METHOD OF CONTROLLING LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS

摘要

A sub-tank is pressurized by a pump, with head valves closed. Then, one of the head valves is opened to perform a first purge on a first head. After the one head valve is closed, a different one of the head valves is opened to perform a second purge on a second head different from the first head. After these purges, an open-to-atmosphere valve is opened, with the head valves closed, to decrease the pressures inside the heads which are increased by the purges. This allows a selective purge on only a head which requires a purge. As a result, the amount of ink forced out is suppressed during the pressurized purges. After the sub-tank is made open to the atmosphere, a depressurizing pump depressurizes the sub-tank to form ink menisci in the heads. This prevents air bubbles from being drawn into nozzles during the formation of the ink menisci in the nozzles after the purges.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a liquid ejecting apparatus for a recovery operation of a head unit, said liquid ejecting apparatus including said head unit having a plurality of heads each including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid, a liquid reservoir for temporarily storing the liquid for supply to said head unit, a plurality of supply passages for supplying the liquid from said liquid reservoir therethrough to said respective heads, and a plurality of open/close parts provided in said respective supply passages, said open/close parts being switchable between an open position independently ensuring the communication between said liquid reservoir and said heads and a closed position independently closing off the communication between said liquid reservoir and said heads, said method comprising the steps of:
a) pressurizing the liquid inside said liquid reservoir to a state of positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, while maintaining all of said open/close parts in said closed position, to thereby performing pre-pressurization; b) bringing a first one of said open/close parts into said open position to perform a first purge, said step b) being performed after said step a); and c) making said liquid reservoir open to the atmosphere, said step c) being performed after said step b).