Recording device

Abstract

To shorten till the time of operation start which needs supply of ink by a tube after release of tube blocking means.SOLUTION: A recording device determines standby time before starting an operation which needs supply of ink after release of a tube blocking state on the basis of elapsed time of the tube blocking state and temperature of the recording device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In an inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink onto a recording medium to record an image, it is known to supply ink from an ink tank disposed in the apparatus to a recording head through a tube. In an inkjet recording apparatus having such a configuration, the tube for ink supply may be crushed and blocked for operations such as ink filling operation at the time of initial installation, prevention of ink leakage to the outside during apparatus transportation, and degassing in the tube. When the crushed tube is released, it restores to a state where ink supply is possible.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses that an elastic material such as an elastomer or silicone rubber is used as the material of the tube so that it is easily crushed when crushed and easily restored when released.

Prior Art Documents

[0007] One possible approach is to wait until the worst-case scenario occurs, when it is estimated that the sticking inside the tube will be resolved and ink will flow sufficiently after the blockage is released. However, there may be cases where waiting is necessary even when the sticking has already been resolved, resulting in unnecessary waiting time before the start of operations that require ink supply through the tube.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to shorten the time from when the tube occlusion means is released until the start of operation requiring ink supply by the tube. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a recording device comprising: a tube for supplying ink to a recording head; a blocking means for crushing the tube and creating a blocked state that stops the flow of ink inside the tube; an elapsed time acquisition means for acquiring the elapsed time from when the blocking means is put into a blocked state until the blocked state is released; and a determination means for determining, based on the elapsed time, a waiting time from when the blocked state of the tube by the blocking means is released until an operation requiring ink supply is started. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention makes it possible to shorten the time from when the tube occlusion means is released until the start of operation requiring ink supply by the tube. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram of a supply tube according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing a tube occlusion mechanism according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing the process from the start of tube occlusion to the release of the occlusion and the determination of the printing waiting time. [Figure 6] This figure shows the relationship between the elapsed time in the blocked state, the internal temperature, and the estimated waiting time until the sticking inside the tube is resolved. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] A recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not limiting to the present invention, and not all combinations of features described in these embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0013] <First Embodiment> (Configuration of an inkjet recording device) Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an inkjet recording device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording device) according to this embodiment. The ink tank 101 is detachably mounted on an ink tank holder 102 provided on the main body of the device. The ink tank holder 102 is individually equipped with ink tanks 101, each containing four pigment inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The ink tanks 101 supply ink of each color to the recording head 107 mounted on the carriage 108 via a supply tube 106. The carriage 108 detachably mounts the recording head 107. The transport mechanism 109 transports the recording sheet (recording medium) 111, supported by a platen, in the transport direction A. The carriage 108 is configured to reciprocate in a direction intersecting the transport direction A. The carriage 108 has a nozzle surface on which the recording head 107 has multiple nozzles capable of ejecting ink of each color. While the transport of the recording sheet 111 is stopped, the carriage 108 moves along the recording sheet 111, and the recording head 107 performs a recording operation to record an image on the recording sheet 111 by ejecting ink from the ejection port while the carriage 108 is moving. In this embodiment, the ink tank 101 is detachable from the main body of the device, but the ink tank may be fixed to the main body and ink may be injected into the ink tank from an ink bottle or the like.

[0014] Figure 2 schematically shows the configuration of the ink tank, supply tube, and recording head. The ink tank 101 and the recording head 107 are connected by a supply tube 106, and the supply tube 106 is equipped with a tube blocking mechanism 212 that compresses the supply tube 106 to block the flow of ink.

[0015] Next, the tube closure mechanism 212 will be described. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic cross-sectional views of the tube closure mechanism 212. As shown in Figure 3, the cover member 162 and the holding member 169 hold the supply tube 106, and as mentioned above, one end of the supply tube 106 is connected to the recording head 107 and the other end is connected to the ink tank 101.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the displacement member 164 includes a pressing portion 164a that presses against the supply tube 106 and is biased by a spring (not shown) relative to the cam 165, and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the cam 165. The receiving member 163 is a member for receiving the displacement member 164 which is displaced in a direction that interferes with the supply tube 106, and includes a contact portion 163a. ​​The receiving member 163 is provided on the side of the supply tube 106 opposite to the side on which the displacement member 164 is provided. As shown in Figure 3(b), the pressing portion 164a of the displacement member 164 presses against the contact portion 163a of the receiving member 163 and crushes the supply tube 106, thereby closing the inside of the supply tube 106 and cutting off the ink supply from the ink tank 101 to the recording head 107. The cam 165 is rotated by a motor (not shown) and is controlled by a tube closing mechanism control circuit 211 (see Figure 4).

