Inkjet recording system

Abstract

To provide an inkjet recording system that allows for the removal of liquid components from the storage area without requiring any effort from the user. [Solution] The inkjet recording system 100, which forms an image by ejecting ink from an inkjet head 24a, includes a degassing module 451 equipped with a gas permeable membrane 4512 capable of degassing dissolved gas in the surrounding ink; a liquid storage section 482 communicating with the gas permeable membrane 4512 and storing the liquid component of the ink that has permeated through the gas permeable membrane 4512; a discharge channel 486 communicating with the liquid storage section 482 and through which the liquid component accumulated in the liquid storage section 482 is discharged; and a pressure adjustment section that discharges the liquid component into the discharge channel 486 by creating a pressure difference between the liquid storage section 482 and the discharge channel 486.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inkjet recording system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image by discharging ink droplets from an inkjet head onto a recording surface of a recording medium is known. In an inkjet recording apparatus, if gas is dissolved in the ink, it may cause problems. Therefore, a deaeration module for deaerating the ink by passing it through a gas permeable membrane is provided on the ink supply path to the inkjet head. The deaeration module is in an airtight state, and the dissolved gas in the ink permeates through the gas permeable membrane by bringing the ink into contact with the gas permeable membrane that is depressurized by the intake section sucking the internal air.

[0003] On the other hand, in such a deaeration module, not only the dissolved gas but also the liquid component of the ink may permeate through the gas permeable membrane. When the liquid component that has permeated through the gas permeable membrane reaches the intake section, problems such as malfunctions occur. Therefore, a configuration is known in which a storage section for storing the liquid component is provided in the middle of the intake passage communicating the deaeration module and the intake section.

[0004] However, if the storage section becomes full of the liquid component and overflows, problems such as malfunctions also occur. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent overflow by discharging the liquid component before the storage section becomes full. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which the storage amount of the liquid component in the storage section is estimated, and cleaning is performed and the liquid component is discharged when a predetermined value is reached.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 requires a service technician to manually clean the reservoir to remove the liquid component. In particular, the invention described in Patent Document 1 uses UV ink that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light, resulting in a high viscosity of the liquid component and the risk of hardening due to leaked light. Therefore, manual removal is time-consuming, leading to increased costs and decreased productivity.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Its purpose is to provide an inkjet recording system that can remove liquid components from the storage section without requiring any effort from the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is an inkjet recording system that forms an image by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, A degassing module equipped with a gas permeable membrane capable of degassing dissolved gases from the surrounding ink, A liquid storage section that communicates with the gas permeable membrane and stores the liquid component of the ink that has permeated the gas permeable membrane, A discharge channel is provided which is in communication with the liquid storage section and through which the liquid components accumulated in the liquid storage section are discharged, A pressure adjustment unit that causes the liquid component to be discharged into the discharge channel by creating a pressure difference between the liquid storage section and the discharge channel, It is equipped with.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 1, A pressure detection unit for detecting the pressure value of the discharge channel, A determination unit that determines whether the liquid component is being discharged normally from the liquid storage unit to the discharge channel based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit, It is equipped with.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 2, The aforementioned discharge channel is equipped with a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, The pressure adjustment unit is a suction pump that reduces the pressure in the discharge passage when the discharge valve is closed. The determination unit determines that there is a blockage in the discharge passage if, after the discharge passage has been depressurized by the suction pump and at a predetermined time after the discharge valve has been opened, the pressure value in the discharge passage is less than a predetermined value.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 2, The aforementioned discharge channel is equipped with a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, The pressure adjustment unit is a suction pump that reduces the pressure in the discharge passage when the discharge valve is closed. The determination unit determines that there is a leak in the discharge passage when the discharge valve is closed and the rate at which the pressure value in the discharge passage is reduced is less than a predetermined value when the suction pump is running.

[0012] The invention described in claim 5 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 1, The pressure adjustment unit is a pneumatic pump that pressurizes the liquid storage unit.

[0013] The invention described in claim 6 is an inkjet recording system according to claim 1, The pressure adjustment unit is a vacuum pump that communicates with the degassing module to create a vacuum inside the gas permeable membrane.

[0014] The invention described in claim 7 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 6, The aforementioned discharge channel is equipped with a detachable cleaning jig.

[0015] The invention described in claim 8 is an inkjet recording system as described in claim 7, The aforementioned discharge channel includes a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, A pressure detection unit that detects the pressure value of the discharge flow path; A determination unit that determines whether or not the discharge of the liquid component from the liquid storage unit to the discharge flow path is being performed normally based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit; and When the discharge valve is closed and the decompression rate of the pressure value of the discharge flow path during the driving of the vacuum pump is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the determination unit determines that the connection of the cleaning jig is insufficient.

[0016] The invention according to claim 9 is an inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 and 8, Comprising a notification unit that notifies the user of a warning according to the determination of the determination unit.

[0017] The invention according to claim 10 is an inkjet recording system according to claim 9, The notification unit displays a location that the user should check based on the determination of the determination unit.

[0018] The invention according to claim 11 is an inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The discharge flow path includes a liquid heating unit that heats the liquid component.

[0019] The invention according to claim 12 is an inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The ink is an ink having a gelling agent, The liquid component is a monomer.

Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, the liquid component in the storage unit can be removed without the user's effort.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a side cross-sectional view of an inkjet recording apparatus. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram of the liquid delivery unit in the inkjet recording system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a side cross-sectional view of the degassing module. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of an inkjet recording device. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the liquid component discharge process in the inkjet recording system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This graph shows the change in the pressure value of the normal discharge channel during the liquid component discharge process of the inkjet recording system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This graph shows the change in pressure value of a clogged discharge channel in the liquid component discharge process of the inkjet recording system according to the first embodiment, along with the change in pressure value of a normal discharge channel. [Figure 8] This graph shows the change in pressure value of a leaking discharge channel in the liquid component discharge process of an inkjet recording system according to the first embodiment, along with the change in pressure value of a normal discharge channel. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the content displayed on the notification unit. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the liquid delivery unit in the inkjet recording system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the liquid delivery unit in the inkjet recording system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of the liquid delivery unit in the inkjet recording system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart of the liquid component discharge process in the inkjet recording system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] This graph shows the change in the pressure value of the discharge channel when the cleaning jig has a faulty connection during the liquid component discharge process of the inkjet recording system according to the fourth embodiment, along with the change in the pressure value of the normal discharge channel. [Figure 15]This is a flowchart of the leak location identification process in the inkjet recording system according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] Hereinafter, an inkjet recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. In the following description, components having the same function and configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0023] [First Embodiment] [Overall configuration of the inkjet recording system] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the main components of the inkjet recording system 100 according to the first embodiment. The inkjet recording system 100 is composed of an inkjet recording device 1 which includes, for example, a paper feeding unit 10, an image forming unit 20, a paper discharge unit 30, a liquid delivery unit 40 (see Figure 2), a control unit 50, a notification unit 60, and an operation input unit 70 (all of which are shown in Figure 4).

