Patent Application
20090102884
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-100473, filed Apr. 6, 2007, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects fluid from a nozzle opening and, more particularly, to a technology for covering a nozzle opening with a cap and sucks the inside of the cap when a fluid ejecting operation from the nozzle opening is not performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical fluid ejecting apparatus of this type may be, for example, an image recording apparatus, such as an ink jet printer, that performs recording by discharging and landing ink droplets onto a recording medium, such as recording paper. In addition, in recent years, the fluid ejecting apparatus is applied not only to the image recording apparatus but also to various manufacturing equipments. For example, in a manufacturing equipment for a display, such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or an FED (field emission display), the fluid ejecting apparatus is used to discharge various liquid materials, such as color materials or electrodes, onto a pixel forming region, an electrode forming region, or the like.
For example, the ink jet printer records an image on a recording material by ejecting ink from the nozzle openings of the ink jet head. In addition, at a non-printing time in which an image recording operation is not performed on a recording material, in order to prevent nozzle clogging because of dried ink, a cap is attached for the nozzle openings. Specifically, the cap has a cap opening that is open toward the ink jet head. At the non-printing time, a cap contact portion, which is provided at the peripheral portion of the cap opening, contacts the ink jet head. Furthermore, the cap is connected to a suction restoration device. That is, if the nozzles are clogged or foreign matter is included into the nozzles, the suction restoration device sucks the nozzles through the cap in a state where the cap is in contact with the ink jet head to thereby remove the clogging or the matter (clogging, or the like) (JP-A-7-108684).
In this manner, in the technology described in the patent document 1, in a state where the cap is in contact with the ink jet head (fluid ejecting head), a cap suction means, such as the suction restoration device, sucks the nozzles to thereby remove clogging, or the like. Specifically, in the technology described in the patent document 1, in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head, a negative pressure is generated in a cap internal space, which is formed between the fluid ejecting head and the inner wall of the cap, by sucking the cap internal space to thereby remove nozzle clogging, or the like. Incidentally, the cap contacts the fluid ejecting head via the cap contact portion formed at the periphery of the cap opening. For this reason, in order to generate a negative pressure in the cap internal space, which is sufficient to remove nozzle clogging, or the like, it is necessary for the cap contact portion to be in close contact with the ink jet head.
However, as is described in the Patent Document 1, when the cap internal space is sucked, the configuration that the cap is just brought into contact with the ink jet head (fluid ejecting head) may cause poor adherence that the cap contact portion is insufficiently adhered to the fluid ejecting head (for example, such poor adherence that the cap contact portion partially does not closely contact the fluid ejecting head). Then, because of such poor adherence, there have been cases in which a sufficient negative pressure cannot be generated in the cap internal space. As a result, this may cause a problem that nozzle clogging, or the like, cannot sufficiently be removed, or the like.
The invention addresses the above problem, and it is an object of the invention to provide a technology for making it possible to generate a sufficient negative pressure in the cap internal space by enhancing the adherence of the cap contact portion to the fluid ejecting head.
In order to achieve the above object, a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention has such a feature that the fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head that ejects fluid from a nozzle opening of a nozzle, a cap that has a cap opening open toward the fluid ejecting head and an annular cap contact portion provided at a periphery of the cap opening, that is provided so as to be operable to move away from the fluid ejecting head or contact the fluid ejecting head through the cap contact portion and of which the cap opening covers the nozzle opening in such a manner that the cap contact portion contacts the fluid ejecting head, a cap separate and contact means that moves the cap to thereby move the cap away from the fluid ejecting head or bring the cap into contact with the fluid ejecting head, a cap suction means that sucks a cap internal space formed between the fluid ejecting head and an inner wall of the cap in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head, a control means that measures a pressure in the cap internal space sucked by the cap suction means and determines whether a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in the cap internal space, and a cap sliding means that performs a sliding action in which the cap contact portion is made to slide over the fluid ejecting head in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head, wherein the control means instructs the cap sliding means to perform the sliding action when the control means determines that the negative pressure that is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is not generated in the cap internal space.
In addition, a method of controlling a fluid ejecting apparatus according to the invention is a method of controlling a fluid ejecting apparatus that includes a fluid ejecting head that ejects fluid from a nozzle opening of a nozzle, and a cap that has a cap opening open toward the fluid ejecting head and an annular cap contact portion provided at a periphery of the cap opening, and, in order to achieve the above object, includes a contact step of bringing the cap contact portion of the cap into contact with the fluid ejecting head to thereby cover the nozzle opening with the cap opening, a cap suction step of sucking a cap internal space formed between the fluid ejecting head and an inner wall of the cap in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head, a pressure determination step of measuring a pressure in the cap internal space sucked in the cap suction step and determining whether a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in the cap internal space, and a cap sliding step of, when it is determined that the negative pressure that is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is not generated in the pressure determination step, sliding the cap contact portion over the fluid ejecting head in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head.
