memory controller 126, respectively.

[0014] The CPU 128 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor (microcomputer) that controls the overall operation of the recording device 100 by executing programs and activating hardware. The flash ROM 123 stores programs executed by the CPU 128 and various data required for various operations of the processing unit 100. The RAM 124 is used as a work area for the CPU 128, as a temporary storage area for various received data, and stores various setting data.

[0015] The image processing unit 130 performs various types of image processing, such as converting (expanding) print data (e.g., data expressed in a page description language) handled by the recording device 100 into image data (bitmap image data), and other image processing. The image processing unit 130 also converts the color space (e.g., YCbCr) of the image data included in the input print data into a standard RGB color space (e.g., sRGB). The image processing unit 130 also performs various image processing on the image data as needed, such as syntax analysis, resolution conversion to an effective number of pixels (which the recording device 100 can print), image analysis, and image correction. The image data obtained by image processing is stored in the RAM 124.

[0016] The input / output unit 121 includes hard keys and a panel for the user to perform various operations such as print settings, and a display unit for displaying (notifying) various information to the user. Here, the print settings include a setting for enabling / disabling manual cutting, which will be described later. The input / output unit 121 is controlled by the CPU 128 via the input / output unit I / F 122. The input / output unit 121 may also display information to the user by outputting a sound (buzzer, voice, etc.) based on acoustic information from a sound generator.

[0017] In this embodiment, the input / output unit 121 is located inside the recording device 100, but this is not limiting and the recording device 100 may be connected as an external component via a network 191, for example. The host computer 190 may also function as the input / output unit 121. In addition to the input / output unit 121, the recording device 100 may be able to further connect other input / output units via the network 191, etc.

[0018] The host computer 190 is, for example, an external device that serves as a print data supply source, and may have a printer driver installed. Instead of the host computer 190, the recording device 100 may be provided with a data providing device that serves as a print data supply source, such as an image reader, a digital camera, or a smartphone.

[0019] The host I / F 127 receives print data from the host computer 190 via stream communication, and the supplied print data is stored in the RAM 124 via the memory controller 126. The connection between each device and the recording device 100 is not limited to via the network 191, and may be directly connected via wireless communication, for example.

[0020] The recording device 100 includes a recording head 151 and is connected to a system bus 132 via a head I / F 152. The recording head 151 is controlled by the CPU 128 via the head I / F 152 and forms an image on a sheet based on image data. The recording head 151 ejects ink in synchronization with the transport of the recording medium 11 and the operation of the carriage 8 (see FIG. 8), thereby forming an image on the recording medium 11.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the schematic configuration of the recording device 100. In the recording device 100, ink tanks 1 containing ink are attached to a holder 2. Although four ink tanks 1 are shown in FIG. 8, the number of ink tanks 1 may be three or less, or five or more. The holder 2 is provided with an attachment detection means (not shown) that can detect at least one of the attachment and removal of an ink tank 1 by the user. Ink in each ink tank 1 is supplied to a subtank 7 via a tube 6, and further supplied to a recording head 151 (not shown in FIG. 8). The supplied ink is ejected from the recording head 151 in accordance with a recording signal.

[0022] The recording head 151 and the subtank 7 are mounted on a carriage 8 that moves back and forth in the main scanning direction along a guide rail 3. An image is formed on the recording medium 11 in stages by alternately repeating a recording scan in which ink is ejected from the recording head 151 toward the recording medium 11 as the carriage 8 moves, and a transport operation in which the recording medium 11 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the rotation of a transport roller 9.

[0023] When performing maintenance processing on the recording head 151, the carriage 8 moves the recording head 151 to a position facing the recovery unit 10. The recovery unit 10 is equipped with a cap for capping the nozzle surface of the recording head 151, a vacuum pump connected to the cap, and other components. By operating the vacuum pump with the cap pressed against the nozzle surface of the recording head 151, ink is forcibly discharged from the multiple nozzles, and unnecessary bubbles, thickened ink, foreign matter, and the like within the recording head 151 are removed.