[0024] The inkjet recording device 1 transports the recording medium from the paper feeding unit 10 to the image forming unit 20 based on the control of the control unit 50. The control unit 50 then uses the ink supplied from the liquid supply unit 40 to form an image on the recording medium in the image forming unit 20. After image formation, the control unit 50 discharges the recording medium to the paper discharge unit 30.

[0025] (Paper feed section) The paper feeding unit 10 stores the recording medium before image formation. Under the control of the control unit 50, the paper feeding unit 10 transports the recording medium to the image forming unit 20. The paper feeding unit 10 includes a paper feeding tray 11 and a transport unit 12, etc.

[0026] {paper tray} The paper feed tray 11 is a plate-shaped member that stores recording media. The paper feed tray 11 is provided to hold one or more recording media. The paper feed tray 11 moves up and down according to the amount of recording media placed on it. Through this up and down movement, the paper feed tray 11 is held in a position where the uppermost recording media is transported by the transport unit 12.

[0027] {Conveyor section} The transport unit 12 transports the recording medium from the paper feed tray 11 to the image forming unit 20. The transport unit 12 is equipped with a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism drives a belt 123 to transport the recording medium on the belt 123. The belt 123 is ring-shaped, and the inside of the ring is supported by a plurality of rollers 121 and 122. The transport unit 12 transfers the uppermost recording medium placed on the paper feed tray 11 onto the belt 123 and transports the recording medium along the belt 123.

[0028] (Image forming unit) The image forming unit 20, under the control of the control unit 50, cooperates with the liquid delivery unit 40 to form an image on the recording medium. The image forming unit 20 includes an image forming drum 21, a transfer unit 22, a paper heating unit 23, a head unit 24, an irradiation unit 25, and a delivery unit 26, etc.

[0029] {Image forming drum} The image forming drum 21 carries the recording medium along its cylindrical outer surface and transports the recording medium as it rotates. The transport surface of the image forming drum 21 faces the paper heating unit 23, the head unit 24, and the irradiation unit 25, and performs image forming on the transported recording medium.

[0030] {Transfer Unit} The transfer unit 22 is positioned between the transport unit 12 and the image forming drum 21. The transfer unit 22 includes a claw portion 221 and a transfer drum 222, etc.

[0031] The claw portion 221 is a cylindrical member that supports one end of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying portion 12. The transfer drum 222 is a member that guides the recording medium supported by the claw portion 221.

[0032] The transfer unit 22 picks up the recording medium on the transport unit 12 with its claw portion 221 and places it along the outer surface of the transfer drum 222. Through this operation, the transfer unit 22 transfers the recording medium to the image forming drum 21.

[0033] {Paper heating section} The paper heating unit 23 is equipped with, for example, a heating element and generates heat in response to the application of electricity. The paper heating unit 23 is controlled by the control unit 50 and generates heat so that the recording medium passing near it reaches a predetermined temperature. The paper heating unit 23 is located near the outer surface of the image forming drum 21 and is positioned upstream of the head unit 24 in the transport direction of the recording medium.

[0034] A temperature sensor (not shown) is provided near the paper heating unit 23. The control unit 50 detects the temperature near the paper heating unit 23 using the temperature sensor. Based on the detected temperature, the control unit 50 controls the heat generation of the paper heating unit 23.

[0035] {Head Unit} The head unit 24 is composed of, for example, multiple inkjet heads 24a (see Figure 2). The head unit 24 ejects ink droplets from nozzles onto the recording medium to form an image. Head units 24 are provided, each corresponding to a different color: C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). In Figure 1, the head units 24 corresponding to the colors Y, M, C, and K are arranged in order from upstream in the transport direction of the recording medium.

[0036] Here, the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium in a plan view is defined as the width direction. Multiple head units 24 are arranged in the width direction to cover the entire length (width) of the recording medium. In other words, the inkjet recording device 1 is a one-pass (single-pass) line-head type inkjet recording device. The head unit 24 is composed of multiple inkjet heads 24a, which are droplet ejection heads, arranged in a single-pass manner.

[0037] The number of head units 24 may be five or more, or three or fewer. Furthermore, a single inkjet head 24a may constitute a head unit 24. Also, the inkjet recording device 1 may be a multi-pass (scanning) serial head type inkjet recording device in which a head unit 24, whose width is shorter than the recording medium, reciprocates in the width direction.

[0038] The ink ejected by the head unit 24 is, for example, ultraviolet-curable ink (UV ink). The ultraviolet-curable ink includes, for example, an ultraviolet-curable resin. The ultraviolet-curable resin includes a monomer and a polymerization initiator. When the ink containing the ultraviolet-curable resin is irradiated with ultraviolet light, the monomer polymerizes and hardens due to the action of the polymerization initiator, and the ink is fixed to the recording medium.

[0039] The ink ejected by the head unit 24 may contain a gelling agent. Ink containing a gelling agent undergoes a phase change between a gel state and a liquid (sol) state depending on the temperature. Ink containing a gelling agent has a phase change temperature of, for example, 40 to 100°C, and uniformly liquefies (becomes a sol) when heated above this temperature. On the other hand, ink containing a gelling agent gels at normal room temperature, i.e., around 0 to 30°C. Therefore, the ink in the head unit 24 is heated to an appropriate temperature by an ink heater (not shown) or the like to become a sol. Then, after being ejected and landing on the recording medium, it transitions to a gel state appropriately while being transported by the image forming drum 21.

