JP2009291989A - Fluid jetting apparatus and maintenance method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to appropriately visually recognize a yellow pattern printed on a white medium.
A nozzle that ejects fluid onto a medium, and irradiation that irradiates the medium on which a yellow pattern is formed by ejecting the fluid from the nozzle with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white. And a fluid ejecting apparatus.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid ejecting apparatus and a maintenance method.

  As a fluid ejecting apparatus, an ink jet printer that prints an image by ejecting fluid (for example, ink) onto various media such as paper, cloth, and film is known. This printer includes a nozzle that ejects ink onto a medium, and prints an image on the medium by ejecting ink onto the nozzle.

  By the way, if the printer is left for a long time without printing an image, the solvent of the ink in contact with the outside air in the nozzles may evaporate, and the viscosity of the ink may increase. In such a case, clogging or the like may occur in the nozzle, and the subsequent ink ejection may not be performed properly.

Therefore, in order to check whether clogging has occurred in the nozzle, ink is ejected to the nozzle and a pattern is printed on the medium. As a result, if the pattern is not actually printed, it is determined that clogging has occurred in the nozzle, and the printer cleans the nozzle to eliminate clogging and the like.
JP 2007-168173 A

  The above printer includes a nozzle that ejects, for example, yellow ink in order to realize a color image composed of a plurality of colors. The pattern includes a pattern printed with yellow ink. On the other hand, the medium on which the pattern is printed is often white.

  Here, since the brightness difference between white, which is the ground color of the medium, and yellow is relatively small, it is difficult to visually recognize the yellow pattern formed on the white medium. For this reason, it is difficult to determine whether a yellow pattern is actually printed on the medium.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to appropriately visually recognize a yellow pattern printed on a white medium.

In order to solve the above problems, the main present invention is:
A nozzle for injecting fluid into the medium;
An irradiation unit that irradiates the medium on which the yellow pattern is formed by the nozzle ejecting the fluid with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white, and
A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A nozzle for injecting fluid into the medium;
An irradiation unit that irradiates the medium on which the yellow pattern is formed by the nozzle ejecting the fluid with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white, and
A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising:
In such a fluid ejecting apparatus, since the yellow and white contrast is increased by the light emitted from the irradiation unit, the yellow pattern is reflected on the white medium, and thus the pattern is appropriately visually recognized. Is possible.

In addition, such a fluid ejection device,
A discharge mechanism for discharging the medium on which the pattern is formed;
A support unit for supporting the medium discharged by the discharge mechanism,
The irradiation unit faces the support unit, and it is desirable that the medium is supported by the support unit to irradiate the light from above.
In such a case, there is no need to move the medium on which the pattern is printed for visual recognition of the pattern, so that a user-friendly fluid ejecting apparatus can be realized.

In addition, such a fluid ejection device,
A control unit for controlling the irradiation timing of the irradiation unit;
The control unit does not irradiate the irradiation unit with the light during the formation of the pattern on the medium, and causes the irradiation with the light after the medium on which the pattern is formed is ejected by the ejection mechanism. desirable.
In such a case, the irradiation time can be limited by irradiating the light after the medium is discharged, so that the life of the irradiation unit can be extended.

In addition, such a fluid ejection device,
A plurality of color patterns including the yellow pattern are formed on the medium;
The irradiation unit may irradiate the light toward the yellow pattern formed on the most upstream side in the medium discharge direction among the plurality of color patterns.
In such a case, since the light is easily irradiated to the portion where the discharged medium pattern is formed, a user-friendly fluid ejecting apparatus can be realized.

In addition, such a fluid ejection device,
A discharge mechanism for discharging the medium on which the pattern is formed;
The irradiation unit is provided in an upper part of the fluid ejecting apparatus main body, and it is preferable that the light is irradiated from below on the medium that has been discharged by the discharge mechanism and moved to a position facing the upper part.
In such a case, since the medium can be freely faced to the irradiation unit, the pattern can be easily visually confirmed.

