Inkjet recording device

Abstract

An inkjet recording device is provided with a storage unit including: a storage unit body part which communicates with a drainage discharge port of a drainage path for draining ink and washing liquid, and in which is formed a drainage space into which the drainage discharged from the drainage discharge port enters; and a container connection part in which is formed a connection path that allows communication between the drainage space and the outside of the storage unit main body part. A recovery container in which a drainage storage space is formed is detachably connected to the container connection part. The recovery container communicates with the drainage storage space and the connection path in a state of being connected to the container connection part, and the drainage entering the drainage space flows into the drainage storage space through the connection path.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] As background art in this technical field, there is Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, as a waste liquid method of an inkjet recording apparatus, it is disclosed that by disconnecting the ink circulation path from the ink container and connecting it to a waste liquid bottle with a joint, workability improvement and stain reduction of ink waste liquid are realized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] [[ID=3r]] [[ID=3v]]In the method of Patent Document 1, the ink circulation path must be disconnected from the ink container during waste liquid, and there is a possibility that the ink in the path flows out from the disconnected part, and the disconnected part may be soiled with ink and soil the hands of the operator.

[0005] Inkjet recording apparatuses are often used in production lines where management in terms of hygiene such as food, drinking water, drugs, and cosmetics is important. Therefore, it is required that cleaning liquid and ink do not flow out onto the inside and periphery of the inkjet recording apparatus, the floor, etc., and that ink does not adhere to the hands of the operator.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can avoid soiling the periphery of the inkjet recording apparatus and the operator with ink when performing waste liquid of the inkjet recording apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a main body having an ink container for containing ink for printing on an object to be printed and a cleaning liquid container for containing cleaning liquid; a print head connected to the ink container and having a nozzle for discharging pressurized ink, a charging electrode for charging ink particles used for printing, a deflection electrode for deflecting the ink particles charged by the charging electrode, and a gutter for collecting ink particles not used for printing; a storage unit main body that communicates with a waste liquid outlet of a waste liquid path for discharging at least one of the ink and the cleaning liquid as waste liquid, and has a waste liquid space formed therein for the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid outlet; and a connected part having a connecting path that is a space communicating between the waste liquid space and the outside of the storage unit main body, to which a waste liquid recovery member for collecting the waste liquid that has entered the waste liquid space through the connecting path is connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when disposing of waste liquid from an inkjet recording device, it is possible to avoid staining the area around the inkjet recording device and the operator with ink. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the usage state of the inkjet recording device in Example 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the path configuration of the inkjet recording device in Example 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the path configuration of the inkjet recording device and the connectable connectors for the waste liquid path in Example 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of an inkjet recording device. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit in Embodiment 1. [Figure 6A] Figure 6A shows the usage status of the recovery container in the storage unit. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the usage state of the collection container of the storage unit. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of the storage means for waste liquid of the storage unit. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of the storage means for waste liquid of the storage unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an operation flow of the storage unit according to Example 1. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the path configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus in Example 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an operation flow of the storage unit at the time of level over. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an operation flow of the storage unit at the time of ink viscosity restoration. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the path configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus and the storage unit in Example 3. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the path configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus in Example 4. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the head mounting portion in Example 4. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the head mounting portion into which the print head is inserted. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cleaning operation flow of the head mounting portion. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the head mounting portion into which the print head provided with a cleaning nozzle is inserted. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the path configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus in Example 5.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each example is an illustration for explaining the present invention, and for the sake of clarity of explanation, appropriate omissions and simplifications have been made. The present invention can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural. In the drawings, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

[0011] In the embodiments, the processes performed by executing a program may be described. Here, the computer executes a program by a processor (e.g., MPU (Micro Processing Unit)), and performs the processes defined by the program while using storage resources (e.g., memory) and interface devices (e.g., communication ports), etc. Therefore, the subject of the processes performed by executing the program may be the processor. Similarly, the subject of the processes performed by executing the program may be a controller having a processor. The subject of the processes performed by executing the program may be an arithmetic unit, and may include a dedicated circuit for performing specific processes. Here, the dedicated circuit is, for example, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), etc.

[0012] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <<Embodiment 1>> Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the usage state of the inkjet recording device 400 in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the inkjet recording device 400 includes an inkjet recording device body 1 (hereinafter referred to as "body 1"), a print head 2, an operation display unit 3, a conduit 4 (print head), a conduit 5 (storage unit), and a storage unit 300. The inkjet recording device 400 has an operation display unit 3 on the body 1, and has a print head 2 and a storage unit 300 externally. The body 1 and the print head 2 are connected by a conduit 4, and the body 1 and the storage unit 300 are connected by a conduit 5.

[0013] Next, the path configuration of the inkjet recording device 400 will be explained using Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the overall path configuration of the inkjet recording device 400. Note that Figure 2 is an example for the purpose of explaining this embodiment, and the shape and configuration are not limited to this example.

[0014] First, the ink supply path of the inkjet recording device 400 in this embodiment will be described. The main body 1 is equipped with a main ink container 18 that holds circulating ink 7A, and is connected to a solenoid valve (for supply) 34 that opens and closes the path via a path 201. The solenoid valve (for supply) 34 is connected to a pump (for supply) 24 used to suck and pump the ink 7A via an ink supply path 202. The pump (for supply) 24 is then connected to a filter (for supply) 28 that removes foreign matter mixed in the ink 7A via a path 203.

[0015] The filter (for supply) 28 is connected to a pressure reducing valve 33 that adjusts the ink 7A, which is pumped from the pump (for supply) 24 via the path 204, to the appropriate pressure for printing. The pressure reducing valve 33 is connected to a path 206 that runs through the conduit 4 via path 205, and is connected to a switching valve 42 located in the print head 2.

[0016] The switching valve 42 is connected via the path 207 to a nozzle 8 which has an outlet for ejecting ink 7A. The switching valve 42 is a solenoid valve and controls whether or not ink is ejected from the nozzle 8. A gutter 14 is located in the straight-ahead direction of the nozzle 8's outlet to capture flying ink particles 7B.

[0017] Next, the ink recovery path will be explained in Figure 2. The gutter 14 is connected to a filter (for recovery) 29 that removes foreign matter mixed in the ink via a path 211 that passes through the conduit 4, and the filter (for recovery) 29 is connected to a solenoid valve (for recovery) 35 that opens and closes the path via a path 212.

[0018] The solenoid valve (for recovery) 35 is connected via path 213 to a pump (for recovery) 25 that sucks up the ink particles 7B captured by the gutter 14. The pump (for recovery) 25 is connected to the main ink container 18 via recovery path 214. The main ink container 18 is also connected to an exhaust path 215, which is configured to communicate with the outside of the main body 1.

[0019] Next, the phase sensor 44 will be described in Figure 2. The phase sensor 44 is a sensor that detects the amount of charge of the ink particles 7B, and is provided in one or both of the paths 211 to 214 (recovery paths) within the print head 2, from the charging electrode 10 that charges the flying ink particles 7B to the gutter 14.

[0020] Next, the ink supply path will be explained in Figure 2. The main body 1 is equipped with an auxiliary ink container 20 that holds refill ink, and the auxiliary ink container 20 is connected to a solenoid valve (for refilling) 36 that opens and closes the path via path 221. The solenoid valve (for refilling) 36 is then connected to the ink supply path 202 via path 222.