[0040] {Irradiation area} The irradiation unit 25 includes, for example, a fluorescent tube such as a low-pressure mercury lamp. The irradiation unit 25 irradiates energy rays such as ultraviolet light through the emission of light from the fluorescent tube. The irradiation unit 25 is provided near the outer surface of the image forming drum 21. Furthermore, the irradiation unit 25 is provided so as to be located downstream of the head unit 24 in the transport direction of the recording medium. The irradiation unit 25 irradiates the recording medium on which the ink has been ejected with energy rays. If the ink on the recording medium is UV ink, it hardens due to the action of these energy rays.

[0041] Furthermore, the fluorescent tubes that emit ultraviolet light are not limited to low-pressure mercury lamps. The fluorescent tubes may be, for example, mercury lamps with an operating pressure of several hundred Pa to approximately 1 MPa. Alternatively, the fluorescent tubes may be light sources usable as germicidal lamps, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps, ultraviolet laser light sources, metal halide lamps, or light-emitting diodes. Among these, it is desirable that the fluorescent tubes be light sources capable of emitting ultraviolet light at a higher intensity and with low power consumption. Examples of such fluorescent tubes include light-emitting diodes. The energy rays are not limited to ultraviolet light; any energy ray that has the property of curing ink, depending on the properties of the ink, is acceptable. The light source is also substituted according to the energy ray.

[0042] The above example illustrates a case where the head unit 24 ejects UV-curable ink or ink containing a gelling agent, but it is not limited to this. The ink ejected by the head unit 24 may be water-based ink or ink with other physical properties.

[0043] {Delivery Department} The delivery unit 26 is equipped with a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism transports the recording medium by driving a ring-shaped belt 263, which is supported on the inside by a plurality of rollers 261 and 262. The delivery unit 26 is equipped with a cylindrical transfer roller 264. The transfer roller 264 transfers the recording medium from the image forming drum 21 to the transport mechanism. The delivery unit 26 transports the recording medium transferred onto the belt 263 by the transfer roller 264 and sends it to the paper discharge unit 30.

[0044] (Paper output section) The paper output unit 30 receives the recording medium on which the image has been formed in the image forming unit 20. The paper output unit 30 is equipped with a plate-shaped paper output tray 31, etc. The recording medium sent out from the image forming unit 20 by the delivery unit 26 is placed on the paper output tray 31. The paper output unit 30 stores the recording medium until the user removes it.

[0045] (Liquid delivery section) Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the liquid supply unit 40. The liquid supply unit 40 includes a plurality of main tanks 41 for storing ink of each color. The liquid supply unit 40 supplies the ink of each color from the main tanks 41 to the inkjet heads 24a of each head unit 24. Through this control, the liquid supply unit 40 enables the ejection of ink of each color from the nozzles.

[0046] As shown in Figure 2, the liquid supply unit 40 includes a main tank 41, a first sub-tank 42, a second sub-tank 43, and the like. The liquid supply unit 40 also includes a degassing module 451 that degasssed dissolved gases from the ink before supplying it to the head unit 24.

[0047] <Main Tank> The main tank 41 is a tank that contains the ink supplied to each part of the liquid supply unit 40. The main tank 41 is, for example, a rigid, sealed tank made of metal. The main tank 41 is in communication with the first sub-tank 42 via a supply pipe 44.

[0048] <First Sub-tank> The first sub-tank 42 is one or more ink chambers with a smaller volume than the main tank 41. Ink pumped from the main tank 41 by the supply pump 441 is stored in the first sub-tank 42. By providing the first sub-tank 42, pressure fluctuations caused by pulsation when the supply pump 441 supplies ink from the main tank 41 are mitigated. In addition, ink that is not discharged from the inkjet head 24a is recovered into the first sub-tank 42 from the outlet. The first sub-tank 42 is in communication with the second sub-tank 43 via the liquid supply pipe 45.

[0049] <Second Sub-tank> The second sub-tank 43 is a small tank chamber where ink degassed by the degassing module 451 is temporarily stored. The capacity of the second sub-tank 43 is, for example, approximately the same as that of the first sub-tank 42. The second sub-tank 43 is in communication with the inlets of each inkjet head 24a via a supply passage 46. The ink in the second sub-tank 43 is supplied to each inkjet head 24a in proportion to the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle. The second sub-tank 43 is also provided with a back pressure adjustment means (not shown) that prevents ink from leaking out by applying appropriate negative pressure to the inkjet heads 24a.

[0050] <Supply pipe> The supply pipe 44 is an ink flow path connecting the main tank 41 and the first sub-tank 42. The supply pipe 44 is equipped with a supply pump 441 and a supply valve 442. The supply pump 441 and the supply valve 442 operate under the control of the control unit 50. When the supply valve 442 is opened, the ink from the main tank 41 is supplied to the first sub-tank 42 via the supply pipe 44 by the drive of the supply pump 441. The main tank 41 is replaceable as a whole. In addition, the main tank 41 can be attached to and detached from the supply pipe 44 regardless of the operation status of the supply pump 441.

[0051] <Liquid delivery pipe> The liquid supply pipe 45 is an ink flow path connecting the first sub-tank 42 and the second sub-tank 43. The liquid supply pipe 45 is equipped with a degassing module 451, a flow sensor 452, a liquid supply pump 453, and a liquid supply valve 454, among other things.

[0052] <Degassing Module> Figure 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the degassing module 451. The degassing module 451 removes dissolved gases from the incoming ink and discharges the degassed ink. The degassing module 451 includes an ink flow chamber 4511, a gas permeable membrane 4512, a first vacuum chamber 4513, and a second vacuum chamber 4514, among others.

[0053] {Ink Distribution Room} The ink flow chamber 4511 is located in the central part of the casing that forms the degassing module 451. The ink flow chamber 4511 is equipped with an ink inlet 4511a and receives the inflow of ink from the first sub-tank 42 before degassing. The ink flow chamber 4511 is also equipped with an ink outlet 4511b and discharges the degassed ink to the second sub-tank 43.

[0054] As shown in Figure 3, it is preferable that the ink inlet 4511a and ink outlet 4511b are provided on the first end side and the second end side opposite the first end side of the ink flow chamber 4511, respectively. In particular, as shown in Figure 3, it is even more preferable that the ink inlet 4511a and ink outlet 4511b are provided on approximately diagonal lines of the ink flow chamber 4511. With this configuration, the ink can come into contact with the gas permeable membrane 4512 more easily, and the degassing efficiency of the degassing module 451 can be increased.

