WO2011040146A1 - Ink-jet recorder and maintenance method thereof - Google Patents

Ink-jet recorder and maintenance method thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011040146A1
WO2011040146A1 PCT/JP2010/064153 JP2010064153W WO2011040146A1 WO 2011040146 A1 WO2011040146 A1 WO 2011040146A1 JP 2010064153 W JP2010064153 W JP 2010064153W WO 2011040146 A1 WO2011040146 A1 WO 2011040146A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cap
cleaning liquid
recording head
ink
contact
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2010/064153
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
哲志 青木
忠祐 兼子
Original Assignee
コニカミノルタＩｊ株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by コニカミノルタＩｊ株式会社 filed Critical コニカミノルタＩｊ株式会社
Priority to JP2011534139A priority Critical patent/JPWO2011040146A1/en
Publication of WO2011040146A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011040146A1/en

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/16552—Cleaning of print head nozzles using cleaning fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16505—Caps, spittoons or covers for cleaning or preventing drying out

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a maintenance method thereof.
  • Inkjet recording is a recording method capable of high-speed printing with low noise, and is a recording method that is rapidly spreading recently.
  • ink as a recording liquid is ejected as small droplets by a method such as heating or pressurization, and the ink is attached to a recording material such as paper, and recording is performed.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus is usually provided with a cap that covers the nozzle surface for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle, that is, preventing solidification and thickening of the ink, and preventing dust from adhering to the nozzle.
  • this cap is automatically attached to the nozzle surface when the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus is stopped, and prevents evaporation of solvent and adhesion of dust.
  • ink or the like may adhere to the cap when capping. For this reason, there is a possibility of thickening and sticking while adhering to the cap, and as a result, the capping performance may be lowered.
  • a cleaning liquid As a method for removing ink adhering to the cap, for example, a cleaning liquid is used, the amount of the cleaning liquid supplied to the cap is set to be equal to or larger than the internal volume of the cap, and the cleaning liquid overflows from the cap.
  • a method of cleaning the outer periphery see, for example, Patent Document 1.
  • a method of overflowing a cleaning liquid from a cap and cleaning a contact portion and an outer peripheral portion of the cap with a recording head is an effective method for removing ink from the cap.
  • cleaning with a cleaning liquid is extremely effective in terms of increased viscosity and certainty of removal of fixed ink.
  • the portion of the nozzle surface where the cap abuts cannot come into contact with the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning effect cannot be obtained. Therefore, there is a possibility that the capping performance may be deteriorated due to the ink adhering to the portion of the nozzle surface with which the cap abuts, so that sufficient reliability cannot always be obtained.
  • water-based pigment inks are more susceptible to problems such as viscosity increase due to water evaporation and pigment aggregation than dye-based inks.
  • the solvent evaporates, and components such as pigments thicken or solidify.
  • the water-based pigment ink is more easily fixed than a normal dye-based ink using a dye, and has a very poor recovery property when fixed, and particularly generally includes a polymer as a so-called dispersant. The recovery becomes worse.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a function of cleaning a contact portion of a cap used in an ink jet recording apparatus with a recording head and a contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a maintenance method thereof.
  • a recording head having nozzles for ejecting ink; A cap that can come into contact with the recording head with a recess facing the nozzle side; A cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap; The cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  • An ink jet recording apparatus that is brought into contact with the ink jet recording apparatus.
  • the cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  • the cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head.
  • the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the overflowing cleaning liquid is brought into contact with a contact portion of the recording head with the cap by approaching or abutting.
  • the cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowed cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap 4.
  • the cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. 5.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus further comprising a discharge unit that discharges at least the cleaning liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle after wiping by the wiping unit.
  • a maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a cleaning step of cleaning the overflowed cleaning liquid by contacting the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  • an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head.
  • a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and after the overflowing cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap 13.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus having a function of cleaning a contact portion of a cap used in an ink jet recording apparatus with a recording head and a contact portion of the cap of the recording head and a maintenance method thereof. it can.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing an ink supply system and a head maintenance system of the ink jet recording apparatus. It is a schematic diagram of the cap and the absorber of the ink jet recording apparatus, (a) is a schematic diagram before mounting the absorber, (b) is a schematic diagram after mounting the absorber. It is a block diagram showing the main control structure of an inkjet recording device. It is a flowchart of work end mode. It is a flowchart of nozzle surface cleaning mode. 6 is a flowchart of an in-head cleaning mode. It is a flowchart of a nozzle surface strong cleaning mode. It is a flowchart of the nozzle hole cleaning mode. It is a flowchart of cap cleaning mode.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply system and a head maintenance system of the ink jet recording apparatus.
  • a platen 2 that supports the recording medium P from below is disposed so as to be horizontal.
  • a carriage 5 that scans a plurality of recording heads 4 in a scanning direction B orthogonal to the conveyance direction A of the recording medium P is provided along a horizontally extending guide rail (not shown). It has been.
  • the carriage 5 is connected to a timing belt 40 (see FIG. 2) that is stretched between a drive pulley 40a and an idle pulley 40b.
  • the drive pulley 40a is joined to the rotating shaft of the scanning motor 22 (see FIG. 4). For this reason, the carriage 5 moves in the scanning direction B when the scanning motor 22 is driven.
  • the plurality of recording heads 4 eject ink for each color used in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 toward the recording medium P, and ink is applied to the nozzle surface 41 (see FIG. 2) of each recording head 4.
  • a number of nozzles 42 (see FIG. 2) for discharging are arranged.
  • a plurality of ink tanks 6 for storing inks of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided via ink flow paths 7 that guide ink. Connected.
  • an aqueous pigment ink is used.
  • these recording heads 4 are integrated with, for example, ejection energy generating means such as a piezoelectric element for causing ink ejection operations corresponding to the respective recording heads 4 to be performed from the nozzles, and driving circuits thereof. Built in.
  • ejection energy generating means such as a piezoelectric element for causing ink ejection operations corresponding to the respective recording heads 4 to be performed from the nozzles, and driving circuits thereof.
  • the discharge energy generating means functions as the discharge means of the present invention.
  • the ink supply system and the head maintenance system of the inkjet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply system and the head maintenance system shown in FIG. 1 are provided with four sets of ink supply systems and maintenance systems corresponding to the number of the recording heads 4. Since they have the same configuration, one of them will be described.
  • a sub tank 8 for temporarily storing ink is provided in the middle of the ink flow path 7.
  • the sub tank 8 is provided with a full tank detection sensor 81 for detecting whether or not the sub tank 8 is full.
  • An ink supply valve 82 for adjusting the ink flowing into the sub tank 8 is provided on the upstream side of the sub tank 8.
  • a pinch valve 83 that opens and closes the ink flow path 7 and controls the supply of ink is provided on the downstream side of the sub tank 8.
  • the pinch valve 83 normally allows ink to be supplied in an open state, and in the cleaning process described later, the ink flow path 7 is closed to prevent the cleaning liquid from flowing into the sub tank 8.
  • a damper 9 is provided on the downstream side of the pinch valve 83 to absorb ink pressure fluctuations by temporarily storing the ink before the ink flows into the recording head 4.
  • the damper 9 is mounted on the carriage 5 and absorbs pressure fluctuations that occur in the ink during ejection based on scanning of the carriage 5 and prevents ink ejection from becoming unstable. .
  • the ink supply valve 82 and the pinch valve 83 are configured by valves whose open / close state can be electrically controlled, for example, electromagnetic valves.
  • a maintenance unit 12 that performs maintenance of the recording head 4 is provided on the side of the platen 2.
  • the maintenance unit 12 can move in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
  • the maintenance unit 12 is provided with a flexible wiper blade 13 extending upward.
  • the maintenance unit 12 itself is moved upward, and the wiper blade 13 and the nozzles of the recording head 4 are moved. If the maintenance unit 12 itself is moved in the horizontal direction in contact with the surface 41, the wiper blade 13 rubs the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 and includes the portion where the cap 15 abuts. Ink and cleaning liquid adhering to the entire surface are removed.
  • the maintenance unit 12 is lowered and the contact state between the wiper blade 13 and the nozzle surface 41 is released.
  • the wiper blade 13 is made of an elastic member such as rubber. In the present embodiment, the wiper blade 13 functions as the wiping means of the present invention.
  • the maintenance unit 12 is provided with an ink suction part 14 for sucking ink in the nozzles of the recording head 4.
  • the ink suction portion 14 is provided with a cap 15 that is brought into contact with and separated from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 as the maintenance unit 12 moves up and down.
  • the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 as the maintenance unit 12 is raised, covers all the nozzles provided on the nozzle surface 41, and maintenance is performed when the suction is completed.
  • the unit 12 is lowered, the unit 12 is separated from the nozzle surface 41.
  • a suction pump 16 for sucking a space formed between the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 is provided via the waste liquid channel 17. It is connected.
  • a waste liquid tank 19 for storing the discharged waste liquid is provided at the most downstream side of the waste liquid flow path 17.
  • the waste liquid channel 17 is formed by, for example, a resin tube.
  • the suction pump 16 is preferably a so-called tube pump that sandwiches a resin tube constituting the waste liquid flow path 17 with a roller and moves the roller along the tube to exhaust air or the like in the tube from the end of the tube. It is done.
  • a cleaning liquid tank 3 capable of storing the cleaning liquid
  • a liquid supply path 11 that communicates between the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the recess 30 of the cap 15, and in the middle of the liquid supply path 11
  • a liquid supply valve 10 is provided, and an air communication valve 18 is provided between the cap 15 and the liquid supply valve 10 in the liquid supply path 11 and communicates the atmosphere through the recess 30 of the cap 15.
  • the liquid supply valve 10 and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are configured by valves that can be electrically controlled in their open / closed state, for example, electromagnetic valves.
  • the cleaning liquid tank 3, the liquid supply path 11, and the liquid supply valve 10 function as the cleaning liquid supply means of the present invention.
  • a cleaning liquid containing a basic compound is used as the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 3.
  • the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 3 is not particularly limited as long as it has a cleaning action, but a cleaning liquid containing a basic compound is preferably used.
  • the cleaning liquid containing the basic compound can strengthen the cleaning action on the thickened and fixed ink as compared with the cleaning liquid not containing the basic compound. For this reason, it is possible to wash and remove the ink that has increased in viscosity and fixed at the contact portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 in a relatively short time, for example, a few seconds.
  • the liquid supply path 11 is a path through which the cleaning liquid flows by the operation of the liquid supply valve 10, and is constituted by, for example, a resin tube.
  • the cleaning liquid tank 3 Since the cleaning liquid tank 3 is disposed at a position higher than the position of the cap 15 (position in contact with the recording head 4), the cleaning liquid can be easily supplied to the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 due to a water head difference.
  • the cleaning liquid W in an amount exceeding the internal volume of the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is supplied and an overflowing state is shown.
  • the liquid supply valve 10 controls the communication state of the liquid supply path 11. That is, in the opened state of the liquid supply valve 10, the inside of the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 communicate with each other through the liquid supply path 11. Therefore, when the liquid supply valve 10 is opened as appropriate, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30. On the other hand, when the liquid supply valve 10 is closed, the liquid supply path 11 is blocked at the position of the liquid supply valve 10. For this reason, the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the recess 30 are also blocked.
  • the cap 15 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
  • the cap 15 includes a bottom portion 31 of a rectangular plate material and a side wall portion 32 erected upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom portion 31, and the recording head is formed by the bottom portion 31 and the side wall portion 32.
  • a recess 30 having an open upper surface on the 4 side is defined.
  • the upper end surface 29 of the side wall portion 32 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 and sealed.
  • the cap 15 is produced by molding an elastic member such as rubber into a tray shape.
  • the bottom 31 is formed with a cleaning liquid supply port 27 communicating with the liquid feeding path 11 and a cleaning liquid discharge port 28 communicating with the waste liquid flow path 17. Further, a fibrous absorbent body 23 is disposed in the recess 30 so as to cover the cleaning liquid supply port 27 and the cleaning liquid discharge port 28.
  • the fibrous absorber 23 mounted in the recess 30 is made of a liquid absorbing material such as felt or sponge capable of absorbing and holding liquid.
  • the fibrous absorbent body 23 of the present embodiment is configured to be thinner than the height of the recess 30. For this reason, the upper surface of the fibrous absorber 23 is separated below the nozzle surface 41 in a state where the nozzle surface 41 is sealed by the cap 15.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main control configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 20 that controls each drive unit.
  • the control unit 20 includes a transport unit 21 for transporting the recording medium P along the transport direction A, a scanning motor 22 for scanning the carriage 5, and a maintenance unit for moving the maintenance unit 12 in the horizontal and vertical directions.
  • the detection sensor 81, the recording head 4, the liquid supply valve 10, and the storage unit 26 are electrically connected.
  • each drive unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is connected to the control unit 20.
  • the control unit 20 controls various devices according to a control program and control data written in the storage unit 26.
  • the control unit 20 includes a timekeeping timer, and can measure a non-use period of the apparatus, a predetermined time of each process in the maintenance process, and the like.
  • the control unit 20 controls the transport unit 21 in accordance with the input of the image recording start instruction so as to intermittently transport the recording medium P in the transport direction A.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to scan the carriage 5 in the scanning direction B.
  • the control unit 20 controls the recording head 4 based on the image data, and ejects ink onto the recording medium P to record an image.
  • control unit 20 controls each unit to perform maintenance of the cap 15 and the recording head 4.
  • the maintenance mode In this maintenance mode, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the recess 30 of the cap 15, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4.
  • the maintenance mode has a plurality of modes depending on the assumed deterioration state of the recovery function of the cap 15, the clogging state of the recording head 4, and the like.
  • Execution of the maintenance mode is performed when the user selects any maintenance mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or when the control unit 20 determines that any maintenance mode execution is necessary. . This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 If there is a high possibility that ink solidified material or thickened material has adhered to the nozzle contact surface, the nozzle surface of the recording head, or the nozzle, maintenance is performed by selecting one of the modes depending on the situation. to decide.
  • a threshold for example, several hours or more
  • a notification unit is connected to the control unit 20, when it is determined that maintenance is performed in any one of the maintenance modes, it is possible to notify the notification unit to that effect and notify the user. . If the user determines whether or not maintenance is necessary based on this notification, for example, the maintenance can be started after finishing a rushed printed matter.
  • Cap cleaning mode In the cap cleaning mode, the ink that adheres to or adheres to the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 or the outer peripheral portion or the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 is fixed or thickened. The main purpose is removal.
  • the operation procedure in the cap cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S501 the control unit 20 selects the cap cleaning mode.
  • the user selects the cap cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the cap cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on information related to deterioration of the recovery function of the cap 15, for example.
  • the control unit 20 determines that the maintenance in the cap cleaning mode is to be performed because there is a high possibility that the ink adheres to the contact portion of the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 and the sealing performance is lowered.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • step S502 the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T12.
  • the predetermined time T12 is a time during which the cleaning liquid overflows from the recess 30 of the cap 15. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about 3 seconds.
  • the predetermined time T12 is preferably longer than the predetermined time T1 in step S3 of FIG. In this embodiment, T12> T1.
  • step S504 the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
  • the control unit 20 measures the predetermined time T13.
  • the predetermined time T13 means that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15 after supplying the cleaning liquid to the cap 15 cleans the contact portion (upper end surface 29) and the outer peripheral portion, and dissolves the fixed ink and the thickening ink. This is the time to enhance the effect of peeling and removing. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
  • step S506 the control unit 20 closes the pinch valve 83. Thereby, the sub tank 8 is separated from the recording head 4. Between the next steps S507 to S510, the pinch valve 83 is always controlled to be closed, so that the problem that the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 flows back into the sub tank 8 via the recording head 4 is prevented. Can do.
  • step S507 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid overflowing from the concave portion 30 is pressed against the nozzle surface 41 to be cleaned.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T14.
  • the predetermined time T14 is that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15 cleans the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15, and dissolves or peels and removes the fixed ink and the thickening ink on the nozzle surface 41. It is time to increase the effect. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about several seconds. In addition, even when the cap 15 is in contact with the nozzle surface 41, the cap 15 is not completely in contact with each other, and is formed by irregularities on the contact surfaces of the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 and convex portions due to ink deposits. Cleaning is performed with the cleaning liquid present in the gap.
  • step S509 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to lower the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 are separated from each other.
  • step S510 the control unit 20 performs the processes in steps S507 to S509 for a predetermined number of times N2 (N2 is an integer equal to or greater than 1).
  • N2 is an integer equal to or greater than 1.
  • the predetermined number of times N2 means that the cleaning liquid cleans the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15; This is the number of times that the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the fixed ink and the thickened ink can be enhanced.
  • it is preferable to carry out a plurality of times for example, about twice. If a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained in step S508, a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained by repeating the process a plurality of times.
  • step S511 the control unit 20 opens the pinch valve 83.
  • step S512 the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 so as to move leftward in FIG. 2 to a position where the recording head 4 and the wiper blade 13 face each other.
  • the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 so that the wiper blade 13 moves in the horizontal direction to a retreat position where the wiper blade 13 does not face the nozzle surface 41.
  • the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 so that the wiper blade 13 (maintenance unit 12) is raised until the upper end of the wiper blade 13 is positioned higher than the nozzle surface 41.
  • control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to move in the horizontal direction until the wiper blade 13 passes through the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact surface with the cap while being rubbed. As a result, the ink and cleaning liquid adhering to the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact surface with the cap are removed by the wiper blade 13.
  • step S513 the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
  • step S514 the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T15.
  • the predetermined time T15 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
  • step S515 the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
  • the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
  • the amount of cleaning liquid supplied exceeds the internal volume of the cap 15 to overflow the cleaning liquid from the cap 15, and the cleaning liquid is in contact with the recording head 4 of the cap 15 (
  • the abutting portion and the outer peripheral portion are washed by contacting with the upper end surface 29) and the outer peripheral portion, or preferably by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink or the thickening ink at the abutting portion and the outer peripheral portion is dissolved. Or peel off.
  • the cap 15 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15 of the recording head 4, or preferably in this state for a predetermined time.
  • the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15 of the recording head 4 is washed, and the fixed ink or the thickening ink is dissolved or peeled off.
  • the cleaning liquid is pressed against and contacts the nozzle surface 41, thereby enhancing the cleaning action.
  • the fixed ink and the like can be more reliably removed from the recording head 4. Further, by sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 together with the dissolved ink using the suction pump 16, the fixed ink and the like can be reliably removed from the contact portion and the outer peripheral portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4. .
  • the recovery function is deteriorated due to the accumulation of fixed ink on the contact portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15, and the fixed ink is applied to the recording head 4 by capping. Adhesion is suppressed, and stable ejection of ink from the recording head 4 can be maintained.
  • the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 with the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • the nozzle surface 41 is cleaned while being held for a predetermined time.
  • the fluidity of the cleaning liquid is improved in addition to the effect of cleaning a plurality of times.
  • the recording head 4 of the cap 15 cannot be easily removed simply by keeping it in contact with the cleaning liquid for a predetermined time.
  • the ink fixed or thickened on the abutting portion (upper end surface 29) and the abutting portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 can be easily removed.
  • the work end mode is mainly intended to remove ink that has been dried and fixed or thickened on the nozzle surface 41. This is particularly effective when there is no plan to perform a recording operation after maintenance.