In the invention as configured above, the cap internal space formed between the fluid ejecting head and the inner wall of the cap is sucked in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head. Note that bringing the cap into contact with the fluid ejecting head is performed by the cap separate and contact means. The cap has the cap opening that is open toward the fluid ejecting head and the annular cap contact portion that is provided at the periphery of the cap opening. Then, the cap contact portion of the cap contacts the fluid ejecting head, so that the cap opening covers the nozzle opening. Thus, as described above, if the cap contact portion is not favorably adhered to the fluid ejecting head, there is a possibility that a sufficient negative pressure is not generated in the cap internal space.
In contrast to this, in the invention, a pressure in the sucked cap internal space is measured and it is determined whether the negative pressure that is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is generated in the cap internal space. Then, when it is determined that the negative pressure that is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is not generated in the cap internal space, the sliding action is performed so that the cap contact portion is made to slide over the fluid ejecting head in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head. Thus, even when the cap contact portion is not favorably adhered to the fluid ejecting head and poor adherence is occurring, by making the cap contact portion slide over the fluid ejecting head, it is possible to reduce the poor adherence to thereby obtain favorable adherence of the cap contact portion to the fluid ejecting head. Thus, a sufficient negative pressure may be generated in the cap internal space, and, in addition, clogging, or the like, may be efficiently removed.
In addition, the control means may determine whether the negative pressure that is equal to or higher than the predetermined value is generated while the suction action is being performed by the cap suction means. That is, this may be the configuration described later. With the thus configured control means, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of fluid, and also it is possible to reduce time required for removing clogging, or the like.
In addition, in the fluid ejecting apparatus in which the fluid ejecting head has a nozzle opening plane and the nozzle opening is open at the nozzle opening plane, the cap contact portion may contact the nozzle opening plane in a state where the cap is in contact with the fluid ejecting head, wherein the cap sliding means may reciprocally move the cap in a direction parallel to the nozzle opening plane to thereby make the cap contact portion slide over the fluid ejecting head. That is, in the invention as configured above, because the cap is reciprocally moved in a direction parallel to the nozzle opening plane to thereby make the cap contact portion slide over the fluid ejecting head, it is possible to obtain favorable adherence of the cap contact portion to the fluid ejecting head. Thus, in the above invention, a sufficient negative pressure may be generated in the cap internal space, and, in addition, clogging, or the like, may be efficiently removed. Hence, it is preferable.
Furthermore, in the above invention, when the cap contact portion is made to slide over the fluid ejecting head, the cap is reciprocally moved. That is, the cap, in the reciprocal movement, moves from a position (a sliding initiation position) at the time when the sliding is initiated in a predetermined direction and returns again to the sliding initiation position. Thus, the positional relationship between the fluid ejecting head and the cap contact portion remains unchanged before and after the cap contact portion slides. Thus, when the fluid ejecting apparatus is designed, it is not necessary to consider a difference in the positional relationship between the fluid ejecting head and the cap contact portion before and after the cap contact portion slides, and the design is easy and simple. Hence, the above invention is preferable.
In addition, the cap sliding means may perform the reciprocal movement of the cap multiple times. This is because, by performing the reciprocal movement of the cap multiple times, adherence of the cap contact portion to the fluid ejecting head may further effectively be favorable.
Prior to the description of an embodiment of the invention, a basic configuration of a fluid ejecting apparatus, which is an application target of the invention, will be described. After the above description, embodiments of the invention will be described.
Basic Configuration
A guide member 5 is provided on the frame 2 so as to extend parallel to the platen 3. A carriage 6 is fitted to and supported by the guide member 5, and is movable along the guide member 5. In addition, a carriage motor 7 is attached to the frame 2, and the carriage 6 is drivably connected to the carriage motor 7 through a timing belt 8, which is looped around a pair of pulleys P1 and P2. With the above configuration, as the carriage motor 7 drives, driving force of the carriage motor 7 is transmitted to the carriage 6 through the timing belt 8. The carriage 6, as it receives the driving force, is configured to reciprocally move in a main scanning direction (positive x direction and negative x direction) that is parallel to the platen 3 while being guided by the guide member 5.
A recording head 9, which serves as a fluid ejecting head, is provided at the lower face of the carriage 6. The recording head 9 has a planar nozzle forming face. Then, the nozzle forming face has a plurality of nozzles (not shown) that are formed so as to face the recording paper P. That is, the nozzle forming face corresponds to a nozzle opening plane according to the invention. Then, each nozzle is open at the nozzle opening plane.