[0055] {gas permeable membrane} The gas permeable membrane 4512 is tubular, and its membrane surface is permeable to gas. The gas permeable membrane 4512 is, for example, a hollow fiber membrane, having a large number of hollow fine fiber structures, many of which are bundled together and arranged to extend in the axial direction of the ink flow chamber 4511.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the gas permeable membrane 4512 is arranged to connect the first vacuum chamber 4513 and the second vacuum chamber 4514. Therefore, the first end of the gas permeable membrane 4512 is connected to the atmosphere via the first atmospheric valve 472, which will be described later. The second end of the gas permeable membrane 4512, opposite the first end, is connected to the vacuum pump 485, which will be described later.

[0057] Furthermore, the gas permeable membrane 4512 is preferably made of, for example, silicone. This is because silicone has high permeability to dissolved gases in ink. Also, silicone has high heat resistance and ink resistance.

[0058] {First vacuum chamber} The first vacuum chamber 4513 is located at the first end of the degassing module 451. The first vacuum chamber 4513 is separated from the ink flow chamber 4511 by a partition wall. The side of the first vacuum chamber 4513 facing the ink flow chamber 4511 is connected to the atmosphere by a first vacuum path 47, which will be described later.

[0059] {Second vacuum chamber} The second vacuum chamber 4514 is located on the second end side of the degassing module 451, opposite the first vacuum chamber 4513. The second vacuum chamber 4514 is separated from the ink flow chamber 4511 by a partition wall. The second vacuum chamber 4514 communicates with the liquid storage section 482 via a second vacuum path 48, which will be described later.

[0060] The form of the degassing module 451 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to form a sheet in which multiple gas permeable membranes 4512 are woven together in a mesh-like pattern. With this configuration, the mesh of the gas permeable membranes 4512 becomes finer, making it easier for all the ink to pass through the mesh of the gas permeable membranes 4512, and thus easier to improve the degassing efficiency. Furthermore, with this configuration, it is easier to obtain a certain level of strength even with a flexible gas permeable membrane 4512.

[0061] <Flow Sensor> Returning to Figure 2, the flow sensor 452 is located near the degassing module 451 on the liquid delivery pipe 45. The flow sensor 452 detects the flow rate of ink flowing through the liquid delivery pipe 45 and transmits it to the control unit 50. In Figure 2, a configuration in which the flow sensor 452 is located downstream of the degassing module 451 in the liquid delivery direction is illustrated, but the system is not limited to this. The flow sensor 452 may also be located upstream of the degassing module 451 in the liquid delivery direction.

[0062] <Liquid transfer pump, liquid transfer valve> The liquid supply pump 453 and liquid supply valve 454 operate under the control of the control unit 50. When the liquid supply valve 454 is opened, the liquid supply pump 453 sends the ink that has flowed out from the ink outlet 4511b of the degassing module 451 to the second sub-tank 43. A check valve (not shown) is provided between the liquid supply pump 453 and the second sub-tank 43 to prevent backflow of the ink sent to the second sub-tank 43.

[0063] <First vacuum path> The first vacuum path 47 is an air passage that communicates with the first vacuum chamber 4513 at the first end of the degassing module 451. The first vacuum path 47 is equipped with a first pressure sensor 471 and a first atmospheric valve 472, among other things.

[0064] <First pressure sensor, first atmospheric valve> The first pressure sensor 471 detects the pressure value in the first vacuum chamber 4513 and transmits the pressure value to the control unit 50. The first atmospheric valve 472 is a solenoid valve. The first atmospheric valve 472 opens or closes the first vacuum path 47 to the atmosphere based on the control signal from the control unit 50.

[0065] <Second vacuum path> The second vacuum path 48 is an air passage that communicates with the second vacuum chamber 4514 at the second end of the degassing module 451. The second vacuum path 48 is equipped with an increak detection unit 481, a liquid storage unit 482, a second pressure sensor 483, a second atmospheric valve 484, a vacuum pump 485, and a discharge passage 486.

[0066] <Increak detection unit> The ink leak detection unit 481 detects ink that has mistakenly passed through the gas permeable membrane 4512. Specifically, the ink leak detection unit 481 is composed of a photosensor and has a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit on either side of the second vacuum path 48. When the gas permeable membrane 4512 is damaged, the ink that has entered the gas permeable membrane 4512 adheres to the inside of the second vacuum path 48. The ink leak detection unit 481 detects an ink leak when the light-receiving state changes due to the ink adhering to the second vacuum path 48.

[0067] <Liquid Storage Section> The liquid storage section 482 is capable of accommodating a predetermined volume of gas and suppresses pressure fluctuations within the gas permeable membrane 4512 caused by the pulsation of the vacuum pump 485.

[0068] Furthermore, the liquid storage section 482 permeates into the gas permeable membrane 4512 and stores the liquid component of the ink that has entered the second vacuum path 48. The liquid component stored in the liquid storage section 482 is, for example, a monomer if the ink is UV ink. The liquid component stored in the liquid storage section 482 is discharged into the discharge channel 486 at a predetermined timing, preventing the liquid storage section 482 from becoming full of liquid component and causing the overflowing liquid component to reach the vacuum pump 485 and malfunction.

[0069] <Second pressure sensor, second atmospheric valve> The second pressure sensor 483 is located in the second vacuum path 48 between the liquid reservoir 482 and the vacuum pump 485, and sequentially transmits the detected pressure value to the control unit 50. The second atmospheric valve 484 is normally closed, and is opened under the control of the control unit 50 when the vacuum pump 485 is driven.

[0070] <Vacuum pump> The vacuum pump 485 is, for example, a diaphragm pump. More specifically, the vacuum pump 485 comprises a pump chamber with an expandable and contractible diaphragm. The vacuum pump 485 also comprises a drive source, etc., that operates the diaphragm so that the volume of the pump chamber expands and contracts. The pump chamber has an intake port equipped with a check valve that allows only the inflow of fluid from the outside. The pump chamber also has an outlet port equipped with a check valve that allows only the discharge of fluid from the inside.

[0071] Under the control of the control unit 50, the vacuum pump 485 sucks air from inside the gas permeable membrane 4512 when the first atmospheric valve 472 is closed and the second atmospheric valve 484 is open. This operation of the vacuum pump 485 removes foreign matter from inside the gas permeable membrane 4512 and also reduces the pressure inside the gas permeable membrane 4512. As a result, the ink that flows into the ink flow chamber 4511 and comes into contact with the outer surface of the gas permeable membrane 4512 is degassed as dissolved gases selectively permeate the membrane surface. The dissolved gases that have passed through the gas permeable membrane 4512 are then discharged by the vacuum pump 485 via the second vacuum chamber 4514.