  • the operation procedure in the work end mode will be described below with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S1 the control unit 20 selects a work end mode.
  • the user selects the work end mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the work end mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • step S2 the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
  • step S3 the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T1.
  • the predetermined time T1 is a time for filling (filling) the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 with the cleaning liquid. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 2 seconds.
  • step S4 the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
  • step S5 the control unit 20 closes the pinch valve 83. Thereby, the sub tank 8 is separated from the recording head 4. Between the next steps S6 to S11, since the pinch valve 83 is always controlled to be closed, it is possible to prevent a problem that the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 flows backward into the sub tank 8 via the recording head 4. Can do.
  • step S6 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 41 to clean the nozzle surface.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T2.
  • the predetermined time T2 is a time during which the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 can enhance the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the fixed ink or the thickened ink on the nozzle surface. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about several seconds.
  • step S8 the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
  • step S9 the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
  • step S10 the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T3.
  • the predetermined time T3 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
  • step S11 the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
  • step S12 the control unit 20 opens the pinch valve 83.
  • step S13 the control unit 20 closes the atmospheric communication valve 18.
  • the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid.
  • the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink or Dissolve or peel off the thickened ink. Thereafter, by using the suction pump 16 to suck and discharge the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 together with the dissolved ink, the fixed ink and the like can be reliably removed from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4.
  • the main purpose of the nozzle surface cleaning mode is to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41. This is particularly effective when a recording operation is scheduled after maintenance.
  • the operation procedure in the nozzle surface cleaning mode will be described below with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S101 the control unit 20 selects the nozzle surface cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle surface cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle surface cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • Steps S102 to S112 perform the same operations as steps S2 to S12 in FIG.
  • step S ⁇ b> 113 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to move the maintenance unit 12 until the cap 15 is separated from the nozzle surface 41 and the upper end of the wiper blade 13 is positioned lower than the nozzle surface 41. Lower. That is, when the descent of the maintenance unit 12 is completed, even if the carriage 5 is moved to a position where the recording head 4 faces the wiper blade 13, the wiper blade 13 is retracted from the nozzle surface 41. Will not touch.
  • step S114 the control unit 20 closes the atmosphere communication valve 18.
  • Step S115 performs the same operation as step S512 in FIG.
  • step S116 preparation for printing is completed and printing is possible.
  • the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid.
  • the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink on the nozzle surface 41 Alternatively, the thickened ink is dissolved or removed.
  • the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 is sucked and discharged together with the dissolved ink using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 to which the cleaning liquid is adhered is wiped using the wiper blade 13 so that the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is wiped.
  • the fixed ink or the like can be removed more reliably.
  • the effect that the wiper blade 13 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid adhering to the nozzle surface 41 is also obtained.
  • the main cleaning mode of the head is mainly intended to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41, or to remove ink that has become thickened and clogged in the nozzle.
  • the operation procedure in the in-head cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S201 the control unit 20 selects the in-head cleaning mode. For example, when the user selects the in-head cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, or the control unit 20 determines that the in-head cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • step S202 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • step S203 the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, the suction of the ink in the recording head 4 from the nozzle is started.
  • step S204 the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T7.
  • the predetermined time T7 is the time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the ink clogged in the nozzles is discharged. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 5 seconds.
  • step S205 the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
  • step S206 the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
  • step S207 the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. As a result, the discharge of ink in the recess 30 is started.
  • step S208 the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T8.
  • the predetermined time T8 is the time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the ink in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
  • step S209 the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
  • step S210 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to lower the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 are separated from each other.
  • step S211 the control unit 20 closes the atmosphere communication valve 18.
  • step S212 the control unit 20 performs the nozzle surface cleaning mode shown in FIG.
  • the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
  • the thickened ink in the nozzles of the recording head 4 is sucked and discharged from the nozzles. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15, and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid.
  • the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink on the nozzle surface 41 Alternatively, the thickened ink is dissolved or removed.
  • the suction liquid is sucked and discharged together with the dissolved ink in the cap 15 by using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 to which the cleaning liquid is adhered is wiped by using the wiper blade 13, whereby the nozzle surface of the recording head 4 is wiped.
  • the fixed ink and the like can be more reliably removed from 41.
  • the effect that the wiper blade 13 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid adhering to the nozzle surface 41 is also obtained.
  • the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode is mainly intended to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41, or to remove clogged ink that has increased viscosity in the nozzle. . Since the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode can enhance the cleaning ability as compared with the nozzle surface cleaning mode of FIG. 6, it is possible to remove the ink firmly fixed.
  • the operation procedure in the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S301 the control unit 20 selects the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • step S302 the control unit 20 performs the nozzle surface cleaning mode shown in FIG.
  • step S303 the control unit 20 performs the in-head cleaning mode shown in FIG.
  • step S304 the control unit 20 performs the processes in steps S302 to S303 a predetermined number of times N1 (N1 is an integer equal to or greater than 1).
  • N1 is an integer equal to or greater than 1.
  • the predetermined number of times N1 is the number of times that the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the ink firmly fixed by the nozzle surface 41 is enhanced. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it is about twice.
  • step S305 the print preparation is completed and printing is possible.
  • the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
  • the series of processes for performing the in-head cleaning mode is executed at least once after the nozzle surface cleaning mode, thereby increasing the viscosity of the ink from the recording head 4.
  • the fixed ink or the like can be removed more reliably.
  • the main purpose of the nozzle hole cleaning mode is to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41 and to remove clogged ink that has solidified in the nozzle.
  • the operation procedure in the nozzle hole cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
  • the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
  • step S401 the control unit 20 selects the nozzle hole cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle hole cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle hole cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head.
  • the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
  • step S ⁇ b> 402 the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T9.
  • the predetermined time T9 is a time for filling the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 with the cleaning liquid. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 2 seconds.
  • step S404 the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
  • step S405 the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 and the nozzle surface 41 come into contact with each other.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T10.
  • the predetermined time T10 is a time required for at least the cleaning liquid filled in the concave portion 30 to enter the nozzle hole while dissolving or removing the ink in the nozzle hole. , About 30 seconds.
  • the predetermined time T10 is preferably longer than the predetermined time T2 in step S7 of FIG. In this embodiment, T10> T2.
  • step S407 the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
  • step S408 the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
  • the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T11.
  • the predetermined time T11 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
  • step S410 the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
  • Steps S411 to S413 perform the same operations as steps S113 to S115 in FIG.
  • step S414 the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 face each other.
  • the control unit 20 performs a flushing operation that drives the ejection energy generating means of the recording head 4 and repeats ejection of all nozzles a predetermined number of times.
  • step S415 the print preparation is completed and the printer is ready for printing.
  • the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
  • the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid.
  • the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 to bring the cleaning liquid into contact with the nozzle surface 41.
  • this contact state is hold
  • the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 dissolves or peels and removes the ink fixed or thickened in the nozzle holes in addition to the ink fixed or thickened on the nozzle surface 41.
  • the suction liquid is sucked and discharged together with the ink in which the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 is dissolved by using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 is wiped by using the wiper blade 13. Etc. can be removed more reliably. Further, the flushing operation after wiping can be reliably removed even if the cleaning liquid remains in the nozzle hole.
  • the cleaning liquid according to the present invention preferably contains a basic compound, and is effective for dissolving and removing the fixed and thickened ink, and particularly contains an acid component used in the aqueous pigment ink. It is effective for redissolving or redispersing the resin.
  • the cleaning liquid according to the present invention preferably contains a solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m, and the solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m is preferably an alkylene glycol monoether or an alkanediol.
  • alkylene glycol monoethers examples include ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (28.2), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (27.4), and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (31. 8), diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (33.6), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether (32.1), propylene glycol monopropyl ether (25.9), dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (28.8), tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (30.0).
  • the numerical value in the parenthesis represents the surface tension value (mN / m).
  • 1,2-alkanediols are preferable.
  • 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2- Examples include hexanediol (28.1) and 1,2-heptanediol.
  • diethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers are preferable, and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is particularly preferable.
  • the method for measuring the surface tension of a solvent is described in a reference book on general surface chemistry and colloid chemistry.
  • New Experimental Chemistry Course Vol. 18 (interface and colloid), Nippon Kagaku Edited by Maruzen Co., Ltd. 68 to 117 can be referred to, and specifically, it can be obtained by using a ring method (Dunoi method) or a vertical plate method (Wilhelmy method).
  • the surface tension was measured using a surface tension meter CBVP type A-3 (Kyowa Science Co., Ltd.).
  • the basic compound applicable to the present invention may be an inorganic basic compound or an organic basic compound, but it is more preferable to use an organic basic compound.
  • hydroxides such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide
  • carbonates such as potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate
  • potassium hydrogen carbonate and bicarbonates such as sodium hydrogen carbonate.
  • organic base compound ammonia, alkanolamines, alkylamines and the like can be used.
  • Organic base compounds include ammonia, triethylamine, N, N-dimethylaminoethanol, N, N-dibutylaminoethanol, N-methyl-diethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methyl Aminoethanol, N, N-diethylaminoethanol or the like can be used.
  • ammonia N, N-dimethylaminoethanol, N, N-dibutylaminoethanol, N-methyl-diethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, and N, N-diethylaminoethanol can be preferably used.
  • additives such as a surfactant, a moisturizing agent, a culture medium and the like may be added as necessary.
  • the ink applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited, but ink jet recording having a function of cleaning a contact portion of the cap according to the present invention with the recording head and a contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  • Aqueous pigment ink is preferable from the viewpoint that the effects of the apparatus and its maintenance method can be sufficiently exhibited, and an ink set composed of at least four color pigment inks of yellow pigment ink, magenta pigment ink, cyan pigment ink and black pigment ink is used.
  • the water-based pigment ink of at least one color has a pigment solid content of 6.0% by mass or more and a total resin solid content of 6.0% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the ink.
  • the pigment solid content of the black pigment ink is particularly preferably 6.0% or more.
  • Aqueous pigment inks are more easily fixed than ordinary dye-based inks using dyes, and have a very poor recovery property when fixed.
  • a polymer as a so-called dispersant
  • the pigment that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be stably dispersed in an aqueous system.
  • a pigment dispersion dispersed with a polymer resin, or a water-insoluble resin is coated.
  • examples thereof include capsule pigments, self-dispersing pigments that can be dispersed without modifying the pigment surface and using a dispersing resin.
  • a water-soluble one can be used as the polymer resin.
  • styrene-acrylic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester are preferably used as the water-soluble resin.
  • Copolymer Styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer, Styrene-methacrylic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymer, Styrene-maleic acid half ester copolymer, Vinyl naphthalene-acrylic acid copolymer, Vinyl naphthalene-maleic acid copolymer
  • water-soluble resins such as polymers.
  • pigment dispersion method various types such as a ball mill, a sand mill, an attritor, a roll mill, an agitator, a Henschel mixer, a colloid mill, an ultrasonic homogenizer, a pearl mill, a wet jet mill, and a paint shaker can be used.
  • a centrifugal separator or a filter For the purpose of removing the coarse particles of the pigment dispersion according to the present invention, it is preferable to use a centrifugal separator or a filter.
  • the water-insoluble resin is a resin that is insoluble in water in a weakly acidic to weakly basic range, and preferably has a solubility of 2 in an aqueous solution having a pH of 4 to 10. % Resin.
  • Such resins include acrylic, styrene-acrylic, acrylonitrile-acrylic, vinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-acrylic, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride, polyurethane, silicon-acrylic, acrylic silicon, polyester Examples thereof include epoxy resins and epoxy resins.
  • a resin obtained by copolymerizing a hydrophobic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer can be used as the resin.
  • Hydrophobic monomers include acrylic acid esters (n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, etc.), methacrylic acid esters (ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, etc.), styrene Etc.
  • hydrophilic monomer examples include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide and the like, and those having an acidic group such as acrylic acid can preferably be those neutralized with a base after polymerization.
  • the molecular weight of the resin an average molecular weight of 3000 to 500,000 can be used. Preferably, 7,000 to 200,000 can be used.
  • a resin having a Tg of about ⁇ 30 ° C. to 100 ° C. can be used. Preferably, a temperature of about ⁇ 10 ° C. to 80 ° C. can be used.
  • solution polymerization or emulsion polymerization can be used as the polymerization method.
  • the polymerization may be carried out separately from the pigment in advance, or may be carried out by supplying a monomer into the system in which the pigment is dispersed.
  • the pigment is dispersed using a polymerizable surfactant, and the monomer is then dispersed therein. It is preferable to select from a method of coating while polymerizing.
  • the water-insoluble resin is dissolved in an organic solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone, and the acidic group in the resin is partially or completely neutralized with a base, and then the pigment and ion-exchanged water are added and dispersed. Thereafter, a production method is preferred in which the organic solvent is removed, and water is added if necessary.
  • the mass ratio of pigment to resin can be selected in the range of 100/40 to 100/150 in pigment / resin ratio.
  • the range of 100/60 to 100/110 has good image durability, injection stability, and ink storage stability.
  • the average particle diameter of the pigment particles coated with the water-insoluble resin is preferably about 80 to 150 nm from the viewpoint of ink storage stability and color developability.
  • self-dispersing pigment commercially available products that have been surface-treated can be used, and examples thereof include CABO-JET200, CABO-JET300 (manufactured by Cabot Corporation), Bonjet CW1 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), and the like. Can do.
  • azo pigments such as azo lakes, insoluble azo pigments, condensed azo pigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene and perylene pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, quinophthalone pigments, etc.
  • cyclic pigments dye lakes such as basic dye lakes and acid dye lakes, organic pigments such as nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black and daylight fluorescent pigments, and inorganic pigments such as carbon black.
  • pigments for magenta or red C.I. I. Pigment red 2, C.I. I. Pigment red 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 5, C.I. I. Pigment red 6, C.I. I. Pigment red 7, C.I. I. Pigment red 15, C.I. I. Pigment red 16, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 53: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 123, C.I. I. Pigment red 139, C.I. I. Pigment red 144, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 166, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 178, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Red 222.
  • ⁇ As pigments for green or cyan C.I. I. Pigment blue 15, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 2, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment blue 16, C.I. I. Pigment blue 60, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Green 7.
  • the water-based pigment ink according to the present invention preferably contains a resin component in order to improve fixability to a recording medium and to improve abrasion resistance, adhesion, water resistance, and the like.
  • the resin component it may be used as a conventionally used pigment dispersion resin, or may be added additionally during ink preparation.
  • At least one color aqueous pigment ink is contained in the ink as a resin component solid content in an amount of 6.0% by mass or more in order to improve fixability.
  • the resin component referred to in the present invention may be a water-soluble resin or a water-dispersible resin, or both may be used in combination.
  • the water-soluble resin a resin having a hydrophobic component and a hydrophilic component in a certain balance is designed and used.
  • the hydrophilic component either an ionic component or a nonionic component may be used, but an ionic component is more preferable, and an anionic component is more preferable.
  • those that are rendered water-soluble by neutralizing anionic substances with a volatile base component are preferred.
  • at least one of the ink-soluble resins has a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group as an acidic group, and a resin having an acid value of 80 mgKOH / g or more and less than 300 mgKOH / g is preferable.
  • An acid value of about 90 mgKOH / g to 200 mgKOH / g is used.
  • the acid value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize acidic components contained in 1 g of resin.
  • Such resins include acrylic resins, styrene-acrylic resins, acrylonitrile-acrylic resins, vinyl acetate-acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, and polyester resins, and particularly acrylic copolymers and styrene resins. -Acrylic is preferred.
  • hydrophobic monomer examples include acrylic acid esters (for example, n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, etc.), methacrylic acid esters (for example, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid). Glycidyl acid), styrene and the like.
  • hydrophilic monomer examples include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, and the like, and those having an acidic group such as acrylic acid can preferably be those neutralized with a base after polymerization.
  • the molecular weight of the resin an average molecular weight of 3000 to 30000 can be used. Preferably, 7000 to 20000 can be used.
  • Resin having a Tg of about ⁇ 30 ° C. to 100 ° C. can be used.
  • a temperature of about ⁇ 10 ° C. to 80 ° C. can be used.
  • solution polymerization is preferably used.
  • the acidic group derived from the acidic monomer of the resin is partially or completely neutralized with a base component.
  • a neutralizing base in this case, an alkali metal-containing base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, or an amine (ammonia, alkanolamine, alkylamine, etc. can be used) can be used.
  • neutralization with amines having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C. is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of improving image durability.
  • the ink of the present invention may use a water-dispersible resin in addition to the water-soluble resin.
  • a water dispersible resin having a Tg of 20 to 80 ° C. in an amount smaller than that of the water-soluble resin in order to further improve the abrasion resistance.
  • the water-based pigment ink is preferably one that can be printed not only on plain paper or ink jet exclusive paper equipped with an ink absorbing layer, but also on resin materials such as coated paper or film, fabrics, leather materials, etc. without an ink absorbing layer. In order to have such a function, it is preferable to contain 6.0% by mass or more in the ink as the solid content of the resin component.
  • the ink according to the present invention preferably contains 10% to 30% by mass of an organic solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m.
  • an organic solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m.
  • the surface tension of the ink according to the present invention is preferably adjusted in the range of 23 to 30 mN / m.
  • it is adjusted by adding 10 to 30% of an organic solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m, and further adding a silicon-based or fluorine-based surfactant. can do.
  • a surface tension value By using such a surface tension value, it is possible to print on a recording medium such as a plastic film while suppressing ink mixing.
  • the silicone surfactant is preferably a polyether-modified polysiloxane compound, and examples thereof include KF-351A and KF-642 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., and BYK347 and BYK348 manufactured by Big Chemie.
  • Fluorosurfactant means a substance obtained by substituting part or all of it with fluorine instead of hydrogen bonded to carbon of a hydrophobic group of a normal surfactant. Of these, those having a perfluoroalkyl group in the molecule are preferred.
  • fluorosurfactants some are from DIC under the trade name Megafac F and from Asahi Glass under the trade name Surflon, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Under the trade name of Fluorad FC from the company, under the trade name of Monflor from Imperial Chemical Industry, and under the trade name of Zonyls from EI DuPont Nemeras & Company, They are also commercially available from Parkberke Hoechst under the trade name Licobet VPF.
  • the water-based pigment ink according to the present invention includes various known additions depending on the purpose of improving ejection stability, compatibility with recording heads and ink cartridges, storage stability, image storage stability, and other various performances as necessary.
  • An agent such as a viscosity modifier, a surface tension modifier, a specific resistance modifier, a film forming agent, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a fading inhibitor, an antifungal agent, and a rust inhibitor may be appropriately selected and used. it can.
  • the aqueous pigment ink according to the present invention is suitable for printing on a non-absorbent recording medium such as a polyvinyl chloride sheet, plain paper, coated paper, inkjet dedicated paper, and the like.
  • Non-absorbent recording media include polymer sheets, boards (soft vinyl chloride, hard vinyl chloride, acrylic plates, polyolefins, etc.), glass, tile, rubber, synthetic paper, and the like.
  • various fabrics cotton, silk, hair, polyester, etc.