[0021] Next, the ink circulation path will be explained in Figure 2. In addition to the ink supply path 206, the nozzle 8 provided in the print head 2 is connected to a path 225 that passes through the conduit 4. The path 225 is equipped with a pressure gauge 31 that measures the pressure of the ink 7A supplied to the nozzle 8. The pressure gauge 31 is connected to a solenoid valve (for circulation) 37 that opens and closes the flow path via path 226. The solenoid valve (for circulation) 37 is connected to a pump (for circulation) 26 that sucks ink from the nozzle 8 via path 227. The pump (for circulation) 26 is then connected to the main ink container 18 via path 228.

[0022] Next, the solvent replenishment path of the inkjet recording device 400 shown in Figure 2 will be described. The main body 1 is equipped with a solvent container 19 that holds solvent 6 for replenishment, and the solvent container 19 is connected to a pump (for solvent) 27 used to suck up and pump the solvent 6 via a path 231. The pump (for solvent) 27 is connected to a solenoid valve (for solvent) 38 via a path 232 to open and close the flow path, and the solenoid valve (for solvent) 38 is connected to the main ink container 18 via a path 233. Note that the solvent 6 is sometimes referred to as "cleaning fluid".

[0023] Next, the cleaning path 235 connected to path 232 in Figure 2 will be described. The cleaning path 235 connected to path 232 is connected to a solenoid valve (for cleaning) 39 that opens and closes the flow path, and the solenoid valve (for cleaning) 39 is connected to a switching valve 42 via path 236.

[0024] Next, the ink pressure relief path connected to the ink supply path 206 in Figure 2 will be described. The ink pressure relief path 241, which is connected to the ink supply path 206, is connected to a solenoid valve (for pressure relief) 40 that opens and closes the flow path, and the solenoid valve (for pressure relief) 40 is connected to the ink recovery path 213 via path 242.

[0025] Next, the viscosity measurement path of the inkjet recording device 400 shown in Figure 2 will be described. The main ink container 18 is connected to a viscometer 43 via a viscosity measurement path 245 in order to determine the viscosity of the ink 7A inside the main ink container 18. The viscometer 43 is connected to a solenoid valve (for viscosity measurement) 41, which opens and closes the path, via a path 246, and the solenoid valve (for viscosity measurement) 41 is connected to a path 227 via a path 247.

[0026] Next, in Figure 2, the waste liquid path 217 connected to the recovery path 216 will be described. The waste liquid path 217 connected to the recovery path 216 is connected to a solenoid valve (for waste liquid) 45 that opens and closes the flow path, and is connected to the waste liquid outlet 52 via the waste liquid path 217, communicating with the outside of the main body 1. The recovery path 214 is connected to a solenoid valve (for recovery 2) 46 that opens and closes the flow path, and the solenoid valve (for waste liquid) 45 and the solenoid valve (for recovery 2) 46 can operate to switch the flow of liquid and gas in the recovery path 214. Note that although the method of switching the flow of liquid and gas in the recovery path 214 is described here using two solenoid valves, it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be switched with a single switching valve.

[0027] Next, the storage unit 300 will be described in Figure 2. The storage unit 300 consists of a storage unit body 50, a container connection part 51, a waste liquid discharge port 52, and a recovery container 21.

[0028] The waste liquid inside the main unit 1 is sent to the storage unit 300 via the waste liquid path 217 and can be discharged from the waste liquid outlet 52 inside the storage unit 300.

[0029] The waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid outlet 52 is stored in the recovery container 21 provided in the storage unit 300 via the container connection part 51.

[0030] Next, Figure 3 shows that the wastewater pathways are equipped with connecting fittings. Wastewater pathway 217A is equipped with a wastewater pathway fitting (main body side) 47 that can be connected to wastewater pathway 217B, and wastewater pathway 217B is equipped with a wastewater pathway fitting (unit side) 48 that can be connected to wastewater pathway 217C, which is connected to the wastewater outlet 52. With this configuration, the storage unit 300 is separate from the main body 1 and can be connected through the wastewater pathway fitting (main body side) 47 and the wastewater pathway fitting (unit side) 48. Note that either the liquid pathway fitting (main body side) 47 or the wastewater pathway fitting (unit side) 48 may be present only.

[0031] Furthermore, although the conduit 5 is shown in Figures 1 to 3, the waste liquid path 217 may be connected to the main body 1 and the storage unit 300 without passing through the inside of the conduit 5. Also, the collection container 21 may be separate from the storage unit 300 and attached to the outside of the storage unit 300. In addition, the storage unit 300 may be equipped with an adapter that can be attached to an inkjet recording device 400 or other equipment.

[0032] Next, a functional block diagram of the inkjet recording device 400 will be explained using Figure 4. In Figure 4, the inkjet recording device 400 is equipped with a control unit 100, which includes, for example, an MPU. The control unit 100 controls various parts via a bus line 101, such as the operation display unit 3, nozzle 8, charging electrode 10, deflection electrodes 11, 12 (ground deflection electrode 11 and positive deflection electrode 12), phase sensor 44, encoder 16, print sensor 15, pumps 24-27, solenoid valves 34-41, 45-46, switching valve 42, pressure reducing valve 30, pressure sensor 31 (pressure gauge 31), viscosity meter 43, container sensor 60, liquid volume sensor 61, and recording unit 102. The recording unit 102 stores a program for controlling the inkjet recording device 400, and the control unit 100 is configured to control each part constituting the inkjet recording device 400 based on this program. The recording unit 102 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write data. <Configuration of the storage unit cross-section> Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the storage unit 300 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 5, the storage unit 300 includes the storage unit body 50, a container connection part 51, a waste liquid outlet 52, the inside of the storage unit 53, a waste liquid receiver 54, a connection path 55, a sensor (for the collection container) 56, a float 57, a sensor (for the float) 58, and waste liquid 59 in the collection container 21. For convenience, the portion of the storage unit body 50 excluding the container connection part 51 may be referred to as the "storage unit body part," and the container connection part 51 may be referred to as the "connected part." That is, the storage unit body 50 includes the storage unit body part and the connected part. For convenience, the collection container 21 may be referred to as the "waste liquid collection member."

[0033] The storage unit body 50 is structured to surround the waste liquid outlet 52 so that the waste liquid supplied to the inside of the storage unit 53 does not flow out to the outside. For example, the storage unit body 50 may have a structure in which the top is open, forming a waste liquid space into the inside of the storage unit 52 into which the waste liquid enters, and a waste liquid outlet 52 is provided on the side that forms the waste liquid space. With this structure, the waste liquid is discharged laterally from the waste liquid outlet 52, so it can be prevented from flowing out to the outside from the open part at the top.

[0034] The container connection section 51 has a connection path 55 formed in it, which is a space that connects the waste liquid space with the outside of the storage unit body 50. The waste liquid receiver 54 is structured so that the waste liquid supplied to the inside of the storage unit 53 (entering the waste liquid space) is supplied to the connection path 55 that passes through the container connection section 51. The container connection section 51 is detachably connected to the recovery container 21 so that the waste liquid supplied to the connection path 55 is stored in the recovery container 21 provided in the storage unit 300 without leaking to the outside.

