Patent Grant
11571899
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-080201, filed on Apr. 30, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a liquid discharging apparatus, a method for controlling the same, and a medium storing a program.
As a conventional liquid discharging apparatus, there is known an ink-jet printing apparatus described in Patent Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-080702. In this ink-jet printing apparatus, in a case that a preliminary discharging step is performed a plurality of times at a predetermined interval, the preliminary discharging step is executed such that the interval for executing the preliminary discharging step is shortened in a stepwise manner.
In a case that the interval for executing the preliminary discharging step is shorted uniformly, as in the above-described ink-jet printing apparatus, a number of times of executing the preliminary discharging step becomes great, and the printing time thus becomes long. On the other hand, in a case that the interval for executing the preliminary discharging step is made to be long, a liquid inside a nozzle is dried, which in turn lowers the print quality.
The present disclosure has been made so as to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a liquid discharging apparatus, a method for controlling the same, and a program, each of which is capable of balancing the quality of a printed image and the printing time.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a liquid discharging apparatus comprising:
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a controlling method of controlling a liquid discharging apparatus including:
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory medium storing a program executable by a liquid discharging apparatus including:
The present disclosure has the configuration as explained above, and achieves an effect that a liquid discharging apparatus, a method for controlling the same, and a program, each of which is capable of realizing a high-speed printing, while suppressing any unsatisfactory discharge due to increase in the viscosity of the liquid.
The above-described object, another object, the characteristic and the advantage of the present disclosure will be specified with reference to the attached drawings and the following specific explanation of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the following, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically explained, with reference to the drawings. Note that in the following explanation, a same reference numeral is affixed to a same or corresponding element (part, section, etc.) throughout all the drawings, and any overlapping explanation therefor will be omitted.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is an apparatus which discharges or ejects a liquid such as an ink, etc., to a recording medium M, as depicted in
Note that a side of the head unit 12 with respect to the platen 13 is referred to as “above” or “upper side”, and a side opposite thereto is referred to as “below” or “lower side”. Further, a direction in which the recording medium M is conveyed by the conveying device 14 (conveying direction) is referred to as “rear” or “rear side”, and a side opposite thereto is referred to as “front” or “front side”. A direction in which the head unit 12 is moved by the scanning device 15 (scanning direction) is referred to as a left-right direction. This scanning direction crosses (for example, is orthogonal to) the conveying direction. Note, however, that the direction of arranging the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is not limited to or restricted by this. Further, the details of the controller 20 will be described later on.
The casing 11 stores or accommodates respective parts (sections, elements, units, etc.) of the liquid discharging apparatus 10. In the inside of the casing 11, a flushing area A, a recording area B and a maintenance area C are provided in the left-right direction. The flushing area A is arranged on one side (left side) in the left-right direction with respect to the recording area B, and the maintenance area C is arranged on the other side (right side) in the left-right direction with respect to the recording area B. The recording area B is arranged between the flushing area A and the maintenance area C in the left-right direction, and is adjacent to both of the flushing area A and the maintenance area C.
The head unit 12 has a carriage 12a and a head 30. The head 30 is mounted on the carriage 12a, and moves reciprocally in the left-right direction, together with the carriage 12a.
The head 30 has a plurality of nozzles 31, a plurality of driving elements 32 (
The platen 13 is arranged in the recording area B, is a member having a shape of a flat plate, and the recording medium M is placed on the upper surface of the platen 13. The platen 13 determines a distance between the recording medium M and the discharge surface 33a of the head 30 which is arranged to face the recording medium M.
The conveying device 14 has, for example, two conveying rollers 14a, and a conveying motor 14b (
The scanning device 15 has, for example, two guide rails 15a, a scanning motor 15b (
The storing tank 16 is, for example, a cartridge which is detachable and attachable with respect to the casing 11, and is provided as a plurality of storing tanks 16 for respective kinds of the liquid. For example, there are provided four storing tanks 16 and store liquids of black, yellow, cyan and magenta, respectively. Each of the storing tanks 16 is connected to the plurality of liquid channels of the head 30 by a tube 16a, and supplies the liquid to the plurality of nozzles 31 of a nozzle array included in the plurality of nozzle arrays and corresponding thereto.
The receiving part 17 is arranged in the flushing area A, and receives the liquid(s) discharged from the head 30 by a flushing processing. The specific of the receiving part 17 will be described later on.
The maintenance unit 18 is arranged in the maintenance area C, and has a cap 18a and a moving device 18b (
The uncapping position is, for example, located below the capping position. At the uncapping position, the cap 18a is separated or away from the discharge surface 33a and allows the discharge surface 33a to be exposed, and the opening of the cap 18a faces the discharge surface 33a of the head 30 arranged in the maintenance area C. Further, at the capping position, the cap 18a approaches closely to the discharge surface 33a and covers the discharge surface 33a. With this, it is possible to prevent the liquid from drying from the openings of the plurality of nozzles 31 formed in the discharge surface 33a.
The head 30 has the plurality of driving elements 32, the channel forming body 33 and a vibration plate 34. As depicted in
Each of the plurality of nozzles 31 is opened in the discharge surface 33a of the channel forming body 33. Each of the plurality of manifolds 36 extends in the front-rear direction, and has a supply port at an end thereof. The supply port is connected to a storing tank 16 (
In such a configuration, the liquid of each of the kinds flows from the storing tank 16 corresponding thereto, passes through the tube 16a, etc., and flows into the manifold 36 corresponding thereto via the supply port. While the liquid is flowing through the manifold 36, the liquid flows into each of the plurality of individual channels 35. Then, in each of the plurality of individual channels 35, the liquid flows in the throttle channel 35a, the pressure chamber 35b and the communicating channel 35c in this order, and is supplied to the nozzle 31.