  • plain paper copy paper, plain paper for printing
  • coated paper art paper, inkjet paper, inkjet glossy paper
  • Examples include cardboard and wood.
  • the case where the six maintenance modes shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 are selectively executed to clean the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is exemplified.
  • what is necessary is just to comprise so that it may have at least 1 maintenance mode including at least the cap cleaning mode shown in FIG.
  • the flushing operation after wiping is performed in the nozzle hole cleaning mode shown in FIG. 9 is illustrated, but for example, after the wiping also in the nozzle surface cleaning mode of FIG. 6 and the cap cleaning mode of FIG.
  • the flushing operation may be performed. Even if the cleaning liquid is pushed into the nozzle hole by wiping, the cleaning liquid in the nozzle hole can be reliably removed by the flushing operation after wiping.
  • the cleaning liquid in the cap cleaning mode of FIG. 10, when the operation of contacting and separating the cap 15 and the recording head 4 is performed a plurality of times, the cleaning liquid overflows and fills the recess 30 only before the first contact. For example, every time the cap 15 and the recording head 4 are brought into contact with each other, an operation of overflowing the cleaning liquid into the concave portion 30 and replenishing it may be performed.
  • the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head
  • the overflowed cleaning solution is brought into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap by bringing the cap into contact with the recording head
  • the overflowed cleaning solution is contacted with the recording head of the cap and What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may be made to contact the contact part with the cap of a recording head, for example, the cleaning liquid of the quantity exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the recessed part of a cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid contacts the contact part with the recording head of a cap With the cap in contact with the recording head, the overflowed cleaning liquid may be brought into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap and cleaned.
  • the proximity means that the cap is brought close to the recording head to such an extent that the overflowing cleaning liquid contacts the contact portion with the recording head cap. This means that the cap is moved away from the recording head to such an extent that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the nozzle does not come into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

The objective is to provide an ink-jet recorder and a method of maintenance thereof, wherein the ink-jet recorder is provided with a function for cleaning the portion of a cap that abuts a recording head and the portion of the recording head that abuts the cap, the cap and the recording head being parts used in the ink-jet recorder. The ink-jet recorder comprises a recording head having a nozzle for ejecting an ink, a cap that, in a state in which the concave portion thereof is opposing the nozzle, can abut the recording head, and a cleaning solution feeding means for feeding a cleaning solution into the concave portion of the cap in an amount exceeding the inside volume thereof. The cleaning solution is fed by the cleaning solution feeding means into the concave portion of the cap in an amount exceeding the inside volume thereof, and the excessive cleaning solution is allowed to contact the portion of the cap that abuts the recording head and the portion of the recording head that abuts the cap.

Description

インクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法Inkjet recording apparatus and maintenance method thereof
　本発明は、インクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a maintenance method thereof.
　インクジェット記録は、低騒音で高速印字が可能な記録方法であり、最近急速に普及しつつある記録方法である。このようなインクジェット記録は、記録液であるインクを加熱あるいは加圧といった方法により小液滴として吐出させ、それを紙等の被記録材に付着させて記録を行うものである。 Inkjet recording is a recording method capable of high-speed printing with low noise, and is a recording method that is rapidly spreading recently. In such ink jet recording, ink as a recording liquid is ejected as small droplets by a method such as heating or pressurization, and the ink is attached to a recording material such as paper, and recording is performed.
　インクジェット記録装置は、通常、ノズルからの溶媒の蒸発防止、すなわちインクの固化及び増粘化の防止、ノズルへの塵埃の付着防止等を目的として、ノズル面を覆うキャップを備えている。このキャップは、通常、インクジェット記録装置の運転停止時において、自動的にノズル面に装着され、溶媒の蒸発及び塵埃の付着を防止する。 The ink jet recording apparatus is usually provided with a cap that covers the nozzle surface for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the solvent from the nozzle, that is, preventing solidification and thickening of the ink, and preventing dust from adhering to the nozzle. Normally, this cap is automatically attached to the nozzle surface when the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus is stopped, and prevents evaporation of solvent and adhesion of dust.
　しかしながら、上記キャップを用いる構成において、キャッピングをした際にキャップにインク等が付着することがある。このため、キャップに付着したまま増粘，固着することもあり、その結果、キャッピングの性能を低下させるおそれがある。 However, in the configuration using the cap, ink or the like may adhere to the cap when capping. For this reason, there is a possibility of thickening and sticking while adhering to the cap, and as a result, the capping performance may be lowered.
　キャップに付着したインクを除去する方法としては、例えば、洗浄液を用い、キャップに供給する洗浄液の量をキャップの内部容積以上にしてキャップから洗浄液を溢れさせ、キャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部や外周部を洗浄する方法がある（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 As a method for removing ink adhering to the cap, for example, a cleaning liquid is used, the amount of the cleaning liquid supplied to the cap is set to be equal to or larger than the internal volume of the cap, and the cleaning liquid overflows from the cap. There is a method of cleaning the outer periphery (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
特開平８－２７６５９８号公報JP-A-8-276598
　特許文献１に開示されているように、キャップから洗浄液を溢れさせ、キャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部や外周部を洗浄する方法は、キャップに対するインク除去に対して有効な方法である。特に、洗浄液による洗浄は、増粘，固着したインク除去の確実性から極めて有効であると言える。 As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a method of overflowing a cleaning liquid from a cap and cleaning a contact portion and an outer peripheral portion of the cap with a recording head is an effective method for removing ink from the cap. In particular, it can be said that cleaning with a cleaning liquid is extremely effective in terms of increased viscosity and certainty of removal of fixed ink.
　しかしながら、キャップが当接するノズル面の部分は、洗浄液と接触することができず、洗浄効果を得ることができない。したがって、キャップが当接するノズル面の部分に付着したインクによりキャッピングの性能を低下させるおそれがあるため、必ずしも十分な信頼性を得ることができなかった。 However, the portion of the nozzle surface where the cap abuts cannot come into contact with the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning effect cannot be obtained. Therefore, there is a possibility that the capping performance may be deteriorated due to the ink adhering to the portion of the nozzle surface with which the cap abuts, so that sufficient reliability cannot always be obtained.
　そして、このような問題はインクとして水性顔料インクを用いた場合により一層顕著になる。 Such a problem becomes more remarkable when an aqueous pigment ink is used as the ink.
　すなわち、水性顔料インクは、染料系インクに比べ水分蒸発に伴う粘度上昇、顔料凝集等の問題が生じやすいことより、キャップやノズル面にインクが付着したまま長時間露出させておくと、インクの溶媒が蒸発し、顔料等の成分が増粘化あるいは固化してしまう。 In other words, water-based pigment inks are more susceptible to problems such as viscosity increase due to water evaporation and pigment aggregation than dye-based inks. The solvent evaporates, and components such as pigments thicken or solidify.
　このように水性顔料インクは、染料を用いた通常の染料系インクよりも固着しやすい上、固着した場合における回復性が非常に悪く、特に一般的にはいわゆる分散剤としてのポリマーを含む場合には、その回復性が一層悪くなる。 As described above, the water-based pigment ink is more easily fixed than a normal dye-based ink using a dye, and has a very poor recovery property when fixed, and particularly generally includes a polymer as a so-called dispersant. The recovery becomes worse.
　本発明は、上記課題に鑑みなされたものであり、その目的は、インクジェット記録装置に使用されるキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部を洗浄する機能を備えるインクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法を提供することにある。 The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a function of cleaning a contact portion of a cap used in an ink jet recording apparatus with a recording head and a contact portion of the recording head with the cap. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and a maintenance method thereof.
　本発明の上記目的は、以下の構成により達成される。 The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
　１．インクを吐出するノズルを有する記録ヘッドと、
　前記ノズル側に凹部を対向させた状態で前記記録ヘッドに当接可能なキャップと、
　前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給する洗浄液供給手段とを備え、
　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置。 1. A recording head having nozzles for ejecting ink;
A cap that can come into contact with the recording head with a recess facing the nozzle side;
A cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap;
The cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. An ink jet recording apparatus that is brought into contact with the ink jet recording apparatus.
　２．前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させた状態を所定時間保持することを特徴とする１に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 2. The cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. 2. The inkjet recording apparatus according to 1, wherein the contacted state is maintained for a predetermined time.
　３．前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とする１または２に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 3. The cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the overflowing cleaning liquid is brought into contact with a contact portion of the recording head with the cap by approaching or abutting.
　４．前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態を所定時間保持した後、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることを特徴とする３に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 4. After the cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowed cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 3, wherein the ink jet head is brought close to or in contact with the recording head.
　５．前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させた後、離間する動作を複数回行うことを特徴とする３または４に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 5. The cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to 3 or 4, wherein the operation of separating is performed a plurality of times after being brought close to or in contact with each other.
　６．前記洗浄液が付着した前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部を含むノズル面をワイピングするワイピング手段を備えることを特徴とする１から５の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 6. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a wiping unit that wipes a nozzle surface including a contact portion of the recording head to which the cleaning liquid adheres to the cap.
　７．前記ワイピング手段によるワイピング後に、前記ノズルから少なくとも前記ノズル内の前記洗浄液を吐出させる吐出手段を備えることを特徴とする６に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 7. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a discharge unit that discharges at least the cleaning liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle after wiping by the wiping unit.
　８．前記洗浄液が、塩基性化合物を含有することを特徴とする１から７の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of 1 to 7, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a basic compound.
　９．前記インクが、水性顔料インクであることを特徴とする１から８の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8, wherein the ink is an aqueous pigment ink.
　１０．インクを吐出するノズルを有する記録ヘッドの前記ノズル側に凹部を対向させた状態で前記記録ヘッドに当接可能なキャップを用い、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給し、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させて洗浄する洗浄工程を含むことを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 10. Using a cap capable of contacting the recording head with the recess facing the nozzle side of the recording head having a nozzle for discharging ink, supplying a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the recess of the cap, A maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a cleaning step of cleaning the overflowed cleaning liquid by contacting the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
　１１．前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させた状態を所定時間保持することを特徴とする１０に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 11. In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. 11. The maintenance method for an inkjet recording apparatus according to 10, wherein the contacted state is maintained for a predetermined time.
　１２．前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とする１０または１１に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 12. In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to 10 or 11, wherein the overflowing cleaning liquid is brought into contact with a contact portion of the recording head with the cap by approaching or contacting.
　１３．前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態を所定時間保持した後、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることを特徴とする１２に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 13. In the cleaning step, a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and after the overflowing cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap 13. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to 12, wherein the ink is brought close to or in contact with the recording head.
　１４．前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させた後、離間する動作を複数回行うことを特徴とする１２または１３に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 14. In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. 14. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to item 12 or 13, wherein the operation of separating is performed a plurality of times after approaching or contacting.
　１５．前記洗浄工程の後に、前記洗浄液が付着した前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部を含むノズル面をワイピングするワイピング工程を含むことを特徴とする１０から１４の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 15. The inkjet according to any one of claims 10 to 14, further comprising a wiping step of wiping a nozzle surface including a contact portion with the cap of the recording head to which the cleaning liquid adheres after the cleaning step. Maintenance method of the recording apparatus.
　１６．前記ワイピング工程の後に、前記ノズルから少なくとも前記ノズル内の前記洗浄液を吐出させる吐出工程を含むことを特徴とする１５に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 16. 16. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a discharge step of discharging at least the cleaning liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle after the wiping step.
　１７．前記洗浄液が、塩基性化合物を含有することを特徴とする１０から１６の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 17. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 10 to 16, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a basic compound.
　１８．前記インクが、水性顔料インクであることを特徴とする１０から１７の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 18. 18. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of 10 to 17, wherein the ink is an aqueous pigment ink.
　本発明によれば、インクジェット記録装置に使用されるキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部を洗浄する機能を備えるインクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法を提供することができる。 According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus having a function of cleaning a contact portion of a cap used in an ink jet recording apparatus with a recording head and a contact portion of the cap of the recording head and a maintenance method thereof. it can.
本実施形態のインクジェット記録装置の概略構成を表す斜視図である。1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment. インクジェット記録装置のインク供給系及びヘッドメンテナンス系を示す模式図である。It is a schematic diagram showing an ink supply system and a head maintenance system of the ink jet recording apparatus. インクジェット記録装置のキャップと吸収体の模式図であり、（ａ）は吸収体装着前、（ｂ）は吸収体装着後の模式図である。It is a schematic diagram of the cap and the absorber of the ink jet recording apparatus, (a) is a schematic diagram before mounting the absorber, (b) is a schematic diagram after mounting the absorber. インクジェット記録装置の主制御構成を表すブロック図である。It is a block diagram showing the main control structure of an inkjet recording device. 作業終了モードのフローチャートである。It is a flowchart of work end mode. ノズル面清掃モードのフローチャートである。It is a flowchart of nozzle surface cleaning mode. ヘッド内清掃モードのフローチャートである。6 is a flowchart of an in-head cleaning mode. ノズル面強力清掃モードのフローチャートである。It is a flowchart of a nozzle surface strong cleaning mode. ノズル孔内清掃モードのフローチャートである。It is a flowchart of the nozzle hole cleaning mode. キャップ清掃モードのフローチャートである。It is a flowchart of cap cleaning mode.
　図１は、本発明が適用された実施形態のインクジェット記録装置の要部構成を示した斜視図であり、図２は、インクジェット記録装置のインク供給系及びヘッドメンテナンス系の模式図である。 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an ink supply system and a head maintenance system of the ink jet recording apparatus.
　図１に示す通り、インクジェット記録装置１には、記録媒体Ｐを下方から支持するプラテン２が水平となるように配置されている。このプラテン２の上方には、水平に延在するガイドレール（図示せず）に沿って、記録媒体Ｐの搬送方向Ａに直交する走査方向Ｂに複数の記録ヘッド４を走査させるキャリッジ５が設けられている。 As shown in FIG. 1, in the ink jet recording apparatus 1, a platen 2 that supports the recording medium P from below is disposed so as to be horizontal. Above the platen 2, a carriage 5 that scans a plurality of recording heads 4 in a scanning direction B orthogonal to the conveyance direction A of the recording medium P is provided along a horizontally extending guide rail (not shown). It has been.
　このキャリッジ５は、駆動プーリ４０ａと遊転プーリ４０ｂとの間に掛け渡されたタイミングベルト４０（図２参照）に接続されている。そして、駆動プーリ４０ａは、走査用モータ２２（図４参照）の回転軸に接合されている。このため、キャリッジ５は、走査用モータ２２が駆動すると走査方向Ｂに移動する。 The carriage 5 is connected to a timing belt 40 (see FIG. 2) that is stretched between a drive pulley 40a and an idle pulley 40b. The drive pulley 40a is joined to the rotating shaft of the scanning motor 22 (see FIG. 4). For this reason, the carriage 5 moves in the scanning direction B when the scanning motor 22 is driven.
　複数の記録ヘッド４は、インクジェット記録装置１で使用される各色毎のインクをそれぞれ記録媒体Ｐに向けて吐出するものであり、各記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１（図２参照）にはインクを吐出するための多数のノズル４２（図２参照）が配列されている。これらの記録ヘッド４には、イエロー（Ｙ）、マゼンタ（Ｍ）、シアン（Ｃ）、ブラック（Ｋ）の各色のインクを貯留する複数のインクタンク６が、インクを導くインク流路７を介して接続されている。インクの詳細は後述するが、本実施形態では、水性顔料インクを用いている。 The plurality of recording heads 4 eject ink for each color used in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 toward the recording medium P, and ink is applied to the nozzle surface 41 (see FIG. 2) of each recording head 4. A number of nozzles 42 (see FIG. 2) for discharging are arranged. In these recording heads 4, a plurality of ink tanks 6 for storing inks of the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided via ink flow paths 7 that guide ink. Connected. Although details of the ink will be described later, in the present embodiment, an aqueous pigment ink is used.
　更に、図示はしないが、これらの記録ヘッド４には、例えば、それぞれの記録ヘッド４に対応したインク吐出動作をノズルから行わせるための圧電素子等の吐出エネルギー発生手段及びその駆動回路等が一体的に組み込まれている。 Further, although not shown, these recording heads 4 are integrated with, for example, ejection energy generating means such as a piezoelectric element for causing ink ejection operations corresponding to the respective recording heads 4 to be performed from the nozzles, and driving circuits thereof. Built in.
　本実施形態では、この吐出エネルギー発生手段が、本発明の吐出手段として機能する。 In the present embodiment, the discharge energy generating means functions as the discharge means of the present invention.
　インクジェット記録装置のインク供給系及びヘッドメンテナンス系の詳細を図２を用いて説明する。なお、図１に示すインク供給系及びヘッドメンテナンス系には、記録ヘッド４の個数分である４組のインク供給系、メンテナンス系が設けられているが、各組のインク供給系、メンテナンス系は同一構成であるため、そのうちの１組について説明する。 Details of the ink supply system and the head maintenance system of the inkjet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The ink supply system and the head maintenance system shown in FIG. 1 are provided with four sets of ink supply systems and maintenance systems corresponding to the number of the recording heads 4. Since they have the same configuration, one of them will be described.
　インク流路７の途中には、インクを一旦貯留するサブタンク８が設けられている。このサブタンク８には、サブタンク８が満タンであるか否かを検出する満タン検出センサ８１が設けられている。そして、サブタンク８の上流側には、サブタンク８内に流入するインクを調整するためのインク供給弁８２が設けられている。一方、サブタンク８の下流側には、インク流路７を開閉して、インクの供給を制御するピンチ弁８３が設けられている。このピンチ弁８３は、通常時は開状態でインクの供給を可能とし、後述する洗浄工程では、インク流路７を閉じることでサブタンク８への洗浄液の流入を防止するようになっている。そして、このピンチ弁８３の下流側には、インクが記録ヘッド４に流入する以前に、インクを一旦貯留することでインクの圧力変動を吸収するダンパ９が設けられている。このダンパ９はキャリッジ５に搭載されていて、キャリッジ５の走査等が基で吐出時のインクに生じる圧力変動を吸収して、インクの吐出が不安定になることを防止するようになっている。 In the middle of the ink flow path 7, a sub tank 8 for temporarily storing ink is provided. The sub tank 8 is provided with a full tank detection sensor 81 for detecting whether or not the sub tank 8 is full. An ink supply valve 82 for adjusting the ink flowing into the sub tank 8 is provided on the upstream side of the sub tank 8. On the other hand, a pinch valve 83 that opens and closes the ink flow path 7 and controls the supply of ink is provided on the downstream side of the sub tank 8. The pinch valve 83 normally allows ink to be supplied in an open state, and in the cleaning process described later, the ink flow path 7 is closed to prevent the cleaning liquid from flowing into the sub tank 8. A damper 9 is provided on the downstream side of the pinch valve 83 to absorb ink pressure fluctuations by temporarily storing the ink before the ink flows into the recording head 4. The damper 9 is mounted on the carriage 5 and absorbs pressure fluctuations that occur in the ink during ejection based on scanning of the carriage 5 and prevents ink ejection from becoming unstable. .
　インク供給弁８２及びピンチ弁８３は、開閉状態が電気的に制御可能な弁、例えば、電磁弁によって構成される。 The ink supply valve 82 and the pinch valve 83 are configured by valves whose open / close state can be electrically controlled, for example, electromagnetic valves.