[0035] More specifically, the collection container 21 has a waste liquid storage space formed therein, which is open as a waste liquid inflow space into which waste liquid flows, and the inflow is detachably connected to the container connection part 51. For example, the inflow and the container connection part 51 are connected when the container connection part 51 is inside the inflow and mated with the inflow. This prevents waste liquid from leaking to the outside when waste liquid flows (is collected) from the waste liquid space inside the storage unit 53 into the waste liquid storage space of the collection container 21. Note that the connection configuration between the container connection part 51 and the collection container is not limited to this, and various connection configurations can be adopted.

[0036] Furthermore, the storage unit 300 is equipped with a sensor (for the collection container) 56 that can detect whether the collection container 21 is attached to the storage unit 300, and a float 57 and a sensor (for the float) 58 to detect the amount of waste liquid 59 in the collection container 21. The sensor (for the float) 58 is capable of detecting when the float 57 approaches, and for example, the sensor (for the float) 58 could be a magnetic sensor and the float 57 could be a magnet.

[0037] Since the float 57 changes height in conjunction with the liquid level, it can detect whether the liquid level is above a certain height.

[0038] The sensor (for the collection container) 56 can detect whether the collection container 21 is installed in the correct position on the storage unit body 50. For example, a magnetic sensor can be used as the sensor (for the collection container) 56. If it is not installed correctly, there is a possibility that the waste liquid 59 that should be stored in the collection container 21 will leak out through the connection path 55.

[0039] If the sensor (for the collection container) 56 detects that the collection container is properly installed, the control unit 100 determines that the ink and solvent in the inkjet recording device 400 can be discharged into the storage unit 300, and can notify the operator that the waste liquid can be disposed of using the operation display unit 3 or the like.

[0040] Furthermore, if the sensor (for the collection container) 56 detects that the collection container is not properly installed, the control unit 100 will determine that the ink and solvent in the inkjet recording device 400 cannot be discharged to the storage unit 300, and can inform the operator that the waste liquid cannot be disposed of and prompt them to properly install the collection container using the operation display unit 3 or the like.

[0041] Although the sensor (for the collection container) 56 was mentioned above to detect whether the collection container is properly installed, the container sensor 60 may be provided in the storage unit 300 or in the collection container itself.

[0042] The liquid level detection status will be explained using Figures 6A and 6B. In Figure 6A, the float 57 is linked to the liquid level and detects that it has fallen below the height of the sensor (for the float) 58. This indicates that there is still space in the collection container to add waste liquid. In Figure 6B, the float 57 is linked to the liquid level and detects that it has reached the height of the sensor (for the float) 58. This indicates that there is not enough space in the collection container to add waste liquid, and if any more waste liquid is added, there is a possibility that the waste liquid 59 will leak out when the collection container 21 is removed from the storage unit body 50.

[0043] In the state shown in Figure 6A, the control unit 100 detects that the ink and solvent in the inkjet recording device 400 can be discharged into the storage unit 300, and can notify the operator via the operation display unit 3 or the like that the liquid can be disposed of.

[0044] Furthermore, in the state shown in Figure 6B, the control unit 100 detects that the waste liquid 59 in the collection container 21 has reached a standard level and that the ink and solvent in the inkjet recording device 400 cannot be disposed of. It can then prompt the operator to dispose of the waste liquid 59 in the collection container 21 using the operation display unit 3 or the like.

[0045] Although a configuration using a float was described above as an example of a liquid volume sensor 61 for detecting the liquid volume, the configuration of the liquid volume sensor 61 is not limited to this. The sensor (for the float) 58 for detecting the height of the float does not necessarily have to be a separate unit as shown in Figure 5.

[0046] The liquid level sensor 61 can be any sensor that can directly or indirectly obtain the height of the liquid level, the amount, or the weight of the waste liquid in the collection container 21. An example of a sensor that obtains the liquid level is a displacement sensor. When detecting the liquid level with a displacement sensor, the presence or absence of the collection container 21 can also be detected by the displacement sensor.

[0047] Furthermore, the liquid level sensor 61 may be, for example, a capacitive level sensor, a float sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like.

[0048] Figures 7A and 7B show an example and other examples of waste liquid storage means. As shown in Figure 7A, a larger collection container 70 of a different size from the collection container described above may be connected to the container connection part 51 or the storage unit body 50 without waste liquid leaking to the outside. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 7B, instead of attaching a container, a waste liquid connection pipe 71 such as a hose or pipe may be attached and the waste liquid may be stored in a container located away from the storage unit body 50. The waste liquid connection pipe 71 forms a waste liquid inflow space, with a waste liquid passage flowing between an inlet where waste liquid flows in and an outlet where waste liquid is discharged, and the inlet of the waste liquid passage is detachably connected to the container connection part 51. The waste liquid connection pipe 71 may also be referred to as a "waste liquid recovery component" for convenience.

[0049] The waste liquid connection pipe 71 can be connected to the container connection part 51 or the storage unit body 50 without waste liquid leaking to the outside, but different dedicated connection parts may also be provided. Therefore, the operator can select a waste liquid treatment method that suits their equipment.

[0050] Figure 8 shows the operation flow of the storage unit 300 according to Example 1. In Figure 8, step 501 first shows the state in which the operation display unit 3 provided in the inkjet recording device 400 instructs the start of the function of the storage unit 300.

[0051] Next, step 502 indicates that the container sensor 60 provided on the storage unit 300 and the recovery container 21 is determining whether the recovery container 21 is connected to the container connection part 51 provided on the storage unit 300. In step 502, the control unit 100 determines whether the recovery container 21 is connected to the container connection part 51 based on the information detected by the container sensor 60. If the recovery container 21 is not connected to the container connection part 51, the process proceeds to step 509; if the recovery container 21 is connected to the container connection part 51, the process proceeds to step 503.

[0052] Next, step 503 indicates that the liquid level in the recovery container 21 is being determined by the liquid level sensor 61 provided in the storage unit 300 and the recovery container 21 to be below a reference value. In step 503, the control unit 100 determines whether the liquid level in the recovery container 21 is above a reference value based on the information detected by the liquid level sensor 61. If the liquid level in the recovery container 21 is above a reference value, the process proceeds to step 509; if the liquid level in the recovery container 21 is below a reference value, the process proceeds to step 504.

[0053] Step 504 shows the state in which the solenoid valves and pumps in the inkjet recording device 400 are operated to discharge waste liquid from the waste liquid outlet 52, and the state in which the discharged waste liquid is stored in the recovery container 21. If we explain using the path in Figure 2, when disposing of the ink in the auxiliary ink container 20, the control unit 100 operates the pump (for supply) 24, the solenoid valve (for replenishment) 36, the solenoid valve (for pressure relief) 40, the pump (for recovery) 25, and the solenoid valve (for waste liquid) 45.

[0054] When the solvent in the solvent container 19 is to be disposed of as waste liquid, the control unit 100 operates the pump (for solvent) 27, the solenoid valve (for cleaning) 39, the solenoid valve (for recovery 1) 35, the pump (for recovery) 25, and the solenoid valve (for waste liquid) 45.