In addition, as shown in
In addition, the recording head 9 is driven so as to discharge reactive ink after black ink or color ink (pigment ink) has been discharged. The reactive ink adheres to color ink on the recording paper P and then undergoes an agglutination reaction with the color ink to thereby enhance the color development and gloss of the color ink. In addition, the recording head 9 is controlled and driven so as to also discharge the ink on a paper face, to which black ink or color ink is not discharged, in order to enhance the gloss.
In the printer 1, a region, on which printing is performed in such a manner that the carriage 6 discharges ink droplets onto the recording paper P while being reciprocally moved, is determined as a printing region, which serves as an ejecting region. Furthermore, the printer 1 is provided with a non-printing region for capping the nozzles when printing is not performed. In the non-printing region, as shown in
As shown in
In addition, the inside of the cap member 13 is partitioned into two sections, and absorbents 13a and 13b are placed in the two sections, respectively. Then, a waste ink tank 15, shown in
That is, with the above configuration, it is possible to perform so-called cleaning such that pigment ink and reactive ink, which are stored in the ink cartridge 10, are separately absorbed by the absorbents 13a and 13b. and are respectively discarded to the waste ink tank 15. Note that the details of the cleaning will be described later.
In addition, as shown in
Next, the configuration of the above described maintenance unit 11 will be described with reference to
As shown in
With the above configuration, the slider 12 is movable with respect to the body case C vertically (positive z direction and negative z direction) and laterally (positive x direction and negative x direction).
In addition, as described above, the slider 12 is fitted to the body case C through the spring member SP1, which serves as a first urging means. In this manner, the slider 12 is urged leftward (negative x direction) with respect to the body case C. Thus, when no force is applied to the slider 12, the insertion opening 17 of the slider 12 is in contact with the right face of the slider guide 16 of the body case C, as shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
With the above configuration, the cap member 13 is movable vertically (positive z direction and negative z direction) with respect to the slider 12. Furthermore, the cap member 13 is urged upward (positive z direction) by the spring member SP2, and the upward (positive z direction) movement of the cap member 13 is restricted by the support rods 20 and 21 and the positioning rod 22. In this manner, normally, as the cap member 13 is pressed downward (negative z direction) in a state where the cap member 13 is fully spaced apart from the slider 12 upward (positive z direction), the cap member 13 moves downward (negative z direction) in accordance with the pressing.
In addition, as shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
Then, as shown in
Furthermore, when the slider 12 moves rightward (positive x direction) from the reference position, because the cap member 13 fitted to the slider 12 is urged by the spring member SP3 frontward (positive y direction) with respect to the slider 12, the positioning rod 22 moves to the right front side (composite direction of the positive x direction and the positive y direction) along the oblique portion 28 of the protruding portion 26. Then, as shown in
With the above configuration, for example, as the recording head 9 contacts a contact portion 29, which is formed to extend from the slider 12, to thereby press the slider 12 rightward (positive x direction), the slider 12 moves rightward (positive x direction) and, in accordance with this, the cap member 13 moves to the set position. At this time, by the movement of the cap member 13 to the set position, the pawl portion T of the cap member 13 moves frontward (positive y direction) and then contacts the recording head 9. That is, the set position is a position at which the cap member 13 directly faces the nozzles of the recording head 9. In addition, the reference position is a position at which the cap member 13 is retracted from the path of the recording head 9 in the main scanning direction, that is, in the positive x direction and in the negative x direction.
Note that the guide groove 25 provided in the slider 12 is formed to have a size that is approximately 1.2 times larger than the size of the positioning rod 22 of the cap member 13. In this manner, it is possible to reduce abrasion when the positioning rod 22 contacts the guide groove 25, and also it is possible to avoid deterioration of movement of the cap member 13 in the positive y direction and in the negative y direction because of the abrasion.
Next, the configuration of the driving mechanism of the slider 12 will be described with reference to the above described
As shown in
In addition, two plate-like plate portions 36 and 37 are formed at the bottom portion 35 of the slider 12. Sliding shafts 38 and 39 and contact shafts U1 and U2 are respectively formed on the plate portions 36 and 37 so as to extend rightward (negative x direction) in
On the other hand, in the body case C, as shown in
Thus, when the cam mechanism 40 rotates about the shaft portion 41, the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate, so that the sliding shafts 38 and 39 slide along the sliding grooves 46 and 47. At this time, the contact shafts U1 and U2 are supported so as to be in slide contact with the side faces 43a and 44a of the cam portions 43 and 44. In this manner, the relative distance between the shaft portion 41 and the contact shaft U1 or U2 increases or decreases as the shaft portion 41 rotates. That is, because the shaft portion 41 of the cam mechanism 40 is supported by the body case C as described above, the slider 12 moves vertically (positive z direction and negative z direction) with respect to the body case C while the shaft 32 is being guided by the guide groove 34 of the body case C.