[0072] <Discharge channel> The discharge channel 486 is a channel provided to communicate with the lower part of the liquid storage section 482 in each colored liquid supply section 40, and is a liquid channel through which the liquid components stored in each liquid storage section 482 are discharged. The discharge channel 486 is equipped with a discharge valve 4861, a liquid heating section 4862, a liquid discharge section 4863, a pressure detection section 4864, and a suction pump 4865.

[0073] {Discharge valve} The discharge valve 4861 is normally closed and is opened by the control unit 50 at the timing of the liquid component discharge process described later.

[0074] {Liquid heating section} The liquid heating section 4862 suppresses clogging of the discharge channel 486 by heating the discharge channel 486. Figure 2 illustrates a case where the liquid heating section 4862 is composed of a heat transfer member that transmits heat from a heater, but it may be the heater itself, for example. As the heater that constitutes the ink heating section, for example, an electric heating wire that generates Joule heat when energized is used. As the heat transfer member that constitutes the ink heating section, a material with high thermal conductivity, for example, a heat conductive plate made of various metals (alloys), is used.

[0075] {Liquid discharge part} The liquid discharge section 4863 is directly connected to the discharge channel 486, and the liquid components discharged from the liquid storage sections 482 of each color ink are discharged. The liquid discharge section 4863 is made of, for example, a plastic bottle. Note that the liquid storage section 482 needs to be located inside the inkjet recording device 1, between the degassing module 451 and the vacuum pump 485, whereas the liquid discharge section 4863 only needs to be in communication with the liquid storage section 482 via the drain channel 486. Therefore, the liquid discharge section 4863 can be installed in any location, such as outside the inkjet recording device 1, and the capacity of the liquid discharge section 4863 can be set to be greater than the capacity of the liquid storage section 482. Specifically, for example, the capacity of the liquid storage section 482 is about 200 ml, and the capacity of the liquid discharge section 4863 is about 1000 ml.

[0076] {Pressure detection unit, suction pump} The pressure detection unit 4864 detects the pressure value in the discharge channel 486 and sequentially transmits the detection result to the control unit 50. The suction pump 4865 has substantially the same configuration as the vacuum pump 485 and reduces the pressure in the discharge channel 486.

[0077] (Control Unit) Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inkjet recording device 1. The control unit 50 controls each component of the inkjet recording device 1. As shown in Figure 4, the control unit 50 is connected to each component of the inkjet recording device 1. The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, and ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, etc.

[0078] <CPU、RAM、ROM> The CPU 51 reads and executes various programs and data from storage devices such as the ROM 53 according to the processing content. The CPU 51 also controls the operation of each part of the inkjet recording device 1 according to the executed processing content. The RAM 52 temporarily stores various programs and data processed by the CPU 51. The ROM 53 stores various programs and data read by the CPU 51, etc.

[0079] (News Department) The notification unit 60 notifies various information under the control of the control unit 50. The notification unit 60 may be, for example, a display unit having a screen, or a communication unit capable of communicating with other devices via a network.

[0080] (Operation input section) The operation input unit 70 receives various inputs related to the operation of the inkjet recording device 1 in response to user operations. The operation input unit 70 includes, for example, a touch panel type input display device, up / down / left / right movement keys and various function keys for data selection and advancement operations. The operation input unit 70 outputs press signals of keys pressed by the user and operation signals from a mouse, etc., to the CPU 51 of the control unit 50.

[0081] [Disposal treatment of liquid components] The liquid component discharge process performed by the control unit 50 will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 5 and the graphs in Figures 6 to 8. The liquid component discharge process is a process in which the liquid components stored in the liquid storage unit 482 are discharged into the discharge channel 486 by creating a pressure difference between the liquid storage unit 482 and the discharge channel 486 using the pressure adjustment unit. Figure 6 is a graph showing the change in the normal pressure value of the discharge channel 486 as measured by the pressure detection unit 4864 during the liquid component discharge process. The control unit 50 executes the liquid component discharge process, for example, at a timing when it is estimated that a predetermined amount of liquid components has been stored in the liquid storage unit 482.

[0082] First, the control unit 50 closes the discharge valve 4861 (step S101). The control unit 50 drives the suction pump 4865, which is a pressure adjustment unit, to reduce the pressure in the discharge passage 486 (step S102). The control unit 50 determines whether the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 has decreased to a predetermined value (step S103). If the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 has not decreased to a predetermined value (step S103; No), the control unit 50 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S104). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S104; No), the control unit 50 proceeds to step S103 and continues to wait until the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 decreases to a predetermined value.

[0083] In normal liquid component discharge processing, the discharge valve 4861 is closed and the suction pump 4865 is driven, so the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 decreases as shown by the solid line in Figure 6. In contrast, if the discharge channel 486 has a leak, depending on the degree of the leak and the suction force of the suction pump 4865, the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 will not decrease as easily as under normal conditions. Therefore, it will take longer than under normal conditions for the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 to decrease completely. Alternatively, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 7, the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 will not decrease completely to a predetermined value. Accordingly, if a predetermined time has elapsed without the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 decreasing to a predetermined value (step S104; Yes), in other words, if the depressurization rate of the discharge channel 486 is less than a predetermined value, the control unit 50 determines that the discharge channel 486 has a leak.

[0084] If the control unit 50 determines that an abnormality such as a leak has occurred in the discharge channel 486, it proceeds to the error processing sequence. The control unit 50 stops the operation of the suction pump 4865 (step S105), opens the discharge valve 4861 (step S106), notifies the notification unit 60 that there is an abnormality in the discharge channel 486 (step S107), and waits for user response. When the user inputs a response completion signal via the operation input unit 70 (step S108; Yes), the control unit 50 terminates the error processing sequence and proceeds to step S101 to resume the liquid component discharge process.

[0085] If the discharge channel 486 does not have a leak and the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 drops to a predetermined value (step S103; Yes), the control unit 50 opens the discharge valve 4861 (step S109). At this time, the liquid storage unit 482 is at atmospheric pressure because it is in communication with the open first atmospheric valve 472. In contrast, the discharge channel 486 is under negative pressure as described above, and the suction pump 4865 is also in operation. Therefore, due to this pressure difference, the liquid component in the liquid storage unit 482 is drawn into the discharge channel 486 and discharged to the liquid discharge unit 4863.