[0055] When disposing of the ink and solvent in the main ink container 18, the control unit 100 operates the pump (for supply) 24, the solenoid valve (for supply) 34, the solenoid valve (for pressure relief) 40, the pump (for recovery) 25, and the solenoid valve (for waste liquid) 45. Alternatively, when disposing of the solvent in the solvent container 19, the control unit 100 may transfer the solvent to the main ink container 18 for disposal by operating the pump (for solvent) 27 and the solenoid valve (for solvent replenishment) 38.

[0056] Next, step 505 indicates a state in which the system is determining whether there are any abnormalities in the pathways, solenoid valves, pumps, etc., involved in the wastewater sequence. In step 505, the control unit 100 determines whether or not there are any abnormalities in the pathways, solenoid valves, pumps, etc., involved in the wastewater sequence, based on information obtained from various sensors.

[0057] If an abnormality occurs, such as the solenoid valve and pump not operating, waste liquid not being discharged, or the liquid volume in the recovery container reaching a standard value, proceed to step 509. If no abnormality occurs and the waste liquid is completed normally, proceed to step 506.

[0058] Next, regarding the method for detecting abnormalities in step 505, it is also possible to detect if there is a difference from normal operation from the waveform of the signal lines output from the solenoid valve and pump. Alternatively, to detect whether there is a blockage in paths 211, 212, 213, 214, waste liquid path 217, and waste liquid outlet 52, ink may be ejected from the nozzle 8, the ink may be charged by the charging electrode 10, and the ink may be drawn in from the gutter 14 to detect the waveform of the phase sensor 44. Or, a flow sensor, pressure sensor, optical sensor, etc. may be placed in the path to detect whether liquid or gas is flowing. In addition, a sensor for detecting the liquid volume may be provided in the container inside the inkjet recording device, and if the liquid volume does not change during the waste liquid sequence, it may be determined that the waste liquid is not being disposed of properly and an abnormality may be detected. The above are just examples, and any sensor that can directly or indirectly obtain whether liquid is flowing in the path and whether waste liquid is being discharged from the waste liquid outlet may be used.

[0059] Next, step 506 describes the process of cleaning the pathway and wastewater outlet to prevent clogging after wastewater has been processed, and stopping the operation of the solenoid valves and pumps inside the inkjet recording device 400. Using the pathway shown in Figure 2, the pump (for solvent) 27, solenoid valve (for cleaning) 39, solenoid valve (for recovery 1) 35, pump (for recovery) 25, and solenoid valve (for wastewater) 45 are operated to clean the pathway and wastewater outlet 52 used for wastewater with the solvent in the solvent container 19. After that, the operation of the solenoid valves and pumps inside the inkjet recording device 400 is stopped.

[0060] Next, step 507 is a process that indicates to the operator that steps 504 to 506 have been performed successfully.

[0061] Finally, step 508 processes step 507 and indicates that the storage unit 300 has successfully started and finished its functions.

[0062] Step 509 indicates a state in which it was determined in steps 502, 503, and 505 that the storage unit 300 is not in a state where it can be used to function normally.

[0063] Step 510 is a process that indicates to the operator that the situation is as described in step 509. In step 510, the control unit 100 outputs a message to the operation display unit 3, for example, "The collection container is not set in the storage unit," or "The waste liquid in the collection container is full," or "The waste liquid is not being disposed of properly."

[0064] Step 511 indicates that the process from steps 509 to 510 has been completed and the process has stopped.

[0065] Furthermore, in steps 504 and 506, the operator may be allowed to select different sequences for the operation of the solenoid valve and pump. Also, the cleaning of the wastewater path and wastewater outlet in step 506 may be performed before the wastewater sequence in step 504. <Effects of Example 1> As described above, according to this embodiment, by discharging the ink and solvent from inside the inkjet recording device 400 into the storage unit 300 provided in the inkjet recording device 400, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording device that has a function to prevent ink contamination around the inkjet recording device and the operator when removing the ink from the device in order to prevent malfunctions of solenoid valves and the like when the device is stopped for a long period of time. <<Example 2>> In the following section, Example 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the explanation of parts common to the above-described example will be omitted, and the explanation will mainly focus on the parts that differ from the above-described example.

[0066] Disposal of waste liquid may be necessary even when the device is not shut down for an extended period. While the inkjet recording device controls the liquid level to prevent leakage of ink and solvent from the containers, the liquid level may exceed a certain height due to cleaning fluid being supplied to the containers during the cleaning process, or due to malfunctions in the pump or solenoid valves, causing ink and solvent to be supplied. In such cases, the ink and solvent in the containers are disposed of.

[0067] Figure 9 shows the path configuration of the inkjet recording device in Example 2. The main ink container 18 is equipped with multiple electrodes that can detect the height of the liquid level inside, and can detect when the liquid level reaches the standard line 22 and when it reaches the level over line 23. When the control unit 100 detects that the liquid level has reached the level over line 23, it operates the pump and solenoid valve to discharge the ink and solvent from the main ink container 18 to the storage unit 300.

[0068] The sensor used to detect the liquid level may be, for example, a float sensor or a photoelectric sensor. For convenience, the sensor used to detect the liquid level may be referred to as the "detection unit."

[0069] Figure 10 shows the operation flow when the level is overloaded. In Figure 10, step 520 first executes a sequence to operate the pump, solenoid valve, etc., and shows the state in which the ink and solvent inside the inkjet recording device 400 are moving through the path. Specifically, this is the state in which ink is being ejected from nozzle 8 or the state in which the solvent is circulating and cleaning through the path in order to stop the process.

[0070] Next, in step 521, the control unit 100 determines, based on the information obtained from the liquid level sensor 61, whether or not the liquid level of the ink and solvent in the container has risen and an over-level has been detected. If the liquid level of the ink and solvent in the container has risen and an over-level has not been detected, step 521 is executed again. If the liquid level of the ink and solvent in the container has risen and an over-level has been detected, the process proceeds to step 522. Next, step 522 indicates that the sequence that was being operated in step 520 has been interrupted. At this time, the operation display unit 3 may display that an over-level has been detected.

[0071] In step 522, the control unit 100 may decide to proceed to step 501, or the operation display unit 3 or the like may leave the decision of whether to proceed to step 501 to the operator. Also, in step 508, the control unit 100 may decide to proceed to step 523, or the operation display unit 3 or the like may leave the decision of whether to proceed to step 523 to the operator.

[0072] After step 522, the waste liquid treatment steps 501 to 511 are carried out as described above, and the waste liquid is stored in the collection container. At this point in step 504, the control unit 100 may adjust the amount of waste liquid to be disposed of based on information from a sensor that detects the liquid level and proceed to step 505, or the operation display unit 3 or the like may leave the decision of whether to proceed to steps 505 and 506 to the operator.

[0073] After step 508, step 523 indicates a state where the sequence operation of the pump and solenoid valve that was performed in step 520 is to be activated again.

[0074] Next, we will describe situations where waste liquid is required before shutting down the equipment for an extended period, other than in cases of level overload.