The vibration plate 34 is arranged on the channel forming body 33, and covers an upper side opening of the pressure chamber 35b. Each of the plurality of driving elements 32 is, for example, a piezoelectric element, is arranged on the vibration plate 34 at a part thereof which is located above the pressure chamber 35b, and is connected to the controller 20 (
As depicted in
The guide 17b has, for example, a shape of a flat plate which is bent, extends in the front-rear direction; in the guide member 17b, a lower part from a lower end up to an intermediate part extends in the vertical direction, and an upper part from the intermediate part up to an upper end is inclined upwardly toward the side of the recording area B (right side). Accordingly, among the upper part of the guide member 17b, an inclined surface on the side of the absorbing body 17a (left side) is inclined with respect to the discharge surface 33a of the head 30 so that a spacing distance from the absorbing body 17a becomes wider in an upward direction. The inclined surface maybe a flat surface which is inclined at a constant angle, or may be a curved surface which is curved. Further, the inclined surface has a coating, such as a fluorine coating, etc., applied thereon, and has a water repellency.
A discarded liquid tank 19 is arranged at a position below the guide 17b. The lower part of the guide 17b extends into the discarded liquid tank 19. A part of the liquid discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 of the discharge surface 33a by the flushing processing lands on the absorbing body 17a and is absorbed thereby, and a remaining part of the liquid lands on the inclined surface of the guide 17b, slides downward on the inclined surface and is accommodated in the discarded liquid tank 19.
As depicted in
The storing part 22 is accessible by the arithmetic processing part 21 and is constructed of a RAM and a ROM, etc. The RAM stores the variety of kinds of data temporarily. Print data, and data converted by the arithmetic processing part 21 are exemplified as the variety of kinds of data. The ROM stores a program for performing a variety of kinds of data processing. Note that the program may be obtained from the external apparatus E, or may be stored in another recording medium.
The arithmetic processing part 21 is constructed of a processor such as a CPU, and an integrated circuit such as ASIC, etc. The arithmetic processing part 21 executes a program stored in the ROM to thereby control each of the plurality of driving elements 32, the scanning motor 15b, the conveying motor 14b and the moving device 18 so as to perform the variety of kinds of processing. For example, the controller 20 executes a printing processing, a recording processing, a first determining processing and a flushing processing (a pre-recording flushing processing, a first flushing processing, a second flushing processing). These processings will be described later on.
The waveform generating part 23 generates a waveform signal defining a waveform of a driving signal outputted to each of the plurality of driving element 32. The waveform generating part 23 may be a dedicated circuit, or may be constructed of the arithmetic processing part 21 and the storing part 22. The waveform signal is, for example, a pulse signal and includes a plurality of kinds of waveform signals which are mutually different in an amount of a liquid droplet discharged from the nozzle 31. The plurality of kinds of waveform signals have a discharging waveform signal by which the liquid is discharged from the nozzle 31, and a non-discharging waveform signal by which the meniscus of an opening of the nozzle 31 is vibrated so as not to discharge the liquid droplet. The discharging waveform signal includes, for example, an intermediate drop waveform signal by which a liquid droplet of a predetermined amount (intermediate drop) is discharged, a small drop waveform signal by which a liquid droplet of an amount smaller than the predetermined amount (small drop) is discharged, and a large drop waveform signal by which a liquid droplet of an amount greater than the predetermined amount (large drop) is discharged.
The arithmetic processing part 21 selects, based on the print data, one kind of the waveform signal among the plurality of kinds of waveform signals for each of the plurality of nozzles 31 and at each driving cycle, and generates waveform signal selecting data. While doing so, the arithmetic processing part 21 generates waveform selecting data for printing (printing-waveform selecting data), depending on a liquid droplet amount for each one of drops based on the print data.
Further, the arithmetic processing part 21 generates waveform selecting data for flushing (flushing-waveform selecting data) for the flushing processing. By the flushing-waveform selecting data, a predetermined discharging waveform signal, for example, the large drop waveform signal of which liquid discharge amount is the greatest is selected. Note that the flushing-waveform signal of which liquid discharging amount is greater than that of a waveform signal for printing (printing-waveform signal) may be further included in the discharging waveform signal; the flushing-waveform signal may be selected by the flushing-waveform selecting data.
The controller 20 is connected to a head driving circuit 37, and the head driving circuit 37 is connected to the plurality of driving elements 32. Accordingly, the controller 20 outputs the waveform signal and the waveform selecting data to the head driving circuit 37. The head driving circuit 37 generates the driving signal of each of the plurality of driving elements 32, from the waveform signal and the waveform selecting data, and the head driving circuit 37 outputs the generated driving signal to each of the plurality of driving elements 32.
With this, each of the plurality of driving elements 32 is driven in accordance with the driving signal, which in turn changes the volume of the pressure chamber 35b in the liquid channel corresponding thereto, thereby applying pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber 35b. In a case that the non-discharging driving signal is outputted, the meniscus in the opening of the nozzle 31 communicating with the pressure chamber 35b is vibrated so as not to discharge the liquid from the nozzle 31. Further, in a case that the driving signal based on the flushing-waveform selecting data is outputted, a liquid droplet of the maximum amount is discharged from the nozzle 31. Furthermore, in a case that the driving signal based on the printing-waveform selecting data is outputted, a liquid droplet of the amount in accordance with the print data is discharged from the nozzle 31.
