Method of discharging fluid from liquid ejecting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007790-B2
Application number	US-201916700639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2019
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

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 control method of 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 connected to the supply passage and forming a circulating passage with a part of the supply passage, a discharge passage connected to the circulating passage and configured to discharge the fluid to an outside, and a switching valve provided in the discharge passage and configured to switch the discharge passage between a communicating state and a non-communicating state, the control method comprising:
performing an outflow operation of causing the liquid in the liquid supply source to flow out to the supply passage;
performing a moving operation, after the outflow operation is performed, of moving the liquid in the liquid supply passage to the return passage in the non-communicating state; and
performing a discharging operation, after the moving operation is performed, of discharging fluid through the discharge passage by causing the liquid in the liquid supply source to flow out to the supply passage in the communicating state.

2. The control method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a circulating pump provided in the return passage, and
the moving operation is performed by driving the circulating pump.

3. The control 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,
a waste liquid container configured to collect the liquid discharged from the nozzle via the cap, and
the fluid discharged through the discharge passage in the discharging operation is collected in the waste liquid container.

4. The control method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a supply pump provided in the supply passage, and
the outflow operation is performed by driving the supply pump.

5. The control method according to claim 4 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a liquid reservoir provided in the supply passage and having a chamber configured to store the liquid, a portion of the chamber being formed by a deformable film, and
the supply pump is provided at a position closer to the liquid supply source than the liquid reservoir in the supply passage.

6. The control method according to claim 5 ,
wherein the supply pump is provided at a position closer to the liquid supply source than the part of the supply passage.

7. The control method according to claim 1 , the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a capture chamber forming a part of the circulating passage and configured to capture gas, and
the discharge passage is connected to the capture chamber.

8. The control method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus further including a capture chamber forming a part of the circulating passage and configured to capture gas, and
the discharge passage is connected to the capture chamber.

9. The control method according to claim 1 , the control method further comprising:
performing a printing operation of ejecting the liquid onto a medium from the liquid ejecting portion in the non-communicating state.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B05B9/0403

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

• B05B15/40

  Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets · CPC title

• B41J2/17563

  Ink filters · CPC title

• B41J2/185 Primary

  Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers · CPC title

• B41J2/175

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