[0086] After a predetermined time, the control unit 50 determines whether the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 is less than a predetermined value (step S110). In a normal liquid component discharge process, when the liquid component in the liquid storage unit 482 is discharged to the liquid discharge unit 4863 of the discharge channel 486, air is drawn in from the first atmospheric valve 472 which communicates with the liquid storage unit 482. Therefore, the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 rises toward atmospheric pressure, as shown by the solid line in Figure 6. In contrast, if the discharge channel 486 is clogged, it takes longer than usual from the opening of the discharge valve 4861 until the liquid component in the liquid storage unit 482 is discharged. Therefore, it takes longer for the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 to start rising. Also, compared to normal conditions, even when the liquid component is discharged, the amount of air flowing in decreases. Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 8, the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 stabilizes at a low value. Therefore, if the pressure detection unit 4864 detects a predetermined time after the opening of the discharge valve 4861 and the result is less than a predetermined value (step S110; Yes), the control unit 50 determines that the discharge passage 486 is clogged. The control unit 50 then proceeds to the error processing sequence, i.e., step S105.

[0087] Thus, the control unit 50 functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not the liquid component is being discharged normally from the liquid storage unit 482 to the discharge channel 486, based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864.

[0088] If the discharge channel 486 is not clogged and the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 is above a predetermined value (step S110; No), the control unit 50 determines that the liquid component in the liquid storage unit 482 has been discharged normally. Therefore, the control unit 50 closes the discharge valve 4861 (step S111) and determines whether or not the liquid component has been discharged from the liquid storage unit 482 for all ink colors (step S112). If the liquid component has not been discharged from the liquid storage unit 482 for all ink colors (step S112; No), the control unit 50 proceeds to step S103 and adjusts the pressure again. If the liquid component has been discharged from the liquid storage unit 482 for all ink colors (step S112; Yes), the control unit 50 stops the operation of the suction pump 4865 (step S113) and terminates the liquid component discharge process.

[0089] [Differentiations, etc.] Furthermore, in step S107, the control unit 50 may notify the notification unit 60, for example as shown in Figure 9, whether it has determined that an abnormality has occurred at any location. With this configuration, the user will know which location to check for abnormalities. As a result, downtime required for liquid component discharge processing can be reduced, and the decline in productivity can be further suppressed.

[0090] Furthermore, although the above example illustrates a configuration in which the liquid components of each ink color are sequentially discharged from the liquid storage section 482 in step S112, the invention is not limited to this. For example, if the suction power of the suction pump 4865 is sufficient, the liquid components in each liquid storage section 482 may be discharged all at once. Alternatively, if there is sufficient space in the inkjet recording device 1, a separate discharge channel 486 may be provided for each liquid storage section 482, and the liquid components in each liquid storage section 482 may be discharged in parallel to reduce downtime.

[0091] Furthermore, while the above example illustrates a configuration in which the liquid components from all liquid storage sections 482 are discharged sequentially in a single liquid component discharge process, the system is not limited to this. For example, if it is estimated that a predetermined amount of liquid components has been stored in some of the liquid storage sections 482, but that there is still capacity in the other liquid storage sections 482, the liquid components may be discharged only from those specific liquid storage sections 482 to reduce downtime.

[0092] [Effects of the First Embodiment] As described above, the inkjet recording system 100 according to this embodiment includes a suction pump 4865 that functions as a pressure adjustment unit that discharges liquid components to the liquid discharge section 4863 of the discharge channel 486 by reducing the pressure of the liquid storage section 482. With this configuration, liquid components in the liquid storage section 482 can be removed without requiring any effort from the user, thereby suppressing cost increases and decreases in productivity.

[0093] Furthermore, the inkjet recording system 100 includes a pressure detection unit 4864 that detects the pressure value of the discharge channel 486. The control unit 50 then determines, based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864, whether or not the liquid component is being discharged normally from the liquid storage unit 482 to the discharge channel 486. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the liquid component from overflowing from the liquid storage unit 482, even if the liquid component has not been sufficiently discharged from the liquid storage unit 482 to the discharge channel 486, by preventing the system from treating the liquid component as if it had been discharged.

[0094] Furthermore, the inkjet recording system 100 includes a discharge valve 4861 that can be opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50. The control unit 50 determines that there is a blockage in the discharge channel 486 if the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 is less than a predetermined value at a predetermined time after the discharge channel 486 has been depressurized by the suction pump 4865 and after the discharge valve 4861 has been opened. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the overflow of liquid components from the liquid storage section 482 caused by a blockage in the discharge channel 486.

[0095] Furthermore, the inkjet recording system 100 includes a discharge valve 4861 that can be opened and closed under the control of the control unit 50. The control unit 50 determines that there is a leak in the discharge channel 486 when the discharge valve 4861 is closed and the rate at which the pressure value of the discharge channel 486 is reduced is less than a predetermined value when the suction pump 4865 is driven. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the overflow of liquid components from the liquid storage section 482 caused by a leak in the discharge channel 486.

[0096] Furthermore, the inkjet recording system 100 includes a notification unit 60 that alerts the user to a problem determined by the control unit 50. With this configuration, if there is an abnormality in the discharge channel 486, the user can be made aware of the abnormality and take appropriate action.

[0097] Furthermore, the notification unit 60 displays the areas that the user should check according to the determination of the control unit 50. With this configuration, the user can deal with abnormalities more quickly, and downtime associated with dealing with abnormalities can be reduced.

[0098] Furthermore, the discharge channel 486 is equipped with a liquid heating section 4862 for heating the liquid component. This configuration makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of clogging of the liquid component in the discharge channel 486.

[0099] Furthermore, in the inkjet recording system 100, the ink is an ink containing a gelling agent, and the liquid component is a monomer. In this configuration, monomers tend to accumulate in the liquid reservoir 482, so the configuration of the present invention functions particularly effectively.

[0100] [Second Embodiment] Next, an inkjet recording system 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. Components common to the inkjet recording system 100 according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0101] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the liquid supply unit 40A of the inkjet recording system 100 according to the second embodiment. The inkjet recording system 100 according to the second embodiment does not include a suction pump 4865.

