JP2001341294A - Method and apparatus for recording image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently specify failed nozzle. SOLUTION: An image is recorded by ejecting ink from an ink jet head to a recording sheet 17. A head state check pattern 61 is recorded at the forward end of a head image for each order. In the recording of the head state check pattern 61, every other nozzle is driven to record pixels P of one nozzle array by two lines. A line sensor 62 at a check pattern reading section measures the density of each pixel P of the head state check pattern 61. A nozzle recording a pixel P3 not reaching a specified density is specified as a failed nozzle. Failed nozzles are cleaned individually. When the head state check pattern 61 has been recorded, a sort signal is delivered and prints are collected for each order.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording method and apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording method and apparatus capable of easily checking the state of each recording element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers that record images on recording paper include printers using an ink jet head and printers using a thermal head. In these printers, the printing element may malfunction for some reason. For example, in an ink jet printer, ink clogging occurs at a nozzle that discharges ink, and the ink discharge amount is reduced or ink is not discharged.
In this case, streaky color unevenness and density unevenness occur in the recorded image.

[0003]

Conventionally, when a recorded image is observed, if streak-like color unevenness or density unevenness occurs, the mode is switched to a head cleaning mode to perform cleaning and ink clogging. And abnormalities in the ejection direction are eliminated. In the cleaning process, the ink is vigorously ejected from each nozzle, the nozzle is sucked from outside to suck out the ink, and the periphery of the nozzle is wiped. As described above, in the case of manual operation, the detection of ink clogging is delayed, and an image may be recorded in a state where print quality is deteriorated.
In a home-use printer that enjoys printing personally, such a decrease in recording quality does not have much effect, but when used for business use, the delay in finding malfunctions of the recording element causes a large number of defective prints. Therefore, it is desired to reliably and easily find a malfunction of the printing element.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording method and apparatus capable of reliably and easily finding a malfunction of a recording element.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the image recording method of the present invention, a recording sheet having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a main scanning direction is used to cut a recording sheet or a recording sheet. In a method of recording an image on a recording sheet by feeding a recording head in a sub-scanning direction, a head state check pattern is recorded on the recording sheet. It is preferable that the head state check pattern is scanned to detect a malfunction of the printing element. Further, it is preferable that the head state check pattern is recorded for each order, for every fixed number of images, for every fixed time, or every time a recording paper roll is replaced. Further, it is preferable that the head state check pattern is recorded at an end of an image. Further, the head state check pattern may be recorded on a recording sheet different from the recording sheet on which the image is recorded, and print order information corresponding to the image may be recorded on the recording sheet. Further, the recording head is an inkjet head, and according to the head state check pattern,
It is preferable to inspect the nozzles of the inkjet head for clogging and variations in the discharge amount to identify malfunctioning nozzles and perform an alarm or a head recovery operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a cut sheet recording paper or a recording head is fed in a sub-scanning direction using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a main scanning direction, and an image is recorded on the recording paper. In the image recording apparatus for recording a print condition, the recording device has recording data of a head state check pattern indicating a recording state of a pixel corresponding to each recording element by driving each recording element, and a head state check is performed on the recording paper based on the recording data. The pattern is recorded. In addition,
It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises means for reading the head state check pattern, and means for specifying a malfunctioning printing element based on low density pixels in the read pattern. Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises a means for performing an alarm or a malfunction recovery operation when the malfunctioning recording element is identified by the malfunctioning recording element identification means. The recording head is an ink jet head in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged, and the means for performing a recovery operation for the operation failure includes discharging the ink to the malfunctioning nozzle, sucking the ink from the outside, and removing the nozzle surface. It is preferable to be configured to perform at least one head recovery operation of wiping. Further, it is preferable to provide a means for heating the recording paper before recording from the recording surface side, for example, a thermal head or a roller with a built-in heater, and to dry the ink or the like by preheating the recording paper. In this case, the ink or the like can be dried quickly, and efficient recording can be performed without a decrease in recording speed.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an ink jet printer according to the present invention. Inkjet printer 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a sheet feeding unit 11, an image recording unit 12, and a sorter 13. The paper supply unit 11 rotates the paper supply roller 16 to pull out the recording paper 17 from the recording paper cassette 15. The pulled out recording paper 17 is sent to the image recording unit 12. In the present embodiment, an A4 size cut sheet is used as the recording paper 17, but the size of the recording paper 17 may be appropriately changed. The paper feed roller 16 is connected to the image recording unit 12.
After the leading end of the recording paper 17 is sent to the image recording section 12, the clutch 18 is disengaged and the paper feed roller 16 rotates freely.

