Patent Application
20210155002
The present disclosure relates to an ejection apparatus and a deposition suppression method.
When borderless recording or preliminary ink ejection is performed in an inkjet recording apparatus, ink is ejected to a region outside a recording medium. In order to prevent the ejected ink from soiling the inside of the apparatus, some inkjet recording apparatuses include an ink absorber disposed at a position outside a recording medium and opposing the movement path of a recording head. However, such recording apparatuses are often troubled by ink deposited on the surface of the ink absorber.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-167945 discusses a technique for detecting ink deposited on the scanning path of a recording head in the main body of a recording apparatus. The recording apparatus is provided with a detection unit including a light emission unit and a light receiving unit. The detection unit detects the height of the deposited ink by receiving, by the light receiving unit, light emitted from the light emission unit. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-167945 also discusses a technique in which, when deposition is detected, ink less likely to deposit than other types of ink is ejected to the deposition, so that solidified ink is re-fluidized and absorbed by an absorption unit. United States Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0050400 discusses a technique in which ink is ejected to an absorber after borderless recording in order to suppress the deposition of ink.
However, it has been found out that, some types of ink are difficult to recover from the deposited state once being solidified, depending on the property, and such types of ink require a large amount of ink for re-fluidization. In the case of using ink with such a property, if deposition is to be re-fluidized after the detection of the deposition, the amount of ink to be applied to the deposition for re-fluidization is large.
The present disclosure is directed to eliminating the deposition of ink and also reducing the amount of ink required to eliminate the deposition, even when ink difficult to recover from the deposited state once being deposited is ejected onto an absorber.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an ejection apparatus includes a platen configured to support a recording medium, an absorber provided in the platen and configured to absorb a liquid, an ejection unit configured to eject a plurality of types of ink including at least a first liquid containing a component to be deposited in a case where the first liquid is ejected onto the absorber, and a second liquid being a different type of liquid from the first liquid and being capable of suppressing deposition of the first liquid, a detection unit configured to detect a state of a predetermined region of the absorber, and a control unit configured to control the detection unit to detect the state of the predetermined region, and control the ejection unit to eject the second liquid to the predetermined region based on a result of the detection by the detection unit. In a case where the first liquid is ejected to the predetermined region in an ejection operation, the control unit controls the ejection unit to eject the second liquid to the predetermined region after the ejection of the first liquid to the predetermined region is finished, without using the result of the detection by the detection unit.
Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The feeding unit includes a feeding tray on which a plurality of sheets of the recording medium P is stacked, and a feeding roller that feeds the plurality of sheets of the recording medium P, which is stacked on the feeding tray, one by one to the inside of the recording apparatus 1.
The conveyance unit includes a conveyance roller 8 that conveys the recording medium P fed from the feeding unit, and a pinch roller 9 (refer to
The recording unit includes a recording head 3 (refer to
The discharge unit includes discharge rollers 10 (refer to
The recovery unit includes a cap 30 (refer to
A reference plate 14 for checking whether an output from a detection sensor 13 (refer to
Next, a configuration of a periphery of the recording unit will be described in detail.
While the conveyance of the recording medium P is stopped, ink droplets are ejected from the ejection ports of the recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 2 that is moving in the X direction, so that an image corresponding to one band (one line break) is recorded onto the recording medium P. When the image corresponding to one band is recorded, the recording medium P is conveyed in the Y direction by a predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 8 being driven by a conveyance motor (not illustrated). By alternately repeating the reciprocation of the carriage 2 and the ink droplet ejection performed by the recording head 3, and the conveyance (intermittent conveyance) of the recording medium P by a predetermined amount performed by the conveyance roller 8, an image is recorded on the entire recording medium P.
On the ejection port surface 20 of the recording head 3, a plurality of ejection port arrays for ejecting the respective ink colors is arranged in the Y direction. A recording element is arranged immediately above each of the ejection ports (in plus Z direction). The recording element is an electrothermal conversion element. Thermal energy is generated by application of a voltage to the recording element, so that ink is ejected from the ejection port by the thermal energy. In addition, instead of the electrothermal conversion element, a piezoelectric element, an electrostatic element, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) element can also be used as the recording element.
The carriage 2 is provided with the detection sensor 13 serving as a detection unit including a light emission unit 201 (refer to
The platen 15 extends in a main scanning direction along a scanning path of the recording head 3 in order to support the conveyed recording medium P from below. The platen 15 includes the absorber 21 for absorbing ink ejected outside the recording medium P during borderless recording. The absorber 21 also absorbs ink ejected during a preliminary ejection operation that is performed to maintain or improve the ejected state of ink and does not contribute to recording. In the present exemplary embodiment, the absorber 21 is in the form of a sponge so as to easily absorb ink, and has asperities on the surface. The ink absorbed by the absorber 21 is thereafter collected by a waste ink container (not illustrated) provided in the lower part of the recording apparatus 1. The waste ink container also collects ink discharged to the cap 30. In the present exemplary embodiment, when borderless recording is performed, ink is ejected from the recording head 3 up to a region protruding outward about 3 mm from the ends of the recording medium P. Referring to
A nonvolatile memory 318 stores information such as the amount of ink stored in the waste ink container, the amount of ink discharged to the absorber 21, a discharge time, and ink information. The nonvolatile memory 318 can hold the information even if the recording apparatus 1 is powered OFF. The amount of ink discharged to the absorber 21 is measured by counting, based on recording data, the amount of ink ejected to the outside of the recording medium P. In addition, the amount of ink stored in the waste ink container is calculated by counting the amount of ink discharged to the absorber 21 and to the cap 30, and multiplying the counted ink amount by an evaporation coefficient. An ink tank remaining amount management unit 313 manages information regarding the remaining amount of each of the ink tanks 12 based on the ink information stored in the nonvolatile memory 318. The CPU 300 displays, on a display connected to the host apparatus, a warning prompting a user to replace any of the ink tanks 12 if the remaining amount thereof stored in the ink tank remaining amount management unit 313 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount.
A recovery control circuit 308 controls driving of a recovery system motor 309, and controls a recovery operation such as an up-down operation of the cap 30, an operation of the wiper 32, and an operation of the suction pump 31.
An image input unit 303 temporarily stores image data input from the host apparatus via the interface 304. The image data input to the image input unit 303 is subjected to predetermined image processing by an image signal processing unit 314, so that recording data available for a recording operation is generated. The recording head 3 and the carriage 2 are controlled based on the recording data.
A head drive control circuit 315 drives the recording elements of the recording head 3. By driving the recording elements, the head drive control circuit 315 causes the recording head 3 to perform an ink ejection operation or a preliminary ejection operation. A carriage drive control circuit 307 controls the reciprocation of the carriage 2 in the main scanning direction (X direction), and also controls the movement of the carriage 2 to move the recording head 3 above a maintenance unit in order to perform a suction operation. A paper feed control circuit 316 controls driving of the conveyance motor based on a program stored in the RAM 302.
A sensor control unit 306 controls the detection sensor 13 and a humidity sensor 16. The detection sensor 13 emits light from the light emission unit 201 to the absorber 21, and outputs, as a voltage, the amount of specularly reflected light received by the light receiving unit 203. The humidity sensor 16 is provided in the recording apparatus 1, and measures the humidity inside the recording apparatus 1.
To check whether the output voltage is correct, the detection sensor 13 is moved above the reference plate 14 to emit light from the light emission unit 201 to the reference plate 14 and receive reflected light from the reference plate 14 using the light receiving unit 203. If the output voltage corresponding to the received reflected light falls within a preset range, the output voltage is determined to be normal. In the present exemplary embodiment, the reference plate 14 is positioned on the opposite side of the standby position in the X direction, but the reference plate 14 may be provided on the same side as the standby position in the X direction. By providing the reference plate 14 on the same side as the standby position, the reference plate 14 and the standby position are located nearby, and thus the time to move the detection sensor 13 is shortened and the time required to determine whether the output voltage is normal can be reduced.
When ink is to be deposited on the absorber 21, first of all, moisture in the ink is vaporized in the absorber 21 and viscosity of the ink increases. This causes the ink to fail to reach the waste ink container, stay in the absorber 21, and become solidified. At this time, solid components in the ink are solidified. The solid components are mainly pigment. Non-vaporized moisture is also included therein.
Ink accumulated on the solidified ink also becomes solidified in the absorber 21 due to the moisture being vaporized. As a result, the ink is deposited up to a height equal to the surface of the absorber 21. Due to the ink being solidified on the surface, the asperities on the surface are filled with ink, and the surface becomes smoother than that in a state where no ink adheres to the absorber 21. After that, if the absorber 21 becomes unable to absorb the ink any more, the ink is further deposited. In the present exemplary embodiment, the state where the surface of the absorber 21 is smoother than the original state due to the ink being deposited and solidified up to the surface is regarded as a state where ink is deposited.
In the present exemplary embodiment, if the output value is equal to or larger than the threshold value X (v), it is determined that ink is deposited. Alternatively, another method may be used. For example, comparison may be made with a value detected in a state where the absorber 21 is not soiled, and it may be determined that ink is deposited, when a difference between the two output values is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The detected value in the state where the absorber 21 is not soiled may be preset, or may be obtained when the use of the recording apparatus 1 is started.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the example in which ink deposition is detected based on the specularly reflected light has been described. Alternatively, ink deposition may be detected using diffused reflection, or based on a difference in reflection intensity due to the height of deposited state.
When ink is ejected onto the absorber 21, some types of ink (hereinafter referred to as deposition ink) become solidified and easily deposited on the absorber 21, and the other types of ink (hereinafter referred to as deposition suppression ink) are difficult to deposit. The deposition suppression ink can be easily absorbed into the absorber 21, and can promote the absorption of deposited pigment ink.
In addition, the deposition ink (easy-to-deposit ink) includes ink (hereinafter referred to as aggregation ink) that is difficult to recover from the deposited state. The aggregation ink requires a large amount of deposition suppression ink to be ejected for re-fluidization and recovery from the deposited state. The deposition ink other than the aggregation ink is referred to as re-fluidization ink.
Hereinafter, an evaluation method according to the present exemplary embodiment for defining the deposition ink and the deposition suppression ink, and further defining the aggregation ink and the re-fluidization ink in the deposition ink will be described.
The evaluation is intended to define the deposition ink and the deposition suppression ink.
Regarding ink deposition, the following evaluation was performed. In the present exemplary embodiment, a solid image recorded by ejecting eight ink droplets each having a mass of 3.5 ng, to a region with 1/600 inches× 1/600 inches is defined to have a recording duty ratio of 100%. For each type of ink, borderless recording was performed on the entire surface of an A4-sized recording medium at a recording duty ratio of 25%. After the recording was performed onto 500 sheets of the recording medium, the state of the absorber 21 was visually checked and evaluated for deposition. If a state where the surface of the absorber 21 is filled with ink or a state where the ink is deposited up to a height higher than the surface has been visually observed, it is determined that the ink is deposited.
On the other hand, deposition of black ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, red ink, and cyan ink occurred as illustrated in
The evaluation is intended to define the aggregation ink and the re-fluidization ink in the deposition ink. In a case where deposition is caused by the re-fluidization ink ejected onto the absorber, it is easier to re-fluidize the deposition by ejecting the deposition suppression ink to the deposition, than in a case where deposition is caused by the aggregation ink ejected onto the absorber.
In the evaluation 1, the deposition ink ejected onto the absorber 21 was brought into the state illustrated in
On the other hand, as illustrated in
Here, because the ease of deposition is proportional to the amount of solid components, the above-described types of ink are classified as the deposition ink and the deposition suppression ink based on the amount of solid components. Alternatively, the above-described types of ink may be classified as the deposition ink and the deposition suppression ink based on the amount of solvent or moisturizing agent contained therein. This is because, if the deposition suppression ink contains a large amount of solvent, a rise in viscosity of ink can be suppressed, and ink can be made easily absorbable into the absorber 21. Thus, pigment ink that contains a large amount of solvent or moisturizing agent can also be easily absorbed into an ink absorber, and be classified as the deposition suppression ink. In addition, depending on the property of pigment, some types of pigment are easy to deposit, the other types of pigment are difficult to deposit. If ink contains a large amount of pigment, but the pigment has a property of being difficult to deposit, the ink may be classified as the deposition suppression ink.
The following two tests were performed regarding a method for eliminating deposition of black ink which is the aggregation ink difficult to recover from the deposited state.
An operation of performing borderless recording at a recording duty ratio of 25% using black ink (aggregation ink), and then performing borderless recording at a recording duty ratio of 125% using clear ink (deposition suppression ink) was repeated 500 times. The result shows a state illustrated in
As described above, it is possible to prevent the deposition of the aggregation ink from occurring by mixing the deposition suppression ink at a ratio equal to or larger than a predetermined ratio before the aggregation ink is solidified and deposited. In the test 1, the ratio between the black ink amount and the clear ink amount in one operation is 1:5.
An operation of performing borderless recording at a recording duty ratio of 25% using black ink (aggregation ink), and then performing borderless recording at a recording duty ratio of 25% using clear ink (deposition suppression ink) was repeated 500 times. The result shows a state illustrated in
From this result, it has been found out that, even if the amount of deposition suppression ink mixed into the aggregation ink in one operation is insufficient, the deposition can be eliminated by mixing the deposition suppression ink at a certain ratio or more and by additionally ejecting the deposition suppression ink when the aggregation ink is deposited.
In the test 2, the ratio of between the black ink amount and the clear ink amount in one operation is 1:1, and the clear ink amount corresponding to a recording duty ratio of 200% is used to eliminate the deposition after the operation 500 times. Thus, the clear ink amount used in the test 2 is the same as when the clear ink amount corresponding to a recording duty ratio of 25.4% (25%+200%/500 times) is used in one operation. In other words, the clear ink amount used in the test 2 is the same as when clear ink is ejected and mixed into black ink at a ratio of 25.4%/25%≠1.02 in one operation.
It has been found out that, while both the methods used in the tests 1 and 2 can eliminate the deposition, the method used in the test 2 can reduce the total consumption of deposition suppression ink to about ⅕. In addition, because the amount of ink ejected in one operation in the test 2 is smaller than that in the test 1, the ejection time of the deposition suppression ink in one operation can also be reduced.
In the present exemplary embodiment, ink deposition is suppressed using the method in the test 2. More specifically, when the aggregation ink is ejected in borderless recording, the deposition suppression ink corresponding to a recording duty ratio of 25% in the test 2 is ejected after completion of the recording, as the ink for the deposition suppression processing. If the detection sensor 13 determines that the ink is deposited on the absorber 21, the deposition suppression ink corresponding to a recording duty ratio of 200% in the test 2 is ejected to eliminate the deposition. The ratio of ink for the deposition suppression processing or ink for the deposition elimination processing to the aggregation ink in the test 2 is not limited to the ratio described in the test 2, and a suitable ratio can be set depending on the property of ink, an environmental temperature, and humidity. However, the amount of ink to be used for the deposition suppression processing in one operation is set to the amount smaller than the amount of ink to be ejected to eliminate the deposition after the detection of the deposition.
The amount of ink to be used for the deposition suppression processing is determined based on the number of aggregation dots obtained by subtracting, from the aggregation ink ejected to each count region in borderless recording, the deposition suppression ink ejected with the aggregation ink in the same ejection operation. The number of aggregation dots can be obtained using Formula (1) to be described below. In the present exemplary embodiment, the ink to be ejected for the deposition suppression processing is clear ink.
Number of aggregation dots=number of black dots−(number of light cyan dots+number of light magenta dots+number of gray dots+number of clear ink dots) (1)
In the present exemplary embodiment, by calculating the number of aggregation dots, which is the difference between the number of dots of aggregation ink and the number of dots of deposition suppression ink, information regarding the deposition state of the aggregation ink is acquired. Alternatively, for example, only the number of dots of aggregation ink may be calculated as the number of aggregation dots. In addition, the re-fluidization ink such as red ink may be included in counting the number of dots of aggregation ink (refer to Formula (2)). In the present exemplary embodiment, the number of ejected ink dots is counted. Alternatively, the ejected amount of ink or the ratio thereof may be calculated.
Number of aggregation dots=number of black dots+number of magenta dots+number of yellow dots+number of red dots+number of cyan dots−(number of light cyan dots+number of light magenta dots+number of gray dots+number of clear ink dots) (2)
The ROM 301 prestores a table defining the number of ink dots (the number of dots) to be ejected for the deposition suppression processing that corresponds to the number of aggregation dots. The CPU 300 determines the number of deposition suppression ink dots to be ejected to each count region, based on the calculated number of aggregation dots in each count region.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the number of deposition suppression dots AT, which is the number of deposition suppression ink dots to be ejected for the deposition suppression processing is calculated using the following Formula (3).
Number of deposition suppression dots=number of aggregation dots×M (3)
The coefficient M is preset and indicates the ratio of the number of deposition suppression ink dots to the number of aggregation dots, which is required to re-fluidize the deposited aggregation ink. For example, when the result of the test 2 is applied, a recording duty ratio of 25% is required for clear ink with respect to a recording duty ratio of 25% for black ink, and thus the coefficient M is 1.
First of all, in step S11, the CPU 300 calculates the number of aggregation dots ejected to a count region of the absorber 21 in borderless recording, using the Formula (1).
Next, in step S12, the CPU 300 determines whether the number of aggregation dots is equal to or larger than 1. If the number of aggregation dots is less than 1 (NO in step S12), it is determined that the aggregation ink (black ink in the present exemplary embodiment) that is likely to deposit does not exist in the count region, and the processing proceeds to step S15. If the number of aggregation dots is equal to or larger than 1 (YES in step S12), it is determined that the aggregation ink that is likely to deposit exists in the count region, and the processing proceeds to step S13.
In step S13, the CPU 300 calculates the number of deposition suppression dots, more specifically, the number of dots of deposition suppression ink (clear ink in the present exemplary embodiment) to be ejected to the count region of the absorber 21 for the deposition suppression processing, using the Formula (3). Then, in step S14, the deposition suppression ink is ejected to the count region based on the number of dots calculated in step S13. When the deposition suppression ink is ejected in a state where the carriage 2 is stopped, the deposition suppression ink is ejected to the entire count region. Thus, the CPU 300 performs the processing in step S14 in the state where the carriage 2 is stopped.
In step S15, the CPU 300 determines whether the processing in steps S11 to S14 has been completed for all the count regions. If the processing has been completed for all the count regions (YES in step S15), the deposition suppression processing ends. If the processing has not been completed for all the count regions (NO in step S15), the processing in steps S11 to S14 is performed for the next count region.
In the above-described manner, the deposition suppression processing is completed. In the processing illustrated in
In the above-described processing, the deposition suppression processing is executed after borderless recording. Alternatively, the deposition suppression processing may be performed at another timing after the injection operation of the aggregation ink. For example, when recording other than borderless recording is performed and preliminary ejection is executed during the recording or after the recording, the deposition suppression processing may be executed after the recording. Alternatively, the deposition suppression processing may be executed immediately after the preliminary ejection during the recording. Alternatively, the deposition suppression processing may be executed after preliminary ejection for recovering the ejection state of the recording head 3 before recording or at power-on of the recording apparatus 1. In addition, the deposition suppression processing may be executed for not only ink ejected to the absorber 21, but also for ink ejected to a preliminary ejection receiver for receiving preliminary ejection ink, and ink discharged to the cap 30. Hereinafter, a method for performing the deposition suppression processing after preliminary ejection will be described.
When 100 scans are performed to record an image on one recording medium P, if the Formula (1) in the present exemplary embodiment is applied, the number of aggregation dots per scan is as follows. It is assumed here that the preliminary ejection is performed every time one scan is completed. Alternatively, the preliminary ejection may be performed every time a predetermined number of scans are completed.
Number of aggregation dots=number of black dots−(number of light cyan dots+number of light magenta dots+number of gray dots+number of clear ink dots)=50−(10+10+10+10)=10
Next, the number of dots of deposition suppression ink to be ejected to the preliminary ejection position for the deposition suppression processing is calculated using the Formula (3) in the present exemplary embodiment. In the Formula (3), M=1 is set.
Number of deposition suppression dots=number of aggregation dots×M=10×1=10
If the Formulae (1) and (3) are applied as described above, for one scan, it is necessary to additionally eject 10 dots of clear ink as the deposition suppression ink for the deposition suppression processing separately from the preliminary ejection. More specifically, in order to complete recording one recording medium P, 1000 dots (10 dots×100 scans) of deposition suppression ink are required to be ejected for the deposition suppression processing.
In step S31, the CPU 300 calculates, using the Formula (1), the number of aggregation dots ejected to the preliminary ejection position of the absorber 21 in a preliminary ejection operation.
Next, in step S32, the CPU 300 calculates the number of deposition suppression dots based on the number of aggregation dots calculated in step S31. Then, in step S33, the deposition suppression ink is ejected to the preliminary ejection position based on the number of dots calculated in step S32.
In the above-described manner, the deposition suppression processing is performed at the preliminary ejection position.
In addition, at the time of borderless recording, the number of deposition suppression dots may be calculated by collectively counting the number of aggregation dots for preliminary ejection and the number of aggregation dots for borderless recording that are to be ejected to the preliminary ejection position.
First of all, in step S21, the CPU 300 determines whether conditions for detecting ink deposition are satisfied. The conditions are preset and stored in the ROM 301. As the conditions, the number of sheets subjected to borderless recording is set to a predetermined number or more, and the humidity is set to a predetermined value or less. In the present exemplary embodiment, the number of sheets subjected to borderless recording is set to 500 or more, and the humidity is set to 10% or less. Information regarding the number of sheets subjected to borderless recording and the humidity that is stored in the ROM 301 is updatable. The information is updated as necessary, and each time the information is updated, the updated information is stored into the ROM 301. In this step, the CPU 300 acquires the information from the ROM 301 to compare the information with the conditions, and determines whether the conditions are satisfied. If all the conditions are satisfied (YES in step S21), the processing proceeds to step S22 to perform detection. If any one of the conditions is unsatisfied (NO in step S21), the detection is not performed, and the processing proceeds to step S27. The conditions are not limited to the above-described conditions. As the conditions, the time elapsed from the last time the deposition state is detected may be set to a predetermined time or more such as 100 hours or more, and the remaining amount of deposition suppression ink to be ejected to eliminate the deposition may be set to a predetermined amount or more such as 10% or more with respect to the capacity. As the conditions, conditions under which ink deposition can occur, or conditions under which ink deposition can be eliminated if detected can be set. In addition, the detection may be performed if all the conditions are satisfied, or the detection may be performed if any of the conditions is satisfied.
If it is determined in step S21 that all the condition are satisfied (YES in step 21), the processing proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the carriage 2 is moved to a position at which the reference plate 14 is detectable, and the reference plate 14 is detected to acquire a sensor output value Y (v). The sensor output value Y (v) varies depending on aging degradation of the detection sensor 13. The sensor output value Y (v) acquired in this step is used to correct the sensor output value to be acquired in step S24 to be described below.
Next, in step S23, the carriage 2 is moved to a position at which the deposition state at the position E of the absorber 21 is detectable. Then, in step S24, the detection sensor 13 emits light to the position E and receives reflected light from the position E, so that a sensor output value Z (v) corresponding to the amount of received reflected light is acquired. After this step, a sensor output value Z (v)/Y (v) is used, which is obtained by correcting the sensor output value Z (v) with the sensor output value Y (v) acquired in step S21.
In step S25, the CPU 300 determines whether the sensor output value Z (v)/Y (v) acquired in step S24 is equal to or larger than the threshold value X (v). As described above with reference to
In step S26, the deposition suppression ink is ejected to the position E. The deposition suppression ink to be ejected is preset to a certain amount.
In step S27, the CPU 300 determines whether the determination has been completed for all the positions E. If the determination has been completed for all the positions E (YES in step S27), the deposition elimination processing ends. If the determination has not been completed for all the positions E (NO in step S27), the processing returns to step S21, and the processing is performed for the next position E.
In the above-described manner, the deposition elimination processing is completed. In addition, in the processing illustrated in
When ink is ejected from the recording head 3, part of the ejected ink becomes mist and drifts in the recording apparatus 1. If the reference plate 14 is soiled by the mist, an erroneous output value is detected even when the detection sensor 13 is not deteriorated. In this case, if the detected value is used for correction, an erroneous result is detected. Thus, if the sensor output value (Y) (v) acquired when the reference plate 14 is detected in step S22 exceeds a preset range, the CPU 300 may determine not to perform the subsequent processing because a correct value cannot be calculated. The range preset for the sensor output value (Y) (v) is larger than an error caused by the deterioration of the detection sensor 13.
By performing the above-described processing, even when the aggregation ink difficult to recover from the deposited state once being deposited is ejected onto the absorber 21, it is possible to eliminate the deposition and also reduce the amount of ink required to eliminate the deposition.
In the above-described exemplary embodiment, clear ink is used as the deposition suppression ink for suppressing deposition in the deposition suppression processing, and is used as the deposition suppression ink for eliminating deposition in the deposition elimination processing, but another type of deposition suppression ink may be used. Alternatively, a plurality of types of deposition suppression ink may be used. For example, light cyan ink and clear ink can be used as the deposition suppression ink. It is desirable that when the plurality of types of deposition suppression ink is used, the ink to be used in a smaller amount in recording is used in a higher ratio in the processing. For example, if light cyan ink and clear ink are used as the deposition suppression ink and the amount of clear ink to be used is larger in recording, light cyan ink and clear ink may be used in a ratio of 2:1 in the processing.
While in the present exemplary embodiment, the description has been given using pigment ink as an example, the present exemplary embodiment can be applied to any apparatus that can eject a liquid that contains solid components and is easy to deposit, and a liquid that can re-fluidize deposited solid components.
Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-211539, filed Nov. 22, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-211539 | Nov 2019 | JP | national |