Moreover, the controller 20 is connected to the scanning motor 15b via a scan driving circuit 15c, and is connected to the conveying motor 14b via a conveyance driving circuit 14c. The controller 20 controls the driving of the scanning motor 15b by the scan driving circuit 15c, based on the print data. The controller 20 controls the driving of the conveying motor 14b by the conveyance driving circuit 14c, based on the print data. With this, the driving timing, the rotation speed, the rotation amount, etc., of each of the scanning motor 15b and the conveying motor 14b are controlled.
Further, the controller 20 is connected to the moving device 18b via a maintenance driving circuit 18c. The controller 20 controls the driving of the moving device 18b by the maintenance driving circuit 18c, based on print instruction by obtainment of the print data. With this, in a case that the printing processing is started, the moving device 18b moves the cap 18a from the capping position to the uncapping position. Further, in a case that the printing processing is finished, the moving device 18b moves the cap 18a from the uncapping position to the capping position.
In a case that the controller 20 obtains the print data, the printing processing is started. In the printing processing, a scanning operation of moving the head 30 in the left-right direction, a discharging operation of discharging the liquid from the nozzles 31 to the recording medium M, a conveying operation of conveying the recording medium M rearward with a predetermined distance, a first determining processing and a flushing processing are performed based on the print data. Further, in the printing processing, the recording processing of performing the discharging operation together with the scanning operation is performed. The recording processing and the conveying processing are alternately repeated, thereby recording an image on the recording medium M, and advancing the printing processing.
For example, as depicted in
During the acceleration, the head 30 moves at a location above the receiving part 17, and the pre-recording flushing is performed during this period of time. Here, the controller 20 counts (measures) an elapsed time elapsed since the pre-recording flushing processing, based on a clock signal, etc. Further, the first determining processing is executed, based on the print data, in a period of time since the start of the printing processing and until the end of the recording processing, and a flushing interval is set depending on a result of the determination in the first determining processing.
Subsequent to the pre-recording flushing processing, the recording processing (going (forward) route recording processing) is performed. In the recording processing, the head 30 performs the discharging operation based on the print data while moving from the flushing area A rightward in the recording area B toward the maintenance area C. Subsequently, the head 30 decelerates while moving in the maintenance C rightward and turns back at a right end of the maintenance area C, and then the head 30 accelerates while moving in the maintenance area C leftward. During the scanning operation of the deceleration and acceleration, the conveying operation is performed.
Further, the recording processing (returning (backward) route recording processing) in which the head 30 performs the discharging operation based on the print data while moving from the maintenance area C leftward in the recording area B toward the flushing area A is performed. Then, in a case that the head 30 reaches the flushing area A, it is possible to perform the flushing processing, and thus the controller 20 determines as to whether or not the elapsed time elapsed since the pre-recording flushing processing has reached the flushing interval. Then, in a case that the elapsed time has reached the flushing interval, the flushing processing is executed while the head 30 accelerates as the head 30 is moving rightward in the flushing area A. Further, the controller 20 counts or measures an elapsed time elapsed since the flushing processing.
Such a measurement (counting) of the elapse time elapsed since the executed flushing processing and such a determination as to whether or not the elapsed time has reached the flushing interval are executed every time the head 30 reaches the flushing area A. Provided that the going (forward) route recording processing and the returning (backward) route recording processing are defined as one pass, the measurement of the elapsed time and the determination are performed for each pass. Further, it is allowable that the flushing processing is performed while the head 30 is decelerating in the maintenance area C.
Recording Processing, First Determining Processing
The controller 20 executes the recording processing of discharging or ejecting the liquid from the plurality of nozzles 31 based on the print data. Further, the controller 20 executes, based on the print data, a first determining processing of determining whether the recording processing is to be executed in a first mode or in a second mode in which a processing speed is faster than that in the first mode.
For example, the first mode is a high image quality printing mode in which the image quality is prioritized than in the second mode, and the printing speed is slower than that in the second mode. The second mode is a high-speed printing mode in which the printing speed is prioritized than in the first mode, and the printing speed is faster than that in the first mode. Accordingly, the controller 20 controls the moving speed of the head 30 by the scan driving circuit 15c so that the moving speed of the head 30 is faster in the recording processing in the second mode than that in the recording processing in the first mode.
Further, the print data includes a printing condition, and the controller 20 executes the first determining processing based on the printing condition. For example, the printing condition may be a printing mode which is inputted to the controller 20 by a user using an input device. In such a case, the controller 20 determines the mode of the recording processing to be the first mode in a case that the printing condition is the high image quality printing mode. Alternatively, the controller 20 determines the mode of the recording processing to be the second mode in a case that the printing condition is the high-speed printing mode.
Furthermore, the printing condition may be a kind of the recoding medium M. The kind is exemplified, for example, by a plain paper (regular paper) such as a PPC paper, etc., and a high image quality paper such as high quality paper, glossy paper (coated paper), etc., on which the reproducibility of a printed image is superior than that on the plain paper. The kind may be information inputted to the controller 20 by the user using the input device, or information detected by a sensor provided on the liquid discharging apparatus 10 and inputted to the controller 20. In a case that the kind is the high image quality paper, the controller 20 determines the mode of the recording processing to be the first mode. In a case that the kind is the plain paper, the controller 20 determines the kind of the recording mode to be the second mode.