In addition, such a fluid ejection device,
The nozzle is a plurality of nozzles,
The pattern is composed of a plurality of ruled lines,
Each of the plurality of ruled lines is preferably formed by fluid ejected from different nozzles.
In such a case, even if the pattern is composed of a large number of ruled lines, the large number of ruled lines can be appropriately visually recognized.

And jetting fluid to the medium to form a yellow pattern on the medium;
Irradiating the medium with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white after jetting the fluid; and
Cleaning the nozzle that ejects the fluid if the yellow pattern is not formed on the medium even when the fluid is ejected and is visible during the light irradiation; and
A maintenance method characterized by comprising:
According to such a maintenance method, the yellow pattern can be easily identified by visually recognizing the yellow pattern during the irradiation of light that increases the contrast between yellow and white, so that the nozzle can be appropriately cleaned.

=== Configuration of Printer ===
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a printer 1 that is an example of a fluid ejecting apparatus. FIG. 2A is a front view of the printer 1. FIG. 2B is a side view of the printer 1. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the internal configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the internal configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles.

  The printer 1 includes a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a head unit 40, a detector group 50, a controller 60, a maintenance unit 70, a light irradiation unit 80, and the like. The printer 1 that has received print data from the computer 110 as an external device controls each unit (such as the transport unit 20) by the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the print data received from the computer 110 and prints an image on paper. The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by a detector group 50, and the detector group 50 outputs a detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the detector group 50.

  The transport unit 20 is for transporting a medium (for example, paper S) in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a transport direction). As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the transport unit 20 includes a paper feed roller 21, a transport motor 22, a transport roller 23, a platen 24, and a paper discharge roller 25 that is an example of a discharge mechanism.

  The paper feed roller 21 feeds the paper S inserted (stacked) into the paper feed tray 11 which is a paper insertion slot into the printer. The transport roller 23 transports the paper S fed by the paper feed roller 21 to a printable area. The transport roller 23 is driven by the transport motor 22. The platen 24 supports the paper S being printed. The paper discharge roller 25 discharges the paper S to the outside of the printer. The paper discharged by the transport roller 25 is supported by a paper discharge tray 12 that is an example of a support unit.

  The carriage unit 30 is for moving the head 41 in a predetermined direction (hereinafter referred to as a moving direction). As shown in FIG. 3A, the carriage unit 30 includes a carriage 31 and a carriage motor 32 (also referred to as a CR motor). The carriage 31 can reciprocate in the moving direction and is driven by a carriage motor 32. Further, the carriage 31 detachably holds an ink cartridge that stores ink, which is an example of a fluid.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto paper. The head unit 40 includes a head 41 having a plurality of nozzles that eject ink. Since the head 41 is provided on the carriage 31, when the carriage 31 moves in the movement direction, the head 41 also moves in the movement direction. Then, by intermittently ejecting ink while the head 41 moves in the moving direction, dot lines (raster lines) along the moving direction are formed on the paper (that is, an image is printed). The ink includes both water-based ink and oil-based ink.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a black ink nozzle group K, a cyan ink nozzle group C, a magenta ink nozzle group M, and a yellow ink nozzle group Y are formed on the lower surface of the head 41 as shown in FIG. Has been. Each nozzle group includes 90 nozzles that are ejection openings for ejecting ink of each color.

  The plurality of nozzles of each nozzle group are aligned at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: k · D) along the transport direction. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the carrying direction (that is, the interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper S). K is an integer of 1 or more. For example, when the nozzle pitch is 90 dpi (1/90 inch) and the dot pitch in the transport direction is 720 dpi (1/720 inch), k = 8.

  The nozzles in each nozzle group are assigned a smaller number as the nozzles on the downstream side (# 1 to # 90). That is, the nozzle # 1 is located downstream of the nozzle # 90 in the transport direction. It should be noted that the optical sensor 54 described above is located at substantially the same position as the nozzle # 90 on the most upstream side with respect to the position in the paper transport direction.