[0102] In detail, the inkjet recording system 100 according to the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, includes an air passage connecting the second atmospheric valve 484 and the vacuum pump 485 within the second vacuum path 48 to the liquid discharge section 4863. When reducing the pressure in the discharge section 486, the second atmospheric valve 484 is closed, and the vacuum pump 485 is driven to determine whether the control of each section and the liquid component discharge process are being performed correctly based on the detection value of the second pressure sensor 483. In other words, in the second embodiment, the vacuum pump 485 functions as a pressure adjustment unit that creates a pressure difference between the liquid storage section 482 and the discharge section 486.

[0103] [Effects of the second embodiment] As described above, in the inkjet recording system 100 according to this embodiment, the vacuum pump 485, which communicates with the degassing module 451 to create a vacuum in the gas permeable membrane 4512, functions as a pressure adjustment unit. Although liquid component discharge processing can be performed normally even with this configuration, the inkjet recording system 100 can be made more cost-effective because there is no need to separately provide a pressure detection unit 4864 or a suction pump 4865.

[0104] [Third Embodiment] Next, the inkjet recording system 100 according to the third embodiment will be described. Components common to the inkjet recording system 100 according to the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0105] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the liquid supply unit 40B of the inkjet recording system 100 according to the third embodiment. The inkjet recording system 100 according to the third embodiment does not have a suction pump 4865, and a pneumatic pump 49 functions as a pressure adjustment unit.

[0106] In detail, the inkjet recording system 100 according to the third embodiment is provided with a known air passage that communicates with each liquid storage section 482. A known solenoid valve, a pressure sensor, and a pneumatic pump 49 are provided in the air passage. The pneumatic pump 49 is a pressurizing pump that pressurizes the air passage and the liquid storage section 482. The control unit 50 opens the discharge valve 4861 when the pressure value of the liquid storage section 482 rises to a predetermined value by driving the pneumatic pump 49, thereby discharging the liquid components into the discharge passage 486.

[0107] [Effects of the third embodiment] As described above, in the inkjet recording system 100 according to this embodiment, the pneumatic pump 49 that pressurizes the liquid reservoir 482 functions as a pressure adjustment unit. Although liquid component discharge processing can be performed normally even with this configuration, in particular, pressure adjustment of the discharge channel 486 including the liquid discharge unit 4863 is unnecessary. Therefore, it is not necessary to configure the liquid discharge unit 4863 to be directly connected to the discharge channel 486, and it can be, for example, a separate container from the discharge channel 486 and the inkjet recording device 1, thereby increasing the degree of design freedom.

[0108] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, the inkjet recording system 100 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. Components common to the inkjet recording system 100 according to the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0109] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the liquid delivery section 40C of the inkjet recording system 100 according to the fourth embodiment. The inkjet recording system 100 according to the fourth embodiment is separate from the inkjet recording device 1 and includes a cleaning jig 2 that becomes part of the discharge channel 486 when connected.

[0110] The cleaning jig 2 comprises a liquid discharge section 4863, a first joint 2a, and a second joint 2b. The first joint 2a is detachably connected to the discharge passage 486. The second joint 2b is detachably connected to the second vacuum path 48 between the second pressure sensor 483 and the vacuum pump 485. In this configuration, similar to the second embodiment shown in Figure 10, the vacuum pump 485 functions as a pressure adjustment unit.

[0111] [Disposal treatment of liquid components] Figure 13 shows a flowchart of the liquid component discharge process in the inkjet recording system 100 equipped with such a cleaning jig 2. In the following explanation, steps S202 to S209 and steps S212 to S217 are substantially the same as steps S101 to S108 and S109 to S114 in the flowchart shown in Figure 5, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0112] First, the control unit 50 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 485, which is the pressure adjustment unit (step S201), and closes the second atmospheric valve 484 (step S202). After the second atmospheric valve 484 is closed, the control unit 50 starts the vacuum pump 485 (step S203).

[0113] The control unit 50 waits until the second pressure sensor 483 detects a predetermined value by driving the vacuum pump 485 (steps S204, S205). If the second pressure sensor 483 does not detect a predetermined value (step S205; Yes), the control unit 50 determines that there is a leak and proceeds to the error processing sequence (steps S206~S209).

[0114] If the second pressure sensor 483 detects a predetermined value (step S204; Yes), the control unit 50 determines whether the time elapsed from the start of the vacuum pump 485 until the detection result of the second pressure sensor 483 reached the predetermined value is less than a first predetermined time (step S210). If it is longer than or equal to the first predetermined time (step S210; No), it determines whether the time is less than a second predetermined time that is longer than the first predetermined time (step S211).

[0115] In normal liquid component discharge processing, the vacuum pump 485 is driven while the second atmospheric valve 484 remains closed, so the detection result of the second pressure sensor 483 is reduced as shown in Figure 6. In contrast, if there is a connection problem in the first joint 2a or the second joint 2b due to partial insertion or failure to connect, the volume of the space sucked by the vacuum pump 485 is reduced compared to normal. For example, if there is a connection problem in the first joint 2a, the volume of the space sucked by the vacuum pump 485 is reduced by the amount of space from the discharge valve 4861 to the first joint 2a in the discharge passage 486. Furthermore, if there is a connection problem in the second joint 2b, the volume of the space sucked by the vacuum pump 485 is further reduced by the amount of the liquid discharge section 4863 and the space from the liquid discharge section 4863 to the second joint 2b. Therefore, as shown by the dashed-dotted and double-dotted lines in Figure 14, the time it takes for the detection result of the pressure detection section 4864 to reach a predetermined value is shorter compared to normal operation.

[0116] Therefore, if the time required from the start of the vacuum pump 485 until the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 reaches a predetermined value is less than the first predetermined time (step S210; Yes), the control unit 50 determines that there is a connection problem with the second joint 2b and proceeds to step S206. Also, if the time required from the start of the vacuum pump 485 until the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 reaches a predetermined value is less than the second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time (step S211; Yes), the control unit 50 determines that there is a connection problem with the first joint 2a and proceeds to step S206.

[0117] If the time required from the start of the vacuum pump 485 until the detection result of the pressure detection unit 4864 reaches a predetermined value is greater than or equal to the second predetermined time (step S211; No), the control unit 50 determines that there is no connection problem with the cleaning jig 2. Therefore, the control unit 50 opens the discharge valve 4861 (step S212). Due to the opening of the second atmospheric valve 484 and the pressure difference between the liquid storage unit 482 and the discharge channel 486 (cleaning jig 2), the liquid component in the liquid storage unit 482 is discharged to the liquid discharge section 4863 of the discharge channel 486.