[0024] The recording device 100 includes a transport control unit 161 that controls the transport rollers 9 and a carriage control unit 162 that controls the carriage 8. The transport control unit 161 and carriage control unit 162 are connected to a system bus 132 and controlled by the CPU 128. The transport control unit 161 feeds the recording medium 11 from a stacking unit or a holding unit and transports it in coordination with the movement of the carriage 8. If the recording medium 11 is roll paper, it can be cut by a cutter (not shown) after image formation by the recording head 151 is complete. The recording medium 11 is not limited to roll paper, and may be cut paper that has been cut to a predetermined size in advance. The carriage control unit 162 operates the carriage 8 in the main scanning direction.

[0025] The recording apparatus 100 includes a supply control unit 200. The supply control unit 200 is connected to the system bus 132 and controlled by the CPU 128 to supply ink from ink tanks that are detachable by the user to the recording head 151. The detailed configuration of the supply control unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the supply control unit 200 of the recording device 100. Using Fig. 2, the flow paths for supplying ink from the ink tank 1 to the recording head 151 will be described. In Fig. 2, thick straight lines connecting the components indicate ink flow paths, and dotted lines indicate electrical connections. Note that Fig. 2 shows the flow paths for one color of ink, but the same configuration may also be used for other colors or liquids such as reaction liquids.

[0027] The first ink tank 201 and the second ink tank 204 (collectively referred to as ink tank 1) are filled with ink of the same color and have the same configuration. In this embodiment, a configuration is described in which two ink tanks of the same color can be installed in the recording device 100, but this is not limiting and three or more ink tanks of the same color may be installed. The first ink tank 201 and the second ink tank 204 are detachably connected to the supply control unit 200 upstream of the check valve 202 and the check valve 205, respectively.

[0028] Check valves 202 and 205 are intended to prevent ink from flowing backward toward first ink tank 201 and second ink tank 204, respectively. Selection valves 203 and 206 are provided downstream of check valves 202 and 205, respectively. The flow paths merge downstream of selection valves 203 and 206, and opening and closing selection valves 203 and 206 controls the supply of ink from either the first ink tank 201 or the second ink tank 204.

[0029] The opening and closing of the selection valves 203 and 206 is controlled by a single cam, so that when one is open, the other is closed. This cam is rotated by the drive of a selection valve motor 207. A supply pump 208 is provided downstream where the flow paths join. When the supply pump 208 is operated, ink is supplied through either the selection valve 203 or the selection valve 206, whichever is open. Then, the operation of the supply pump 208 sends ink to the recording head 151.

[0030] Some inks used in the recording device 100 can have components such as ink colorants settle when left for a long period of time, and image quality cannot be maintained if ink in this settled state is supplied to the recording head 151. The user can reduce or eliminate settling of the ink contained in such ink by removing the ink tank 1 from the holder 2 and shaking or rotating the ink tank 1 up and down or left and right. Typically, the user performs this type of stirring at predetermined intervals (every 24 hours or every week) to maintain the image quality of the recording device 100.

[0031] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit in the recording device 100. The stirring timing receiving unit 301 receives a notification that the ink tank 1 has been attached to the recording device 100 or that stirring of the ink tank 1 has been completed, which notification is sent from the input / output unit 121, the host computer 190, or the like. That is, the stirring timing receiving unit 301 receives the notification when attachment of the ink tank 1 is detected by attachment detection means provided in the holder 2, or when the user operates an attachment completion button or the like via the input / output unit 121, or the like. The stirring timing saving area 302 is a storage medium for recording the date and time when stirring of the ink tank 1 was performed.

[0032] The stirring timing calculation unit 303 obtains the date and time when ink tank 1 was stirred from the stirring timing storage area 302, calculates the next stirring timing, and records the calculation result in the stirring timing storage area 302. The stirring timing calculation unit 303 also obtains the date and time when the next stirring will be performed from the stirring timing storage area 302, and records the adjusted date and time after adjusting the next stirring timing for multiple or all ink tanks in the adjusted stirring timing storage area 304.

[0033] In this embodiment, the mixing timing storage area 302 and the adjusted mixing timing storage area 304 described so far are described as non-volatile storage media, but they may also be volatile storage media. When the date and time recorded in the adjusted mixing timing storage area 304 arrives, mixing timing notification unit 305 notifies the user via input / output unit 121 of recording device 100, host computer 190, etc.