  Each nozzle is provided with an ink chamber (not shown) and a piezoelectric element. By driving the piezo element, the ink chamber expands and contracts, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the detector group 50 includes a linear encoder 51, a rotary encoder 52, a paper detection sensor 53, an optical sensor 54, and the like. The linear encoder 51 detects the position of the carriage 31 in the moving direction. The rotary encoder 52 detects the rotation amount of the transport roller 23. The paper detection sensor 53 detects the position of the leading edge of the paper being fed. The optical sensor 54 detects the presence or absence of paper by a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit attached to the carriage 31.

  The maintenance unit 70 is for performing various maintenance operations so that the ejection of ink from the head 41 to the paper S is satisfactorily maintained. The maintenance unit 70 includes a cap 71 (FIG. 3A) that seals the lower surface of the head 41, a suction pump 72 that sucks ink, and the like. Then, the maintenance unit 70 seals the cap 71 on the lower surface and operates the suction pump 72 to forcibly discharge ink from the nozzles and clean the nozzles where clogging or the like has occurred.

  The light irradiation unit 80 is for irradiating the paper S with light at a predetermined timing (specifically, during a nozzle state recovery process described later). The light irradiation unit 80 is provided above the paper discharge tray 12. This light irradiation unit 80 has a blue LED 81 as a light source for irradiating light. The three blue LEDs 81 are provided facing the paper discharge tray 12 and irradiate light on the paper supported by the paper discharge tray 12 from above.

  The controller 60 is a control unit (control unit) that controls the printer. The controller 60 includes an interface unit 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, and a unit control circuit 64. The interface unit 61 transmits and receives data between the computer 110 and the printer 1. The CPU 62 is an arithmetic processing unit that controls the entire printer. The memory 63 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 62, a work area, and the like, and includes storage elements such as a RAM and an EEPROM. The CPU 62 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 64 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 63.

=== Nozzle clogging and nozzle check pattern ===
When the printer 1 is left for a long time without printing an image on paper, the solvent of the ink that is in contact with the outside air in the nozzles may evaporate and the viscosity of the ink may increase. In such a case, clogging or the like may occur in the nozzle, and the subsequent ink ejection may not be performed properly.

  Therefore, in order to check whether clogging has occurred in the nozzle, ink is ejected to the nozzle and a nozzle check pattern is printed on paper (test sheet). Thus, when the nozzle check pattern is actually printed on the test sheet, it can be determined that clogging has occurred. If it is determined that clogging has occurred, the printer 1 cleans the nozzles by the maintenance unit 70 in order to eliminate the clogging.

  The printer 1 executes the printing of the nozzle check pattern and the cleaning of the nozzles as part of a process for eliminating clogging (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle state recovery process). The nozzle state recovery process corresponds to a maintenance method.

=== Nozzle state recovery processing ===
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the nozzle state recovery processing. This flowchart starts when the printer 1 is left for a long time without printing an image and clogging occurs in the nozzle.

  Various operations of the printer 1 when the nozzle state recovery process is executed are mainly realized by the controller 60. In particular, this embodiment is realized by the CPU 12 processing a program stored in the memory 13. And this program is comprised from the code | cord | chord for performing the various operation | movement demonstrated below.

  The main features of the recovery process are as follows: (1) a step of ejecting ink to paper to form a yellow nozzle check pattern on the test sheet; and (2) after the ink is ejected, A step of irradiating light that increases the contrast between yellow and white, and (3) if the yellow nozzle check pattern is not formed on the paper even after the ink is ejected. A step of cleaning a nozzle for ejecting ink.