Then, driving force is transmitted from a driving motor (not shown), which is capable of rotating both in the forward direction and in the reverse direction, to the gear 42 of the cam mechanism 40 through a driving mechanism (not shown). Thus, for example, when the positional relationship between the sliding grooves 46 and 47 of the cam portions 43 and 44 and the sliding shafts 38 and 39 is established in a state shown in
In addition, when the positional relationship between the sliding grooves 46 and 47 and the sliding shafts 38 and 39 is established in a state shown in
The order of these relative distances d1, d2, and d3 is relative distance d1<relative distance d2<relative distance d3. Note that the state shown in
In addition, the wiper member W, when the slider 12 is in the standby state (the state shown in
Next, the action of the above configured maintenance unit 11 will be described with reference to
As shown in
Then, when the printer 1 shown in
In addition, at this time, the printer 1, when it brings the recording head 9 into contact with the contact portion 29 of the slider 12, moves the slider 12 from the standby state to the flushing state. In accordance with this, the wiper member W moves out of the body case C and moves to a position at which the wiper member W is able to contact the recording head 9. Then, the recording head 9 passes over the wiper member W in order to contact the contact portion 29 of the slider 12, so that ink that is adhered on the nozzle forming face of the recording head 9 is wiped away. Then, when the slider 12 has moved to the flushing state, the driving motor stops and, as shown in
Furthermore, when the recording head 9 is capped from this state, the printer 1 moves the slider 12 from the flushing state to the standby state and, further, moves the slider 12 to the capping state. In this manner, as shown in
In addition, in a state where the cap member 13 caps the recording head 9, the suction pump 14 is driven to perform so-called cleaning in which ink, which serves as fluid, bubbles, or dust in the recording head 9, nozzle clogging, or the like, is sucked through the cap member 13. Here, through description of the configuration of the cap member 13, the cleaning will be described.
In addition, as shown in
The waste ink tank 15 is connected to the bottom portion of the cap case 133 through the two tubes 141a and 141b that respectively communicate with the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b of the cap case 133. The inside of the waste ink tank 15 is partitioned into two waste ink storages 15a and 15b. Then, the waste ink storages 15a and 15b are respectively in fluid communication with the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b of the cap case 133. In addition, the suction pump 14 is arranged between the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b and the waste ink tank 15.
The suction pump 14 (cap suction means) is able to generate a negative pressure in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b by sucking the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b. Thus, by actuating the suction pump 14 in the capping state, it is possible to perform so-called cleaning in which ink, bubbles, or dust in the nozzles covered with the cap member 13, nozzle clogging, or the like, is sucked. In this manner, black ink and color ink that are sucked through the cap member 13 are sent through one of the two tubes to one of the two waste ink storages of the waste ink tank 15, and reactive ink is sent through the other one of the two tubes to the other one of the two waste ink storages of the waste ink tank 15.
Thus, in the printer 1 (fluid ejecting apparatus) in a state where the cap member 13 is in contact with the recording head 9 (fluid ejecting head), the nozzles are sucked by the suction pump (cap suction means) to thereby suck ink, bubbles or dust in the nozzles, nozzle clogging, or the like. Specifically, in a state where the seal contact portions SA of the cap member 13 are in contact with the nozzle forming face 91 (nozzle opening plane) of the recording head 9, the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b, which are formed between the nozzle forming face 91 and the inner wall 13 in of the cap member 13, are sucked to thereby generate a negative pressure in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b. Thus, ink, or the like, in the nozzles are removed. Incidentally, the cap member 13 contacts the nozzle forming face 91 of the recording head 9 through the seal contact portions SA of the peripheries of the cap openings 135a and 135b. Thus, in order to generate a sufficient negative pressure in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b for removing ink, or the like, it is necessary that the seal contact portions SA are in close contact with the nozzle forming face 91.
However, when the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b are sucked, there have been cases in which such poor adherence that the seal contact portions SA are insufficiently adhered to the recording head 9 (for example, such poor adherence that the seal contact portions SA partially do not closely contact the nozzle forming face 91) occurs. Then, because of the above poor adherence, there have been cases in which a sufficient negative pressure cannot be generated in the cap internal space 131a or 131b. As a result, this may cause a problem that ink, or the like, in the nozzles cannot sufficiently be removed, or the like. Then, the technology that enables a sufficient negative pressure to be generated in the cap internal spaces by enhancing the adherence of the cap contact portion to the ink jet head will be described in the following embodiment.
In the maintenance unit 11 according to the first embodiment, the cap member 13 includes the support rods 20 and 21 and the positioning rod 22, while, on the other hand, the slider 12 has the support grooves 23 and 24 and a positioning groove 25 that are formed in correspondence with the support rods 20 and 21 and the positioning rod 22. Then, the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25 respectively receive and support the support rods 20 and 21 and the positioning rod 22. Thus, the cap member 13 moves relative to the slider 12 while being guided by the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25 that are formed in the slider 12. The point that the movement of the cap member is performed while being guided by the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25 in this manner is common between the first embodiment and the above described basic configuration. However, the cap member 13 according to the basic configuration is guided only in the z direction (vertical direction). In contrast, the cap member 13 according to the first embodiment differs from that of the basic configuration in that the cap member 13 is guided in the z direction (vertical direction) and in the x direction (lateral direction).