[0075] The control unit 100 measures the viscosity of the ink in the main ink container 18 using a viscometer 43. This is an important factor in the formation of ink droplets ejected from the nozzle 8, so the control unit 100 controls the viscosity to stay within a standard range. If the viscosity is higher than the standard range, the solvent 6 stored in the solvent container 19 is transferred to the main ink container 18 to lower the viscosity, so as not to cause the liquid level in the main ink container to exceed the standard level. If the viscosity is lower than the standard range, the ink in the auxiliary ink container 20 is transferred to the main ink container 18 to increase the viscosity, so as not to cause the liquid level in the main ink container to exceed the standard level. However, if the viscosity deviates significantly from the standard range, the above-mentioned methods may not be able to return the viscosity to the standard range, or it may take too long. In that case, the ink in the main ink container 18 can be drained, and ink from the auxiliary ink container 20 with a viscosity within the standard range can be added to the main ink container 18 to return the viscosity to the standard range.

[0076] Figure 11 shows the operation flow of the storage unit 300 during ink viscosity repair. In Figure 11, step 525 first shows the state in which the viscosity of the ink in the main ink container 18 is measured using the viscometer 43.

[0077] Next, step 526 indicates the state of determining whether the ink viscosity measured in step 525 is within the reference range. In step 526, the control unit 100 determines whether the ink viscosity is within the reference range based on the information obtained from the viscosity measuring instrument 43.

[0078] If the viscosity is within the standard range, the process returns to step 525 and measures the viscosity periodically. If the viscosity is outside the standard range, the process proceeds to step 527. Step 527 indicates that the decision to perform wastewater treatment has been made based on the difference between the measured viscosity and the standard, the duration for which the viscosity remained outside the standard range, and information on viscosity repair measures performed by means other than the wastewater mentioned above. Alternatively, the control unit 100 may decide in step 527 to proceed to step 501, or the operation display unit 3 or the like may leave the decision of whether to proceed to step 501 to the operator.

[0079] After step 522, the waste liquid treatment steps 501 to 511 are performed as described above, and the waste liquid is stored in the collection container. At this point in step 504, the control unit 100 may adjust the amount of waste liquid to be disposed of based on the difference between the viscosity value measured in step 525 and the reference value, and proceed to step 505, or the operation display unit 3 or the like may leave the decision of whether to proceed to steps 505 and 506 to the operator. After step 508, the process returns to step 525 again and the ink viscosity is measured. <Effects of Example 2> As described above, according to this embodiment, by discharging the ink and solvent from within the inkjet recording device 400 into the storage unit 300 provided in the inkjet recording device 400, it is possible to avoid staining the area around the inkjet recording device and the operator with ink when removing the ink from the device in order to lower the liquid level of the main ink container or to restore the ink viscosity of the main ink container to a standard range. In addition, since the diameter of the waste liquid discharge port 52 is larger than that of the nozzle 8, waste liquid can be disposed of more efficiently than by continuously spraying ink from the nozzle 8. According to this embodiment, an inkjet recording device equipped with a function to control the liquid level and viscosity of the main ink container can be provided. <<Example 3>> In the following section, Example 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the explanation of parts common to the above-described example will be omitted, and the explanation will mainly focus on the parts that differ from the above-described example.

[0080] Figure 12 shows that the storage unit 300 is equipped with a pump and solenoid valve necessary for waste liquid. The storage unit 300 is equipped with a waste liquid route 305 (unit) with a waste liquid outlet 52 at its tip, and a storage unit solenoid valve 301 and a storage unit pump 302 are provided on the waste liquid route 305 (unit) and on the storage unit 300. The waste liquid route 305 (unit) is connected to a waste liquid route 306 (container) via a waste liquid route connector (unit) 303, and the waste liquid route 306 (container) is connected to the main ink container 18 via a waste liquid route connector (container) 304.

[0081] Furthermore, the waste liquid route connector (container) 304 may be part of the main ink container 18 or it may be a separate component, as long as it can make contact with the waste liquid route 306 (container) so that the ink and solvent in the main ink container 18 can be supplied to it. Also, the waste liquid route 305 (unit) may not be separate from the waste liquid route 306 (container) but may be integrated with it. The waste liquid route 306 (container) may be connected between the solenoid valve (for recovery 2) 46 and the pump (for recovery) 25 of the recovery route 214 instead of being connected to the main ink container 18.

[0082] With this configuration, the storage unit 300 is separate from the main body 1, and even if the inkjet recording device 400 does not have a means to discharge waste liquid to the outside, the storage unit 300 can be connected to the main ink container 18 via the waste liquid path 305 (unit) and the waste liquid path 306 (container), providing the inkjet recording device 400 with a means to discharge waste liquid to the outside. <Effects of Example 3> As described above, according to this embodiment, an inkjet recording device 400 that lacks a means for discharging waste liquid to the outside can be provided with a function that allows the ink and solvent inside the inkjet recording device 400 to be discharged while avoiding contamination of the area around the inkjet recording device and the operator with ink. <<Example 4>> In the following, Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the description of parts common to the above-described embodiments will be omitted, and the description will mainly focus on the parts that differ from the above-described embodiments. Embodiment 4 is configured such that the print head can be placed (housed) in the waste liquid space of the storage unit body 50 of Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 4, the storage unit 300 is referred to as the "head mounting section 310," and the storage unit body 50 is referred to as the "head mounting section body 311."

[0083] Figure 13 shows the routing configuration of the inkjet recording device in Embodiment 4. The head mounting unit 310 consists of a head mounting unit body 311, a container connection part 315, a waste liquid outlet 316, and a collection container 317. The waste liquid in the body 1 is sent to the head mounting unit 310 via the waste liquid route 217 and can be discharged from the waste liquid outlet 316 in the head mounting unit 310. The waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid outlet 316 is stored in the collection container 317 provided in the head mounting unit 310 via the container connection part 315.

[0084] Furthermore, when cleaning and drying the print head 2, the print head 2 is placed on the head mounting section 310. Then, air and solvent (hereinafter also referred to as "cleaning solution") sent from the main body 1 to the head mounting section 310 through the conduit 5 are discharged from the cleaning solution outlet inside the head mounting section 310, cleaning and drying the print head 2.

[0085] Next, the head cleaning path will be described. In Figure 13, path 2450 is connected to a solenoid valve (for head cleaning) 350 for opening and closing the flow path, and the solenoid valve (for head cleaning) 350 is connected via path 246 to a filter (for head cleaning) 351 located inside the main body 1 that removes foreign matter mixed in the solvent. The filter (for head cleaning) 351 is connected to a cleaning nozzle 352 via path 247, and the cleaning nozzle 352 is configured to have cleaning liquid outlets 352A and 352B for discharging the solvent 6. The number of these cleaning liquid outlets may be one or multiple. The solvent 6 discharged from the cleaning liquid outlets 352A and 352B is stored in a recovery container 317 provided on the head mounting section 310 via a container connection section 315.

[0086] Next, the drying path will be described. In Figure 13, the path 250 is connected to an air supply pump (for air supply) 353 located inside the main body 1, and is connected to a drying nozzle 354. The drying nozzle 354 is equipped with a drying nozzle port 354A from which air is discharged. The number of these drying nozzle ports 354A may be one or multiple. The drying nozzle 354 discharges air from the drying nozzle ports 354A towards the waste liquid space.