  In this recovery process, first, the controller 60 prints a nozzle check pattern on a test sheet to check whether nozzle clogging has occurred (step S2). That is, the paper (test sheet) stacked on the paper feed tray 11 is transported by the transport roller 23, and the nozzles of the head 41 eject ink onto the test sheet being transported, thereby printing a nozzle check pattern. The

Here, the nozzle check pattern printed on the test sheet TS will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a nozzle check pattern. The nozzle check pattern is printed by ejecting ink onto the test sheet TS from all nozzles of each nozzle group. Thereby, nozzle patterns of four colors (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow) are formed on the test sheet TS. Specifically, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are formed in this order, and the black nozzle check pattern is located on the most downstream side in the transport direction (discharge direction), and the yellow nozzle check pattern is the most upstream in the transport direction. Located on the side. Note that the pattern formation order is not limited to the above.

Further, since the nozzle check patterns for the respective colors are the same, the following description will be made by taking a yellow nozzle check pattern as an example.
The yellow nozzle check pattern is composed of a plurality of ruled lines (specifically, 90 ruled lines). Each of the 90 ruled lines is formed by ink ejected from different nozzles. For example, the ruled line Y1 is caused by ink ejected from the nozzle # 1 of the yellow ink nozzle group, the ruled line Y2 is caused by ink ejected from the nozzle # 2, and the ruled line Y90 is caused by ink ejected from the nozzle # 90. Is formed. Note that the 90 ruled lines formed are divided into three ruled line groups. For example, one ruled line group includes ruled lines Y1, Y4, Y7,.

  Then, when the printing of the nozzle check pattern is completed, the controller 60 discharges the test sheet (step S4). That is, the paper discharge roller 25 discharges the test sheet on which the nozzle check pattern is formed. The test sheet discharged by the paper discharge roller 25 is supported by the paper discharge tray 12.

  Next, the controller 60 operates the blue LED 81 to irradiate the test sheet supported on the paper discharge tray 12 with light (step S6). In this embodiment, the controller 60 corresponds to a control unit that controls the irradiation timing of the blue LED 81.

Here, the light irradiation state by the blue LED 81 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a light irradiation state on the test sheet of the blue LED 81. FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram showing the light irradiation position on the test sheet.

  The blue LED 81 irradiates light toward the yellow nozzle check pattern formed on the most upstream side in the test sheet discharge direction among the multiple color nozzle check patterns. Specifically, each of the three blue LEDs 81 emits light toward the corresponding ruled line group of the three ruled line groups. Thus, the blue LED 81 emits blue light toward the yellow nozzle check pattern of the four color nozzle check patterns. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the locations where light is actually irradiated on the test sheet are the yellow nozzle check pattern and its peripheral portion.

  By the way, the blue light emitted from the blue LED 81 has a higher contrast between yellow, which is the lightest of the four colors (black, cyan, magenta, yellow), and white, which is the background color of the test sheet. It is light to enlarge. This is because a pale yellow nozzle check pattern emerges (becomes brighter) when the cold blue color is irradiated with the warm yellow color of the four colors.

  For this reason, when the blue LED 81 emits blue light toward the yellow nozzle check pattern, it becomes easy to recognize the yellow nozzle check pattern formed on the white test sheet. In this embodiment, the nozzle check pattern is composed of 90 ruled lines, but it is easy to recognize these 90 ruled lines. As a result, the missing nozzles of 90 nozzles can be confirmed.

  In the present embodiment, light is automatically emitted from the blue LED 81 to the test sheet that has been discharged. This is because the attachment position of the blue LED 81 facing the paper discharge tray 12 is attached to a position where the yellow nozzle pattern is irradiated with light. In other words, the yellow nozzle check pattern is formed at a position where light is appropriately irradiated. For this reason, it is not necessary to move the test sheet for light irradiation, so that the burden on the user can be reduced and nozzle missing can be quickly checked.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blue LED 81 does not emit light until the test sheet is discharged. As described above, the controller 60 does not irradiate the blue LED 81 with light during the formation of the nozzle check pattern on the test sheet, and irradiates the test sheet with the nozzle check pattern formed thereon after the discharge roller 25 discharges the light. Let Thereby, it can suppress that the light emission time of blue LED81 becomes long, As a result, the lifetime of blue LED81 can be lengthened. Note that light irradiation may be started while the test sheet is being discharged.