[0017] The supply tube 106 is made of an elastic material such as elastomer or silicone, but if it is crushed and blocked for a long period of time, sticking may occur on the tube. When sticking occurs, the supply tube 106 remains stuck even after the blockage caused by the blocking mechanism is released, and the ink cannot flow normally. The duration of this condition varies depending on the elapsed time in the blocked state, the temperature during the blocked state, and the temperature after the tube is released. This is because, due to the properties of the tube material, the longer it remains crushed, the more difficult it is to return to its original state, and the higher the temperature during the blocked state, the more likely the tube is to stick.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. The CPU 202 executes control and data processing of each part of the apparatus via the main bus line 209. The CPU 202 controls data processing, driving of the recording head, driving of the carriage, etc. according to the program stored in the ROM 203 via the following respective parts, thereby executing a recording operation, a recovery operation (including a preliminary discharge and a suction operation), etc. Further, the CPU 202 performs communication processing with the host device via the interface 201. The RAM 204 is used as a work area for data processing by the CPU 202 and temporarily stores recording data.

[0019] The image input unit 207 can temporarily hold an image input from the host device via the interface 201. The head drive control circuit 216 controls the driving for ink ejection by the recording head 107 and causes the recording head 107 to perform a preliminary discharge operation and ink ejection in the recording operation. The carriage drive circuit 230 controls the reciprocating movement operation of the carriage 108 according to the print data processed by the image signal processing unit 206. The conveyance control circuit 232 controls the conveyance operation of the recording sheet 111 by the conveyance mechanism 109. The tube block mechanism control circuit 211 controls the tube block mechanism 212 that closes the supply tube 106 by crushing it to stop the flow of ink.

[0020] Further, the temperature sensor 210 is a thermistor mounted on the printed circuit board inside the device and is used to detect the ambient temperature inside the device. The temperature sensor 210 is configured such that the voltage level between GND and Vcc of the signal line to which the thermistor is connected indicates the temperature detected by the circuit in the printed circuit board. This signal line is input to the A / D port of the CPU 202, converted into a digital value, and then converted into temperature by referring to the A / D value - temperature table for the thermistor stored in the ROM 203. The non-volatile memory 205 stores information regarding the temperature inside the device body acquired by the temperature sensor 210, information regarding the elapsed time of the tube blockage state acquired by the timer 208, etc. Also, profile data showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the internal temperature in the blocked state and the estimated waiting time until the adhesion inside the tube is resolved is held in the non-volatile memory 205 or the ROM 203. Further, the non-volatile memory 205 can hold information even when the power supply of the device body is turned off. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 210 is provided to detect the temperature inside the device, but the temperature sensor may be provided to detect the temperature around the device. The temperature around the device can also be used to determine the estimated waiting time.

[0021] Next, a flow until the waiting time from when the supply tube 106 (hereinafter also referred to as the tube 106) in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment is blocked, left for a while, and then the tube 106 is returned to the open state until printing starts is determined will be described. This flowchart is shown in FIG. 5. This process is implemented by the CPU 202 controlling each control unit according to the program stored in the ROM 203.

[0022] First, after the standby state (also called the sleep state), which is a state where the power consumption is reduced from a state where the recording apparatus can immediately start recording, is entered by a user operation or automatically after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last recording. When a specified time has elapsed since entering the standby state, the process for blocking the tube 106 is started.

[0023] After acquiring the time A using the timer 208 in the recording device (step S401), the internal temperature Temp A is acquired using the temperature sensor 210 (step S402), and the time A and internal temperature Temp A are stored in the non-volatile memory 205.

[0024] Subsequently, the tube closure mechanism control circuit 211 controls the tube closure mechanism 212, causing the displacement member 164 to crush the tube 106 and close it (step S403). Once the tube 106 is closed, the timer 208 starts counting, and the timer 208 functions as a means for acquiring elapsed time. While the tube 106 remains closed by the tube closure mechanism 212, the timer 208 counts the elapsed time (step S405). Alternatively, the timer 208 may acquire only the current time, and the elapsed time may be calculated by the CPU 202.

[0025] After a specified time has elapsed (for example, 4 hours) (step S406), the timer 208 acquires the time Time B, and the temperature sensor 210 acquires the internal temperature Temp B at that time, and stores them in the non-volatile memory 205 (step S407). After another specified time has elapsed, the timer 208 acquires the time Time C, and the temperature sensor 210 acquires the internal temperature Temp C at that time, and stores them in the non-volatile memory 205. Thereafter, each time a specified time has elapsed, the timer 208 acquires the time Time D, E, etc., and the temperature sensor 210 acquires the internal temperature Temp D, E, etc. at that time, and stores them in the non-volatile memory 205.