　そして、プラテン２の側方には、記録ヘッド４のメンテナンスを行うメンテナンスユニット１２が設けられている。このメンテナンスユニット１２は、上下方向及び水平方向に移動することができるようになっている。 A maintenance unit 12 that performs maintenance of the recording head 4 is provided on the side of the platen 2. The maintenance unit 12 can move in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
　また、メンテナンスユニット１２には、上方に向かって延出する可撓性のワイパーブレード１３が設けられていて、メンテナンスユニット１２自体を上方向に移動させて、このワイパーブレード１３と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが接触した状態で、メンテナンスユニット１２自体を水平方向に移動させれば、ワイパーブレード１３が記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１を摺擦し、キャップ１５が当接する部分も含めてノズル面４１全体に付着したインクや洗浄液等を除去するようになっている。そして、ワイピング動作が終了したならば、メンテナンスユニット１２を下降させ、ワイパーブレード１３とノズル面４１との接触状態を解除する。 The maintenance unit 12 is provided with a flexible wiper blade 13 extending upward. The maintenance unit 12 itself is moved upward, and the wiper blade 13 and the nozzles of the recording head 4 are moved. If the maintenance unit 12 itself is moved in the horizontal direction in contact with the surface 41, the wiper blade 13 rubs the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 and includes the portion where the cap 15 abuts. Ink and cleaning liquid adhering to the entire surface are removed. When the wiping operation is completed, the maintenance unit 12 is lowered and the contact state between the wiper blade 13 and the nozzle surface 41 is released.
　ワイパーブレード１３は、例えば、ゴム等の弾性部材で構成されている。本実施形態では、このワイパーブレード１３が、本発明のワイピング手段として機能する。 The wiper blade 13 is made of an elastic member such as rubber. In the present embodiment, the wiper blade 13 functions as the wiping means of the present invention.
　また、メンテナンスユニット１２には、記録ヘッド４のノズル内のインクを吸引するインク吸引部１４が設けられている。インク吸引部１４には、図２に示すように、メンテナンスユニット１２の昇降に応じて、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１に接離されるキャップ１５が設けられている。このキャップ１５は、ノズル内のインクを吸引する際にはメンテナンスユニット１２の上昇に伴ってノズル面４１に密着するまで近接されて、ノズル面４１に備わる全てのノズルを覆い、吸引が完了するとメンテナンスユニット１２の下降に伴ってノズル面４１から離間されるようになっている。そして、キャップ１５には、ノズル面４１に密着した際に、キャップ１５の凹部３０とノズル面４１との間に形成される空間を吸引するための吸引ポンプ１６が、廃液流路１７を介して接続されている。また、廃液流路１７の最下流には、排出された廃液を貯留する廃液タンク１９が設けられている。廃液流路１７は、例えば、樹脂製チューブによって形成されている。吸引ポンプ１６は廃液流路１７を構成する樹脂製チューブをローラーで挟み、このローラーをチューブに沿って移動させることでチューブ内の空気等をチューブの端部から排気する所謂チューブポンプが好適に用いられる。 Further, the maintenance unit 12 is provided with an ink suction part 14 for sucking ink in the nozzles of the recording head 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink suction portion 14 is provided with a cap 15 that is brought into contact with and separated from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 as the maintenance unit 12 moves up and down. When the ink in the nozzles is sucked, the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 as the maintenance unit 12 is raised, covers all the nozzles provided on the nozzle surface 41, and maintenance is performed when the suction is completed. As the unit 12 is lowered, the unit 12 is separated from the nozzle surface 41. When the cap 15 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 41, a suction pump 16 for sucking a space formed between the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 is provided via the waste liquid channel 17. It is connected. A waste liquid tank 19 for storing the discharged waste liquid is provided at the most downstream side of the waste liquid flow path 17. The waste liquid channel 17 is formed by, for example, a resin tube. The suction pump 16 is preferably a so-called tube pump that sandwiches a resin tube constituting the waste liquid flow path 17 with a roller and moves the roller along the tube to exhaust air or the like in the tube from the end of the tube. It is done.
　さらに、プラテン２の側方には、洗浄液を貯留可能な洗浄液タンク３と、この洗浄液タンク３とキャップ１５の凹部３０との間を連通する送液路１１と、この送液路１１の途中に配設された送液弁１０と、送液路１１におけるキャップ１５と送液弁１０との間に配設されキャップ１５の凹部３０内を大気を連通させる大気連通弁１８とが設けられている。送液弁１０及び大気連通弁１８は、開閉状態が電気的に制御可能なバルブ、例えば、電磁バルブによって構成される。 Further, on the side of the platen 2, a cleaning liquid tank 3 capable of storing the cleaning liquid, a liquid supply path 11 that communicates between the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the recess 30 of the cap 15, and in the middle of the liquid supply path 11 A liquid supply valve 10 is provided, and an air communication valve 18 is provided between the cap 15 and the liquid supply valve 10 in the liquid supply path 11 and communicates the atmosphere through the recess 30 of the cap 15. . The liquid supply valve 10 and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are configured by valves that can be electrically controlled in their open / closed state, for example, electromagnetic valves.
　本実施形態では、この洗浄液タンク３と送液路１１と送液弁１０が、本発明の洗浄液供給手段として機能する。 In this embodiment, the cleaning liquid tank 3, the liquid supply path 11, and the liquid supply valve 10 function as the cleaning liquid supply means of the present invention.
　本実施形態では、この洗浄液タンク３に貯留される洗浄液として、塩基性化合物を含有する洗浄液を用いている。洗浄液タンク３に貯留される洗浄液は、洗浄作用を有する液体であれば特に限定されないが、塩基性化合物を含有する洗浄液が好ましく用いられる。塩基性化合物を含有する洗浄液は、塩基性化合物を含有しない洗浄液に比べて増粘，固着したインクに対する洗浄作用を強くすることができる。このため、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部及び記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部で増粘，固着したインクを比較的短時間、例えば数秒で洗浄除去できる。送液路１１は、送液弁１０の作動によって洗浄液が流れる通路であり、例えば、樹脂製チューブによって構成されている。 In this embodiment, a cleaning liquid containing a basic compound is used as the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 3. The cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 3 is not particularly limited as long as it has a cleaning action, but a cleaning liquid containing a basic compound is preferably used. The cleaning liquid containing the basic compound can strengthen the cleaning action on the thickened and fixed ink as compared with the cleaning liquid not containing the basic compound. For this reason, it is possible to wash and remove the ink that has increased in viscosity and fixed at the contact portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 in a relatively short time, for example, a few seconds. The liquid supply path 11 is a path through which the cleaning liquid flows by the operation of the liquid supply valve 10, and is constituted by, for example, a resin tube.
　洗浄液タンク３は、キャップ１５の位置（記録ヘッド４に当接した位置）よりも高い位置に配設されているため、水頭差により容易にキャップ１５の凹部３０に洗浄液を供給することができる。図２では、キャップ１５の凹部３０の内部容積を超える量の洗浄液Ｗが供給され、溢れた状態を示している。 Since the cleaning liquid tank 3 is disposed at a position higher than the position of the cap 15 (position in contact with the recording head 4), the cleaning liquid can be easily supplied to the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 due to a water head difference. In FIG. 2, the cleaning liquid W in an amount exceeding the internal volume of the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is supplied and an overflowing state is shown.
　送液弁１０は送液路１１の連通状態を制御する。即ち、送液弁１０の開放状態では、洗浄液タンク３内とキャップ１５の凹部３０とは送液路１１を通じて連通する。従って、送液弁１０を適宜開放させると、洗浄液は凹部３０内に供給される。一方、送液弁１０の閉状態では、送液路１１は送液弁１０の位置で遮断される。このため、洗浄液タンク３内と凹部３０との間も遮断される。 The liquid supply valve 10 controls the communication state of the liquid supply path 11. That is, in the opened state of the liquid supply valve 10, the inside of the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 communicate with each other through the liquid supply path 11. Therefore, when the liquid supply valve 10 is opened as appropriate, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30. On the other hand, when the liquid supply valve 10 is closed, the liquid supply path 11 is blocked at the position of the liquid supply valve 10. For this reason, the cleaning liquid tank 3 and the recess 30 are also blocked.
　キャップ１５について図３を用いてさらに詳細に説明する。 The cap 15 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
　キャップ１５は、図３に示すように、矩形状板材の底部３１と、この底部３１の周縁から上方に起立させた側壁部３２とを備え、これらの底部３１と側壁部３２とによって、記録ヘッド４側の上面が開放された凹部３０を区画形成する。側壁部３２の上端面２９が記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１に密着して封止する。このキャップ１５は、ゴム等の弾性部材をトレイ状に成型することにより作製される。 As shown in FIG. 3, the cap 15 includes a bottom portion 31 of a rectangular plate material and a side wall portion 32 erected upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom portion 31, and the recording head is formed by the bottom portion 31 and the side wall portion 32. A recess 30 having an open upper surface on the 4 side is defined. The upper end surface 29 of the side wall portion 32 is in close contact with the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 and sealed. The cap 15 is produced by molding an elastic member such as rubber into a tray shape.
　底部３１には、送液路１１に連通した洗浄液供給口２７及び廃液流路１７に連通した洗浄液排出口２８が形成されている。また、凹部３０内には繊維状の吸収体２３が洗浄液供給口２７及び洗浄液排出口２８を覆った状態で配設される。 The bottom 31 is formed with a cleaning liquid supply port 27 communicating with the liquid feeding path 11 and a cleaning liquid discharge port 28 communicating with the waste liquid flow path 17. Further, a fibrous absorbent body 23 is disposed in the recess 30 so as to cover the cleaning liquid supply port 27 and the cleaning liquid discharge port 28.
　また、凹部３０内に装着される繊維状の吸収体２３は、液体を吸収保持可能なフェルトやスポンジ等の吸液材によって構成されている。本実施形態の繊維状の吸収体２３は、図３（ｂ）に示すように、その厚さが凹部３０の高さよりも薄く構成されている。このため、キャップ１５によるノズル面４１の封止状態で、繊維状の吸収体２３の上面は、ノズル面４１よりも下側に離隔する。 Further, the fibrous absorber 23 mounted in the recess 30 is made of a liquid absorbing material such as felt or sponge capable of absorbing and holding liquid. As shown in FIG. 3B, the fibrous absorbent body 23 of the present embodiment is configured to be thinner than the height of the recess 30. For this reason, the upper surface of the fibrous absorber 23 is separated below the nozzle surface 41 in a state where the nozzle surface 41 is sealed by the cap 15.
　図４は、インクジェット記録装置１の主制御構成を表すブロック図である。この図４に示すように、インクジェット記録装置１には、各駆動部を制御する制御部２０が設けられている。制御部２０には、記録媒体Ｐを搬送方向Ａに沿って搬送させるための搬送部２１と、キャリッジ５を走査させる走査用モータ２２と、メンテナンスユニット１２を水平方向及び上下方向に移動させるメンテナンスユニット用モータ２４と、画像記録開始指示やメンテナンスモード選択などの各種指示が入力される入力部２５と、インク供給弁８２と、ピンチ弁８３と、大気連通弁１８と、吸引ポンプ１６と、満タン検出センサ８１と、記録ヘッド４と、送液弁１０と、記憶部２６が電気的に接続されている。なお、制御部２０には、これら以外にもインクジェット記録装置１の各駆動部などが接続されている。そして、制御部２０は、記憶部２６中に書き込まれている制御プログラムや制御データに従い各種機器を制御するようになっている。また、制御部２０は、計時タイマを備えており、装置の非使用期間やメンテナンスプロセスでの各工程の所定時間等を計時できるようになっている。 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the main control configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 20 that controls each drive unit. The control unit 20 includes a transport unit 21 for transporting the recording medium P along the transport direction A, a scanning motor 22 for scanning the carriage 5, and a maintenance unit for moving the maintenance unit 12 in the horizontal and vertical directions. Motor 24, input unit 25 for inputting various instructions such as image recording start instruction and maintenance mode selection, ink supply valve 82, pinch valve 83, atmospheric communication valve 18, suction pump 16, full tank The detection sensor 81, the recording head 4, the liquid supply valve 10, and the storage unit 26 are electrically connected. In addition to the above, each drive unit of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 controls various devices according to a control program and control data written in the storage unit 26. In addition, the control unit 20 includes a timekeeping timer, and can measure a non-use period of the apparatus, a predetermined time of each process in the maintenance process, and the like.
　次に、インクジェット記録装置１のメンテナンス方法について説明する。 Next, a maintenance method for the inkjet recording apparatus 1 will be described.
　画像記録開始時になると、作業者は画像記録開始指示を入力する。 When the image recording starts, the operator inputs an image recording start instruction.
　制御部２０は、画像記録開始指示の入力に伴って、搬送部２１を制御して、記録媒体Ｐを搬送方向Ａに間欠に搬送させる。搬送中に記録媒体Ｐが停止されると、制御部２０は、走査用モータ２２を制御して、キャリッジ５を走査方向Ｂに走査させる。この走査に対応して、制御部２０は画像データに基づいて記録ヘッド４を制御し、記録媒体Ｐ上にインクを吐出して画像を記録する。 The control unit 20 controls the transport unit 21 in accordance with the input of the image recording start instruction so as to intermittently transport the recording medium P in the transport direction A. When the recording medium P is stopped during conveyance, the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to scan the carriage 5 in the scanning direction B. In response to this scanning, the control unit 20 controls the recording head 4 based on the image data, and ejects ink onto the recording medium P to record an image.
　そして、キャップ１５や記録ヘッド４を洗浄してメンテナンスするためのメンテナンスタイミングになると、制御部２０は、各部を制御してキャップ１５や記録ヘッド４のメンテナンスを行わせる。 When the maintenance timing for cleaning and maintaining the cap 15 and the recording head 4 is reached, the control unit 20 controls each unit to perform maintenance of the cap 15 and the recording head 4.
　本メンテナンスのモードは、キャップ１５の凹部３０にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給し、溢れた洗浄液がキャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）に接触した状態で、キャップ１５を記録ヘッド４に当接させることで、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）のみならず、記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部をも洗浄する洗浄工程を含むキャップ清掃モードを有する事を特徴としている。そして本実施例において該メンテナンスモードは想定されるキャップ１５の回復機能の劣化状況や記録ヘッド４の目詰まりの状況等により複数種類のモードを有している。 In this maintenance mode, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the recess 30 of the cap 15, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4. A cleaning process of cleaning not only the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 but also the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 by bringing the cap 15 into contact with the recording head 4. It is characterized by having a cap cleaning mode including In this embodiment, the maintenance mode has a plurality of modes depending on the assumed deterioration state of the recovery function of the cap 15, the clogging state of the recording head 4, and the like.
　メンテナンスモードの実行は、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からいずれかのメンテナンスモードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がいずれかのメンテナンスモード実行が必要と判断した場合に行われる。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。即ち、非使用期間が閾値以上（例えば数時間以上）であった場合やノズルの目詰まりやインク滴の吐出曲がりなどが検知手段により検知された場合に、制御部２０は、キャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部や記録ヘッドのノズル面、ノズル内にインクの固化物又は増粘化物が付着している可能性が高いとして、その状況に応じていずれかのモードを選択してメンテナンスを行うと判断する。 Execution of the maintenance mode is performed when the user selects any maintenance mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or when the control unit 20 determines that any maintenance mode execution is necessary. . This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head. That is, when the non-use period is equal to or greater than a threshold (for example, several hours or more), or when nozzle clogging, ink droplet ejection bending, or the like is detected by the detection means, the control unit 20 If there is a high possibility that ink solidified material or thickened material has adhered to the nozzle contact surface, the nozzle surface of the recording head, or the nozzle, maintenance is performed by selecting one of the modes depending on the situation. to decide.
　また、例えば、制御部２０に報知手段を接続していれば、いずれかのメンテナンスモードによるメンテナンスを行うと判断されるとその旨を報知手段に報知させて、使用者に知らせることが可能となる。この報知を基として使用者にメンテナンスが必要であるか否かを判断させれば、例えば急ぎの印刷物を仕上げてからメンテナンスを開始することもできる。 Further, for example, if a notification unit is connected to the control unit 20, when it is determined that maintenance is performed in any one of the maintenance modes, it is possible to notify the notification unit to that effect and notify the user. . If the user determines whether or not maintenance is necessary based on this notification, for example, the maintenance can be started after finishing a rushed printed matter.
　（キャップ清掃モード）
　キャップ清掃モードは、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）や外周部や記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部に付着して固着あるいは増粘してしまったインクの除去を主な目的としている。以下、キャップ清掃モードの動作手順を図１０に従って説明する。 (Cap cleaning mode)
In the cap cleaning mode, the ink that adheres to or adheres to the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 or the outer peripheral portion or the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 is fixed or thickened. The main purpose is removal. Hereinafter, the operation procedure in the cap cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ５０１では、制御部２０は、キャップ清掃モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からキャップ清掃モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がキャップ清掃モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、キャップ１５の回復機能の劣化に関わる情報に基づいてなされる。例えば、ノズルの目詰まりやインク滴の吐出曲がりなどが検知手段により検知された場合でキャップ１５による吸引による回復動作を行っても回復しない場合に、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部や記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部にインクが固着していて密閉性が低下している可能性が高いとしてキャップ清掃モードによるメンテナンスを行うと判断する。 In step S501, the control unit 20 selects the cap cleaning mode. For example, the user selects the cap cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the cap cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on information related to deterioration of the recovery function of the cap 15, for example. For example, when the clogging of the nozzles, the discharge bend of the ink droplets, or the like is detected by the detection unit and the recovery operation is not performed even if the recovery operation by the suction by the cap 15 is performed, the control unit 20 It is determined that the maintenance in the cap cleaning mode is to be performed because there is a high possibility that the ink adheres to the contact portion of the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 and the sealing performance is lowered.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ５０２では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を開放して洗浄液タンク３からキャップ１５への洗浄液の送液を開始する。 In step S502, the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
　ステップＳ５０３では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１２を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１２とは、洗浄液がキャップ１５の凹部３０から溢れる時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、３秒程度である。所定時間Ｔ１２は、後述する図５のステップＳ３における所定時間Ｔ１よりも長くすることが好ましい。本実施形態では、Ｔ１２＞Ｔ１である。 In step S503, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T12. Here, the predetermined time T12 is a time during which the cleaning liquid overflows from the recess 30 of the cap 15. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about 3 seconds. The predetermined time T12 is preferably longer than the predetermined time T1 in step S3 of FIG. In this embodiment, T12> T1.
　ステップＳ５０４では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を閉鎖する。 In step S504, the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
　ステップＳ５０５では、制御部２０は、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１３を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１３とは、キャップ１５に洗浄液を供給してからキャップ１５から溢れた洗浄液がこの当接部（上端面２９）や外周部を洗浄し、固着インクや増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する効果を高められる時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、１分程度である。 In step S505, the control unit 20 measures the predetermined time T13. Here, the predetermined time T13 means that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15 after supplying the cleaning liquid to the cap 15 cleans the contact portion (upper end surface 29) and the outer peripheral portion, and dissolves the fixed ink and the thickening ink. This is the time to enhance the effect of peeling and removing. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
　ステップＳ５０６では、制御部２０は、ピンチ弁８３を閉鎖する。これにより、記録ヘッド４からサブタンク８が切り離される。次のステップＳ５０７～Ｓ５１０の間において、ピンチ弁８３は常に閉鎖状態に制御されているので、凹部３０内の洗浄液が記録ヘッド４を経由してサブタンク８内に逆流してしまう不具合を防止することができる。 In step S506, the control unit 20 closes the pinch valve 83. Thereby, the sub tank 8 is separated from the recording head 4. Between the next steps S507 to S510, the pinch valve 83 is always controlled to be closed, so that the problem that the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 flows back into the sub tank 8 via the recording head 4 is prevented. Can do.