  The reason why the nozzle check patterns of colors other than yellow are not irradiated with light is as follows. That is, magenta, cyan, and black are darker than yellow, and have a large brightness difference from white, which is the background color of the test sheet. For this reason, these three color nozzle check patterns can be recognized without irradiating special light.

  Returning to the flowchart shown in FIG. The user determines whether each nozzle check pattern (90 ruled lines) is actually formed on the test sheet during light irradiation (step S8). When 90 ruled lines are not formed, there are nozzles that do not eject ink properly (that is, nozzle missing has occurred).

  FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which nozzle missing has not occurred. FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which nozzle missing has occurred. When no nozzle omission occurs, ink is appropriately ejected from each nozzle, so that 90 ruled lines are formed. On the other hand, when nozzle missing occurs, since there are nozzles that cannot eject ink, the ruled lines to be formed by the nozzles out of the 90 ruled lines are not actually formed. In FIG. 8B, the ruled line Y4 and the ruled line Y6 are not formed.

  If the nozzle missing has occurred as shown in FIG. 8B (step S8: Yes), the controller 60 causes the maintenance unit 70 to clean the nozzle (step S10). That is, the controller 60 forcibly sucks ink from the nozzles by the suction pump 72 with the cap 71 sealing the lower surface of the head 41. Thereby, the ink (high-viscosity ink) causing the clogging is discharged from the nozzle.

  By the way, the clogging in the nozzle may be eliminated by one ink suction, but the clogging may not be eliminated by one ink suction. For this reason, after the nozzle is cleaned, a nozzle check pattern is printed again to check whether clogging has actually been eliminated. If the clogging is not eliminated, the nozzle cleaning is performed again. That is, the printer 1 performs printing of the nozzle check pattern and cleaning of the nozzles until the clogging is eliminated.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8A, when nozzle missing has not occurred (90 ruled lines are formed) (step S8: No), the clogging in the nozzle has been eliminated, so the controller 60 This process is terminated. After the clogging is eliminated in this way, the image is printed on the actual paper.

=== Effectiveness of Printer 1 According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, the printer 1 according to this embodiment includes (a) a nozzle that ejects ink onto a test sheet, and (b) a test sheet on which a yellow nozzle check pattern is formed by ejecting ink from the nozzle. On the other hand, it includes a blue LED 81 (an example of an irradiation unit) that emits light that increases the contrast between yellow (yellow) and white (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). As a result, as described below, the yellow nozzle check pattern printed on the white paper (test sheet) can be appropriately visually recognized.

  The printer 1 includes a nozzle that ejects, for example, yellow ink in order to realize a color image composed of a plurality of colors. The nozzle check pattern for confirming missing nozzles includes a nozzle check pattern printed with yellow ink. On the other hand, the paper (test sheet) on which the nozzle check pattern is printed is often white.

  Here, since the brightness difference between white, which is the background color of the test sheet, and yellow (yellow) is relatively small, it is difficult to visually recognize the yellow nozzle check pattern formed on the white test sheet. In particular, since yellow is lighter than the other three colors (magenta, cyan, and black), the yellow nozzle check pattern is less visible than the other three color nozzle check patterns formed on the test sheet. As a result, it is difficult to determine whether or not the yellow nozzle check pattern is actually printed on the test sheet.

  Further, the visual check of the nozzle check pattern is performed by a user or the like in an environment where light from an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp (for example, emitting orange light) is illuminated. However, under such circumstances, it is difficult to visually recognize the yellow nozzle check pattern formed on the white test sheet. This is because orange and yellow (yellow) are so-called warm colors (lightness values are close), and it is difficult to distinguish yellow with orange light.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the blue LED 81 irradiates paper (test sheet) on which a yellow nozzle check pattern is printed with blue light. Yes. Specifically, the blue LED 81 irradiates the yellow nozzle check pattern and its peripheral part with blue light. This blue color is a cold color system unlike the above-mentioned orange and yellow. For this reason, by irradiating with blue light, a yellow nozzle check pattern, which is a pale color, appears on a white test sheet (becomes brighter). As a result, yellow and white contrast (brightness difference) becomes larger in the yellow nozzle check pattern and its peripheral portion, and the yellow nozzle check pattern can be easily identified.