In the first embodiment, the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25 are similar in shape one another. Then, the action of the support groove 23 and the support rod 20 that is inserted and supported by the support groove 23, the action of the support groove 24 and the support rod 21 that is inserted and supported by the support groove 24, and the action of the guide groove 25 and the positioning rod 22 that is inserted and supported by the guide groove 25 are the same one another. Then, in the following description, the action of the guide groove 25 and the positioning rod 22 that is inserted and supported by the guide groove will be mainly described, and description of the action of the support groove 23 and the support rod 20 that is inserted and supported by the support groove 23 and the action of the support groove 24 and the support rod 21 that is inserted and supported by the support groove 24 will be omitted.
Here, the process from the standby state shown in the column “STEP A1” to the capping state shown in the column “STEP A2” in such a manner that the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate in a direction 49 (counterclockwise direction) will be considered. At first, in the standby state, the relative distance between the contact shaft U1 or U2 and the shaft portion 41 is a relative distance d1. In addition, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 are in contact with the upper end portions of the guide groove and the like 23, 24 and 25 in the positive z direction. Then, the cap member 13 is spaced apart from the nozzle forming face 91.
As the cam portions 43 and 44 initiate rotation from the standby state shown in the column “STEP A1” in the direction 49 (counterclockwise direction), the relative distance between the contact shaft U1 or U2 and the shaft portion 41 increases. Thus, as the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate, the slider 12 moves in the positive z direction. In addition, the cap member 13 that is connected to the slider 12 through the spring member SP2 from the downstream side in the positive z direction also moves in the positive z direction as the slider 12 moves in the positive z direction. Furthermore, the nozzle forming face 91 is arranged on the downstream side of the cap member 13 in the positive z direction. Thus, while the cam portions 43 and 44 are rotating, the cap member 13 contacts the nozzle forming face 91 and stops moving in the positive z direction. On the other hand, the slider 12, after it has contacted the nozzle forming face 91 of the cap member 13, still continues to move in the positive z direction. That is, the cap member 13, after it has contacted the nozzle forming face 91, moves relative to the slider 12 as the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate. In addition, as the cap member 13 moves relative to the slider 12, the spring member SP2 progressively contracts.
As described above, the movement of the cap member 13 relative to the slider 12 is performed while being guided by the guide groove and the like, that is, the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25. Thus, after the cap member 13 has contacted the nozzle forming face 91, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 of the cap member 13 are guided by the vertical guide portions LG of the guide groove and the like 23, 24 and 25 to move in the negative z direction. Meanwhile, the cap member 13 in itself is in contact with the nozzle forming face 91 and does not move. Then, the relative distance between the contact shaft U1 or U2 and the shaft portion 41 is a relative distance d3, and the cap member 13 caps the nozzle openings of the nozzle forming face 91 (step A2). At this time, the guide groove and the like 23, 24 and 25 each are located at the end portion of the vertical guide portion LG in the negative z direction, that is, the boundary between the vertical guide portion LG and the lateral guide portion TG. In addition, in the capping state, the cap member 13 is urged toward the nozzle forming face 91 by a force corresponding to the amount by which the spring member SP2 is contracted as the cap member 13 moves relative to the slider 12. In this way, the maintenance unit 11 performs a contact action by performing the action of step A2.
In addition, the maintenance unit 11 is able to perform a sliding action in which the seal contact portions SA are made to slide over the nozzle forming face 91 in order to ensure adherence of the seal contact portions SA to the nozzle forming face 91 in the capping state. Specifically, this is as follows.
In the sliding action, after the cam portions 43 and 44 are further rotated from the capping state shown in the column “STEP A2” to the state shown in the column “STEP A3” in the direction 49 (counterclockwise direction), the cam portions 43 and 44 are rotated from the state shown in the column “STEP A3” to the capping state shown in the column “STEP A4” in the direction 48 (clockwise direction).
In the first embodiment, the side faces of the cam portions 43 and 44 are configured to increase a distance from the shaft portion 41 as they go from the contact positions of the contact shafts U1 and U2 in the capping state toward the upstream side in the direction 49. Thus, as the cam portions 43 and 44 initiate rotation from the capping state in the direction 49, the relative distance between the contact shaft U1 or U2 and the shaft portion 41 increases. Thus, as the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate, the slider 12 moves in the positive z direction. At this time, because the cap member 13 contacts the nozzle forming face 91, movement of the cap member 13 in the positive z direction is restricted. As a result, the cap member 13 moves relative to the slider 12 while being guided by the guide groove and the like, that is, the support grooves 23 and 24 and the guide groove 25. Incidentally, in the capping state, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 21 of the cap member 13 each are located at the boundary between the vertical guide portion LG and the lateral guide portion TG. Thus, in the sliding action, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 of the cap member 13 move in the negative z direction by being guided by the lateral guide portions TG of the guide groove and the like 23, 24 and 25.