The controller 20 executes the pre-printing flushing processing of discharging the liquid from the plurality of nozzles 31 to the receiving part 17, after the uncapping of the cap 18a and before the recording processing. The controller 20 executes a first flushing processing of discharging the liquid from the nozzles 31 to the receiving part 17, in the recording processing. The controller 20 executes a second flushing processing of discharging the liquid from the nozzles 31 to the receiving part 17, the second flushing processing being executed after the execution of the first flushing processing and in the recording processing. In a case that the controller 20 determines, by the first determining processing, that the recording processing is to be executed in the second mode, the controller 20 makes a first flushing interval between the pre-recording flushing processing and the first flushing processing to be longer than a second flushing interval between the first flushing processing and the second flushing processing.
Specifically, in the flushing processing, the controller 20 drives the plurality of driving elements 32 so that the liquid discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 enters into the receiving part 17 while the controller 20 is moving the head 30 in the flushing area A. By this driving of the plurality of driving elements 32, the pressure is applied to the liquid in the plurality of nozzles 31, and the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 and enters into the receiving part 17. In one time of the flushing processing, the discharging operation of the liquid is performed for a predetermined number of times (for example, 50 times). Since the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 by the flushing processing in such a manner, it is possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid.
The flushing processing is performed in the printing processing, and has the pre-recording flushing processing and the flushing processing. As depicted in
Accordingly, the pre-recording flushing processing F0, the first flushing processing F1 and the second flushing processing F2 are performed in this order. The recording processing is performed in a first flushing interval I1 between the pre-recording flushing processing F0 and the first flushing processing F1, and in a second flushing interval I2 between the first flushing processing F1 and the second flushing processing F2.
As depicted in
As depicted in
Before the controller 20 obtains the print data, the head 30 is arranged in the maintenance area C, and the cap 18a is arranged at the capping position. Accordingly, the discharge surface 33a is covered by the cap 18a, and the liquid inside the plurality of nozzles 33 which are opened in the discharge surface 33a is prevented from being dried.
As depicted in
Then, the controller 20 moves, by the returning route movement, the head 30 to the flushing area A. In the flushing area A, the controller 20 executes the pre-printing flushing processing F0, by driving the plurality of driving elements 32 (step S3). With this, the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31, thereby making it possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. Further, the controller 20 counts or measures the elapsed time elapsed since the pre-recording flushing processing F0.
Next, the controller 20 executes the first determining processing (step S4). In a case that the mode of the recording processing is determined to be the first mode, as the result of the first determining processing (step S5: YES), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the first pattern (step S6). Then, the controller 20 executes the recording processing and the conveying processing (step S7).
When the head 30 arrives at the maintenance area C from the recording area B, the controller 20 determines whether the elapsed time elapsed since the pre-printing flushing processing F0 is not less than the first flushing interval I1 of the first pattern (step S8). Here, in a case that the elapsed time is less than the first flushing interval I1 (step S8: NO), the controller 20 continues the execution of the recording processing and the conveying processing (step S7). On the other hand, in a case that the elapsed time is not less than the first flushing interval I1 (step S8: YES), the controller 20 executes the first flushing processing (step S9).
With this, even in a case that the liquid inside the plurality of nozzles 31 is dried during the recording processing and the conveying processing, the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 by the first flushing processing, and thus it is possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. Further, since the first flushing interval I1 of the first pattern is shorter than the first flushing interval I1 of the second pattern, the time of the printing processing of the first mode becomes to be longer than that the time of the printing processing of the second mode. However, the number of times of the flushing processing of the first mode is greater than the number of times of the flushing processing of the second mode, and thus the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid can be lowered by the flushing processing. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the printing conforming to the purpose of the first mode in which the high image quality is prioritized.
Further, the controller 20 counts or measures an elapsed time elapsed since the first flushing processing F1. Then, the controller 20 returns to the processing of step S7, unless all the printing processings are executed with respect to all the passes, and repeats the processings from step S7 to step S10 with respect to the remaining passes.
In this situation, in a case that the controller 20 executes the flushing processing, the controller 20 counts or measures the elapsed time elapsed since this flushing processing. Every time the head 30 reaches the maintenance area C, the controller 20 determines whether or not an elapsed time elapsed since a flushing processing executed the last time (last-time flushing processing) is not less than the (n)th flushing interval In of the first pattern (step S8). In a case that the elapse time is not less than the (n)th flushing interval In of the first pattern (step S8: YES), the controller 20 executes the (n+1)th flushing processing (step S9). Then, in a case that the recoding processings are executed for all the passes (step S10: YES), the controller 20 ends the printing processing.
On the other hand, in a case that the mode of the recording processing is determined to be the second mode, as the result of the first determining processing of step S4 (step S5: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). The first flushing interval I1 of the second pattern is longer than the first flushing interval I1 of the first pattern and the second flushing interval I2 of the second pattern. Then, the controller 20 executes the processings of step S7 and thereafter. In such a manner, in the second pattern, the first flushing interval I1 is made to be longer than the second flushing interval I2. With this, it is possible to reduce the number of times of the flushing processing and the time required for executing the flushing processing, thereby making it to possible to perform a high-speed printing conforming to the purpose of the second mode in which the printing speed is fast. Further, it is also possible to lower, by the flushing processing, the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is provided, in the first embodiment, with a liquid sensor 40 configured to detect the kind of the liquid, as depicted in
Specifically, the liquid sensor 40 is a sensor which is configured to detect the kind of the liquid directly or indirectly, which is connected to the controller 20 and which outputs detection information to the controller 20. In the following, although an explanation will be given about a liquid sensor 40 configured to detect the kind of the liquid indirectly, it is allowable to use a liquid sensor 40, which is configured to detect the kind of the liquid directly, in the second determining processing.