　ステップＳ５０７では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが密着するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を上昇させる。即ち、キャップ１５の上端面２９をノズル面４１に密着させる。これにより、凹部３０から溢れて充填された洗浄液がノズル面４１に押し当てられて接触して洗浄する。 In step S507, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid overflowing from the concave portion 30 is pressed against the nozzle surface 41 to be cleaned.
　ステップＳ５０８では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１４を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１４とは、キャップ１５から溢れた洗浄液がキャップ１５との当接部を含むノズル面４１全体を洗浄し、ノズル面４１上の固着インクや増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する効果を高められる時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、数秒程度である。なお、キャップ１５がノズル面４１に当接した状態においても完全に密着することはなく、キャップ１５やノズル面４１のそれぞれの当接面の凹凸や、インクの付着物による凸部により形成される隙間に存在する洗浄液により洗浄が行われる。 In step S508, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T14. Here, the predetermined time T14 is that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15 cleans the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15, and dissolves or peels and removes the fixed ink and the thickening ink on the nozzle surface 41. It is time to increase the effect. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about several seconds. In addition, even when the cap 15 is in contact with the nozzle surface 41, the cap 15 is not completely in contact with each other, and is formed by irregularities on the contact surfaces of the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 and convex portions due to ink deposits. Cleaning is performed with the cleaning liquid present in the gap.
　ステップＳ５０９では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが離間するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を下降させる。 In step S509, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to lower the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 are separated from each other.
　ステップＳ５１０では、制御部２０は、ステップＳ５０７～Ｓ５０９の処理を所定回数Ｎ２（Ｎ２は１以上の整数）だけ実施する。ここで、所定回数Ｎ２とは、洗浄液が、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）や記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部を含むノズル面４１全体を洗浄し、固着インクや増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する効果を高められる回数である。構成にもよるが、複数回実施することが好ましく、例えば、２回程度である。ステップＳ５０８では十分な洗浄効果が得られない場合に、複数回繰り返して行うことにより十分な洗浄効果を得ることができる。 In step S510, the control unit 20 performs the processes in steps S507 to S509 for a predetermined number of times N2 (N2 is an integer equal to or greater than 1). Here, the predetermined number of times N2 means that the cleaning liquid cleans the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion (upper end surface 29) of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15; This is the number of times that the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the fixed ink and the thickened ink can be enhanced. Although depending on the configuration, it is preferable to carry out a plurality of times, for example, about twice. If a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained in step S508, a sufficient cleaning effect can be obtained by repeating the process a plurality of times.
　ステップＳ５１１では、制御部２０は、ピンチ弁８３を開放する。 In step S511, the control unit 20 opens the pinch valve 83.
　ステップＳ５１２は、制御部２０は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とワイパーブレード１３とが対峙する位置まで、図２おける左方向に向けて移動するように、キャリッジ５を移動させる。ワイパーブレード１３がノズル面４１と対峙すると、制御部２０は、ワイパーブレード１３がノズル面４１に対峙しない退避位置まで、水平方向に移動するように、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御する。次いで、制御部２０は、ワイパーブレード１３の上端がノズル面４１よりも上位に位置するまでワイパーブレード１３（メンテナンスユニット１２）が上昇するように、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御する。その後、制御部２０は、ワイパーブレード１３がキャップとの当接面も含めてノズル面４１全体を摺擦しながら通過するまで、水平方向に移動するように、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御する。これにより、キャップとの当接面も含めてノズル面４１全体に付着していたインクや洗浄液はワイパーブレード１３によって除去されることになる。 In step S512, the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 so as to move leftward in FIG. 2 to a position where the recording head 4 and the wiper blade 13 face each other. When the wiper blade 13 faces the nozzle surface 41, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 so that the wiper blade 13 moves in the horizontal direction to a retreat position where the wiper blade 13 does not face the nozzle surface 41. Next, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 so that the wiper blade 13 (maintenance unit 12) is raised until the upper end of the wiper blade 13 is positioned higher than the nozzle surface 41. Thereafter, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to move in the horizontal direction until the wiper blade 13 passes through the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact surface with the cap while being rubbed. As a result, the ink and cleaning liquid adhering to the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact surface with the cap are removed by the wiper blade 13.
　ステップＳ５１３では、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の凹部３０が吸引されるように吸引ポンプ１６を作動させる。これによって、凹部３０内の洗浄液の排出を開始する。 In step S513, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
　ステップＳ５１４では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１５を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１５とは、吸引ポンプ１６を作動させてから凹部３０内の洗浄液を廃液タンク１９に排出するまでの時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、１分程度である。 In step S514, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T15. Here, the predetermined time T15 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
　ステップＳ５１５では、制御部２０は、吸引ポンプ１６を停止させる。 In step S515, the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
　以上で、キャップ清掃モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the cap cleaning mode maintenance process.
　また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がない場合は、メンテナンスが終了すると、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１がキャップ１５によって覆われたままの状態で待機する。 If there is no plan to perform a recording operation after the maintenance, when the maintenance is finished, the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
　以上のように、キャップ清掃モードによれば、供給する洗浄液の量をキャップ１５の内部容積を超える量にしてキャップ１５から洗浄液を溢れさせ、洗浄液をキャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）や外周部に接触させるか、好ましくは、この状態で所定時間保持することにより当接部や外周部を洗浄し、この当接部や外周部の固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する。しかる後、キャップ１５を記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１に当接させ、洗浄液を記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部を含むノズル面４１全体に接触させるか、好ましくは、この状態で所定時間保持することにより記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部を含むノズル面４１全体を洗浄し、固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する。キャップ１５を記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１に当接させることにより、洗浄液は、ノズル面４１に押し当てられて接触するため洗浄作用を強くすることができる。しかる後、ワイパーブレード１３を用いてキャップ１５との当接部を含むノズル面４１全体をワイピングすることにより、記録ヘッド４から固着インクなどをより確実に除去することができる。さらに、吸引ポンプ１６を用いてキャップ１５内の洗浄液を溶解したインクと共に吸引排出することにより、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部や外周部から固着インクなどを確実に除去することができる。 As described above, according to the cap cleaning mode, the amount of cleaning liquid supplied exceeds the internal volume of the cap 15 to overflow the cleaning liquid from the cap 15, and the cleaning liquid is in contact with the recording head 4 of the cap 15 ( The abutting portion and the outer peripheral portion are washed by contacting with the upper end surface 29) and the outer peripheral portion, or preferably by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink or the thickening ink at the abutting portion and the outer peripheral portion is dissolved. Or peel off. Thereafter, the cap 15 is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15 of the recording head 4, or preferably in this state for a predetermined time. By holding, the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15 of the recording head 4 is washed, and the fixed ink or the thickening ink is dissolved or peeled off. By bringing the cap 15 into contact with the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4, the cleaning liquid is pressed against and contacts the nozzle surface 41, thereby enhancing the cleaning action. Thereafter, by wiping the entire nozzle surface 41 including the contact portion with the cap 15 using the wiper blade 13, the fixed ink and the like can be more reliably removed from the recording head 4. Further, by sucking and discharging the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 together with the dissolved ink using the suction pump 16, the fixed ink and the like can be reliably removed from the contact portion and the outer peripheral portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4. .
　これにより、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部や記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部への固着インクの堆積による回復機能の劣化や、固着インクの、キャッピングによる記録ヘッド４への付着が抑えられ、記録ヘッド４からのインクの安定した吐出を維持することができる。 As a result, the recovery function is deteriorated due to the accumulation of fixed ink on the contact portion of the cap 15 with the recording head 4 and the contact portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15, and the fixed ink is applied to the recording head 4 by capping. Adhesion is suppressed, and stable ejection of ink from the recording head 4 can be maintained.
　また、キャップ１５から洗浄液を溢れさせた状態でキャップ１５をノズル面４１に密着させて、洗浄液をノズル面４１に接触させて、好ましくは、所定時間保持してノズル面４１を洗浄し、キャップ１５を離間させる動作を繰り返して行うことにより、複数回洗浄する効果に加えて洗浄液の流動性が高められる結果、洗浄液に接触させて所定時間保持しただけでは容易に除去できない、キャップ１５の記録ヘッド４との当接部（上端面２９）や記録ヘッド４のキャップ１５との当接部に固着あるいは増粘したインクを容易に除去できる。 Further, the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 with the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cap 15, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41. Preferably, the nozzle surface 41 is cleaned while being held for a predetermined time. By repeatedly performing the separation operation, the fluidity of the cleaning liquid is improved in addition to the effect of cleaning a plurality of times. As a result, the recording head 4 of the cap 15 cannot be easily removed simply by keeping it in contact with the cleaning liquid for a predetermined time. The ink fixed or thickened on the abutting portion (upper end surface 29) and the abutting portion of the recording head 4 with the cap 15 can be easily removed.
　（作業終了モード）
　作業終了モードは、ノズル面４１上で乾燥して固着あるいは増粘してしまったインクの除去を主な目的としている。また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がない場合に特に有効である。以下、作業終了モードの動作手順を図５に従って説明する。 (Work end mode)
The work end mode is mainly intended to remove ink that has been dried and fixed or thickened on the nozzle surface 41. This is particularly effective when there is no plan to perform a recording operation after maintenance. The operation procedure in the work end mode will be described below with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ１では、制御部２０は、作業終了モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５から作業終了モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０が作業終了モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。 In step S1, the control unit 20 selects a work end mode. For example, the user selects the work end mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the work end mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ２では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を開放して洗浄液タンク３からキャップ１５への洗浄液の送液を開始する。 In step S2, the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
　ステップＳ３では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１とは、洗浄液でキャップ１５の凹部３０が満たされる（充填される）時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、２秒程度である。 In step S3, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T1. Here, the predetermined time T1 is a time for filling (filling) the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 with the cleaning liquid. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 2 seconds.
　ステップＳ４では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を閉鎖する。 In step S4, the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
　ステップＳ５では、制御部２０は、ピンチ弁８３を閉鎖する。これにより、記録ヘッド４からサブタンク８が切り離される。次のステップＳ６～Ｓ１１の間において、ピンチ弁８３は常に閉鎖状態に制御されているので、凹部３０内の洗浄液が記録ヘッド４を経由してサブタンク８内に逆流してしまう不具合を防止することができる。 In step S5, the control unit 20 closes the pinch valve 83. Thereby, the sub tank 8 is separated from the recording head 4. Between the next steps S6 to S11, since the pinch valve 83 is always controlled to be closed, it is possible to prevent a problem that the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 flows backward into the sub tank 8 via the recording head 4. Can do.
　ステップＳ６では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが密着するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を上昇させる。即ち、キャップ１５の上端面２９をノズル面４１に密着させる。これにより、凹部３０内に充填された洗浄液とノズル面４１とが接触して、ノズル面が洗浄される。 In step S6, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 comes into contact with the nozzle surface 41 to clean the nozzle surface.
　ステップＳ７では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ２を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ２とは、凹部３０に充填された洗浄液がノズル面の固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する効果を高められる時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、数秒程度である。 In step S7, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T2. Here, the predetermined time T2 is a time during which the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 can enhance the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the fixed ink or the thickened ink on the nozzle surface. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it takes about several seconds.
　ステップＳ８では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を開放する。 In step S8, the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
　ステップＳ９では、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の凹部３０が吸引されるように吸引ポンプ１６を作動させる。これによって、凹部３０内の洗浄液の排出を開始する。 In step S9, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
　ステップＳ１０では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ３を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ３とは、吸引ポンプ１６を作動させてから凹部３０内の洗浄液を廃液タンク１９に排出するまでの時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、１分程度である。 In step S10, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T3. Here, the predetermined time T3 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
　ステップＳ１１では、制御部２０は、吸引ポンプ１６を停止させる。 In step S11, the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
　ステップＳ１２では、制御部２０は、ピンチ弁８３を開放する。 In step S12, the control unit 20 opens the pinch valve 83.
　ステップＳ１３では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を閉鎖する。 In step S13, the control unit 20 closes the atmospheric communication valve 18.
　以上で、作業終了モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the maintenance process in the work end mode.
　この作業終了モードでは、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がないので、メンテナンスが終了すると、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１がキャップ１５によって覆われたままの状態で待機する。 In this work end mode, since there is no plan to perform a recording operation after maintenance, when the maintenance is completed, the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
　以上のように、作業終了モードによれば、キャップ１５の凹部３０内に洗浄液を供給し、キャップ１５の凹部３０内を洗浄液で満たす。この状態でキャップ１５をノズル面４１に密着させ、洗浄液をノズル面４１に接触させるか、好ましくは、この状態で所定時間保持することによりノズル面を洗浄し、このノズル面４１上の固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する。しかる後、吸引ポンプ１６を用いてキャップ１５内の洗浄液を溶解したインクと共に吸引排出することにより、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１から固着インクなどを確実に除去することができる。 As described above, according to the work end mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid. In this state, the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41. Preferably, the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink or Dissolve or peel off the thickened ink. Thereafter, by using the suction pump 16 to suck and discharge the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 together with the dissolved ink, the fixed ink and the like can be reliably removed from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4.
　（ノズル面清掃モード）
　ノズル面清掃モードは、ノズル面４１上で乾燥して固着または増粘してしまったインクの除去を主な目的としている。また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がある場合に特に有効である。以下、ノズル面清掃モードの動作手順を図６に従って説明する。 (Nozzle surface cleaning mode)
The main purpose of the nozzle surface cleaning mode is to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41. This is particularly effective when a recording operation is scheduled after maintenance. The operation procedure in the nozzle surface cleaning mode will be described below with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ１０１では、制御部２０は、ノズル面清掃モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からノズル面清掃モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がノズル面清掃モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。 In step S101, the control unit 20 selects the nozzle surface cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle surface cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle surface cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ１０２～Ｓ１１２は、図５のステップＳ２～Ｓ１２と同様の動作を行うので説明は省略する。 Steps S102 to S112 perform the same operations as steps S2 to S12 in FIG.
　但し、ステップＳ１０３における所定時間Ｔ４は、図５のステップＳ３における所定時間Ｔ１と同じにしてもよいし、異ならせても良い。本実施形態では、Ｔ４＝Ｔ１である。 However, the predetermined time T4 in step S103 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time T1 in step S3 of FIG. In this embodiment, T4 = T1.
　ステップＳ１０７における所定時間Ｔ５は、図５のステップＳ７における所定時間Ｔ２と同じにしてもよいし、異ならせても良い。本実施形態では、Ｔ５＝Ｔ２である。 The predetermined time T5 in step S107 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time T2 in step S7 of FIG. In the present embodiment, T5 = T2.
　ステップＳ１１０における所定時間Ｔ６は、図５のステップＳ１０における所定時間Ｔ３と同じにしてもよいし、異ならせても良い。本実施形態では、Ｔ６＝Ｔ３である。 The predetermined time T6 in step S110 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time T3 in step S10 of FIG. In the present embodiment, T6 = T3.
　ステップＳ１１３では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５がノズル面４１から離間して、ワイパーブレード１３の上端がノズル面４１よりも下位に位置するまでメンテナンスユニット１２を下降させる。つまり、メンテナンスユニット１２の下降が完了すれば、記録ヘッド４がワイパーブレード１３とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させたとしても、ワイパーブレード１３がノズル面４１から退避しているために、両者が接触しないことになる。 In step S <b> 113, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to move the maintenance unit 12 until the cap 15 is separated from the nozzle surface 41 and the upper end of the wiper blade 13 is positioned lower than the nozzle surface 41. Lower. That is, when the descent of the maintenance unit 12 is completed, even if the carriage 5 is moved to a position where the recording head 4 faces the wiper blade 13, the wiper blade 13 is retracted from the nozzle surface 41. Will not touch.
　ステップＳ１１４では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を閉鎖する。 In step S114, the control unit 20 closes the atmosphere communication valve 18.
　ステップＳ１１５は、図１０のステップＳ５１２と同様の動作を行うので説明は省略する。 Step S115 performs the same operation as step S512 in FIG.
　ステップＳ１１６では、プリント準備が完了し、プリント可能な状態になる。 In step S116, preparation for printing is completed and printing is possible.
　以上で、ノズル面清掃モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the nozzle surface cleaning mode maintenance process.
　このノズル面清掃モードでは、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定があるので、メンテナンスが終了すると、キャップ１５が記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１から離間した状態で待機する。 In this nozzle surface cleaning mode, since a recording operation is scheduled to be performed after maintenance, when the maintenance is completed, the cap 15 stands by in a state of being separated from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4.
　以上のように、ノズル面清掃モードによれば、キャップ１５の凹部３０内に洗浄液を供給し、キャップ１５の凹部３０内を洗浄液で満たす。この状態でキャップ１５をノズル面４１に密着させて、洗浄液をノズル面４１に接触させるか、好ましくは、この状態で所定時間保持することによりノズル面を洗浄し、このノズル面４１上の固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する。しかる後、吸引ポンプ１６を用いてキャップ１５内の洗浄液を溶解したインクと共に吸引排出し、ワイパーブレード１３を用いて洗浄液が付着したノズル面４１をワイピングすることにより、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１から固着インクなどをより確実に除去することができる。また、ノズル面４１に付着している洗浄液によりワイパーブレード１３を洗浄できるという効果も得られる。 As described above, according to the nozzle surface cleaning mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid. In this state, the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41. Preferably, the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink on the nozzle surface 41 Alternatively, the thickened ink is dissolved or removed. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 is sucked and discharged together with the dissolved ink using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 to which the cleaning liquid is adhered is wiped using the wiper blade 13 so that the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is wiped. The fixed ink or the like can be removed more reliably. Moreover, the effect that the wiper blade 13 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid adhering to the nozzle surface 41 is also obtained.
　（ヘッド内清掃モード）
　ヘッド内清掃モードは、ノズル面４１上で乾燥して固着あるいは増粘してしまったインクの除去やノズル内で増粘して目詰まりしているインクを除去することを主な目的としている。以下、ヘッド内清掃モードの動作手順を図７に従って説明する。 (In-head cleaning mode)
The main cleaning mode of the head is mainly intended to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41, or to remove ink that has become thickened and clogged in the nozzle. Hereinafter, the operation procedure in the in-head cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ２０１では、制御部２０は、ヘッド内清掃モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からヘッド内清掃モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がヘッド内清掃モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。 In step S201, the control unit 20 selects the in-head cleaning mode. For example, when the user selects the in-head cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus, or the control unit 20 determines that the in-head cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from the nozzles of the recording head.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ２０２では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが密着するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を上昇させる。即ち、キャップ１５の上端面２９をノズル面４１に密着させる。 In step S202, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41.