[0087] This drying path may be connected to an externally installed air compressor that supplies air, and may also be equipped with a solenoid valve for opening and closing the path.

[0088] Next, the suction path of the head mounting section 310 will be described. In Figure 13, the path 251, which is configured to communicate with the inside of the head mounting section 312 (inside the head mounting section body 311), passes through the conduit 5 and is connected to the air-suction pump (for air suction) 355 provided inside the body 1 of the inkjet recording device 400.

[0089] Furthermore, this suction path may be directly or indirectly connected to equipment that sends the surrounding atmosphere to the outside, such as an exhaust duct located around the device, or it may be possible to connect directly to the suction path from the head mounting section 310 without passing through the conduit 5.

[0090] Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the head mounting section 310 in this embodiment. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the head mounting section 310 into which the print head 2 is inserted in this embodiment.

[0091] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the head mounting section 310 includes the head mounting section body 311, a liquid receiver 313, a connection path 314, a head insertion port 318 (hereinafter referred to as "insertion port 318"), a head mounting cover 319, and a sensor (for the print head) 320 which includes a partition 321 and a sealing section 322. The partition 321 is a partition that separates the waste liquid space into the space where the waste liquid outlet 316 is located and the space where the print head 2 is located (mounted, housed), and is, for example, inclined (for example, inclined downward and toward the liquid receiver 313).

[0092] First, the usage state of the head mounting section 310 will be explained using Figures 14 and 15. In Figure 14, the head mounting section 310 is equipped with an insertion opening 318 into which the print head 2 can be inserted. The insertion opening 318 is sealed by a head mounting cover 319 to prevent the atmosphere inside the head mounting section 312 from mixing with outside air when the print head 2 is not inserted. For example, the head mounting cover 319 may be biased to close the insertion opening 318 with a biasing member such as a torsion coil spring.

[0093] Furthermore, the nozzle openings of the cleaning fluid outlets 352A-B and the waste liquid outlet 316 are separated by a partition 321 inside the head mounting section 312. The partition 321 is inclined so that the solvent 6 supplied to the inside of the head mounting section 312 is supplied to the liquid receiver 313. In addition, the ink and solvent (hereinafter referred to as waste liquid) supplied from the waste liquid outlet 316 are prevented from going into the space above the partition 321.

[0094] The liquid receiver 313 is structured so that the solvent 6 and waste liquid supplied to the inside of the head mounting section 312 are supplied to the connection path 314 through the container connection section 315. The container connection section 315 is detachably connected to the recovery container 317 so that the solvent 6 and waste liquid supplied to the connection path 314 are stored in the recovery container 317 provided on the head mounting section 310 without leaking to the outside. The path 251 is positioned so as not to directly suck up the solvent 6 and waste liquid supplied to the inside of the head mounting section 312, and is structured to suck up solvent vapor from the inside of the head mounting section 312.

[0095] Furthermore, the head mounting section 310 is equipped with a sensor (for print head) 320, which is a head detection means capable of detecting whether the print head 2 is attached to the head mounting section 310, and a sensor (for collection container) 56, which is a container detection means capable of detecting whether the collection container 317 is attached to the head mounting section 310.

[0096] The positions of sensors 320 and 56 are not limited to those shown in the diagram; they should be placed in a position where they can be detected by the print head 2 or the collection container 317. For example, sensor 56 (for the collection container) may be placed in the position of the connection path 314. Alternatively, sensors provided in the print head 2 and the collection container 317 may be used.

[0097] Furthermore, a float 57 and a sensor (for the float) 58 are provided to detect the liquid levels of ink and solvent in the recovery container 317. The sensor (for the float) 58 is capable of detecting when the float 57 approaches. For example, the sensor (for the float) 58 could be a magnetic sensor and the float 57 could be a magnet. Since the height of the float 57 changes in conjunction with the liquid level, it is possible to detect whether the liquid level is above a certain height. While a configuration using a float was described above as an example of a means for detecting the liquid volume, it is not limited to this. The sensor (for the float) 58 does not need to be a separate unit for detecting the height of the float. Furthermore, any sensor that can directly or indirectly acquire the liquid level, volume, or weight of the waste liquid in the collection container 21 may be used. An example of a sensor that acquires the liquid level is a displacement sensor. When detecting the liquid volume with a displacement sensor, the presence or absence of the collection container 317 can also be detected by the displacement sensor.

[0098] Furthermore, the liquid volume detection means may be, for example, a capacitive level sensor, a float sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like.

[0099] In Figure 15, the head mounting section 310 into which the print head 2 is inserted is designed so that the seal section 322 and the print head 2 are in close contact, preventing the cleaning fluid from leaking out from anywhere other than the connection path 314, and preventing the atmosphere inside the head mounting section 312 from mixing with the outside air. Furthermore, the head mounting cover section 319 is structured to be biased by a biasing member to re-close the insertion opening 318 when the print head 2 is removed from the insertion opening 318, preventing the atmosphere inside the head mounting section 312 from mixing with the outside air. In addition, the cleaning fluid outlets 352A and 352B are positioned and oriented so that the solvent 6 can come into contact with the nozzle 8, charging electrode 10, ground deflection electrode 11, positive deflection electrode 12, and gutter 14 provided on the print head 2. Furthermore, the drying nozzle opening 354A is positioned and oriented such that the air supplied from the drying nozzle 354 can dry the solvent 6 adhering to the nozzles 8, charging electrodes 10, ground deflection electrodes 11, positive deflection electrodes 12, and gutters 14 of the print head 2. For example, the drying nozzle 354 is positioned so that the drying nozzle opening 354A and the print head 2 face each other when the print head 2 is mounted inside the head mounting section 312.

[0100] Furthermore, the waste liquid outlet 316 is positioned and oriented so that when waste liquid is supplied, it does not come into contact with the print head 2 inserted into the head mounting section 310, separated by a partition 321. The waste liquid outlet 316 only needs to be positioned so that the waste liquid supplied from the outlet 316 does not come into contact with the print head 2. Even if the line of radiation from the waste liquid outlet 316 does not overlap with the print head 2, there may be a distance between the outlet and the print head 2 so that the waste liquid discharged from the outlet 316 does not come into contact with the print head 2. More specifically, the waste liquid outlet 316 may be positioned such that, for example, when the print head 2 is mounted inside the head mounting section 312, the print head 2 is located in an area above a virtual extension line extending from the waste liquid outlet 316 in the direction of waste liquid discharge.

[0101] The head mounting section 310 can supply solvent 6, which has passed through the conduit (storage unit) 5, to the inside of the head mounting section 312 through the cleaning liquid outlets 352A and 352B, thereby cleaning the print head 2. The solvent 6 used for cleaning is stored in the recovery container 317 through the partition 321 and liquid receiver 313, and through the connection path 314. At this time, the solvent 6 discharged from the cleaning liquid outlets 352A and 352B may also be sucked out from the nozzle 8 inside the print head 2 using the circulation path of the main body 1. In addition, the head mounting section 310 can supply air that has passed through the conduit (storage unit) 5 to the inside of the head mounting section 312 through the drying nozzle port 354A, thereby drying the print head 2. Furthermore, when discharging waste liquid from the waste liquid outlet 316, the unit can operate whether the print head 2 is inserted or not.