As the liquid sensor 40, for example, an identifying sensor configured to identify the kind of the storing tank 16 is used. In this case, an ID tag is attached to the storing tank 16. The ID tag is an IC tag of the passive type, such as an RFID tag, etc., and identification information of the storing tank 16 is previously recorded in the ID tag. The liquid sensor 40 is an ID reader such as an RFID reader, etc., reads the identification information from the ID tag, and outputs the read identification information of the storing tank 16 to the controller 20.
In the second determining processing, in a case that the information outputted from the liquid sensor 40 is predetermined identification information which is previously stored in the storing part 22, the controller 20 determines that the liquid stored in the storing tank 16 is a liquid of the predetermined kind. On the other hand, in a case that the information outputted from the liquid sensor 40 is not the predetermined identification information, the controller 20 determines that the liquid stored in the storing tank 16 is not the liquid of the predetermined kind.
Further, it is allowable that a liquid amount sensor configured to detect the liquid amount of the storing tank 16 is used as the liquid sensor 40. The liquid amount sensor detects the liquid amount inside the storing tank 16, and outputs the detected liquid amount to the controller 20. In the second determining processing, in a case that the storing tank 16 has not been exchanged and that the liquid amount of the storing tank 16 is increased, the controller 20 determines that the liquid is added to the storing tank 16 and that the liquid stored in the storing tank 16 is not the liquid of the predetermined kind. On the other hand, in a case that the storing tank 16 has not been exchanged and that the liquid amount of the storing tank is not increased, the controller 20 determines that the liquid stored in the storing tank 16 is the liquid of the predetermined kind.
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In a case that the controller 20 determines, by the second determining processing, that the kind of the liquid is the predetermined kind (step S13: YES), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the second determining processing, that the kind of the liquid is not the predetermined kind (step S13: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the first pattern (step S6). The first flushing interval I1 of the second pattern is longer than the first flushing interval I1 of the first pattern and the second flushing interval I2 of the second pattern.
In such a manner, with respect to the liquid of the predetermined kind, the evaporation rate, etc., of the liquid is already known. Accordingly, even in a case of selecting the second pattern in which the first flushing interval is long, it is possible to avoid such a situation that the liquid is dried to a greater extent than expected and that any unsatisfactory discharge occurs. In contrast, in a case that the liquid is not of the predetermined kind, there is such a possibility that the liquid might be dried to a greater extent than expected and that any unsatisfactory discharge might occur. Therefore, the first pattern in which the first flushing interval is shorter than that in the second pattern is selected. With this, it is possible to lower any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a timer 41 configured to count or measure use time of the head 30, in the first or second embodiment as depicted in
Specifically, the timer 41 may be constructed of the controller 20, or may be a device different from the controller 20. The timer 41 counts a start of use of the liquid discharging apparatus 10 or the head 30 and an exchange of the head 30, etc., as a use start timing of the head 30, and measures an elapsed time since the use start timing based on a clock signal, etc., as the use time of the head 30. For example, in a case that the timer 41 is constructed of the controller 20, the controller 20 periodically adds a numerical value to a predetermined area of the storing part 22, based on the clock signal. In this case, the numerical value stored in the storing part 22 may be defined as the use time of the head 30.
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In step S15, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the third determining processing, that the use time is less than the predetermined period (step S15: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the third determining processing, that the use time is equal to or more than the predetermined period (step S15: YES), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the first pattern (step S6).
In such a manner, as the use time of the head 30 becomes longer, any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is likely to occur. Accordingly, in a case that the use time is not less than the predetermined use time, the first pattern is selected to thereby make the first flushing interval to be shorter than the first flushing interval in the second pattern, thereby making it possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a case that the use time of the head 30 is less than the predetermined use time, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a conveying device 14 configured to convey the recoding medium M at a position facing the discharge surface 33a and a recording medium sensor 42 configured to detect the recording medium M, as depicted in
Specifically, the recording medium sensor 42 has, for example, a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, and is provided on a conveyance path in which the recording medium M is conveyed by the conveying device 14. The light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are arranged so as to sandwich the recording medium M, which is being conveyed by the conveying device 14, therebetween. In a state that a light from the light-emitting part is shielded or cut off by the recording medium M and that the light-receiving part does not receive the light from the light-emitting part, the recording medium sensor 42 detects the recording medium M in the conveyance path, and outputs a detection signal to the controller 20. On the other hand, in a state that there is not any recording medium M present in the conveyance path and that the light-receiving part receives the light from the light-emitting part, the recording medium sensor 42 does not output the detection signal to the controller 20. Note that in the case that the light-receiving part receives the light from the light-emitting part, the recording medium sensor 42 may output a signal, indicating that there is not any recording medium M present in the conveyance path, to the controller 20.