In this way, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 are guided by the lateral guide portions TG, while the cam portions 43 and 44 rotate in the direction 49 until the relative distance between the contact shaft U1 or U2 and the shaft portion 41 becomes a relative distance d4. In this manner, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 move relative to the slider 12 from the capping state in the negative z direction by Δz and in the negative x direction by Δx. Here, the relative distance d4 is greater than the relative distance d3. Then, in correspondence with the movement of the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 in the negative x direction, the cap member 13 moves relative to the nozzle forming face 91 in the negative x direction by Δ13 while the cap member 13 remains in contact with the nozzle forming face 91 through the seal contact portions SA. That is, the seal contact portions SA are made to slide over the nozzle forming face 91. Note that, because the cap member 13 has been already in contact with the nozzle forming face 91 in the capping state, the cap member 13 never moves in the positive z direction in the sliding action.
In the sliding action, furthermore, the cam portions 43 and 44 are rotated in the direction 48 (clockwise direction) from the state shown in the column “STEP A3” to the capping state shown in the column “STEP A4”. Thus, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 move relative to the slider 12 from the state shown in “STEP A3” in the positive z direction by Δz and in the positive x direction by Δx. Then, in correspondence with the movement of the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 in the positive x direction, the cap member 13 moves relative to the nozzle forming face 91 in the positive x direction by Δ13 while the cap member 13 remains in contact with the nozzle forming face 91 through the seal contact portions SA. That is, the seal contact portions SA are made to slide over the nozzle forming face 91. In this way, the maintenance unit 11 performs a sliding action by performing the action of step A2 and the action of step A4.
Thus, in the first embodiment, the slider 12, the positioning rod and the like 20, 21 and 22 that are respectively inserted in the guide groove and the like 23, 24 and 25 of the slider 12, and the cam mechanism 40, which serves as the driving mechanism, function as “cap separate and contact means”, “cap sliding means” according to the invention.
The flow shown in
In addition, in the first embodiment, as described above, pressures in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b are respectively monitored by the manometers PMa and PMb. Then, the suction action control circuit 142, when a predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the suction pump 14 has initiated the suction, determines whether a negative pressure Pth that is equal to or higher than a predetermine value is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b (step A14). That is, the suction action control circuit 142 determines whether a pressure that is lower than a pressure that is obtained by subtracting a negative pressure Pth from the atmospheric pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b (pressure determination step). Then, when it is determined that a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is not generated in any one of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b (when it is determined “NO” in step A14), the process proceeds to step A15, and the suction action control circuit 142 instructs the maintenance unit 11 to perform the sliding action (cap sliding step). In addition, when a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b, the suction action is further continued for a predetermined time and then the suction action is completed.
In this way, in the first embodiment, pressures in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b are respectively monitored (measured) by the manometers PMa and PMb while the suction action is being performed by the suction pump 14 (step A14). That is, the first embodiment is configured to be able to detect whether a sufficient negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b by providing the manometers PMa and PMb. Then, when a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is not generated, it is determined that poor adherence is occurring in the seal contact portions SA to thereby perform the sliding action (step A15). Thus, even when the seal contact portions SA are not favorably adhered to the recording head 9 and poor adherence is occurring, by performing steps A14 and A15, it is possible to suppress poor adherence between the seal contact portions SA of the cap member 13 and the nozzle forming face 91 of the recording head 9. Hence, it is preferable. Thus, a sufficient negative pressure may be generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b, and, in addition, clogging, or the like, may be effectively removed.
Incidentally, the timing (negative pressure detection timing) at which the suction action control circuit 142 determines whether a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b is not limited to time t1 during the suction action. That is, for example, the suction action control circuit 142 may monitor a pressure in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b after the suction action and may determine whether a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated. However, as will be described below, the timing, at which negative pressure detection is performed by the suction action control circuit 142, is preferably during the suction action.
Here, the case in which the negative pressure detection timing is at time t2 will be considered. The time t2 corresponds to the time after the suction action has been completed. Thus, in order to remove clogging, or the like, by the suction action being performed, it is necessary that, a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a negative pressure Peh is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b during the suction action. Here, the negative pressure Peh is a minimum value of a negative pressure that is necessary to remove nozzle clogging, or the like. Thus, detecting whether a sufficient negative pressure is generated at time t2 is determining whether a negative pressure measured by each of the manometers PMa and PMb is equal to or higher than the negative pressure Peh.
