INKJET DEVICE AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR INKJET DEVICE

• US 20130257941A1
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiroki, Masashi, MURATA, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/9
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16535 using wiping constructions B41J2/16552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16538 with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/18 Ink recirculation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/16573 Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes

Abstract

An inkjet recording device includes an inkjet head that is equipped with a nozzle to discharge ink, an ink flow path connected to this inkjet head, an adjustment unit that adjusts the pressure in the ink flow path, and a maintenance unit that wipes the nozzle of the inkjet head, and a control unit that executes a maintenance mode of the inkjet head by controlling the adjustment unit and the maintenance unit. The control unit controls the maintenance unit to wipe the nozzle after the adjustment unit adjusts the pressure inside the ink flow path to a first positive pressure, and then again, after the adjustment unit adjusts the pressure in the ink flow path to a first negative pressure. The control unit further controls the adjustment unit to adjust the pressure in the flow path to a second negative pressure that is smaller than the first negative pressure.

Claims

1. An inkjet recording device comprising:

an inkjet head that is equipped with a nozzle for discharging ink;

a flow path configured to supply ink to the inkjet head;

a pressure adjustment unit configured to adjust a pressure inside the flow path;

a maintenance unit configured to wipe the nozzle of the inkjet head; and

a controller configured to execute a maintenance mode of the inkjet head by controlling the pressure adjustment unit and the maintenance unit,

wherein the controller in the maintenance mode is configured to;

control the maintenance unit to wipe the nozzle of the inkjet head after the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure inside the flow path to a first positive pressure, and then control the maintenance unit to wipe the nozzle of the inkjet head again after the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure inside the flow path to a first negative pressure, and

control the pressure adjustment unit to adjust the pressure inside the flow path to a second negative pressure that is smaller than the first negative pressure.

2. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a roller configured to apply ink to the nozzle.

3. The inkjet recording device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is configured to activate the roller before the pressure adjustment unit adjusts the pressure inside the flow path to the first positive pressure.

4. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein:

the flow path includes a first tank, a second tank, a first ink flow path between the first tank and the inkjet head, a second ink flow path between the inkjet head and the second tank, and a third ink flow path between the second tank and the first tank.

5. The inkjet recording device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first pressure sensor that is positioned in the first ink flow path and detects the pressure inside the first ink flow path, and

a second pressure sensor that is positioned in the second ink flow path and detects the pressure inside the second flow path,

wherein the controller is configured to determine an intermediate pressure of pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and pressure detected by the second pressure sensor as the pressure inside the flow path.

6. The inkjet recording device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a pump that is positioned in the third ink flow path to cause ink to be supplied from the second tank to the first tank,

wherein the control unit is configured to operate the pump while executing the maintenance mode.

7. The inkjet recording device according to claim 4, wherein

the inkjet head is positioned at a location that is higher than a location of the first tank and a location of the second tank.

8. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein

the first positive pressure is higher than an atmospheric pressure.

9. The inkjet recording device according to claim 1, wherein

the first negative pressure is equal to a pressure inside the flow path at a time when a printing operation is being executed by the inkjet head.

16. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising:

adjusting the pressure applied the ink inside the flow path so as to be equal to the first negative pressure before printing operation is executed by the inkjet head.

10. A control method for an inkjet recording device having an inkjet head that is equipped with a nozzle for discharging ink, comprising:

adjusting a pressure applied to ink inside a flow path that supplies ink to the inkjet head to a first positive pressure;

wiping a surface of the nozzle;

adjusting the pressure applied to the ink inside the flow path to a first negative pressure;

wiping the surface of the nozzle; and

adjusting the pressure applied to the ink inside the flow path to a second negative pressure that is smaller than the first negative pressure.

11. The control method according to claim 10, further comprising:

supplying ink to the nozzle before the pressure applied to the ink that is supplied to the inkjet head is adjusted to the first positive pressure.

12. The control method according to claim 10, wherein

the inkjet head is connected to a circulation route comprising a first tank, a second tank, a first ink flow path between the first tank and the inkjet head, a second ink flow path between the recording head and the second tank, and a third ink flow path between the second tank and the first tank.

13. The control method according to claim 12, further comprising:

calculating an intermediate value of an output value of a first pressure sensor that detects a pressure inside the first ink flow path, and an output value of a second pressure sensor that detects a pressure inside the second ink flow path, as the pressure applied to the ink.

14. The control method according to claim 12, further comprising:

driving a pump that is placed in the third ink flow path to cause ink to be supplied from the second tank to the first tank before adjusting the pressure applied to the ink to the first positive pressure.

15. The control method according to claim 10, wherein

the first positive pressure is higher than an atmospheric pressure.

17. An inkjet recording device comprising:

an inkjet head having an ink discharge nozzle;

an ink flow path to the inkjet head;

a pressure adjustment valve installed along the ink flow path;

a maintenance unit configured to wipe the ink discharge nozzle; and

a controller configured to;

control the pressure adjustment valve to adjust the pressure inside the flow path to a first positive pressure and then cause the maintenance unit to wipe the ink discharge nozzle, and control the pressure adjustment valve to adjust the pressure inside the flow path to a first negative pressure and then cause the maintenance unit to wipe the ink discharge nozzle, and

control the pressure adjustment valve to adjust the pressure inside the flow path to a second negative pressure that is smaller than the first negative pressure.

18. The inkjet recording device according to claim 17, wherein the first positive pressure is greater than an atmospheric pressure.

19. The inkjet recording device according to claim 18, further comprising a pump configured to increase the pressure inside the flow path.

20. The inkjet recording device according to claim 19, wherein the first negative pressure is equal to a pressure inside the flow path at a time when a printing operation is being executed by the inkjet head.