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In the fourth determining processing, in a case that a state that the recording medium M is not detected by the recording medium sensor 42 is changed to a state that the recording medium M is detected by the recording medium sensor 42, the controller 20 determines that a front end of the recording medium M has reached the recording medium sensor 42. On the other hand, in a case that the state that the recording medium M is detected by the recording medium sensor 42 is changed to the state that the recording medium M is not detected by the recording medium sensor 42, the controller 20 determines that a rear end of the recording medium M has passed the recording medium sensor 42. The controller 20 counts a conveying time between a timing at which the front end of the recording medium M has reached the recording medium sensor 42 and a timing at which the rear end of the recording medium M has passed the recording medium sensor 42. In a case that the conveying time is less than a predetermined time, the controller 20 determines that the recording medium M is being conveyed in the conveyance path smoothly, and that any jam does not occur. On the other hand, in a case that the conveying time has reached the predetermined time, the controller 20 determines that the recording medium M is not conveyed, and that a jam has occurred. Further, in a case that the recording medium sensor 42 stops detecting the recording medium M after the controller 20 had determined that the jam occurred, the controller 20 determines that the recording medium M is removed from the conveyance path, and that the jam is eliminated.
In step S17, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the fourth determining processing, that the jam has not occurred (step S17: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the fourth determining processing, that the jam has occurred (step S17: YES), the controller selects the flushing interval of the first pattern, regarding after the elimination of the jam (step S6).
In such a manner, in a case that the jam has occurred, a state that the discharge surface 33a is exposed is continued, and thus there is such a possibility that the liquid in the plurality of nozzles 31 might be dried. Accordingly, by selecting the first pattern, after the elimination of the jam, so as to make the first flushing interval to be shorter than that in the second pattern, thereby making it possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a state that the jam has not occurred, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a temperature sensor 43 configured to detect the temperature of the liquid, as depicted in
Specifically, the temperature sensor 43 is arranged inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 or in the head 30 so that the temperature sensor 43 detects the temperature of the liquid directly or indirectly. For example, the temperature sensor 43 is mounted on the carriage 12a, and moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 12a. In a case that the temperature sensor 43 detects the temperature of the liquid indirectly, the controller 20 obtains the temperature of the liquid inside the head 30 from a detected temperature by the temperature sensor 43, based on predetermined information indicating a corresponding relationship between the detected temperature by the temperature sensor 43 and the temperature of the liquid.
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In step S19, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the fifth determining processing, that the temperature of the liquid is not less than the predetermined temperature (step S19: YES), the controller selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the fifth determining processing, that the temperature of the liquid is less than the predetermined temperature (step S19: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the first pattern (step S6).
In such a manner, as the temperature of the liquid is lower, the viscosity of the liquid becomes higher, and any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is likely to occur. Accordingly, in a case that the temperature of the liquid is less than the predetermined temperature, the first pattern is selected and the first flushing interval is made to be shorter than the first flushing interval in the second pattern, thereby making it possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a case that the temperature of the liquid is not less than the predetermined temperature, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a humidity sensor 44 configured to detect the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10, as depicted in
Specifically, the humidity sensor 44 is arranged inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 so that the humidity sensor 44 detects the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 directly or indirectly. For example, the humidity sensor 44 is mounted on the carriage 12a, and moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 12a. In a case that the humidity sensor 44 detects the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 indirectly, the controller 20 obtains the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 from a detected humidity by the humidity sensor 44, based on predetermined information indicating a corresponding relationship between the detected humidity by the humidity sensor 44 and the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10.
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In step S21, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the sixth determining processing, that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is not less than the predetermined humidity (step S21: YES), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the sixth determining processing, that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is less than the predetermined humidity (step S21: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the first pattern (step S6).
In such a manner, as the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is lower, the viscosity of the liquid becomes higher, and any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is likely to occur. Accordingly, in a case that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is less than the predetermined humidity, the first pattern is selected and the first flushing interval is made to be shorter than the first flushing interval in the second pattern, thereby making it possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a case that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is not less than the predetermined humidity, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
In a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 20 executes a third flushing processing of discharging the liquid from the nozzles 31 to the receiving part 17, the third flushing processing being executed after the second flushing processing, while the controller 20 is executing the recording processing. In a case that the controller 20 determines, by the first determining processing, that the recording processing is to be executed in the second mode, the controller 20 makes a third flushing interval between the second flushing processing and the third flushing processing to be shorter than the second flushing interval.
Namely, in the flowcharts indicates in
For example, the first flushing interval I1 is 60 (sixty) seconds, the second flushing interval I1 is 50 (fifty) seconds, and the third flushing interval I1 is 40 (forty) seconds. By making the flushing interval to be shorter as the printing processing progresses, the flushing processing is executed at an appropriate timing with respect to any drying of the liquid inside the plurality of nozzles 31 which advances as the time passes. As a result, it is possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid while maintaining the high-speed printing.
Note that in the recording processing of the second mode, it is allowable that the flushing interval is made to be shorter in a stepwise manner as the printing processing progresses, as depicted in
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a temperature sensor 43 configured to detect the temperature of the liquid, as depicted in
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In step S23, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the seventh determining processing, that the temperature of the liquid is not less than the predetermined temperature (step S23: YES), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the seventh determining processing, that the temperature of the liquid is less than the predetermined temperature (step S23: NO), the controller selects the flushing interval of the third pattern (step S24).