  From the above, according to the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the contrast between the white color and the yellow color (lightness difference) is increased by the light emitted from the blue LED 81, so that the yellow nozzle check pattern is applied to the white test sheet. On the other hand, since it appears (becomes brighter), it is possible to appropriately visually recognize the nozzle check pattern. As a result, nozzle omission can be appropriately confirmed for the nozzles that eject yellow ink.

=== Second Embodiment ===
The configuration of the printer 1 according to the second embodiment, which is different from the above-described embodiment (first embodiment), and the nozzle state recovery processing will be described.

<< Printer configuration >>
FIG. 9A is a side view of the printer 1 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a top view of the printer 1.

  Unlike the first embodiment, the blue LED 81 is provided at the top of the printer body. Three blue LEDs 81 are provided and emit blue light upward at a predetermined timing (at the time of nozzle state recovery processing). In the second embodiment, an operation button 90 is provided so that the user can operate the light emission timing of the blue LED 81. When the user presses the operation button 90, the blue LED 81 emits light.

  Other configurations of the printer 1 that are not described are the same as those of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment.

<< Nozzle state recovery process >>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the nozzle state recovery processing according to the second embodiment.

  First, the controller 60 prints the nozzle check pattern for each color on the test sheet TS (step S22). Thereby, the pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed. When printing is completed, the controller 60 discharges the test sheet by the discharge roller 25 (step S24). As a result, the discharged test sheet is positioned on the discharge tray 12. Next, when the operation button 90 is pressed by the user (step S26: Yes), the controller 60 causes the blue LED 81 to emit light.

  While the light is emitted from the blue LED 81, the user places the test sheet on the paper discharge tray 12 facing the top of the printer 1 (specifically, the back side of the portion where the yellow nozzle check pattern is formed, To a position facing the blue LED 81). Then, the blue LED 81 irradiates the test sheet after movement with blue light from below the test sheet. As a result, the yellow nozzle check pattern formed on the test sheet emerges (lightens). In addition, since the user can freely determine the position of the test sheet, for example, by positioning the test sheet at a position where the pattern is easily visible, it is possible to effectively check for missing nozzles.

  Then, during light irradiation, the user looks at the nozzle check pattern (90 ruled lines) actually formed on the test sheet to check for missing nozzles (step S30). For example, when there is a missing nozzle as shown in FIG. 8B (step S30: Yes), the controller 60 cleans the nozzle (step S32).

  On the other hand, when there is no missing nozzle as shown in FIG. 8A (step S30: No), the controller 60 ends this process.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, yellow light is applied to a test sheet on which a yellow nozzle check pattern is printed by irradiating blue light that increases the contrast between white and yellow (yellow). The nozzle check pattern can be visually recognized appropriately.

  In the above description, the blue LED 81 emits light when the user presses the operation button 90. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sensor for detecting paper may be provided on the upper portion of the printer 1, and the blue LED 81 may emit light when the sensor detects a test sheet on which a nozzle check pattern is printed. In such a case, since the user does not need to operate the operation buttons, the user-friendly printer 1 can be realized.

  Conversely, in the first embodiment, the blue LED 81 automatically irradiates light after the test sheet is discharged, but the blue LED 81 may irradiate light when the operation button 90 is pressed.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The fluid ejecting apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on the above embodiment, but the above-described embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and limits the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fluid ejecting apparatus is embodied as an ink jet printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and liquids other than ink (liquids in which functional material particles are dispersed in addition to liquids, such as gels) It is also possible to embody a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects or discharges a fluid other than a liquid (including a fluid) or a fluid (such as a solid that can be ejected by flowing as a fluid).