[0026] When tube 106 is in a closed state, if the user operates it or the recording device receives a print job from the host device, a process is initiated to open tube 106 in order to transition from the standby state to a state where recording can be performed (step S404). The tube closure mechanism control circuit 211 controls the tube closure mechanism 212 to release the compression of tube 106 by the displacement member 164, allowing tube 106 to be opened from the closed state (step S408).

[0027] Next, the time Z is obtained by the timer 208 (step S409), and then the internal temperature Temp Z is obtained by the temperature sensor 210 (step S410). The time Z and internal temperature Temp Z are then stored in the non-volatile memory 205. Here, the acquisition of the time Z and internal temperature Temp Z may be performed before the operation to open the tube 106 from the closed state.

[0028] Next, the total elapsed time Time Prg during the blockage is calculated from time A and time Z (step S411). Also, the average temperature Temp Ave during the blockage is calculated from the internal temperatures Temp A to Temp Z from time A to time Z (step S412). In step S413, the relationship table (profile) illustrated in Figure 6 is retrieved from the non-volatile memory 205 or ROM 203. Then, the estimated waiting time until the sticking inside the tube is resolved is selected from the total elapsed time Time Prg and average temperature Temp Ave, and the waiting time until printing starts is determined (step S413).

[0029] The following is an example of the total elapsed time and average temperature during the occluded state. Time A: Day 1, 6:00 AM, Temp A: 22℃ Time B: Day 1, 11:00 AM (4 hours later), Temp B: 25℃ Time C: 16:00 on the first day (8 hours later), Temp: C: 35℃ Time D: 21:00 on the 1st day (12 hours later), Temp: D: 28℃ Time: Day 2, 02:00 (16 hours later), Temp: E: 25℃ Time F: Day 2, 07:00 (20 hours later), Temp: F: 22℃ Time F: Day 2, 12:00 PM (24 hours later), Temp: F: 35℃ Time Z: 2nd day 16:00 (28 hours later), Temp: Z: 30℃ In that case, the total elapsed time Time Prg is 28 hours. The average temperature (Temp Ave) is (22+25+35+28+25+22+35+30) / 7 = 31.7℃.

[0030] Applying the total elapsed time of 28 hours (1 day + 4 hours) and the average temperature of 31.7°C to the relationship between total elapsed time, average temperature, and estimated waiting time (Figure 6), a waiting time of 180 seconds is selected.

[0031] Until the selected waiting time has elapsed, the printing operation will not begin even if a print start command is issued, and the user will be notified that the system is waiting. The user may also be notified of the waiting time during this period.

[0032] Furthermore, in a system where a certain amount of ink can be stored on the recording head 107 side from the occluded portion of tube 106, the system may print a number of pages equal to that amount of ink even during the standby time.

[0033] Furthermore, in addition to the elapsed time and average internal temperature during the occluded state described above, the temperature when tube 106 is opened may be added as a parameter for selecting the waiting time. The rate at which the internal adhesion of tube 106 is resolved may also depend on the temperature when tube 106 is opened, and by adding the temperature when tube 106 is opened as a parameter, an even more optimal waiting time can be selected.

[0034] <Second Embodiment> A second embodiment will now be described. This embodiment describes a case where, in a tube-blocked state, the internal temperature cannot be obtained due to a lack of power supply to the temperature sensor 210, etc. Parts that are the same as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0035] If the cabin temperature cannot be obtained, the waiting time is calculated using only Temp A and Temp Z, as the cabin temperature cannot be obtained during the occluded state. Here, the average value of Temp A and Temp Z may be used as the cabin temperature Temp Ave for selecting the waiting time, or the higher of Temp A and Temp Z may be used. Also, if the temperature difference between Temp A and Temp Z is, for example, 10°C or less, Temp Ave will be used to determine the waiting time. However, if the temperature difference is greater than that, it may be assumed that a change in location or a significant change in the environment occurred during the occluded state, and the worst-case condition (600 seconds when using the profile in Figure 6) may be applied as the cabin temperature for determining the waiting time.

[0036] Furthermore, as an alternative method for obtaining the cabin temperature when it cannot be obtained due to tube blockage, the cabin temperature before the blockage occurs can be periodically obtained, and the average temperature within a specified time period can be used as the cabin temperature Temp Ave for determining the waiting time.

