# US 11,305,566 B2 · Recording apparatus, control method, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,566 B2 - Document ID: US11305566B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/859,117 - Filed: 2020-04-27 - Published: 2020-08-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-07 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takuya Fukasawa; Takatoshi Nakano; Atsushi Takahashi; Yoshinori Nakagawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305566B2 ## CPC - B41J 29/17: Cleaning arrangements - B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame} - B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only} - B41J 2/16532: {by applying vacuum only} - B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)} - B41J 2/16538: {with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate} - B41J 2/16588: {Print heads movable towards the cleaning unit} - B41J 2/18: Ink recirculation systems - B41J 2002/16573: {Cleaning process logic, e.g. for determining type or order of cleaning processes} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A recording apparatus including: a recording head that includes an ejection component that ejects a liquid; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the recording head; a cleaning mechanism that performs a cleaning process with respect to the recording head; and a preliminary ejection unit configured to perform a preliminary ejection operation of preliminarily ejecting the liquid from the ejection component. The cleaning mechanism performs the cleaning process in a state in which circulation of the liquid is stopped, and at least one of the circulation operation by the circulation unit and the preliminary ejection operation by the preliminary ejection unit is performed after the cleaning process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head that includes ejection ports that eject a liquid from a tank in which the liquid is stored, the recording head being configured to perform a recording operation by ejecting the liquid from the ejection ports based on recording data; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the recording head; a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning operation of the recording head in contact with the ejection ports; and a control unit configured to perform the cleaning operation, then perform the circulation operation, and then perform a preliminary ejection operation which is ejection of the liquid being differentiated from the ejection of liquid based on the recording data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit continues to perform the circulation operation while performing the preliminary ejection operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an ejecting amount of liquid per unit time during the preliminary ejection operation is greater than a flow rate of the liquid per unit time during the circulation operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts to perform the preliminary ejection operation after performing the circulation operation for a predetermined time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a wiper that wipes an ejection port surface provided with the ejection ports. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a vacuum wiper that wipes an ejection port surface provided with the ejection ports while sucking the ejection ports. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cap that caps the ejection ports; wherein the circulation operation and the preliminary ejection operation are performed in a state in which the ejection ports are capped by the cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head includes a pressure chamber filled with the liquid and communicating with one of the ejection ports, and wherein the circulation route includes the pressure chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection ports are arranged in an area corresponding to a width of a recording medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is black ink. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the cleaning operation in a state in which the circulation operation is stopped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circulation route includes the tank and the recording head. ### Claim 13 A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head that includes (i) ejection ports that eject a liquid from a tank in which the liquid is stored and (ii) a pressure chamber filled with the liquid and communicating with one of the ejection ports, the recording head being configured to perform a recording operation by ejecting the liquid from the ejection ports based on recording data; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the pressure chamber; a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning operation of the recording head in contact with the ejection ports; and a control unit configured to perform the cleaning operation, then perform the circulation operation, and then perform a preliminary ejection operation which is ejection of the liquid being differentiated from the ejection of liquid based on the recording data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control unit continues to perform the circulation operation while performing the preliminary ejection operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an ejecting amount of liquid per unit time during the preliminary ejection operation is greater than a flow rate of the liquid per unit time during the circulation operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control unit starts to perform the preliminary ejection operation after performing the circulation operation for a predetermined time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cleaning unit includes a wiper that wipes an ejection port surface provided with the ejection ports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cleaning unit includes a vacuum wiper that wipes an ejection port surface provided with the ejection ports while sucking the ejection ports. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a cap that caps the ejection ports; wherein the circulation operation and the preliminary ejection operation are performed in a state in which the ejection ports are capped by the cap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the ejection ports are arranged in an area corresponding to a width of a recording medium. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control unit performs the cleaning operation in a state in which the circulation operation is stopped. ### Claim 22 A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head that includes ejection ports that eject a liquid from a tank in which the liquid is stored, the recording head being configured to perform a recording operation by ejecting the liquid from the ejection ports based on recording data; a cap unit that caps the ejection ports; a circulation unit configured to perform a circulation operation of circulating the liquid in a circulation route including the recording head; a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning operation of the recording head in contact with the ejection ports; and a control unit configured to perform the cleaning operation, and then perform the circulation operation in a state where the cap unit caps the ejection ports. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit performs a preliminary ejection operation ejecting the liquid not based on the recording data after starting the circulation operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the circulation route includes the tank and the recording head.