[0118] The subsequent steps S213 to S217 are essentially the same as steps S110 to S114, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0119] [Effects of the fourth embodiment] As described above, the inkjet recording system 100 according to this embodiment is separate from the inkjet recording device 1 and includes a cleaning jig 2 that can be attached to and removed from the discharge channel 486. Furthermore, the inkjet recording system 100 has a vacuum pump 485 that communicates with the degassing module 451 to create a vacuum inside the gas permeable membrane 4512, and this vacuum pump is the pressure adjustment unit. With this configuration, similar to the second embodiment, there is no need to separately provide a pressure detection unit 4864 or a suction pump 4865, so the cost of the inkjet recording system 100 can be reduced. Also, similar to the third embodiment, the liquid discharge unit 4863 can be separate from the inkjet recording device 1, thus increasing the degree of design flexibility.

[0120] [Identifying leak locations] In the above example, when the process transitions from step S205 to step S206, step S208 simply notifies the user of the occurrence of a leak. However, the process is not limited to this, and the user may be asked to perform a leak location identification process to determine the scope of the leak.

[0121] Figure 15 shows a flowchart related to the leak location identification process. First, the control unit 50, via the notification unit 60, instructs the user to remove the first joint 2a and the second joint 2b of the cleaning jig 2 from the second vacuum path 48 (step S301). When the control unit 50 receives a signal from the user that the first joint 2a and the second joint 2b have been removed via the operation input unit 70, the control unit 50 drives the vacuum pump 485 (step S302). The control unit 50 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the detection result of the second pressure sensor 483 (step S303). If there is an abnormality (step S303; Yes), the control unit 50, via the notification unit 60, instructs the user to check for a leak between the vacuum pump 485 and the second joint 2b (step S304).

[0122] If there is no abnormality (Step S303; No), the control unit 50 connects the second joint 2b (Step S305) and drives the vacuum pump 485 (Step S306). Then, the control unit 50 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the detection result of the second pressure sensor 483 (Step S307). If there is an abnormality (Step S307; Yes), the control unit 50 instructs the user via the notification unit 60 to check for a leak between the second joint 2b and the liquid discharge unit 4863 (Step S308). If there is no abnormality (Step S307; No), the control unit 50 instructs the user via the notification unit 60 to check for a leak between the liquid discharge unit 4863 and the first joint 2a (Step S309).

[0123] By performing this type of processing, the scope of the leak can be narrowed, making it easier for users to identify the leak location and reducing the downtime required for leak repair.

[0124] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0125] For example, the above example illustrates an inkjet recording device 1 comprising a paper feeding unit 10, an image forming unit 20, a paper discharge unit 30, a liquid delivery unit 40, a control unit 50, a notification unit 60, and an operation input unit 70, but it is not limited to this. In an inkjet recording system 100, the inkjet recording device 1 only needs to be equipped with the image forming unit 20, and the other components may be provided by other devices separate from the inkjet recording device 1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0126] 100 Inkjet Recording Systems 24a inkjet head 451 Degassing Module 4512 Gas permeable membrane 482 Liquid storage section 483 Second pressure sensor (pressure detection unit) 485 Vacuum pump (pressure regulating unit) 486 Discharge channel 4861 Discharge valve 4862 Liquid heating section 4864 Pressure detection unit 4865 Suction pump (pressure regulating unit) 49. Pneumatic pump (pressure regulating unit) 50 Control Unit (Determination Unit) 60 Hochi Department 2. Cleaning jigs

Claims

1. An inkjet recording system that forms an image by ejecting ink from an inkjet head, A degassing module equipped with a gas permeable membrane capable of degassing dissolved gases from the surrounding ink, A liquid storage section that communicates with the gas permeable membrane and stores the liquid component of the ink that has permeated the gas permeable membrane, A discharge channel is provided which is in communication with the liquid storage section and through which the liquid components accumulated in the liquid storage section are discharged, A pressure adjustment unit that causes the liquid component to be discharged into the discharge channel by creating a pressure difference between the liquid storage section and the discharge channel, An inkjet recording system equipped with [specific features / features].

2. A pressure detection unit for detecting the pressure value of the discharge channel, A determination unit that determines whether the liquid component is being discharged normally from the liquid storage unit to the discharge channel based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit, The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The aforementioned discharge channel is equipped with a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, The pressure adjustment unit is a suction pump that reduces the pressure in the discharge passage when the discharge valve is closed. The inkjet recording system according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that there is a blockage in the discharge channel if the pressure value of the discharge channel at a predetermined time after the discharge channel has been depressurized by the suction pump and after the discharge valve has been opened is less than a predetermined value.

4. The aforementioned discharge channel is equipped with a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, The pressure adjustment unit is a suction pump that reduces the pressure in the discharge passage when the discharge valve is closed. The inkjet recording system according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines that there is a leak in the discharge channel when the discharge valve is closed and the rate at which the pressure value of the discharge channel is reduced is less than a predetermined value when the suction pump is driven.

5. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure adjustment unit is a pneumatic pump that pressurizes the liquid storage unit.

6. The inkjet recording system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure adjustment unit is a vacuum pump that communicates with the degassing module to create a vacuum inside the gas permeable membrane.

7. The inkjet recording system according to claim 6, further comprising a detachable cleaning jig in the discharge channel.

8. The aforementioned discharge channel includes a discharge valve that can be opened and closed, A pressure detection unit for detecting the pressure value of the discharge channel, The system includes a determination unit that determines, based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit, whether or not the liquid component is being discharged normally from the liquid storage unit to the discharge channel, The inkjet recording system according to claim 7, wherein the determination unit determines that the connection of the cleaning jig is insufficient when the discharge valve is closed and the rate at which the pressure value of the discharge channel is reduced during operation of the vacuum pump is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

9. The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 and 8, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user of a warning in accordance with the determination unit's determination.

10. The inkjet recording system according to claim 9, wherein the notification unit displays the area that the user should check based on the determination of the determination unit.

11. The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the discharge channel comprises a liquid heating section for heating the liquid component.

12. The aforementioned ink is an ink containing a gelling agent, The inkjet recording system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the liquid component is a monomer.

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