　ステップＳ２０３では、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の凹部３０が吸引されるように吸引ポンプ１６を作動させる。これにより、記録ヘッド４内のインクのノズルからの吸引を開始する。 In step S203, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, the suction of the ink in the recording head 4 from the nozzle is started.
　ステップＳ２０４では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ７を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ７とは、吸引ポンプ１６を作動させてからノズル内に目詰まりしているインクが排出されるまでの時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、５秒程度である。 In step S204, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T7. Here, the predetermined time T7 is the time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the ink clogged in the nozzles is discharged. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 5 seconds.
　ステップＳ２０５では、制御部２０は、吸引ポンプ１６を停止させる。 In step S205, the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
　ステップＳ２０６では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を開放する。 In step S206, the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
　ステップＳ２０７では、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の凹部３０が吸引されるように吸引ポンプ１６を作動させる。これによって、凹部３０内のインクの排出を開始する。 In step S207, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. As a result, the discharge of ink in the recess 30 is started.
　ステップＳ２０８では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ８を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ８とは、吸引ポンプ１６を作動させてから凹部３０内のインクを廃液タンク１９に排出するまでの時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、１分程度である。 In step S208, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T8. Here, the predetermined time T8 is the time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the ink in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example.
　ステップＳ２０９では、制御部２０は、吸引ポンプ１６を停止させる。 In step S209, the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
　ステップＳ２１０では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが離間するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を下降させる。 In step S210, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to lower the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 are separated from each other.
　ステップＳ２１１では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を閉鎖する。 In step S211, the control unit 20 closes the atmosphere communication valve 18.
　ステップＳ２１２では、制御部２０は、図６に示すノズル面清掃モードを実施する。 In step S212, the control unit 20 performs the nozzle surface cleaning mode shown in FIG.
　以上で、ヘッド内清掃モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the maintenance process in the head cleaning mode.
　また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がない場合は、メンテナンスが終了すると、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１がキャップ１５によって覆われたままの状態で待機する。 If there is no plan to perform a recording operation after the maintenance, when the maintenance is finished, the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
　以上のように、ヘッド内清掃モードによれば、記録ヘッド４のノズル内の増粘インクをノズルから吸引排出する。しかる後、キャップ１５の凹部３０内に洗浄液を供給し、キャップ１５の凹部３０内を洗浄液で満たす。この状態でキャップ１５をノズル面４１に密着させて、洗浄液をノズル面４１に接触させるか、好ましくは、この状態で所定時間保持することによりノズル面を洗浄し、このノズル面４１上の固着インクあるいは増粘インクを溶解または剥離除去する。しかる後、吸引ポンプ１６を用いてキャップ１５内の洗浄液を溶解したインクと共に吸引排出し、さらに、ワイパーブレード１３を用いて洗浄液が付着したノズル面４１をワイピングすることにより、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１から固着インクなどをより確実に除去することができる。また、ノズル面４１に付着している洗浄液によりワイパーブレード１３を洗浄できるという効果も得られる。 As described above, according to the in-head cleaning mode, the thickened ink in the nozzles of the recording head 4 is sucked and discharged from the nozzles. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15, and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid. In this state, the cap 15 is brought into intimate contact with the nozzle surface 41, and the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 41. Preferably, the nozzle surface is cleaned by holding in this state for a predetermined time, and the fixed ink on the nozzle surface 41 Alternatively, the thickened ink is dissolved or removed. Thereafter, the suction liquid is sucked and discharged together with the dissolved ink in the cap 15 by using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 to which the cleaning liquid is adhered is wiped by using the wiper blade 13, whereby the nozzle surface of the recording head 4 is wiped. The fixed ink and the like can be more reliably removed from 41. Moreover, the effect that the wiper blade 13 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid adhering to the nozzle surface 41 is also obtained.
　（ノズル面強力清掃モード）
　ノズル面強力清掃モードは、ノズル面４１上で乾燥して固着または増粘してしまったインクの除去やノズル内で増粘して目詰まりしているインクを除去することを主な目的としている。このノズル面強力清掃モードは図６のノズル面清掃モードよりも清掃能力を強くできるため、より強固に固着したインクも除去できる。以下、ノズル面強力清掃モードの動作手順を図８に従って説明する。 (Nozzle surface strong cleaning mode)
The nozzle surface strong cleaning mode is mainly intended to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41, or to remove clogged ink that has increased viscosity in the nozzle. . Since the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode can enhance the cleaning ability as compared with the nozzle surface cleaning mode of FIG. 6, it is possible to remove the ink firmly fixed. Hereinafter, the operation procedure in the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ３０１では、制御部２０は、ノズル面強力清掃モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からノズル面強力清掃モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がノズル面強力清掃モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。 In step S301, the control unit 20 selects the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ３０２では、制御部２０は、図６に示すノズル面清掃モードを実施する。 In step S302, the control unit 20 performs the nozzle surface cleaning mode shown in FIG.
　ステップＳ３０３では、制御部２０は、図７に示すヘッド内清掃モードを実施する。 In step S303, the control unit 20 performs the in-head cleaning mode shown in FIG.
　ステップＳ３０４では、制御部２０は、ステップＳ３０２～Ｓ３０３の処理を所定回数Ｎ１（Ｎ１は１以上の整数）だけ実施する。ここで、所定回数Ｎ１とは、ノズル面４１により強固に固着したインクを溶解または剥離除去する効果が高められる回数である。構成にもよるが、例えば、２回程度である。 In step S304, the control unit 20 performs the processes in steps S302 to S303 a predetermined number of times N1 (N1 is an integer equal to or greater than 1). Here, the predetermined number of times N1 is the number of times that the effect of dissolving or peeling and removing the ink firmly fixed by the nozzle surface 41 is enhanced. Although it depends on the configuration, for example, it is about twice.
　ステップＳ３０５では、プリント準備が完了し、プリント可能な状態になる。 In step S305, the print preparation is completed and printing is possible.
　以上で、ノズル面強力清掃モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the maintenance process for the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode.
　また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がない場合は、メンテナンスが終了すると、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１がキャップ１５によって覆われたままの状態で待機する。 If there is no plan to perform a recording operation after the maintenance, when the maintenance is finished, the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
　以上のように、ノズル面強力清掃モードによれば、ノズル面清掃モードの後にヘッド内清掃モードを実施する一連の処理を少なくとも１回実行することにより、記録ヘッド４から増粘インクやより強固に固着したインクなどをより確実に除去することができる。 As described above, according to the nozzle surface strong cleaning mode, the series of processes for performing the in-head cleaning mode is executed at least once after the nozzle surface cleaning mode, thereby increasing the viscosity of the ink from the recording head 4. The fixed ink or the like can be removed more reliably.
　（ノズル孔内清掃モード）
　ノズル孔内清掃モードは、ノズル面４１上で乾燥して固着または増粘してしまったインクの除去やノズル内で固化して目詰まりしているインクを除去することを主な目的としている。以下、ノズル孔内清掃モードの動作手順を図９に従って説明する。 (Nozzle hole cleaning mode)
The main purpose of the nozzle hole cleaning mode is to remove ink that has dried and adhered or thickened on the nozzle surface 41 and to remove clogged ink that has solidified in the nozzle. Hereinafter, the operation procedure in the nozzle hole cleaning mode will be described with reference to FIG.
　開始時（通常時）は、インク供給弁８２と送液弁１０と大気連通弁１８は閉状態、ピンチ弁８３は開放の状態である。 At the start (normal time), the ink supply valve 82, the liquid supply valve 10, and the atmosphere communication valve 18 are closed, and the pinch valve 83 is open.
　ステップＳ４０１では、制御部２０は、ノズル孔内清掃モードを選択する。例えば、使用者が該インクジェット記録装置本体の入力部２５からノズル孔内清掃モードを選択するか、あるいは、制御部２０がノズル孔内清掃モードの実行が必要と判断した場合である。この判断は、例えば、記録ヘッド４がインク滴を吐出していない非使用期間の情報や記録ヘッドのノズルからの吐出に関わる印字不良の情報に基づいてなされる。 In step S401, the control unit 20 selects the nozzle hole cleaning mode. For example, this is a case where the user selects the nozzle hole cleaning mode from the input unit 25 of the ink jet recording apparatus main body, or the control unit 20 determines that the nozzle hole cleaning mode needs to be executed. This determination is made based on, for example, information on a non-use period in which the recording head 4 is not ejecting ink droplets or information on defective printing related to ejection from nozzles of the recording head.
　制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置にない場合は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。 The control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are opposed to each other when the recording head 4 and the cap 15 are not located at the facing position.
　ステップＳ４０２では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を開放して洗浄液タンク３からキャップ１５へ洗浄液の送液を開始する。 In step S <b> 402, the control unit 20 opens the liquid supply valve 10 and starts supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 3 to the cap 15.
　ステップＳ４０３では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ９を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ９とは、洗浄液でキャップ１５の凹部３０が満たされる時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、２秒程度である。所定時間Ｔ９は、図５のステップＳ３における所定時間Ｔ１と同じにしてもよいし、異ならせても良い。本実施形態では、Ｔ９＝Ｔ１である。 In step S403, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T9. Here, the predetermined time T9 is a time for filling the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 with the cleaning liquid. Depending on the configuration, for example, it takes about 2 seconds. The predetermined time T9 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time T1 in step S3 of FIG. In this embodiment, T9 = T1.
　ステップＳ４０４では、制御部２０は、送液弁１０を閉鎖する。 In step S404, the control unit 20 closes the liquid supply valve 10.
　ステップＳ４０５では、制御部２０は、メンテナンスユニット用モータ２４を制御して、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１とが密着するまでキャップ１５（メンテナンスユニット１２）を上昇させる。即ち、キャップ１５の上端面２９をノズル面４１に密着させる。これにより、凹部３０内に充填された洗浄液とノズル面４１とが接触する。 In step S405, the control unit 20 controls the maintenance unit motor 24 to raise the cap 15 (maintenance unit 12) until the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 come into close contact with each other. That is, the upper end surface 29 of the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41. As a result, the cleaning liquid filled in the recess 30 and the nozzle surface 41 come into contact with each other.
　ステップＳ４０６では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１０を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１０とは、少なくとも凹部３０に充填された洗浄液がノズル孔内のインクを溶解あるいは剥離除去しながらノズル孔内に侵入するのに要する時間である、構成にもよるが、例えば、３０秒程度である。所定時間Ｔ１０は、図５のステップＳ７における所定時間Ｔ２よりも長くすることが好ましい。本実施形態では、Ｔ１０＞Ｔ２である。 In step S406, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T10. Here, the predetermined time T10 is a time required for at least the cleaning liquid filled in the concave portion 30 to enter the nozzle hole while dissolving or removing the ink in the nozzle hole. , About 30 seconds. The predetermined time T10 is preferably longer than the predetermined time T2 in step S7 of FIG. In this embodiment, T10> T2.
　ステップＳ４０７では、制御部２０は、大気連通弁１８を開放する。 In step S407, the control unit 20 opens the atmosphere communication valve 18.
　ステップＳ４０８では、制御部２０は、キャップ１５の凹部３０が吸引されるように吸引ポンプ１６を作動させる。これによって、凹部３０内の洗浄液の排出を開始する。 In step S408, the control unit 20 operates the suction pump 16 so that the concave portion 30 of the cap 15 is sucked. Thereby, discharge of the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is started.
　ステップＳ４０９では、制御部２０は、所定時間Ｔ１１を計時する。ここで、所定時間Ｔ１１とは、吸引ポンプ１６を作動させてから凹部３０内の洗浄液を廃液タンク１９に排出するまでの時間である。構成にもよるが、例えば、１分程度である。所定時間Ｔ１１は、図５のステップＳ１０における所定時間Ｔ３と同じにしてもよいし、異ならせても良い。本実施形態では、Ｔ１１＝Ｔ３である。 In step S409, the control unit 20 measures a predetermined time T11. Here, the predetermined time T11 is a time from when the suction pump 16 is operated until the cleaning liquid in the recess 30 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 19. Although it depends on the configuration, it takes about 1 minute, for example. The predetermined time T11 may be the same as or different from the predetermined time T3 in step S10 of FIG. In the present embodiment, T11 = T3.
　ステップＳ４１０では、制御部２０は、吸引ポンプ１６を停止させる。 In step S410, the control unit 20 stops the suction pump 16.
　ステップＳ４１１～Ｓ４１３は、図６のステップＳ１１３～Ｓ１１５と同様の動作を行うので説明は省略する。 Steps S411 to S413 perform the same operations as steps S113 to S115 in FIG.
　ステップＳ４１４では、制御部２０は、走査用モータ２２を制御し、記録ヘッド４とキャップ１５とが対峙する位置までキャリッジ５を移動させる。記録ヘッド４がキャップ１５と対峙すると、制御部２０は、記録ヘッド４の吐出エネルギー発生手段を駆動して全ノズル吐出を所定回数繰り返すフラッシング動作を行う。 In step S414, the control unit 20 controls the scanning motor 22 to move the carriage 5 to a position where the recording head 4 and the cap 15 face each other. When the recording head 4 faces the cap 15, the control unit 20 performs a flushing operation that drives the ejection energy generating means of the recording head 4 and repeats ejection of all nozzles a predetermined number of times.
　ステップＳ４１５では、プリント準備が完了し、プリント可能な状態になる。 In step S415, the print preparation is completed and the printer is ready for printing.
　以上で、ノズル孔内清掃モードのメンテナンス処理を終了する。 This completes the maintenance process in the nozzle hole cleaning mode.
　また、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定がない場合は、メンテナンスが終了すると、記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１がキャップ１５によって覆われたままの状態で待機する。 If there is no plan to perform a recording operation after the maintenance, when the maintenance is finished, the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is on standby with the cap 15 covered.
　このノズル孔内清掃モードでは、メンテナンス後に記録動作を行う予定があるので、メンテナンスが終了すると、キャップ１５が記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１から離間した状態で待機する。 In this nozzle hole cleaning mode, since a recording operation is scheduled to be performed after maintenance, when the maintenance is completed, the cap 15 stands by in a state of being separated from the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4.
　以上のように、ノズル孔内清掃モードによれば、キャップ１５の凹部３０内に洗浄液を供給し、キャップ１５の凹部３０内を洗浄液で満たす。この状態でキャップ１５をノズル面４１に密着させて、洗浄液をノズル面４１に接触させる。そして、この接触状態を、所定時間Ｔ１０、例えば図５のノズル面清掃モードの所定時間Ｔ２よりも長い時間に亘って保持する。これにより、キャップ１５内の洗浄液は、ノズル面４１上の固着あるいは増粘したインクに加えてノズル孔内に固着あるいは増粘したインクを溶解あるいは剥離除去させる。しかる後、吸引ポンプ１６を用いてキャップ１５内の洗浄液を溶解したインクと共に吸引排出し、さらに、ワイパーブレード１３を用いてノズル面４１をワイピングすることにより、記録ヘッド４から増粘インクや固着インクなどをより確実に除去することができる。また、ワイピング後のフラッシング動作により、ノズル孔内に洗浄液が残っていたとしても確実に除去できる。 As described above, according to the nozzle hole cleaning mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied into the recess 30 of the cap 15 and the recess 30 of the cap 15 is filled with the cleaning liquid. In this state, the cap 15 is brought into close contact with the nozzle surface 41 to bring the cleaning liquid into contact with the nozzle surface 41. And this contact state is hold | maintained over the time longer than predetermined time T10, for example, predetermined time T2 of the nozzle surface cleaning mode of FIG. Thus, the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 dissolves or peels and removes the ink fixed or thickened in the nozzle holes in addition to the ink fixed or thickened on the nozzle surface 41. Thereafter, the suction liquid is sucked and discharged together with the ink in which the cleaning liquid in the cap 15 is dissolved by using the suction pump 16, and the nozzle surface 41 is wiped by using the wiper blade 13. Etc. can be removed more reliably. Further, the flushing operation after wiping can be reliably removed even if the cleaning liquid remains in the nozzle hole.
　（洗浄液）
　次いで、本発明に係るインクジェット記録装置に適用する洗浄液について説明する。 (Cleaning solution)
Next, the cleaning liquid applied to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
　本発明に係る洗浄液は、塩基性化合物を含有していることが好ましく、インクの固着物や増粘化物の溶解、剥離除去に有効であり、特に、水性顔料インク中に使用される酸成分含有樹脂の再溶解もしくは再分散に効果的である。 The cleaning liquid according to the present invention preferably contains a basic compound, and is effective for dissolving and removing the fixed and thickened ink, and particularly contains an acid component used in the aqueous pigment ink. It is effective for redissolving or redispersing the resin.
　インクジェット記録装置に適用する洗浄液に求められる機能としては、長期間にわたり安定して洗浄能力を維持し、かつ洗浄後の記録ヘッドの吐出特性に影響を与えないことが重要である。 As a function required for the cleaning liquid applied to the ink jet recording apparatus, it is important to stably maintain the cleaning ability for a long period of time and not to affect the ejection characteristics of the recording head after cleaning.
　本発明に係る洗浄液においては、表面張力が３５ｍＮ／ｍ未満の溶剤を含有することが好ましく、表面張力が３５ｍＮ／ｍ未満の溶剤としては、アルキレングリコールモノエーテル類あるいはアルカンジオール類が好ましい。 The cleaning liquid according to the present invention preferably contains a solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m, and the solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m is preferably an alkylene glycol monoether or an alkanediol.
　本発明に係る洗浄液に好適に用いることができるアルキレングリコールモノエーテル類としては、例えば、エチレングリコールモノエチルエーテル（２８．２）、エチレングリコールモノブチルエーテル（２７．４）、ジエチレングリコールモノエチルエーテル（３１．８）、ジエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテル（３３．６）、トリエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテル（３２．１）、プロピレングリコールモノプロピルエーテル（２５．９）、ジプロピレングリコールモノメチルエーテル（２８．８）、トリプロピレングリコールモノメチルエーテル（３０．０）等が挙げられる。なお、括弧内の数値は表面張力値（ｍＮ／ｍ）を表す。 Examples of alkylene glycol monoethers that can be suitably used in the cleaning liquid according to the present invention include ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (28.2), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (27.4), and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (31. 8), diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (33.6), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether (32.1), propylene glycol monopropyl ether (25.9), dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (28.8), tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (30.0). The numerical value in the parenthesis represents the surface tension value (mN / m).
　また、本発明に係る洗浄液に好適に用いることができるアルカンジオール類としては、１，２－アルカンジオール類が好ましく、例えば、１，２－ブタンジオール、１，２－ペンタンジオール、１，２－ヘキサンジオール（２８．１）、１，２－ヘプタンジオール等が挙げられる。 In addition, as the alkanediols that can be suitably used in the cleaning liquid according to the present invention, 1,2-alkanediols are preferable. For example, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2- Examples include hexanediol (28.1) and 1,2-heptanediol.
　上記各溶剤の中でも、ジエチレングリコールモノアルキルエーテル類が好ましく、ジエチレングリコールモノブチルエーテルが、特に好ましい。 Among the above solvents, diethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers are preferable, and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is particularly preferable.