In such a manner, in a case that the temperature of the liquid is less than the predetermined temperature, the viscosity of the liquid becomes to be high, and any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is likely to occur. In this case, by selecting the third pattern, the third flushing interval becomes to be shorter than the second flushing interval, and the flushing interval becomes to be shorter accompanying with the progress of the printing processing. As a result, it is possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a case that the temperature of the liquid is not less than the predetermined temperature, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a nineth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a humidity sensor 44 configured to detect the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10, as depicted in
In a flow chart of a method of controlling the liquid discharging apparatus 10 as depicted in
In step S26, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the eighth determining processing, that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is not less than the predetermined humidity (step S26: YES), the controller selects the flushing interval of the second pattern (step S11). On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the eighth determining processing, that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is less than the predetermined humidity (step S26: NO), the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the third pattern (step S27).
In such a manner, in a case that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is less than the predetermined humidity, the viscosity of the liquid becomes to be high, and any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is likely to occur. In this case, by selecting the third pattern, the third flushing interval becomes to be shorter than the second flushing interval, and the flushing interval becomes to be shorter accompanying with the progress of the printing processing. As a result, it is possible to lower the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid. On the other hand, in a case that the humidity inside the liquid discharging apparatus 10 is not less than the predetermined humidity, the second pattern is selected to thereby make it possible to perform a high-speed printing.
In a liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 20 executes the recording processing for each pass in any one of the first to nineth embodiments. The controller 20 executes a plurality of flushing processings of discharging the liquid from the nozzles 31 to the receiving part 17 in the recording processing. The controller 20 executes a ninth determining processing of determining whether a discharge amount (accumulated discharge amount) of the liquid discharged from the nozzles 31 in the recording processing up to the pass performed last time is not less than a predetermined liquid amount. In a case that the controller 20 determines, by the ninth determining processing, that the accumulated discharge amount is not less than the predetermined liquid amount, the controller 20 is configured to make a next-time flushing interval between a current flushing processing and a next-time flushing processing to be longer than a last-time flushing interval between a last-time flushing processing and the current flushing processing.
Specifically, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the first determining processing, that the recording processing is to be executed in the second mode, the controller 20 selects the flushing interval of the second pattern. Then, the controller 20 executes the flushing processing at the flushing interval of the second pattern. In a case that the controller 20 executes the flushing, the controller 20 executes the ninth determining processing.
In the nineth determining processing, for example, the controller 20 calculates a discharge duty up to the pass performed last time as the accumulated discharge amount of the liquid. The discharge duty is a discharge amount, of the liquid, with respect to a maximum total amount of dischargeable amounts of the plurality of nozzles 31 opened in the discharge surface 33a up to the pass performed last time. The maximum total amount of dischargeable amounts is an amount obtained by adding a maximum discharge amount of the liquid which can be discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles 31 at one time of driving, with respect to all the plurality of nozzles 31 in the pass and all the driving cycles, and stored in the storing part 22 in advance. The discharge amount of the liquid is calculated as follows: an amount of liquid droplets to be discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles 31 at each of the driving cycles is obtained from the density of an image based on the print data, and such liquid droplet amounts are added with respect to all the plurality of nozzles 31 in the pass and with respect to the all the driving cycles in the pass.
For example, it is assumed that the large drop is formed by the maximum amount of the liquid droplet which is discharged from one nozzle 31 by one time of the driving. In this case, since liquid droplets of the large drop are discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 by all the drivings of a current pass, this discharge amount of the liquid corresponds to the maximum total amount of dischargeable amounts of the plurality of nozzles 31, and thus the discharge duty becomes to be 100%. On the other hand, in a case that the liquid droplets are not discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 by all the drivings of the current pass, this discharge amount of the liquid is 0 (zero), and thus the discharge duty becomes to be 0%. The controller 20 calculates the discharge duty based on the print data for each pass. Further, the controller 20 stores, in a predetermined area of the storing part 22, the calculated discharge duty and an average value of the calculated discharge duty and a discharge duty which has been already stored. Furthermore, the controller 20 uses this average value as the accumulated discharge amount of the liquid.
Then, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the nineth determining processing, that the accumulated discharge amount is less than the predetermined liquid amount, the controller 20 executes the flushing based on the flushing interval of the second pattern.
On the other hand, in a case that the controller 20 determines, by the nineth determining processing, that the accumulated discharge amount is not less than the predetermined liquid amount, the controller 20 obtains a last-time flushing interval between the current flushing processing and the last-time flushing processing which has been executed immediately before the current flushing. Then, the controller 20 changes the next-time flushing interval between the current flushing processing and the next-time flushing processing which is to be executed next to the current flushing processing to be longer than the last-time flushing interval. For example, in a case that the last-time flushing interval is 10 seconds, the controller 20 makes the next-time flushing interval to be 20 seconds which is longer than the last-time flushing interval.
Since the liquid is discharged or ejected from the plurality of nozzles 31 in the discharging operation based on the print information in the recording processing, the discharging operation can be considered as a kind of the flushing processing. Therefore, as the discharge duty up to the last-time pass is greater, any unsatisfactory discharge of the liquid is less likely to occur. Thus, in a case that the accumulated discharge amount is not less than the predetermined liquid amount, the next-time flushing interval is made to be longer than the last-time flushing interval. With this, it is possible to perform a high-speed printing while lowering the occurrence of any unsatisfactory discharge due to the increase in the viscosity of the liquid.