Next, the case in which the negative pressure detection timing is at time t1 will be considered. The time t1 corresponds to the time at which the suction action is being performed. In such a case, when it is determined whether clogging, or the like, is removed by the suction action being performed, it is sufficient that it is determined whether a negative pressure in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b is equal to or higher than the negative pressure Pth that is smaller than the negative pressure Peh. This is because, as shown in the drawing, the negative pressure curve PC1 is higher than the negative pressure Pth at time t1, while the negative pressure curve PC2 is smaller than the negative pressure Pth at time t2. In addition, as described above, the negative pressure curve PC1 corresponds to the case in which clogging, or the like, can be removed favorably without occurrence of poor adherence, and the negative pressure curve PC2 corresponds to the case in which poor adherence is occurring and clogging, or the like, cannot be removed favorably. Thus, detecting whether a sufficient negative pressure is generated at time t1 is sufficiently performed if it is determined whether a negative pressure measured by each of the manometers PMa and PMb is equal to or higher than the negative pressure Pth.
In this way, at time t1 at which the lapse of time from the initiation of the suction action is relatively short, that is, at the stage at which a large negative pressure is not generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b, occurrence of poor adherence in the seal contact portions SA may be determined.
Incidentally, as described above, ink (fluid) is supplied from the ink cartridge 10 to each of the nozzles of the recording head 9. Thus, when a negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b in order to remove clogging, or the like, portion of ink supplied to the recording head 9 flows out toward the suction pump 14 because of the negative pressure. Then, the amount of ink flowing out increases as the negative pressure generated in each of the cap internal spaces 141a and 141b increases or as the duration in which the negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 141a and 141b increases. However, ink also flows out when the poor adherence is occurring as in the case of the negative pressure curve PC2; however, a sufficient negative pressure cannot be obtained and, therefore, clogging cannot be removed. Thus, ink is wastefully consumed. Then, in terms of ink saving, it is preferable to reduce outflow of ink as much as possible and to suppress wasteful ink consumption.
Then, the above discussed negative pressure detection timing is more preferable at time t1 during the suction action than at time t2 after the suction action has been completed. This is because, in order to suppress outflow of ink from the recording head 9, a period of time until the negative pressure detection timing is preferably short, and a negative pressure that is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 141a and 141b until the negative pressure detection timing is preferably small. In addition, in terms of reducing a period of time required for cleaning by reducing a period of time from the initiation of the suction action to the negative pressure detection timing as well, the negative pressure detection timing is preferably at time t1.
In addition, in the first embodiment, prior to the suction action of step A13, the sliding action is performed in step A12. Thus, even when the seal contact portions SA are not favorably adhered to the nozzle forming face 91 and poor adherence is occurring in a state where the seal contact portions SA are just brought into contact with the nozzle forming face 91 in step A11, it is possible to reduce the poor adherence prior to the suction action of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b in such a manner that the seal contact portions SA are made to slide over the nozzle forming face 91 in step A12. Hence, it is preferable.
That is, in a state where the seal contact portions SA simply contact the nozzle forming face 91 in step A11, adherence of the cap member 13 is extremely poor and, therefore, for example, a large gap, through which foreign matter may be included from the outside of the cap member, may possibly be formed between the seal contact portions SA and the nozzle forming face 91 of the recording head 9. Then, as the suction action is initiated in this state, not only a sufficient negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b but also foreign matter may possibly be included into the cap internal space 131a or 131b through the gap between the seal contact portions SA and the nozzle forming face 91. Then, when the foreign matter clogs midway from the cap internal space 131a or 131b to the suction pump 14, there is a possibility that it is difficult to generate a negative pressure in each of the cap internal space 131a or 131b. Then, in the first embodiment, by performing the sliding action in step A12 prior to the suction action in step A13, poor adherence of the seal contact portions SA is reduced in advance of initiation of the suction action.
Then, after step A12 has been performed, it is actually measured in step A14 whether a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b and, when the above negative pressure is not generated, the sliding action is performed in step A15. Thus, a negative pressure in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b is further reliably generated.
Furthermore, as shown in steps A2 to A4 of
Incidentally, in the first embodiment, only one cap member 13 is provided for the recording head 9. However, the number of the cap members 13 is not limited to one. As will be described in the next second embodiment, the number of the cap members 13 may be multiple.