[0037] <Other Embodiments> In the above embodiment, the waiting time was selected using both the elapsed time in the tube-blocked state and the average internal temperature in that state. However, the waiting time may also be selected based solely on the elapsed time in the tube-blocked state. In this case, internal temperature information is not acquired, and the total elapsed time in the blocked state, Time Prg, is calculated from the times Time A and Time Z acquired from the timer 208. Then, the waiting time is selected from profile data showing the relationship between the elapsed time (not shown) and the estimated waiting time until the sticking inside the tube is resolved.

[0038] Alternatively, the standby time may be selected based solely on the internal temperature in the tube-blocked state. In this case, the standby time is selected from the average temperature Temp Ave mentioned above, or from profile data showing the relationship between the internal temperature (not shown) and the estimated standby time until the sticking inside the tube is resolved, using either the higher of Temp A and Temp Z in the above embodiment, or Temp Z. By reducing the conditions for determining the standby time in this way, the number of control units driven in standby mode can be reduced, thereby saving power.

[0039] Furthermore, although the above embodiment only targets the process of determining the waiting time for the start of printing, it can also be applied to determining the waiting time when initiating a recovery operation to restore the state of the recording head 107. The recovery operation is an operation that restores the ejection state of the recording head 107 by removing ink or debris that has solidified in the ejection port of the recording head, and includes, for example, pre-ejection of ink that is not ejected to record the image, or suction to suck out the ink in the ejection port. Since such recovery operations can be started without waiting until printing can be started, the waiting time can be set to be short. For this reason, two types of profiles may be prepared: a waiting time until printing starts and a waiting time until the recovery operation starts.

[0040] Furthermore, the time and cabin temperature can be obtained not from the timer 208 and temperature sensor 210 within the recording device, but from an external device, such as a PC connected to the recording device via USB or wireless communication, or from a wirelessly connected smart speaker. This allows the recording device to consume almost no power when the tube is blocked. Also, since it can be assumed that there is not a large difference between the cabin temperature and the room temperature, it is thought that there will be little error in the control.

[0041] With the embodiments described above, it is possible to appropriately set the waiting time until the sticking condition inside the tube is resolved after the tube has been released from the blockage mechanism. This prevents malfunctions in operations that require ink supply through the tube due to sticking, while also preventing the user from being made to wait excessively.

Claims

1. A tube for supplying ink to the recording head, A blocking means that crushes the tube and creates a blocked state that stops the flow of ink inside the tube, An elapsed time acquisition means for acquiring the elapsed time from when the blocking means is put into a blocked state until the blocked state is released, A determination means for determining the waiting time from when the blockage of the tube by the blocking means is released until an operation requiring ink supply is started, based on the elapsed time, A recording device having the following features.

2. The recording device further includes a temperature acquisition means for acquiring temperature information inside the recording device or temperature information around the recording device. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the elapsed time and the temperature information.

3. A tube for supplying ink to the recording head, A blocking means that crushes the tube and creates a blocked state that stops the flow of ink inside the tube, A temperature acquisition means for acquiring temperature information inside the recording device or temperature information around the recording device, A determination means that determines the waiting time from when the blockage of the tube by the blocking means is released until an operation requiring ink supply is started, based on the temperature information, A recording device having the following features.

4. The system further includes an elapsed time acquisition means for acquiring the elapsed time from when the blocking means is put into a blocked state until the blocked state is released. The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the determination means determines the waiting time based on the temperature information and the elapsed time.

5. The recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the average of the temperature information acquired by the temperature acquisition means when the tube is in a blocked state by the blocking means.

6. The recording device according to claim 5, wherein the determination means determines the waiting time based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition means when the tube is in a blocked state by the blocking means and the temperature information acquired by the temperature acquisition means after the blocking means releases the blocked state.

7. The recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the temperature information obtained by the temperature acquisition means before the tube is closed by the closing means and the temperature information obtained by the temperature acquisition means when the closing means releases the closing state, which indicates a higher temperature.

8. The recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the average temperature information of the temperature information acquired by the temperature acquisition means within a specified time before the tube is blocked by the blocking means.

9. The recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition means before the tube is blocked by the blocking means and the temperature information acquired by the temperature acquisition means after the blocking means releases the blocked state.

10. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the operation requiring the supply of ink is a printing operation by the recording head or a recovery operation to restore the ink ejection state of the recording head.

11. The recording device according to claim 10, characterized in that the recovery operation is a pre-discharge or suction operation.

12. The recording device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the temperature acquisition means is a temperature sensor provided within the recording device.

13. The recording device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the temperature acquisition means is connected to an external device in a communicative manner and acquires the temperature information from the external device.

14. The system has a holding means for holding a profile that defines the relationship between the elapsed time, the temperature information, and the waiting time. The recording device according to any one of claims 2 or 4, characterized in that the determination means determines the waiting time based on the profile held in the holding means.

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