[0034] Fig. 7 shows an example of a display screen output to the input / output unit 121. In Fig. 7, in a recording device 100 equipped with ink tanks 1 of three colors, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), two of each color, a combination of pictures and text is used to indicate that one of the ink tanks 1 of each color needs to be stirred. In this example, an exclamation mark is added to the ink tank 1 that needs to be stirred to notify the user.

[0035] The method of notifying the user is not limited to notification on the display screen of the input / output unit 121 of the recording device 100, but may also be notification by display on the screen of the host computer 190 or a portable terminal via the network 191. Furthermore, a lamp corresponding to each ink tank 1 may be provided in the holder 2 in which the ink tank 1 is attached, and notification that stirring is required may be given by lighting or flashing the lamp. The user may also be notified by outputting an audio signal (buzzer, voice, etc.). Furthermore, notification may be given by a combination of two or more of display on the screen, lighting or flashing of a lamp, and audio output.

[0036] Figure 4 shows an image of the process of adjusting the next stirring timing after the recording device 100 receives a stirring completion notification from the user. The value indicating the next stirring timing is Ta, which decreases over time and becomes 0 when stirring is required. Figure 4 shows an image of the ink tank before Ta adjustment on the left side, and an image of the ink tank after Ta adjustment on the right side. The horizontal axis represents the next stirring timing Ta. Figure 4 assumes a recording device 100 equipped with ink tanks 1 of three colors: cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), two of each color.

[0037] Note that the group described below refers to a group of ink tanks that have the same Ta set. Furthermore, the ink tank with the smallest Ta value among all the ink tanks will be designated as Ta1, and this ink tank will be referred to as T1, and T1 will be indicated by 401. In Figure 4, T1 is the magenta ink tank. Here, the group to which T1 after Ta adjustment belongs is designated as the first group and is indicated by 402 (within the dashed line frame).

[0038] Furthermore, the ink tank that does not belong to the first group has the smallest Ta value, which is designated as Ta2, and this ink tank is called T2 and indicated by 403. In Figure 4, T2 is a yellow ink tank. Here, the group to which T2 belongs after Ta adjustment is designated as the second group by 404 (within the dashed line frame).

[0039] In this case, the first group may be set as the "group that consumes ink," i.e., the group that supplies ink to the print head 151. Also, if Ta1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the group that includes the ink tank with the least remaining ink may be set as the "group that consumes ink," i.e., the group that supplies ink to the print head 151.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of adjusting the next stirring timing for the installed ink tank 1. Fig. 5 shows the flow for setting a group based on the next stirring timing. When the stirring timing receiving unit 301 receives a notification that stirring has been completed, the process starts.

[0041] In S501, the agitation timing calculation unit 303 calculates the Ta of the ink tank based on the date and time the notification was received. Furthermore, in S502, the calculated Ta is recorded in the agitation timing storage area 302. In S503, the agitation timing calculation unit 303 determines Ta1 and Ta2 from the Tas recorded in the agitation timing storage area 302. At this time, information on multiple Tas is required. Furthermore, when determining Ta2, a Ta that does not belong to the first group, i.e., a Ta from the second group, is required.

[0042] If Ta1 and Ta2 have been determined in S504, the process proceeds to S505; if not, the process ends. In S505, ink tanks whose difference with Ta1 is within a predetermined time are set to the first group in the agitation timing storage area 302. Furthermore, in S506, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the first group is set to the same value and recorded in the adjusted agitation timing storage area 304. At this time, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the first group may be set to Ta1, or may be set to another value.

[0043] Furthermore, in S507, ink tanks whose Ta is Ta2 or greater are set to the second group. Furthermore, in S508, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the second group is set to the same value, and this is recorded in the adjusted agitation timing storage area 304, and processing ends. At this time, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the second group may be set to Ta2, or to another value. Also, in S507, control may be performed to set ink tanks other than those in the first group to the second group.

[0044] After the above control, when it is time to stir the ink in the first group, the user is notified to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) belonging to the first group, as shown in FIG. 7. That is, notifications instructing the user to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) are issued simultaneously. As a method for issuing such notifications simultaneously, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a notification instructing the user to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) is displayed on a single screen. Similarly, when it is time to stir the ink in the second group, notifications instructing the user to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) are issued simultaneously.

