Liquid ejection apparatus and cleaning method for liquid ejection apparatus
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsTaisuke Yamamoto, Yoshiharu Aruga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Liquid is sent from a liquid retainer to a liquid ejection head via a liquid supply line by pressurization force generated by a pressurization device that is driven by a driver. A method for cleaning a liquid ejection apparatus includes drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head through a nozzle by a suction device; and obtaining a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer. The method further includes determining an operational speed of the driver in correspondence with a result of the calculation; and operating the driver at the determined operational speed when drawing the liquid by the suction device. Thus, liquid is consumed completely without being wasted.
Claims12
A method for cleaning a liquid ejection apparatus having a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid through a nozzle, the liquid being sent from a liquid retainer to the liquid ejection head via a liquid supply line by pressurization force generated by a pressurization device that is driven by a driver, the method comprising:
- drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head through the nozzle by a suction device;
- obtaining a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer;
- determining an operational speed of the driver in correspondence with a result of the calculation;
- and
- operating the driver at the determined operational speed when drawing the liquid by the suction device.
A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
- a liquid retainer;
- a liquid ejection head having a nozzle through which liquid is ejected and a nozzle surface in which an opening of the nozzle is defined;
- a liquid supply line extending from the liquid retainer to the liquid ejection head;
- a pressurization device for pressurizing the liquid so as to introduce the liquid from the liquid retainer into the liquid supply line and thus eject the liquid from the liquid ejection head;
- a driver for driving the pressurization device;
- a seal device for sealing the nozzle surface;
- a suction device for drawing the liquid from the liquid supply line and the liquid ejection head through the seal device;
- a calculating section for calculating a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer;
- a determining section for determining an operational speed of the driver based on a result of the calculation by the calculating section;
- and
- a control section for controlling the driver at the determined operational speed when the liquid is drawn by the suction device.
An inkjet printer comprising:
- a cartridge;
- a recording head having a nozzle through which ink is ejected and a nozzle surface in which an opening of the nozzle is defined;
- an ink supply line extending from the cartridge to the recording head;
- a pressurization pump for pressurizing the ink so as to introduce the ink from the cartridge into the ink supply line and thus eject the ink from the recording head;
- a pressurization motor for driving the pressurization pump;
- a cap for sealing the nozzle surface;
- a suction pump for drawing the ink from the ink supply line and the recording head through the cap;
- and
- a control section for controlling the pressurization motor, wherein the control section calculates an ink remaining amount of the cartridge, determines an operational speed of the pressurization motor based on a result of the calculation, and operates the pressurization motor at the determined operational speed when the ink is drawn by the suction pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.