[0102] Furthermore, although the above description assumes that the head mounting section 310 has a washing nozzle, a drying nozzle, and a waste liquid outlet, it may also be provided as separate units for the washing nozzle, the drying nozzle, and the waste liquid outlet.

[0103] Figure 16 shows the cleaning operation flow of the head mounting section in this embodiment. In Figure 16, first, in step 530, the operation display unit 3 provided in the inkjet recording device 400 instructs the head mounting section 310 to start its function, and automatic cleaning is started.

[0104] Next, in step 531, the control unit 100 uses the sensor (for the collection container) provided on the head mounting unit 310 and the sensor provided on the collection container 317 to determine whether the collection container 317 is connected to the container connection unit 315 provided on the head mounting unit 310. That is, the control unit 100 determines whether the collection container 317 is connected to the container connection unit 315 provided on the head mounting unit 310 based on the information obtained from the sensor (for the collection container) provided on the head mounting unit 310 and the sensor provided on the collection container 317.

[0105] If the collection container 317 is not connected to the container connector 315, proceed to step 538; if the collection container 317 is connected to the container connector 315, proceed to step 532.

[0106] Next, in step 532, the control unit 100 determines whether the print head 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 318 provided in the head mounting unit 310 based on the sensor (for the print head) provided in the head mounting unit 310 and the sensor provided in the print head 2. That is, the control unit 100 determines whether the print head 2 is inserted into the insertion opening 318 provided in the head mounting unit 310 based on the information obtained from the sensor (for the print head) provided in the head mounting unit 310 and the sensor provided in the print head 2.

[0107] If the print head 2 is not inserted into the insertion slot 318, proceed to step 538; if the print head 2 is inserted into the insertion slot 318, proceed to step 533.

[0108] Step 533 executes a cleaning sequence in which the solvent 6 and pathways within the inkjet recording device 400 are used to operate the solenoid valve and pump to discharge the solvent 6 from the cleaning nozzle 352, clean the print head 2, and store the solvent 6 used for cleaning in the recovery container 317. At this time, if the liquid level of the main ink container 18 within the inkjet recording device 400 exceeds the level limit, the ink and solvent in the main ink container 18 may be discharged from the waste liquid outlet 316 to perform waste liquid treatment.

[0109] Next, step 534 operates the solenoid valve and pump in the inkjet recording device 400 to expel air from the drying nozzle 354 and execute a drying sequence to dry the print head 2.

[0110] Next, step 535 stops the operation of the solenoid valves and pumps in the inkjet recording device 400 and performs the automatic cleaning stop procedure.

[0111] Step 536 is a completion message display process that indicates to the operator that steps 533 to 535 have been successfully completed.

[0112] Finally, step 537 indicates that the function of the head mounting unit 310 has been successfully completed, and the automatic cleaning is terminated.

[0113] Step 538 indicates that in steps 531 and 532 it was determined that the head mounting unit 310 was not in a state where it could be used normally, and the automatic cleaning process is interrupted.

[0114] Step 539 is a process that indicates to the operator that the state is as described in step 538, and outputs a message such as, for example, "The print head is not set in the cleaning unit." or "The collection container is not set." Step 540 indicates that the process in steps 538 to 539 has been completed and the process has stopped.

[0115] Furthermore, in steps 533 and 534, the operator may be allowed to select different sequences of operation for the solenoid valve and pump. In the above explanation, it was stated that the cleaning fluid is supplied from the cleaning nozzle 352 of the head mounting section 310, but as shown in Figure 17, the cleaning fluid may also be discharged from the cleaning fluid outlet (print head) 356 provided inside the print head. The cleaning fluid outlet (print head) 356 is positioned and oriented so that the solvent 6 can come into contact with the nozzle 8, charging electrode 10, ground deflection electrode 11, positive deflection electrode 12, and gutter 14 provided on the print head 2. <Effects of Example 4> As described above, this embodiment eliminates the cause of nozzle clogging by inserting the print head 2 into the head mounting section 310 provided in the inkjet recording device 400, cleaning it with a solvent inside, and drying it. Furthermore, the seal section 322 prevents the solvent from leaking out into the vicinity of the device. In addition, air from inside the head mounting section 312 is drawn in through the path 251 to prevent solvent vapor from leaking out into the vicinity of the head mounting section 310. Moreover, the head mounting section 310 can store waste liquid from inside the inkjet recording device 400 in the collection container 317.

[0116] These features allow operators to store the cleaning solution used during print head cleaning in a collection container, preventing solvents and waste liquids from spilling around the equipment. Furthermore, the combination of cleaning and waste liquid functions allows operators to efficiently perform both waste liquid disposal before long-term equipment shutdown and print head cleaning without getting their hands dirty.

[0117] Furthermore, when an emergency stop occurs due to an abnormality such as a level overload, the area around the print head nozzle may occasionally become contaminated with ink. By inserting the print head into the head mounting section, the level overload condition can be resolved, and the operator can efficiently clean the area around the print head nozzle.

[0118] Furthermore, when printing is not performed for a long period and ink and solvents are circulated to prevent clogging within the path, if the print head is inserted into the head mounting section, the liquid volume in the container, viscosity adjustment, and preventive maintenance of the print head nozzles can be performed solely by the device's control without human intervention, allowing the operator to smoothly perform the startup procedures for printing the next time the machine is used. <Example 5> In the following section, Example 5 will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the explanation of parts common to the above-described example will be omitted, and the explanation will mainly focus on the parts that differ from the above-described example.

[0119] Figure 18 shows the routing configuration of the inkjet recording device in Example 5. It shows that ink and solvent discharged from the waste liquid outlet 52 via the waste liquid route 217 are stored in the recovery container 21 inside the main body 1. The container connection part 51 is detachably connected to the recovery container 21 so that the waste liquid is stored in the recovery container 21 without leaking inside the inkjet recording device. In other words, the waste liquid can be stored in a removable container without placing a unit outside the inkjet recording device. <Effects of Example 5> According to this embodiment, when removing ink from the device, it is possible to provide an inkjet recording device that has a function that prevents the area around the inkjet recording device and the operator from getting stained with ink without having to place a unit outside the inkjet recording device. <<Variation>> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are included. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, it is possible to add, delete, or replace parts of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