[0045] Note that "simultaneously" in the present invention does not necessarily mean exactly the same time. For example, it may be sufficient to display a message indicating that ink tanks of multiple colors are being stirred on the same display screen of the input / output unit 121, and this also includes cases where there is a time lag before the message is displayed. The time lag may be, for example, within 5 seconds, within 3 seconds, or within 1 second.

[0046] Through the above process, the user can be notified simultaneously of information instructing them to stir ink tanks for multiple ink tanks at once. This allows the user to stir ink tanks more efficiently than if the stirring instruction was notified for each ink tank individually. In other words, the user's work efficiency can be improved compared to when the user is notified each time it is time to stir an ink tank and has to stir the ink each time.

[0047] [Second embodiment] In the second embodiment, a process for setting a group is performed based on the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank. The basic configuration of the recording device 100 is the same as in the first embodiment. The amount of ink remaining in an ink tank can be obtained by the supply control unit 200 using a dot count method that estimates the amount of ink ejected from the recording head 151, or by a method that directly detects the presence or absence of ink in the ink tank 1.

[0048] One method for directly detecting the ink in the ink tank 1 is to provide multiple electrodes inside the ink tank 1 so that they come into contact with the ink surface, and detect the voltage when a current is passed between two electrodes. Furthermore, it is also possible to use an optical detection method in which light is shone inside the ink tank 1 to detect the presence or absence of ink, or a detection method that detects the position of a float member floating on the liquid surface. Furthermore, a detection method that combines these methods of directly detecting the presence or absence of ink with an inferential detection method using a dot count system may also be used.

[0049] 6 shows the flow for setting a group based on the next stirring timing and the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank. The recording device 100 here can accommodate two ink tanks 1 of each color, with one ink tank containing ink of the same color designated Tx and the other designated Ty. When the stirring timing receiving unit 301 receives a notification that stirring is complete, processing begins.

[0050] In S601, based on the date and time when the notification was received, the stirring timing calculation unit 303 calculates the Ta of the ink tank. Then, in S602, the calculated Ta is recorded in the stirring timing storage area 302.

[0051] In S604, if the Ta of both Tx and Ty have already been calculated, proceed to S605, otherwise proceed to S612. In S605, if the Ta of Tx is smaller than the Ta of Ty, proceed to S606, otherwise proceed to S609.

[0052] If the process proceeds to S606, Tx is set to the first group and Ty is set to the second group. If the remaining amount of Ty is equal to or less than the threshold in S607, the process proceeds to S608, otherwise the process proceeds to S612. In S608, Ty is also set to the first group.

[0053] If the process proceeds to S609, Ty is set to the first group and Tx is set to the second group. In S610, if the remaining amount of Tx is equal to or less than the threshold, the process proceeds to S611, otherwise, the process proceeds to S612. In S611, Tx is also set to the first group.

[0054] The agitation timing storage area 302 performs the adjustment process from S603 to S612 for all colors of ink installed in the recording apparatus 100. After that, in S613, the agitation timing storage area 302 sets the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the first group to the same value and records this in the adjusted agitation timing storage area 304. At this time, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the first group may be set to Ta1, or may be set to another value.

[0055] In S614, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the second group is set to the same value, and the process ends by recording this in the adjusted agitation timing storage area 304. At this time, the Ta of the ink tanks belonging to the second group may be set to Ta2, or may be set to another value.

[0056] After the above control, when it is time to stir the first group, the user is notified to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) belonging to the first group, as shown in Figure 7. Similarly, when it is time to stir the second group, a notification instructing the user to stir the ink tanks of the multiple ink types (ink colors) is simultaneously issued.

[0057] The above process allows the user to stir the ink tanks more efficiently in the second embodiment than when a stirring instruction is sent to each ink tank individually. In other words, the user's work efficiency can be improved compared to when a notification is sent to the user each time it is time to stir an ink tank and the user has to stir the ink each time.

[0058] In all of the above-described embodiments, a serial printer in which the recording head 151 is mounted on a carriage 8 and performs recording while moving has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be adopted in a printer that performs recording using a line head that has ejection openings over a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium 11 and performs recording without moving.