　本発明において、溶剤の表面張力の測定方法としては、一般的な界面化学、コロイド化学の参考書等において述べられているが、例えば、新実験化学講座第１８巻（界面とコロイド）、日本化学会編、丸善株式会社発行：Ｐ．６８～１１７を参照することができ、具体的には、輪環法（デュヌーイ法）、垂直板法（ウィルヘルミー法）を用いて求めることができる。本発明では、具体的には、表面張力は、表面張力計ＣＢＶＰ式Ａ－３型（協和科学株式会社）を用いて測定した。 In the present invention, the method for measuring the surface tension of a solvent is described in a reference book on general surface chemistry and colloid chemistry. For example, New Experimental Chemistry Course Vol. 18 (interface and colloid), Nippon Kagaku Edited by Maruzen Co., Ltd. 68 to 117 can be referred to, and specifically, it can be obtained by using a ring method (Dunoi method) or a vertical plate method (Wilhelmy method). In the present invention, specifically, the surface tension was measured using a surface tension meter CBVP type A-3 (Kyowa Science Co., Ltd.).
　本発明に適用可能な塩基性化合物としては、無機塩基化合物でも有機塩基化合物でもよいが、有機塩基化合物を用いることがより好ましい。 The basic compound applicable to the present invention may be an inorganic basic compound or an organic basic compound, but it is more preferable to use an organic basic compound.
　無機塩基化合物としては、水酸化リチウム、水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化カリウムなどの水酸化物や、炭酸カリウム、炭酸ナトリウムなどの炭酸塩、炭酸水素カリウムや、炭酸水素ナトリウムなどの重炭酸塩を用いることができる。 As inorganic base compounds, use hydroxides such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, carbonates such as potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate and bicarbonates such as sodium hydrogen carbonate. Can do.
　有機塩基化合物としては、アンモニア、アルカノールアミン類、アルキルアミン類等を用いることができる。 As the organic base compound, ammonia, alkanolamines, alkylamines and the like can be used.
　有機塩基化合物としては、アンモニア、トリエチルアミン、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジメチルアミノエタノール、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジブチルアミノエタノール、Ｎ－メチル－ジエタノールアミン、２－アミノ－２－メチルプロパノール、ジエタノールアミン、トリエタノールアミン、Ｎ－メチルアミノエタノール、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジエチルアミノエタノールなどを用いることができる。 Organic base compounds include ammonia, triethylamine, N, N-dimethylaminoethanol, N, N-dibutylaminoethanol, N-methyl-diethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methyl Aminoethanol, N, N-diethylaminoethanol or the like can be used.
　中でも、アンモニア、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジメチルアミノエタノール、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジブチルアミノエタノール、Ｎ－メチル－ジエタノールアミン、２－アミノ－２－メチルプロパノール、Ｎ，Ｎ－ジエチルアミノエタノールを好ましく用いることができる。 Of these, ammonia, N, N-dimethylaminoethanol, N, N-dibutylaminoethanol, N-methyl-diethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, and N, N-diethylaminoethanol can be preferably used.
　本発明に係る洗浄液には、必要に応じて、その他の添加剤、例えば、界面活性剤、保湿剤、防培剤などを添加しても良い。 In the cleaning liquid according to the present invention, other additives such as a surfactant, a moisturizing agent, a culture medium and the like may be added as necessary.
　（水性顔料インク）
　次いで、本発明のインクジェット記録装置に適用するインクの構成について説明する。 (Water-based pigment ink)
Next, the configuration of the ink applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described.
　本発明のインクジェット記録装置に適用するインクとしては、特に制限はないが、本発明に係るキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部を洗浄する機能を備えるインクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法による効果を十分に発揮できる観点から、水性顔料インクが好ましく、少なくともイエロー顔料インク、マゼンタ顔料インク、シアン顔料インク及びブラック顔料インクの４色顔料インクから構成されるインクセットを用い、少なくとも１色の水性顔料インクが、インク全質量に対する顔料固形分量が６．０質量％以上で、かつ総樹脂固形分量が６．０質量％以上であることが好ましい。その中でも、特に、ブラック顔料インクの顔料固形分が６．０％以上であることが好ましい。 The ink applied to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited, but ink jet recording having a function of cleaning a contact portion of the cap according to the present invention with the recording head and a contact portion of the recording head with the cap. Aqueous pigment ink is preferable from the viewpoint that the effects of the apparatus and its maintenance method can be sufficiently exhibited, and an ink set composed of at least four color pigment inks of yellow pigment ink, magenta pigment ink, cyan pigment ink and black pigment ink is used. It is preferable that the water-based pigment ink of at least one color has a pigment solid content of 6.0% by mass or more and a total resin solid content of 6.0% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the ink. Among these, the pigment solid content of the black pigment ink is particularly preferably 6.0% or more.
　水性顔料インクは、染料を用いた通常の染料系インクよりも固着しやすい上、固着した場合における回復性が非常に悪く、特に一般的にはいわゆる分散剤としてのポリマーを含む場合には、その回復性が一層悪くなるが、本発明に係るキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部を洗浄する機能を備えるインクジェット記録装置及びそのメンテナンス方法によればキャップや記録ヘッドに付着した固化物又は増粘化物の除去を効果的に行うことができる。 Aqueous pigment inks are more easily fixed than ordinary dye-based inks using dyes, and have a very poor recovery property when fixed. In particular, in the case of containing a polymer as a so-called dispersant, According to the ink jet recording apparatus having the function of cleaning the abutting portion of the cap according to the present invention with the recording head and the abutting portion of the recording head with the cap and the maintenance method according to the present invention, the cap and the recording are improved. The solidified product or thickened product adhering to the head can be effectively removed.
　本発明に用いることができる顔料としては、水系で安定に分散できるものであれば特に制限はなく、例えば、顔料単体の他、高分子樹脂により分散した顔料分散体、水不溶性樹脂で被覆されたカプセル顔料、顔料表面を修飾し、分散樹脂を用いなくても分散可能な自己分散顔料等を挙げることができる。特に、インクの保存性を重視する場合は、水不溶性樹脂で被覆されたカプセル顔料を選択することが好ましい。 The pigment that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be stably dispersed in an aqueous system. For example, in addition to a pigment alone, a pigment dispersion dispersed with a polymer resin, or a water-insoluble resin is coated. Examples thereof include capsule pigments, self-dispersing pigments that can be dispersed without modifying the pigment surface and using a dispersing resin. In particular, when emphasizing the storability of the ink, it is preferable to select a capsule pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin.
　高分子樹脂により分散した顔料分散体を用いる場合、高分子樹脂としては水溶性のものを用いることができる。水溶性樹脂として好ましく用いられるのは、例えば、スチレン－アクリル酸－アクリル酸アルキルエステル共重合体、スチレン－アクリル酸共重合体、スチレン－マレイン酸共重合体、スチレン－マレイン酸－アクリル酸アルキルエステル共重合体、スチレン－メタクリル酸共重合体、スチレン－メタクリル酸－アクリル酸アルキルエステル共重合体、スチレン－マレイン酸ハーフエステル共重合体、ビニルナフタレン－アクリル酸共重合体、ビニルナフタレン－マレイン酸共重合体等のような水溶性樹脂等を挙げることができる。 When a pigment dispersion dispersed with a polymer resin is used, a water-soluble one can be used as the polymer resin. For example, styrene-acrylic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid-acrylic acid alkyl ester are preferably used as the water-soluble resin. Copolymer, Styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer, Styrene-methacrylic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymer, Styrene-maleic acid half ester copolymer, Vinyl naphthalene-acrylic acid copolymer, Vinyl naphthalene-maleic acid copolymer Examples thereof include water-soluble resins such as polymers.
　顔料の分散方法としては、ボールミル、サンドミル、アトライター、ロールミル、アジテータ、ヘンシェルミキサ、コロイドミル、超音波ホモジナイザー、パールミル、湿式ジェットミル、ペイントシェーカー等各種を用いることができる。 As a pigment dispersion method, various types such as a ball mill, a sand mill, an attritor, a roll mill, an agitator, a Henschel mixer, a colloid mill, an ultrasonic homogenizer, a pearl mill, a wet jet mill, and a paint shaker can be used.
　本発明に係る顔料分散体の粗粒分を除去する目的で遠心分離装置を使用すること、フィルターを使用することも好ましく用いられる。 For the purpose of removing the coarse particles of the pigment dispersion according to the present invention, it is preferable to use a centrifugal separator or a filter.
　また、水不溶性樹脂で被覆されたカプセル顔料を用いる場合、水不溶性樹脂とは弱酸性乃至弱塩基性の範囲の水に対して不溶な樹脂であり、好ましくはｐＨ４乃至１０の水溶液に対する溶解度が２％未満の樹脂である。 In the case of using a capsule pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin, the water-insoluble resin is a resin that is insoluble in water in a weakly acidic to weakly basic range, and preferably has a solubility of 2 in an aqueous solution having a pH of 4 to 10. % Resin.
　このような樹脂としては、アクリル系、スチレン－アクリル系、アクリロニトリル－アクリル系、酢酸ビニル系、酢酸ビニル－アクリル系、酢酸ビニル－塩化ビニル系、ポリウレタン系、シリコン－アクリル系、アクリルシリコン系、ポリエステル系、エポキシ系の各樹脂を挙げることができる。 Such resins include acrylic, styrene-acrylic, acrylonitrile-acrylic, vinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-acrylic, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride, polyurethane, silicon-acrylic, acrylic silicon, polyester Examples thereof include epoxy resins and epoxy resins.
　また、樹脂として疎水性モノマーと親水性モノマーとを共重合した樹脂を用いることができる。 Also, a resin obtained by copolymerizing a hydrophobic monomer and a hydrophilic monomer can be used as the resin.
　疎水性モノマーとしては、アクリル酸エステル（アクリル酸ｎ－ブチル、アクリル酸２－エチルヘキシル、アクリル酸２－ヒドロキシエチル等）、メタクリル酸エステル（メタクリル酸エチル、メタクリル酸ブチル、メタクリル酸グリシジル等）、スチレン等が挙げられる。 Hydrophobic monomers include acrylic acid esters (n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, etc.), methacrylic acid esters (ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, etc.), styrene Etc.
　親水性モノマーとしては、アクリル酸、メタクリル酸、アクリルアミド等が挙げられ、アクリル酸のような酸性基を有するものは、重合後に塩基で中和したものを好ましく用いることができる。 Examples of the hydrophilic monomer include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide and the like, and those having an acidic group such as acrylic acid can preferably be those neutralized with a base after polymerization.
　樹脂の分子量としては、平均分子量で３０００から５０００００のものを用いることができる。好ましくは７０００から２０００００のものを用いることができる。樹脂のＴｇは、－３０℃から１００℃程度のものを用いることができる。好ましくは－１０℃から８０℃程度のものを用いることができる。 As the molecular weight of the resin, an average molecular weight of 3000 to 500,000 can be used. Preferably, 7,000 to 200,000 can be used. A resin having a Tg of about −30 ° C. to 100 ° C. can be used. Preferably, a temperature of about −10 ° C. to 80 ° C. can be used.
　重合方法としては、溶液重合、乳化重合を用いることができる。重合は予め顔料と別途合成してもよいし、顔料を分散した系内にモノマーを供給して、重合してもよい。 As the polymerization method, solution polymerization or emulsion polymerization can be used. The polymerization may be carried out separately from the pigment in advance, or may be carried out by supplying a monomer into the system in which the pigment is dispersed.
　顔料を樹脂で被覆する方法としては公知の種々の方法を用いることができるが、好ましくは展相乳化法や酸析法の他に顔料を重合性界面活性剤を用いて分散し、そこへモノマーを供給し、重合しながら被覆する方法から選択することがよい。より好ましい方法としては、水不溶性樹脂をメチルエチルケトン等の有機溶剤に溶解し、更に塩基にて樹脂中の酸性基を部分的、もしくは完全に中和後、顔料及びイオン交換水を添加し、分散した後、有機溶剤を除去、必要に応じて加水し、調製する製造方法が好ましい。 Various known methods can be used as a method for coating the pigment with the resin. Preferably, in addition to the phase-emulsification method and the acid precipitation method, the pigment is dispersed using a polymerizable surfactant, and the monomer is then dispersed therein. It is preferable to select from a method of coating while polymerizing. As a more preferred method, the water-insoluble resin is dissolved in an organic solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone, and the acidic group in the resin is partially or completely neutralized with a base, and then the pigment and ion-exchanged water are added and dispersed. Thereafter, a production method is preferred in which the organic solvent is removed, and water is added if necessary.
　顔料と樹脂の質量比率は、顔料／樹脂比で１００／４０から１００／１５０の範囲で選択することができる。特に画像耐久性と射出安定性やインク保存性が良好なのは１００／６０から１００／１１０の範囲である。 The mass ratio of pigment to resin can be selected in the range of 100/40 to 100/150 in pigment / resin ratio. In particular, the range of 100/60 to 100/110 has good image durability, injection stability, and ink storage stability.
　水不溶性樹脂で被覆された顔料粒子の平均粒子径は、８０乃至１５０ｎｍ程度がインク保存安定性、発色性の観点から好ましい。 The average particle diameter of the pigment particles coated with the water-insoluble resin is preferably about 80 to 150 nm from the viewpoint of ink storage stability and color developability.
　また、自己分散顔料としては表面処理済みの市販品を用いることもでき、例えば、ＣＡＢＯ－ＪＥＴ２００、ＣＡＢＯ－ＪＥＴ３００（キャボット社製）、ボンジェットＣＷ１（オリエント化学工業（株）製）等を挙げることができる。 Further, as the self-dispersing pigment, commercially available products that have been surface-treated can be used, and examples thereof include CABO-JET200, CABO-JET300 (manufactured by Cabot Corporation), Bonjet CW1 (manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), and the like. Can do.
　本発明に使用できる顔料としては、従来公知の有機及び無機顔料が使用できる。例えば、アゾレーキ、不溶性アゾ顔料、縮合アゾ顔料、キレートアゾ顔料等のアゾ顔料、フタロシアニン顔料、ペリレン及びペリレン顔料、アントラキノン顔料、キナクリドン顔料、ジオキサンジン顔料、チオインジゴ顔料、イソインドリノン顔料、キノフタロニ顔料等の多環式顔料、塩基性染料型レーキ、酸性染料型レーキ等の染料レーキ、ニトロ顔料、ニトロソ顔料、アニリンブラック、昼光蛍光顔料等の有機顔料、カーボンブラック等の無機顔料が挙げられる。 As the pigment that can be used in the present invention, conventionally known organic and inorganic pigments can be used. For example, azo pigments such as azo lakes, insoluble azo pigments, condensed azo pigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene and perylene pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, quinophthalone pigments, etc. Examples include cyclic pigments, dye lakes such as basic dye lakes and acid dye lakes, organic pigments such as nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black and daylight fluorescent pigments, and inorganic pigments such as carbon black.
　具体的な有機顔料を以下に例示する。 Specific organic pigments are exemplified below.
　マゼンタまたはレッド用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド４８：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５３：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５７：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１２２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１２３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１３９、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１４４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１４９、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１６６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１７７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１７８、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド２２２等が挙げられる。 As pigments for magenta or red, C.I. I. Pigment red 2, C.I. I. Pigment red 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 5, C.I. I. Pigment red 6, C.I. I. Pigment red 7, C.I. I. Pigment red 15, C.I. I. Pigment red 16, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 53: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 123, C.I. I. Pigment red 139, C.I. I. Pigment red 144, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 166, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 178, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Red 222.
　オレンジまたはイエロー用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントオレンジ３１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントオレンジ４３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー７４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー９３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー９４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１２８、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１３８等が挙げられる。 ¡As pigments for orange or yellow, C.I. I. Pigment orange 31, C.I. I. Pigment orange 43, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 13, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 14, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 15, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 17, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 74, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 93, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 94, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 128, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Yellow 138.
　グリーンまたはシアン用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５：２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５：３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー６０、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントグリーン７等が挙げられる。 ¡As pigments for green or cyan, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 2, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment blue 16, C.I. I. Pigment blue 60, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Green 7.
　本発明に係る水性顔料インクにおいては、記録媒体への定着性を高め、耐擦性、接着性、耐水性などを高めるため、樹脂成分を含有することが好ましい。 The water-based pigment ink according to the present invention preferably contains a resin component in order to improve fixability to a recording medium and to improve abrasion resistance, adhesion, water resistance, and the like.
　樹脂成分としては、従来から用いられている顔料分散用樹脂として用いても良いし、インク調製時に追加添加したものでもよい。 As the resin component, it may be used as a conventionally used pigment dispersion resin, or may be added additionally during ink preparation.
　本発明においては、少なくとも１色の水性顔料インクが、樹脂成分固形分としてインク中に６．０質量％以上含有することが、定着性を高める上で好ましい。 In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one color aqueous pigment ink is contained in the ink as a resin component solid content in an amount of 6.0% by mass or more in order to improve fixability.
　本発明でいう樹脂成分とは、水溶性樹脂であっても水分散性樹脂であってもよく、両者を併用しても良い。 The resin component referred to in the present invention may be a water-soluble resin or a water-dispersible resin, or both may be used in combination.
　水溶性樹脂としては、樹脂中に疎水性成分と親水性成分をあるバランスで有するものを設計して用いる。この際、親水性成分としてはイオン性のもの、ノニオン性のものどちらを用いてもよいが、より好ましくはイオン性のものであり、更に好ましくはアニオン性のものである。特に、アニオン性のものを揮発可能な塩基成分で中和することで水溶性を付与したものが好ましい。特に、インク溶解性樹脂の少なくとも１種は酸性基としてカルボキシル基またはスルホン酸基を有しており、且つ酸価が８０ｍｇＫＯＨ／ｇ以上、３００ｍｇＫＯＨ／ｇ未満である樹脂が好ましい。酸価としては、９０ｍｇＫＯＨ／ｇ乃至２００ｍｇＫＯＨ／ｇ程度のものを用いる。 As the water-soluble resin, a resin having a hydrophobic component and a hydrophilic component in a certain balance is designed and used. At this time, as the hydrophilic component, either an ionic component or a nonionic component may be used, but an ionic component is more preferable, and an anionic component is more preferable. In particular, those that are rendered water-soluble by neutralizing anionic substances with a volatile base component are preferred. In particular, at least one of the ink-soluble resins has a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group as an acidic group, and a resin having an acid value of 80 mgKOH / g or more and less than 300 mgKOH / g is preferable. An acid value of about 90 mgKOH / g to 200 mgKOH / g is used.
　酸価とは、樹脂１ｇ中に含まれる酸性成分を中和するのに要する水酸化カリウムのミリグラム数である。 The acid value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize acidic components contained in 1 g of resin.
　このような樹脂としては、例えば、アクリル系、スチレン－アクリル系、アクリロニトリル－アクリル系、酢酸ビニル－アクリル系、ポリウレタン系、ポリエステル系の各樹脂を挙げることができ、特に、アクリル共重合体及びスチレン－アクリルが好ましい。 Examples of such resins include acrylic resins, styrene-acrylic resins, acrylonitrile-acrylic resins, vinyl acetate-acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, and polyester resins, and particularly acrylic copolymers and styrene resins. -Acrylic is preferred.