Note that in the ninth determining processing as described above, the discharge duty is used as the accumulated discharge amount. The accumulated discharge amount, however, is not limited to this. For example, it is allowable to use an integrated quantity of the liquid and a printing rate as the accumulated discharge amount. The integrated amount of the liquid is an amount obtained by adding the amounts of the liquid discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 up to the pass performed last time. In this case, the controller 20 obtains the liquid droplet amount to be discharged from each of the plurality of nozzles 31 at each of the driving cycles from the density of the image based on the print data. Then, the controller 20 calculates a total amount by adding thus obtained liquid droplet amounts with respect to all the plurality of nozzles 31 and with respect to all the driving cycles in the pass. Then, the controller 20 adds the calculated total amount to a previously stored total amount to thereby obtain a sum, and stores the sum in the storing part 22. Further, the controller 20 uses the stored total amount as the accumulated discharge amount of the liquid.
Further, the printing rate is a value obtained by dividing a density and an area of an image formed by the discharged liquid with an area of a print range in the recording medium M. For example, in a case that the density of the image in 50% of the print range is 50%, and the density of the image in the remaining 50% of the print range is 0%, the printing rate is 25%.
Every time the controller 20 performs the printing on the recording medium M, the controller 20 calculates the printing rate from the density and area of the image and the area of the print range, based on the print data. Further, the controller 20 stores, in a predetermined area of the storing part 20, the average of the calculated printing rate and a printing rate which has been already stored in the predetermined area of the storing part 20. Furthermore, the controller 20 uses the average value as the accumulated discharge amount of the liquid.
A liquid discharging apparatus 10 according to an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with, as depicted in
In the flushing processing, the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 while the head 30 is moving and accelerating in the flushing area A. In such a situation, the controller 20 drives the plurality of driving elements 32 so that the discharged liquid enters into the receiving part 17. Namely, the controller 20 calculates a landing position of the liquid from a moving speed of the head 30, a spacing distance between the discharge surface 33a and the receiving part 17, a flying speed of the liquid corresponding to the driving signal, etc., and controls the driving timing of the plurality of driving elements 32, etc., so that the landing position is within a range of the receiving part 17 in the left-right direction.
Note that the liquid is discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 while the head 30 is moving rightward (to the right side). Accordingly, the landing position of the discharged liquid is located on the right side with respect to a discharge position of the liquid. Therefore, the head 30 starts the discharge of the liquid on the upstream side (left side) in the moving direction of the head 30 with respect to a left end of the receiving part 17, and ends the discharge of the liquid on the upstream side (left side) in the moving direction of the head 30 with respect to a right end of the receiving part 17. By doing so, the discharged liquid is received by the receiving part 17.
In such a manner, the liquid discharged from the plurality of nozzles 31 by the flushing processing lands on the absorbing body 17a and the guide 17b of the receiving part 17. Therefore, it is possible to prevent occurrence of such a situation that the liquid lands and accumulates on a part, which is different from the receiving part 17, etc., to thereby form an accumulated matter, and that the movement of the head 30 is hindered by the accumulated matter, etc.
Further, in the flushing processing, the scanning operation and the discharging operation of the head 30 are executed in parallel. A moving velocity of the head 30 in the flushing processing is equal to the velocity of the head 30 which is moving in the flushing area A without executing the flushing processing. Thus, it is possible to suppress any lowering in the speed of the printing processing due to the flushing processing.
In all the above-described embodiments, the maintenance area C and the flushing area A are arranged on the opposite sides, respectively, with the recording area B interposed therebetween. It is allowable, however, that the maintenance area C and the flushing area A are arranged on a same side with respect to the recording area B. Further, although the receiving part 17 is provided separately from the cap 18a, it is allowable to use the cap 18a as the receiving part 17. In such a case, the maintenance area C and the flushing area A are a mutually same area.
In all the above-described embodiments, the flushing interval of the first pattern or the flushing interval of the second pattern is selected, depending on the result of the determination in each of the determining processings. Note, however, it is allowable that the flushing interval of the first pattern is set as a basic pattern, and that the flushing interval is changed from that of the first pattern to that of the second pattern, depending on the result of the determination in each of the determining processings. In such a case, the controller 20 returns the flushing interval to be that of the first pattern after the controller 20 ends the recording processings in all the passes.
In all the above-described embodiments, it is allowable to execute a non-discharging driving of each of the plurality of driving elements 32 after the recording processing and immediately before executing the flushing processing. By the non-discharging driving, the meniscus in the opening of the nozzle 31, communicating with the pressure chamber 35b is vibrated so that the liquid is not discharged from the nozzle 31. Thus, it is possible to easily discharge the liquid from the nozzle 31 in the flushing processing executed after the non-discharging driving of each of the plurality of driving elements 32.
Note that all the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined with each other, provided that the embodiments and modifications are not mutually exclusive. Further, many improvements and/or another embodiment of present disclosure will be apparent, from the foregoing explanation, to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing explanation should be construed as illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out present disclosure. The details of the configuration and/or the details of function of the present disclosure may be substantially changed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.
The liquid discharging apparatus, the controlling method for the same and the program related to the present disclosure are useful as a liquid discharging apparatus, a controlling method for the same and a program, etc., each of which is capable of balancing the quality of printed image and the printing time.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020-080201 | Apr 2020 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6193351 | Yaegashi et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 10150298 | Arakane | Dec 2018 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 9-207358 | Aug 1997 | JP |
| 2003-80702 | Mar 2003 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210339531 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |
