# US 2014/0198153 A1 · Ink jet printing apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0198153 A1
- Document ID: US20140198153A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/867,455
- Filed: 2013-04-22
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-17
- Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc.
- Applicants: Canon Finetech Inc.
- Inventors: Yuta Nakanishi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140198153A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/16508: {connected with the printer frame}
- B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads}
- B41J 2002/16591: {for line print heads above an endless belt}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

An ink jet printing apparatus prints an image by employing a print head capable of ejecting ink from ejection ports. The printing apparatus comprises a cap configured to cover the ejection ports, a valve configured to open and close an atmospheric communicating portion that communicates an inside of the cap and the atmosphere, a suction unit configured to generate a suction force, and a control unit. The control unit performs a first operation where the suction unit applies a first suction force to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve closes the atmospheric communicating portion, and a second operation where the suction unit applies a second suction force, less than the first suction force, to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve opens the atmospheric communicating portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ink jet printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium by employing a print head capable of ejecting ink from ejection ports, comprising:
a cap configured to cover the ejection ports;
a valve configured to open and close an atmospheric communicating portion that communicates an inside of the cap and the atmosphere;
a suction unit configured to generate a suction force; and
a control unit configured to perform a first operation where the suction unit applies a first suction force to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve closes the atmospheric communicating portion, and a second operation where the suction unit applies a second suction force, less than the first suction force, to the inside of the cap in a state where the cap covers the ejection ports and the valve opens the atmospheric communicating portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second operation, the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap from a state before the cap covers the ejection port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap until a temperature difference between a temperature of the print head and an environmental temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second operation, the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap until a change, within unit time, of a temperature difference between a temperature of the print head and an environmental temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second operation, the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap until a temperature of the print head is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second operation, the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap accepts ink ejected from the ejection ports for a preliminary ejection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the second operation, the control unit permits the suction unit to apply the suction force to the inside of the cap, under a condition that a volume information corresponding to a volume of ink ejected to the cap for the preliminary ejection indicates a predetermined volume or more.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit performs the second operation, under a condition that a volume information corresponding to a volume of ink ejected into the cap for the preliminary ejection indicates a predetermined volume or more.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit performs the second operation, under a condition that a first volume information corresponding to a volume of ink ejected into the cap for the preliminary ejection indicates a volume greater than a first predetermined volume, and
the control unit performs a third operation where the suction unit applies the suction force to the inside of the cap in a state where the print head and the cap are separated from each other, under a condition that a second volume information corresponding to a volume of ink ejected into the cap for the preliminary ejection indicates a volume greater than a second predetermined volume smaller than the first predetermined volume.