[0120] The present invention can also adopt the following configuration. [1] An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a main body having an ink container for containing ink for printing on an object to be printed and a cleaning solution container for containing cleaning solution; a print head having a nozzle connected to the ink container from which pressurized ink is discharged, a charging electrode for charging ink particles used for printing, a deflection electrode for deflecting the ink particles charged by the charging electrode, and a gutter for collecting ink particles not used for printing, The storage unit comprises: a storage unit body that communicates with a waste liquid discharge port of a waste liquid path for discharging at least one of the ink and the cleaning liquid as waste liquid, and has a waste liquid space formed therein for the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge port; and a connected portion that has a connecting path formed therein, which is a space that communicates the waste liquid space with the outside of the storage unit body, and to which a waste liquid recovery member is connected for recovering the waste liquid that has entered the waste liquid space through the connecting path. Inkjet recording device. [2] In the inkjet recording apparatus described in [1], The aforementioned storage unit is As the waste liquid recovery member, A waste liquid storage space is formed having an open inlet, the inlet is detachably connected to the connected portion, and with the inlet connected to the connected portion, the waste liquid storage space and the connection path are in communication, and the waste liquid that enters the waste liquid space through the connection path flows into the waste liquid storage space, including a recovery container. The storage unit includes a first sensor (e.g., a container sensor 60) for detecting whether the recovery container is properly installed, and a second sensor (e.g., a liquid level sensor 61) for detecting whether the liquid level in the recovery container is below a standard value. Inkjet recording device. [3] In the inkjet recording apparatus described in [2], A pump and a solenoid valve that perform a wastewater operation to cause the wastewater in the wastewater path to flow toward the wastewater outlet and discharge it from the wastewater outlet, A control unit that controls the operation of the pump and the solenoid valve, Equipped with, The control unit, If the first sensor determines that the collection container is properly installed, and the second sensor determines that the liquid level in the collection container is below a standard value, The pump and solenoid valve are controlled to perform the aforementioned wastewater operation. Inkjet recording device. [4] In the inkjet recording apparatus described in [1], A pump and a solenoid valve that perform a wastewater operation to cause the wastewater in the wastewater path to flow toward the wastewater outlet and discharge it from the wastewater outlet, A control unit that controls the operation of the pump and the solenoid valve, The ink recovery path between the gutter and the ink container, The waste liquid path branched off from the aforementioned ink recovery path, It has, The pump and the solenoid valve are installed in the ink recovery path and the waste liquid path, The control unit, When performing the wastewater operation, the pump and the solenoid valve are controlled so that the wastewater flows into the wastewater path and the flow of the wastewater into the path between the branching point of the wastewater path and the ink container is blocked. In the normal state when the aforementioned waste liquid operation is not performed, the pump and the solenoid valve are controlled to block the flow of the waste liquid into the waste liquid path and allow the waste liquid to flow into the path between the branching point and the ink container. Inkjet recording device.

[0121] [4] According to this, under normal circumstances, the waste liquid does not flow into the waste liquid path, and is collected into the ink container by the ink recovery path, allowing for efficient use of the ink. When waste liquid operation is performed, the waste liquid does not flow into the ink recovery path, and is discharged from the waste liquid outlet, allowing for efficient discharge of the waste liquid. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0122] 1...Main unit, 100...Control unit, 217...Waste liquid path, 300...Storage unit, 302...Storage unit pump, 303...Waste liquid path connector (unit), 304...Waste liquid path connector (container), 305...Waste liquid path (unit), 306...Waste liquid path (container), 310...Head mounting section, 311...Head mounting section main body, 312...Inside of head mounting section, 313...Liquid receiver, 314...Connection path, 315...Container connection section, 316...Waste liquid outlet, 317...Collection container, 318...Inlet, 319...Head mounting lid, 320...Sensor (for print head), 321...Partition, 322...Seal section, 400...Inkjet recording device

Claims

1. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising: a main body having an ink container for containing ink for printing on an object to be printed and a cleaning solution container for containing cleaning solution; a print head having a nozzle connected to the ink container from which pressurized ink is discharged, a charging electrode for charging ink particles used for printing, a deflection electrode for deflecting the ink particles charged by the charging electrode, and a gutter for collecting ink particles not used for printing, The storage unit comprises: a storage unit body that communicates with a waste liquid discharge port of a waste liquid path for discharging at least one of the ink and the cleaning liquid as waste liquid, and has a waste liquid space formed therein for the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge port; and a connected portion that has a connecting path formed therein, which is a space that communicates the waste liquid space with the outside of the storage unit body, and to which a waste liquid recovery member is connected for recovering the waste liquid that has entered the waste liquid space through the connecting path. Inkjet recording device.

2. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The storage unit body is formed with the waste liquid space such that the top is open. The wastewater discharge port is provided on the side surface that forms the wastewater space. Inkjet recording device.

3. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The aforementioned storage unit is As the waste liquid recovery member, A waste liquid storage space is formed having an open inlet, the inlet is detachably connected to the connected portion, and with the inlet connected to the connected portion, the waste liquid storage space and the connection path are in communication, and the waste liquid that enters the waste liquid space through the connection path flows into the waste liquid storage space, including a recovery container. Inkjet recording device.

4. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The aforementioned storage unit is As the waste liquid recovery member, A waste liquid passage is formed between an inlet into which the waste liquid flows and an outlet from which the waste liquid is discharged, the inlet is detachably connected to the connected portion, and with the inlet connected to the connected portion, the waste liquid passage and the connecting path are in communication, and the waste liquid that enters the waste liquid space through the connecting path flows into the waste liquid passage, including a waste liquid recovery connecting pipe. Inkjet recording device.

5. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, At least one of the storage unit body and the body is provided with a joint for connecting the waste liquid path to the storage unit body. Inkjet recording device.

6. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, A pump and a solenoid valve that perform a wastewater operation to cause the wastewater in the wastewater path to flow toward the wastewater outlet and discharge it from the wastewater outlet, A control unit that controls the operation of the pump and the solenoid valve, Equipped with, The control unit controls the pump and the solenoid valve to clean the wastewater path and the wastewater outlet with the cleaning liquid before and after the wastewater operation. Inkjet recording device.

7. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, The ink recovery path between the gutter and the ink container, The waste liquid path branched off from the aforementioned ink recovery path, It has, The pump and the solenoid valve are installed in the ink recovery path and the waste liquid path, The control unit, When performing the wastewater operation, the pump and the solenoid valve are controlled so that the wastewater flows into the wastewater path and the flow of the wastewater into the path between the branching point of the wastewater path and the ink container is blocked. In the normal state when the aforementioned waste liquid operation is not performed, the pump and the solenoid valve are controlled to block the flow of the waste liquid into the waste liquid path and allow the waste liquid to flow into the path between the branching point and the ink container. Inkjet recording device.

8. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, The ink container is equipped with a detection unit for detecting the amount of liquid inside the ink container. The control unit acquires the liquid volume from the detection unit and manages the liquid volume by controlling the wastewater operation based on the acquired liquid volume. Inkjet recording device.

9. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The waste liquid space is a space on which the print head can be placed. Inkjet recording device.

10. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9, The storage unit body further includes a cleaning fluid outlet for discharging a head cleaning fluid for cleaning the print head, The head cleaning fluid discharged from the cleaning fluid outlet enters the waste liquid space. Inkjet recording device.

11. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 10, The waste liquid outlet is positioned such that, with the print head placed in the waste liquid space, the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid outlet does not come into contact with the print head. Inkjet recording device.

12. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 10, The storage unit body is equipped with a drying nozzle from which air is discharged toward the waste liquid space. Inkjet recording device.

13. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 12, The drying nozzle is positioned and oriented so as to be able to dry the head cleaning liquid adhering to the nozzle, charging electrode, deflection electrode, and gutter of the print head when the print head is placed in the waste liquid space. Inkjet recording device.

14. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The storage unit is located inside the main body. Inkjet recording device.

15. In the inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, The waste liquid space is provided with a partition that separates the space where the waste liquid outlet is located from the space where the print head is located, and the partition is inclined. Inkjet recording device.

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