　疎水性モノマーとしては、例えば、アクリル酸エステル（例えば、アクリル酸ｎ－ブチル、アクリル酸２－エチルヘキシル、アクリル酸２－ヒドロキシエチル等）、メタクリル酸エステル（例えば、メタクリル酸エチル、メタクリル酸ブチル、メタクリル酸グリシジル等）、スチレン等が挙げられる。 Examples of the hydrophobic monomer include acrylic acid esters (for example, n-butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, etc.), methacrylic acid esters (for example, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid). Glycidyl acid), styrene and the like.
　親水性モノマーとしては、例えば、アクリル酸、メタクリル酸、アクリルアミド等が挙げられ、アクリル酸のような酸性基を有するものは、重合後に塩基で中和したものを好ましく用いることができる。 Examples of the hydrophilic monomer include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, and the like, and those having an acidic group such as acrylic acid can preferably be those neutralized with a base after polymerization.
　樹脂の分子量としては、平均分子量で３０００から３００００のものを用いることができる。好ましくは７０００から２００００のものを用いることができる。 As the molecular weight of the resin, an average molecular weight of 3000 to 30000 can be used. Preferably, 7000 to 20000 can be used.
　樹脂のＴｇは－３０℃から１００℃程度のものを用いることができる。好ましくは－１０℃から８０℃程度のものを用いることができる。 Resin having a Tg of about −30 ° C. to 100 ° C. can be used. Preferably, a temperature of about −10 ° C. to 80 ° C. can be used.
　重合方法としては、溶液重合を用いることが好ましい。 As the polymerization method, solution polymerization is preferably used.
　樹脂の酸性モノマー由来の酸性基は部分的、あるいは完全に塩基成分で中和することが好ましい。この場合の中和塩基としては、アルカリ金属含有塩基、例えば、水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化カリウム等や、アミン類（アンモニア、アルカノールアミン、アルキルアミン等を用いることができる）を用いることができる。特に、沸点が２００℃未満のアミン類で中和することは、画像耐久性向上の観点から特に好ましい。 It is preferable that the acidic group derived from the acidic monomer of the resin is partially or completely neutralized with a base component. As the neutralizing base in this case, an alkali metal-containing base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, or an amine (ammonia, alkanolamine, alkylamine, etc. can be used) can be used. In particular, neutralization with amines having a boiling point of less than 200 ° C. is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of improving image durability.
　本発明のインクは水溶性樹脂の他に水分散性樹脂を併用してもよい。特に、Ｔｇが２０－８０℃の水分散性樹脂を、水溶性樹脂より少ない量添加することは、いっそうの耐擦性向上する上で好ましい。 The ink of the present invention may use a water-dispersible resin in addition to the water-soluble resin. In particular, it is preferable to add a water dispersible resin having a Tg of 20 to 80 ° C. in an amount smaller than that of the water-soluble resin in order to further improve the abrasion resistance.
　水性顔料インクは、普通紙やインク吸収層を具備したインクジェット専用紙はもとよりインク吸収性層のない、コート紙やフィルムなどの樹脂素材や布帛、皮革素材などにもプリントできるものが好ましい。このような機能を持つためにも、樹脂成分固形分としてインク中に６．０質量％以上含有することがこのましい。 The water-based pigment ink is preferably one that can be printed not only on plain paper or ink jet exclusive paper equipped with an ink absorbing layer, but also on resin materials such as coated paper or film, fabrics, leather materials, etc. without an ink absorbing layer. In order to have such a function, it is preferable to contain 6.0% by mass or more in the ink as the solid content of the resin component.
　本発明に係るインクにおいては、表面張力が３５ｍＮ／ｍ未満の有機溶剤を１０質量％から３０質量％含有することが好ましい。印刷用コート紙、フィルム基材、樹脂材料、布帛などさまざまな媒体にプリントした場合、十分にインク混じりが防止でき、布帛では繊維にそったにじみをいっそう抑えることが出来好ましい。 The ink according to the present invention preferably contains 10% to 30% by mass of an organic solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m. When printing on various media such as coated paper for printing, film base materials, resin materials, and fabrics, it is preferable that ink mixing can be sufficiently prevented, and fabrics can further suppress bleeding along fibers.
　本発明に係るインクの表面張力は、２３～３０ｍＮ／ｍの範囲に調整することが好ましい。インクの表面張力を上記の範囲に調整する手段としては、表面張力３５ｍＮ／ｍ未満の有機溶剤を１０％から３０％含有させ、さらに、シリコン系もしくはフッ素系の界面活性剤を添加することで調整することができる。この様な表面張力値とすることにより、プラスチックフィルムなどの記録媒体に対しても、インク混じりを抑制してプリントすることができる。シリコン系の界面活性剤としては、好ましくはポリエーテル変性ポリシロキサン化合物があり、例えば、信越化学工業製のＫＦ－３５１Ａ、ＫＦ－６４２やビッグケミー製のＢＹＫ３４７、ＢＹＫ３４８などが挙げられる。 The surface tension of the ink according to the present invention is preferably adjusted in the range of 23 to 30 mN / m. As a means for adjusting the surface tension of the ink to the above range, it is adjusted by adding 10 to 30% of an organic solvent having a surface tension of less than 35 mN / m, and further adding a silicon-based or fluorine-based surfactant. can do. By using such a surface tension value, it is possible to print on a recording medium such as a plastic film while suppressing ink mixing. The silicone surfactant is preferably a polyether-modified polysiloxane compound, and examples thereof include KF-351A and KF-642 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., and BYK347 and BYK348 manufactured by Big Chemie.
　フッ素系界面活性剤は、通常の界面活性剤の疎水性基の炭素に結合した水素の代わりに、その一部または全部をフッ素で置換したものを意味する。この内、分子内にパーフルオロアルキル基を有するものが好ましい。 Fluorosurfactant means a substance obtained by substituting part or all of it with fluorine instead of hydrogen bonded to carbon of a hydrophobic group of a normal surfactant. Of these, those having a perfluoroalkyl group in the molecule are preferred.
　フッ素系の界面活性剤の内、ある種のものはＤＩＣ社からメガファック（Ｍｅｇａｆａｃ）Ｆなる商品名で、旭硝子社からサーフロン（Ｓｕｒｆｌｏｎ）なる商品名で、ミネソタ・マイニング・アンド・マニファクチュアリング・カンパニー社からフルオラッド（Ｆｌｕｏｒａｄ）ＦＣなる商品名で、インペリアル・ケミカル・インダストリー社からモンフロール（Ｍｏｎｆｌｏｒ）なる商品名で、イー・アイ・デュポン・ネメラス・アンド・カンパニー社からゾニルス（Ｚｏｎｙｌｓ）なる商品名で、またファルベベルケ・ヘキスト社からリコベット（Ｌｉｃｏｗｅｔ）ＶＰＦなる商品名で、それぞれ市販されている。 Among the fluorosurfactants, some are from DIC under the trade name Megafac F and from Asahi Glass under the trade name Surflon, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company Under the trade name of Fluorad FC from the company, under the trade name of Monflor from Imperial Chemical Industry, and under the trade name of Zonyls from EI DuPont Nemeras & Company, They are also commercially available from Farbeberke Hoechst under the trade name Licobet VPF.
　本発明に係る水性顔料インクには、必要に応じて、吐出安定性、記録ヘッドやインクカートリッジ適合性、保存安定性、画像保存性、その他の諸性能向上の目的に応じて、公知の各種添加剤、例えば、粘度調整剤、表面張力調整剤、比抵抗調整剤、皮膜形成剤、紫外線吸収剤、酸化防止剤、退色防止剤、防ばい剤、防錆剤等を適宜選択して用いることができる。 The water-based pigment ink according to the present invention includes various known additions depending on the purpose of improving ejection stability, compatibility with recording heads and ink cartridges, storage stability, image storage stability, and other various performances as necessary. An agent such as a viscosity modifier, a surface tension modifier, a specific resistance modifier, a film forming agent, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a fading inhibitor, an antifungal agent, and a rust inhibitor may be appropriately selected and used. it can.
　（記録媒体）
　本発明に係る水性顔料インクは、ポリ塩化ビニルシート等の非吸収性記録媒体、普通紙、コート紙、インクジェット専用紙等に印字するのに適している。 (recoding media)
The aqueous pigment ink according to the present invention is suitable for printing on a non-absorbent recording medium such as a polyvinyl chloride sheet, plain paper, coated paper, inkjet dedicated paper, and the like.
　非吸収性記録媒体としては、高分子シート、ボード（軟質塩ビ、硬質塩ビ、アクリル板、ポリオレフィン系等）、ガラス、タイル、ゴム、合成紙等が挙げられる。 Non-absorbent recording media include polymer sheets, boards (soft vinyl chloride, hard vinyl chloride, acrylic plates, polyolefins, etc.), glass, tile, rubber, synthetic paper, and the like.
　低吸収もしくは吸収性記録媒体としては、種々の布帛（綿、絹、毛、ポリエステル等）、普通紙（コピー紙、印刷用普通紙）、コート紙、アート紙、インクジェット専用紙、インクジェット光沢紙、ダンボール、木材等が挙げられる。 As a low-absorption or absorbent recording medium, various fabrics (cotton, silk, hair, polyester, etc.), plain paper (copy paper, plain paper for printing), coated paper, art paper, inkjet paper, inkjet glossy paper, Examples include cardboard and wood.
　なお、本発明は上記実施の形態に限らず適宜変更可能であるのは勿論である。 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate.
　例えば、本実施形態では、図５～図１０に示す６つのメンテナンスモードを選択的に実行してキャップ１５や記録ヘッド４のノズル面４１の洗浄を行う場合を例示したが、これに限らず、例えば、図１０に示すキャップ清掃モードを少なくとも含む少なくとも１つのメンテナンスモードを有するように構成すればよい。 For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the six maintenance modes shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 are selectively executed to clean the cap 15 and the nozzle surface 41 of the recording head 4 is exemplified. For example, what is necessary is just to comprise so that it may have at least 1 maintenance mode including at least the cap cleaning mode shown in FIG.
　また、本実施形態では、図９に示すノズル孔内清掃モードにおいてワイピング後のフラッシング動作を行う場合を例示したが、例えば、図６のノズル面清掃モードや図１０のキャップ清掃モードにおいてもワイピング後のフラッシング動作を行うように構成してもよい。ワイピングによりノズル孔内に洗浄液が押し込まれたとしても、ワイピング後のフラッシング動作により、ノズル孔内の洗浄液を確実に除去できる。 Further, in this embodiment, the case where the flushing operation after wiping is performed in the nozzle hole cleaning mode shown in FIG. 9 is illustrated, but for example, after the wiping also in the nozzle surface cleaning mode of FIG. 6 and the cap cleaning mode of FIG. The flushing operation may be performed. Even if the cleaning liquid is pushed into the nozzle hole by wiping, the cleaning liquid in the nozzle hole can be reliably removed by the flushing operation after wiping.
　また、本実施形態では、図１０のキャップ清掃モードにおいてキャップ１５と記録ヘッド４の当接、離間する動作を複数回行う場合に、最初に当接する前にのみ洗浄液を凹部３０に溢れさせて充填する動作を行う場合を例示したが、例えば、キャップ１５と記録ヘッド４を当接させる都度、その当接前に、洗浄液を凹部３０に溢れさせて補充する動作を行うようにしてもよい。 Further, in this embodiment, in the cap cleaning mode of FIG. 10, when the operation of contacting and separating the cap 15 and the recording head 4 is performed a plurality of times, the cleaning liquid overflows and fills the recess 30 only before the first contact. For example, every time the cap 15 and the recording head 4 are brought into contact with each other, an operation of overflowing the cleaning liquid into the concave portion 30 and replenishing it may be performed.
　また、本実施形態では、各メンテナンスモードにおける一連の処理を制御部２０の制御下で自動で実行する場合を例示したが、これに限らず、例えば、各メンテナンスモードにおける一連の処理を制御部２０への使用者の指示により手動で実行するようにしてもよい。 Further, in the present embodiment, the case where a series of processes in each maintenance mode is automatically executed under the control of the control unit 20 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a series of processes in each maintenance mode is performed by the control unit 20. It may be executed manually according to a user instruction.
　また、本実施形態では、図１０のキャップ清掃モードにおいて、キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液がキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、キャップを記録ヘッドに当接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触させて洗浄する場合を例示したが、溢れた洗浄液をキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触させるように構成すればよく、例えば、キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液がキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、キャップを記録ヘッドに近接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触させて洗浄するようにしてもよい。また、キャップを記録ヘッドに近接させた状態で、キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給し、溢れた洗浄液をキャップの記録ヘッドとの当接部及び記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触させて洗浄するようにしてもよい。 In the present embodiment, in the cap cleaning mode of FIG. 10, the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, An example in which the overflowed cleaning solution is brought into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap by bringing the cap into contact with the recording head is illustrated, but the overflowed cleaning solution is contacted with the recording head of the cap and What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may be made to contact the contact part with the cap of a recording head, for example, the cleaning liquid of the quantity exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the recessed part of a cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid contacts the contact part with the recording head of a cap With the cap in contact with the recording head, the overflowed cleaning liquid may be brought into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap and cleaned. There. Further, with the cap close to the recording head, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the cap of the recording head. You may make it wash | clean by making it contact a contact part.
　なお、近接とは、溢れた洗浄液が記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触する程度にキャップを記録ヘッドに近づけることを意味し、近接と離間動作を繰り返して行う場合、離間とは、凹部から溢れた洗浄液が記録ヘッドのキャップとの当接部に接触しない程度にキャップを記録ヘッドから遠ざけることを意味する。 Note that the proximity means that the cap is brought close to the recording head to such an extent that the overflowing cleaning liquid contacts the contact portion with the recording head cap. This means that the cap is moved away from the recording head to such an extent that the cleaning liquid overflowing from the nozzle does not come into contact with the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
　１　インクジェット記録装置
　３　洗浄液タンク
　４　記録ヘッド
　６　インクタンク
　１０　送液弁
　１５　キャップ
　１８　大気連通弁
　２０　制御部
　３０　凹部
　４１　ノズル面
　４２　ノズル
　Ｗ　洗浄液 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 3 Cleaning liquid tank 4 Recording head 6 Ink tank 10 Liquid supply valve 15 Cap 18 Atmospheric communication valve 20 Control part 30 Recessed part 41 Nozzle surface 42 Nozzle W Cleaning liquid

Claims (18)

  1. 　インクを吐出するノズルを有する記録ヘッドと、
    　前記ノズル側に凹部を対向させた状態で前記記録ヘッドに当接可能なキャップと、
    　前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給する洗浄液供給手段とを備え、
    　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置。     A recording head having nozzles for ejecting ink;
    A cap that can come into contact with the recording head with a recess facing the nozzle side;
    A cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap;
    The cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. An ink jet recording apparatus that is brought into contact with the ink jet recording apparatus.
  2. 　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させた状態を所定時間保持することを特徴とする請求項１に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 The cleaning liquid supply means supplies an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contacted state is maintained for a predetermined time.
  3. 　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とする請求項１または２に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 The cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overflowing cleaning liquid is brought into contact with a contact portion of the recording head with the cap by being brought close to or in contact therewith.
  4. 　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態を所定時間保持した後、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることを特徴とする請求項３に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 After the cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowed cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is brought close to or in contact with the recording head.
  5. 　前記洗浄液供給手段により前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させた後、離間する動作を複数回行うことを特徴とする請求項３または４に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 The cleaning liquid supply means supplies the cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding its internal volume to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflow cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation of separating is performed a plurality of times after the approach or contact.
  6. 　前記洗浄液が付着した前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部を含むノズル面をワイピングするワイピング手段を備えることを特徴とする請求項１から５の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wiping means for wiping a nozzle surface including a contact portion of the recording head with the cleaning liquid adhering to the cap.
  7. 　前記ワイピング手段によるワイピング後に、前記ノズルから少なくとも前記ノズル内の前記洗浄液を吐出させる吐出手段を備えることを特徴とする請求項６に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a discharge unit that discharges at least the cleaning liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle after wiping by the wiping unit.
  8. 　前記洗浄液が、塩基性化合物を含有することを特徴とする請求項１から７の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a basic compound.
  9. 　前記インクが、水性顔料インクであることを特徴とする請求項１から８の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置。 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink is an aqueous pigment ink.
  10. 　インクを吐出するノズルを有する記録ヘッドの前記ノズル側に凹部を対向させた状態で前記記録ヘッドに当接可能なキャップを用い、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液を供給し、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させて洗浄する洗浄工程を含むことを特徴とするインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 Using a cap capable of contacting the recording head with the recess facing the nozzle side of the recording head having a nozzle for discharging ink, supplying a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume to the recess of the cap, A maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a cleaning step of cleaning the overflowed cleaning liquid by contacting the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap.
  11. 　前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液を前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部及び前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させた状態を所定時間保持することを特徴とする請求項１０に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is applied to the contact portion of the cap with the recording head and the contact portion of the recording head with the cap. 11. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contacted state is maintained for a predetermined time.
  12. 　前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることにより、溢れた洗浄液を前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部に接触させることを特徴とする請求項１０または１１に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the overflowing cleaning liquid is brought into contact with a contact portion of the recording head with the cap by approaching or abutting.
  13. 　前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態を所定時間保持した後、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させることを特徴とする請求項１２に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 In the cleaning step, a cleaning liquid in an amount exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and after the overflowing cleaning liquid is kept in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head for a predetermined time, the cap The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the ink is brought close to or in contact with the recording head.
  14. 　前記洗浄工程は、前記キャップの凹部にその内部容積を超える量の洗浄液が供給され、溢れた洗浄液が前記キャップの前記記録ヘッドとの当接部に接触した状態で、前記キャップを前記記録ヘッドに近接または当接させた後、離間する動作を複数回行うことを特徴とする請求項１２または１３に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 In the cleaning step, an amount of cleaning liquid exceeding the internal volume is supplied to the concave portion of the cap, and the overflowing cleaning liquid is in contact with the contact portion of the cap with the recording head, and the cap is attached to the recording head. 14. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the separating operation is performed a plurality of times after the approach or contact.
  15. 　前記洗浄工程の後に、前記洗浄液が付着した前記記録ヘッドの前記キャップとの当接部を含むノズル面をワイピングするワイピング工程を含むことを特徴とする請求項１０から１４の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 15. The wiping step of wiping a nozzle surface including a contact portion with the cap of the recording head to which the cleaning liquid adheres is included after the cleaning step. Maintenance method for inkjet recording apparatus.
  16. 　前記ワイピング工程の後に、前記ノズルから少なくとも前記ノズル内の前記洗浄液を吐出させる吐出工程を含むことを特徴とする請求項１５に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 16. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a discharge step of discharging at least the cleaning liquid in the nozzle from the nozzle after the wiping step.
  17. 　前記洗浄液が、塩基性化合物を含有することを特徴とする請求項１０から１６の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a basic compound.
  18. 　前記インクが、水性顔料インクであることを特徴とする請求項１０から１７の何れか１項に記載のインクジェット記録装置のメンテナンス方法。 18. The maintenance method for an ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ink is an aqueous pigment ink.
PCT/JP2010/064153 2009-09-29 2010-08-23 Ink-jet recorder and maintenance method thereof WO2011040146A1 (en)

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