Method of discharging fluid from liquid ejecting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10518552-B2
Application number	US-201916540332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting section from which liquid is ejected. A return passage has a first end connected to a supply passage at a first location and a second end connected to the supply passage at a second location. The second location is positioned closer to the liquid ejecting section than the first location. The return passage and the supply passage constitute a circulating passage. A pump can cause fluid to flow through the circulating passage. A replaceable filter unit is a portion of the return passage. A discharge passage through which the fluid is discharged to the outside is connected to the return passage. An inflow controller can suppress external fluid from entering the discharge passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of discharging fluid from a liquid ejecting apparatus, the liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion from which liquid is ejected, a supply passage through which the liquid is supplied from a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting portion, a return passage having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the supply passage at a first location, the second end being connected to the supply passage at a second location, the second location being positioned closer to the liquid ejecting portion than the first location, the return passage and the supply passage constituting a circulating passage, and a discharge passage through which the fluid is discharged to an outside, the discharge passage being connected to a connection location of the return passage between the first end and the second end, the method comprising:
performing a discharging operation of discharging fluid through the discharge passage by causing the liquid in the liquid supply source to flow out to the supply passage, the fluid being fluid in the supply passage between the liquid supply source and the second location and fluid in the return passage between the second location and the connecting location;
performing a moving operation of causing fluid between the connecting location of the return passage and the first location to flow to the supply passage after the discharging operation is performed; and
performing a filling operation of discharging the fluid flowed to the supply passage in the moving operation through the liquid ejecting portion.

2. The method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a supply pump configured to supply the liquid from the liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting section, the supply pump being disposed in an upstream region, the upstream region being positioned closer to the liquid supply source than the first location of the supply passage,
wherein the outflow of the liquid in the liquid supply source to the supply passage in the discharging operation is performed by driving the supply pump.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the filling operation is performed by driving the supply pump.

4. The method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a circulating pump configured to circulate fluid in the circulating passage, the circulating pump being provided in the return passage,
wherein the moving operation is performed by driving the circulating pump.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the discharging operation is performed in a state in which a gas-liquid separator that allows passage of gas and restricts passage of the liquid is coupled to a discharge port of the discharge passage.

6. The method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a cap configured to enclose a space where a nozzle through which the liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid opens,
wherein the filling operation is performed by applying a negative pressure to the enclosed space.

7. The method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a switching valve configured to switch between a communicating state in which the discharge passage communicates with the outside and a non-communicating state in which the discharge passage does not communicate with the outside,
wherein the discharging operation is performed in the communicating state, and the moving operation and the filling operation are performed in the non-communicating state.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Murayama Masato
• Yoshida Takeshi
• Koike Kaoru
• Fujimori Ryoji

Classifications

• B05B12/087

  Flow or presssure regulators, i.e. non-electric unitary devices comprising a sensing element, e.g. a piston or a membrane, and a controlling element, e.g. a valve · CPC title

• B41J2/185 Primary

  Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers · CPC title

• B41J2/17563

  Ink filters · CPC title

• B41J2/175

  Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor} · CPC title

• B05B9/0403

  with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence) · CPC title