Valves BBa(1) to BB(4) and BBb(1) to BB(4) are provided between the respective cap members 13(1) to 13(4) and the suction pump 14. That is, each of the valves BBa(1) to BBa(4) is provided between a corresponding one of the cap internal spaces 131a of the cap members 13(1) to 13(4) and the suction pump 14, and each of the valves BBb(1) to BBb(4) is provided between a corresponding one of the cap internal spaces 131b of the cap members 13(1) to 13(4) and the suction pump 14. Furthermore, the manometer PMa is provided between the valves BBa(1) to BBa(4) and the suction pump 14, and the manometer PMb is provided between the valves BBb(1) to BB(4) and the suction pump 14. That is, the manometer PMa monitors a pressure in the cap internal space 131a of the cap member 13(N) in a state where the valve BBa(N) is open, and the manometer PMb monitors a pressure in the cap internal space 131b of the cap member 13(N) in a state where the valve BBb(N) is open. Then, the suction action control circuit 142 controls the suction pump 14, the valves BBa(1) to (4), the valves BBb(1) to BBb(4) and the manometers PMa and PMb. In addition, as in the case of the first embodiment, the suction action control circuit 142 (control means) is able to control the cam mechanism 40 and drives the cam mechanism 40 on the basis of pressure values indicated by the manometers PMa and PMb to thereby make the maintenance unit 11 perform the sliding action, and the like.
Here, the cap member 13(1) to the cap member 13(4) that are aligned in order from the left hand side in
The flow shown in
In addition, in the second embodiment, pressures in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b of the N-th cap member 13(N) are monitored by the manometers PMa and PMb. Then, at the time when a predetermined time t1 has elapsed from the time at which the suction pump 14 initiates suction, the suction action control circuit 142 determines whether the negative pressure Pth that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b of the N-th cap member 13(N) (step A26, pressure determination step). That is, it is determined whether a pressure that is lower than a pressure that is obtained by subtracting the negative pressure Pth from the atmospheric pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b. Then, when it is determined that a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is not generated in any one of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b (when it is determined “NO” in step A26), the process proceeds to step A27, and the sliding action is performed on the N-th cap member 13(N) (cap sliding step). By performing the steps A26 and A27 in this way, it is possible to suppress poor adherence of the N-th cap member 13(N).
In addition, when it is determined “YES” in step A26, the process proceeds to step A28, and it is determined whether all the valves BBa and BBb have been opened. When not all the valves BBa and BBb have been opened, the value N is incremented (step A29) and then the process proceeds to step A25. That is, until all the valves BBa and BBb have been opened, the actions from step A25 to A28 are repeated. In this manner, it is possible to suppress poor adherence in all the cap members 13(1) to 13(4).
In this way, in the second embodiment, pressures in the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b are respectively monitored (measured) by the manometers PMa and PMb while the suction action is being performed by the suction pump 14 (step A26). That is, the second embodiment is configured to be able to detect whether a sufficient negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b by providing the manometers PMa and PMb. Then, when a negative pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value is not generated, it is determined that poor adherence of the seal contact portions SA is occurring, and the sliding action is then performed (step A27). Thus, even when the seal contact portions SA are not favorably adhered to the recording head 9 and poor adherence is occurring, by performing steps A26 and A27, it is possible to suppress poor adherence between the seal contact portions SA of each of the cap members 13(1) to 13(4) and the nozzle forming face 91 of the recording head 9. Hence, it is preferable. Thus, a sufficient negative pressure may be generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b, and, in addition, clogging, or the like, may be effectively removed.
In addition, in the second embodiment as well, as in the case of the first embodiment, prior to the suction action (step A23), the sliding action is performed (step A22). Thus, it is possible to reduce the poor adherence of the seal contact portions SA prior to the suction action of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b. Hence, it is preferable.
Others
Note that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but it may be modified into various forms other than the one described above without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the sliding action of the seal contact portions SA over the nozzle forming face 91 is performed by reciprocally moving the cap member 13 in a direction parallel to the nozzle forming face 91. However, the manner in which the sliding action is performed is not limited to it. For example, the sliding action may be performed in such a manner that the cap member 13 is rotated about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the nozzle forming face 91 in a state where the seal contact portions SA of the cap member 13 are in contact with the nozzle forming face 91. That is, it is possible to suppress occurrence of poor adherence in the seal contact portions SA in such a manner that the seal contact portions SA of the cap member 13 is made to slide over the nozzle forming face 91.
In addition, in the above embodiments, the sliding action of the seal contact portions SA over the nozzle forming face 91 is performed by reciprocally moving the cap member 13 in a direction parallel to the nozzle forming face 91. At this time, the reciprocal movement may be performed multiple times. This is because, by performing the reciprocal movement of the cap member 13 multiple times, adherence of the seal contact portions SA to the recording head 9 may further effectively be favorable.
Furthermore, the application target of the invention is not limited to the above printer 1, but the invention may also be applied to a display manufacturing equipment, an electrode manufacturing equipment, a chip manufacturing equipment, and a fluid ejecting apparatus, such as a micropipette. That is, the invention may be applied to all apparatuses that perform cleaning of the nozzles in such a manner that the cap member 13 is brought into close contact with the recording head 9 and a negative pressure is generated in each of the cap internal spaces 131a and 131b.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-100473 | Apr 2007 | JP | national |