[0059] The disclosure of the above-described embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0060] (Configuration 1) a holder capable of mounting a plurality of tanks for storing liquid; a recording head that ejects liquid supplied from the plurality of tanks; and a control means for simultaneously issuing instructions to stir two or more of the plurality of tanks.

[0061] (Configuration 2) a calculation means for calculating a mixing timing for each of the plurality of tanks; The recording device according to configuration 1, wherein the control means simultaneously issues instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank when a difference between a first stirring timing of a first tank among the plurality of tanks and a second stirring timing of a second tank among the plurality of tanks is a first time, and does not simultaneously issue instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank when a difference between the first stirring timing and the second stirring timing is a second time that is greater than the first time.

[0062] (Configuration 3) The recording device according to configuration 2, wherein when the difference is the first time and the first stirring timing is shorter than the second stirring timing, the control means simultaneously issues instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank in accordance with the first stirring timing.

[0063] (Configuration 4) the plurality of tanks include a third tank and a fourth tank containing a first liquid; The recording device according to configuration 2 or 3, wherein the control means supplies liquid from the fourth tank to the recording head when the fourth agitation timing of the fourth tank is shorter than the third agitation timing of the third tank.

[0064] (Configuration 5) an acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of liquid in each of the plurality of tanks; The recording device according to configuration 4, wherein the control means supplies liquid from the fourth tank to the recording head when the third remaining amount of the third tank is less than the fourth remaining amount of the fourth tank and the fourth stirring timing is the third time, and supplies liquid from the third tank to the recording head when the third remaining amount is less than the fourth remaining amount and the fourth stirring timing is the fourth time that is greater than the third time.

[0065] (Configuration 6) 6. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, further comprising a display means for displaying the instruction.

[0066] (Configuration 7) 7. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein the instruction is notified by lighting or blinking a lamp.

[0067] (Configuration 8) 8. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the instruction is notified by outputting a sound.

[0068] (Configuration 9) A control method for a recording device that includes a holder capable of mounting a plurality of tanks each containing a liquid, and that forms an image by ejecting liquid supplied from the plurality of tanks using a recording head, comprising: A control method comprising the step of simultaneously issuing instructions to agitate two or more of the plurality of tanks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 ink tank 2 holder 100 Inkjet recording device

Claims

1. a holder capable of mounting a plurality of tanks for storing liquid; a recording head that ejects liquid supplied from the plurality of tanks; and a control means for simultaneously issuing instructions to stir two or more of the plurality of tanks.

2. a calculation means for calculating a mixing timing for each of the plurality of tanks; 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit simultaneously issues instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank when a difference between a first stirring timing of a first tank among the plurality of tanks and a second stirring timing of a second tank among the plurality of tanks is a first time, and does not simultaneously issue instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank when a difference between the first stirring timing and the second stirring timing is a second time that is greater than the first time.

3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein when the difference is the first time and the first stirring timing is smaller than the second stirring timing, the control means simultaneously issues instructions to stir the first tank and the second tank in accordance with the first stirring timing.

4. the plurality of tanks include a third tank and a fourth tank containing a first liquid; 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means supplies liquid from the fourth tank to the recording head when the fourth agitation timing of the fourth tank is shorter than the third agitation timing of the third tank.

5. an acquisition unit for acquiring the remaining amount of liquid in each of the plurality of tanks; The recording device according to claim 4, wherein the control means supplies liquid from the fourth tank to the recording head when the third remaining amount of the third tank is less than the fourth remaining amount of the fourth tank and the fourth stirring timing is the third time, and supplies liquid from the third tank to the recording head when the third remaining amount is less than the fourth remaining amount and the fourth stirring timing is the fourth time that is greater than the third time.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the instruction.

7. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is notified by lighting or blinking a lamp.

8. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is notified by outputting a sound.

9. A control method for a recording device that includes a holder capable of mounting a plurality of tanks each containing a liquid, and that forms an image by ejecting liquid supplied from the plurality of tanks using a recording head, comprising: A control method comprising the step of simultaneously issuing instructions to agitate two or more of the plurality of tanks.

Images