  For example, a liquid material injection device for injecting a liquid material in the form of dispersed or dissolved materials such as electrode materials and color materials used in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays, EL (electroluminescence) displays, and surface-emitting displays, and biochip manufacturing It may be a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a bio-organic substance used in the above, or a liquid ejecting apparatus for ejecting a liquid as a sample used as a precision pipette. In addition, transparent resin liquids such as UV curable resins to form liquid injection devices that inject lubricating oil onto precision machines such as watches and cameras, and micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements. Examples include a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid onto a substrate, a liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects an etching solution such as acid or alkali to etch the substrate, a fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects gel, and a powder such as toner. It may be a powder jet recording apparatus that jets a solid. The present invention can be applied to any one of these injection devices.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, although the irradiation part was decided to be blue LED81, it is not limited to this. For example, the irradiation unit may be a light that irradiates a test sheet with blue light.

  In the above description, the blue light is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to irradiate the test sheet on which the nozzle check pattern is formed with green or purple light that is a cold color.

1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a printer 1. FIG. FIG. 2A is a front view of the printer 1. FIG. 2B is a side view of the printer 1. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the internal configuration of the printer 1. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the internal configuration of the printer 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence of a nozzle. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the recovery process of a nozzle state. It is the figure which showed the nozzle check pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the irradiation state of the light with respect to the test sheet of blue LED81. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which nozzle missing has not occurred. FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which nozzle missing has occurred. FIG. 9A is a side view of the printer 1 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a top view of the printer 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the recovery process of a nozzle state based on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 printer,
11 paper feed tray, 12 paper discharge tray,
20 transport unit, 21 paper feed roller, 22 transport motor,
23 transport roller, 24 platen, 25 paper discharge roller, 30 carriage unit,
31 carriage, 32 carriage motor, 40 head unit, 41 head,
50 detector groups, 51 linear encoder, 52 rotary encoder,
53 paper detection sensor, 54 optical sensor, 60 controller,
61 interface unit, 62 CPU, 63 memory, 64 unit control circuit,
70 maintenance unit, 71 cap,
80 light irradiation unit, 81 blue LED, 90 operation buttons,
110 computers

Claims (7)

A nozzle for injecting fluid into the medium;
An irradiation unit that irradiates the medium on which the yellow pattern is formed by the nozzle ejecting the fluid with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white, and
A fluid ejecting apparatus comprising: The fluid ejection device according to claim 1,
A discharge mechanism for discharging the medium on which the pattern is formed;
A support unit for supporting the medium discharged by the discharge mechanism,
The said irradiation part faces the said support part, and irradiates the said light from upper direction with respect to the said medium supported by the said support part, The fluid ejection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2,
A control unit for controlling the irradiation timing of the irradiation unit;
The controller does not irradiate the irradiating unit with the light during the formation of the pattern on the medium, and irradiates the light after the medium on which the pattern is formed is ejected by the ejection mechanism. A fluid ejecting apparatus. The fluid ejecting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
A plurality of color patterns including the yellow pattern are formed on the medium;
The said irradiation part irradiates the said light toward the said yellow pattern formed in the most upstream in the discharge direction of the said medium among the patterns of said several colors, The fluid ejecting apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1,
A discharge mechanism for discharging the medium on which the pattern is formed;
The irradiation unit is provided in an upper part of a fluid ejecting apparatus main body, and irradiates the light from below on the medium that has been discharged by the discharge mechanism and moved to a position facing the upper part. Fluid ejecting apparatus. The fluid ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The nozzle is a plurality of nozzles,
The pattern is composed of a plurality of ruled lines,
Each of the plurality of ruled lines is formed by fluid ejected from different nozzles. Injecting fluid onto the medium to form a yellow pattern on the medium;
Irradiating the medium with light that increases the contrast between yellow and white after jetting the fluid; and
Cleaning the nozzle that ejects the fluid if the yellow pattern is not formed on the medium even when the fluid is ejected and is visible during the light irradiation; and
A maintenance method characterized by comprising:

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