The image recording section 12 includes first to third pairs of conveying rollers 20, 21 and 22, a recording paper sensor 23, an ink jet head 24, and a hot air head 25 for drying. First to third transport roller pairs 20 to 2
2 is rotated by a motor 19 to nip and convey the recording paper 17. The rotation of the motor 19 is controlled by a system controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a controller) 26 via a driver 19a. The recording paper sensor 23
The first conveying roller pair 20 is provided near the recording paper exit. The recording paper sensor 23 detects the leading end of the recording paper 17 and sends a leading end detection signal to the controller 26. The controller 26 conveys the recording paper 17 by controlling the rotation of the motor 19 based on the leading edge detection signal. Further, the controller 26 detects the timing at which the recording paper 17 passes through each of the heads 24 and 25 based on the number of drive pulses of the motor 19 during this conveyance, and specifies the recording start position and the drying start position.

The ink jet head 24 and the hot air head 25 for drying include a first and a second pair of conveying rollers 20 and 2.
1 in the recording paper feed direction.
Each of the heads 24 and 25 is arranged in parallel with a recording paper width direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the recording paper 17 feeding direction. A platen roller 2 is provided below each of the heads 24 and 25.
7, 28 are arranged, and these platen rollers 2
Reference numerals 7 and 28 support the recording paper 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet head 24 has nozzles 30, 31, 32, and 33 for line recording of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Are provided side by side in the main scanning direction A. As is well known, a piezo element is arranged in the ink flow path near each of the nozzles 30 to 33 in the inkjet head 24. By contracting and expanding the ink flow path by the piezo element, ink is ejected and supplied.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the driving of each piezo element is controlled by an ink jet head driving unit 35. The inkjet head driving unit 35 supplies a driving signal according to image data to each piezo element. The controller 26 is connected to the inkjet head driving unit 35. The controller 26 has a frame memory 36
Is connected, and image data from an image reading device or an image output device is written into the frame memory 36.

As shown in FIG. 1, by supplying a driving signal corresponding to the image data to each piezo element from the ink jet head driving unit 35, ink droplets having a size and a number corresponding to the image data are formed on the recording paper 17. And the ink droplets adhere to the recording paper 17. As a result, a full-color image is recorded on the recording paper 17 by attaching Y, M, C, and K inks. In the present embodiment, high-quality printing is realized by using both the dot diameter control method and the dot density control method as a gradation expression method. This is one of the dot diameter control method and the dot density control method. May be adopted. Note that each line is formed at a constant pitch in the sub-scanning direction B, and the piezo elements of each color are driven by shifting the image data to be recorded. As a result, eventually, ink droplets based on the same color image data are recorded on the same line.

As shown in FIG. 3, a platen roller 27 disposed below the ink jet head 24 is mounted on a movable frame 40. The movable frame 40 is rotatably attached to a machine frame (not shown). An ink receiving pad 41 is attached to the movable frame 40 in addition to the platen roller 27. Further, a swing mechanism 42 is connected to the movable frame 40. The swing mechanism 42 swings the movable frame 40, and selectively sets the movable frame 40 to a print position or a cleaning position.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the platen roller 27 faces each nozzle of the ink jet head 24 at the print position. Also, as shown in FIG.
At the cleaning position, the ink receiving pad 41 faces each nozzle of the inkjet head 24. An ink receiving groove 41a is formed in the ink receiving pad 41, and receives the ejected ink and sucks it. The sucked ink is sent to a waste ink tank (both not shown) via a tube.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hot air head 25 is configured by attaching a heater 51 and a fan 52 to a frame 50. The frame 50 is formed in an elongated box shape, and the drying air outlet 50a is narrowed and formed in an elongated slit shape. The heaters 51 are wound in a coil shape and arranged in the sub-scanning direction B, and are arranged in a large number in the main scanning direction A. As shown in FIG. 1, each heater 51 is controlled by the controller 26 via a heater driver 53. The arrangement direction and the number of the heaters 51 may be appropriately changed.

The fan 52 is formed in a thin rectangular box shape.
For example, six are arranged in the main scanning direction A and attached to the upper portion of the frame 50. As shown in FIG.
Is provided with a motor 56 and a blower blade 57 provided in a fan case 55. The rotation of the motor 56 is controlled by the controller 26 via the driver 58 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the warm air heated by each heater 51 blows out from the outlet 50 a of the warm air head 25. The ink discharged on the recording paper 17 is dried quickly by the hot air.

The memory 26a of the controller 26 stores data for creating a head state check pattern 61. Based on this data for creation, the controller 2
6, a head state check pattern 61 is formed at the tip of the first image 60 for each order, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a head state check pattern 61 and a line sensor 62 for detecting the same. The head state check pattern 61 includes a plurality of line patterns 61a to 61h for each color. The line patterns 61a to 61h are arranged in the main scanning direction A at a predetermined pitch so that pixels by ink ejection from each nozzle can be detected for each nozzle. Also, the line pattern 61 for this pitch
a to 61h are provided side by side in the sub-scanning direction B. In the present embodiment, the pitch is set for two nozzles,
Thus, two line patterns are provided for each color. The pitch may be n nozzles (n is a natural number). In this case, n line patterns are recorded.

As described above, since a gap is formed between the pixels P, the pixels P and the nozzles 30 to 33 that record the pixels P are formed.
Can be easily grasped. Further, as described later, when the head state check pattern 61 is read by the line sensor 62, even if the array density of the light receiving elements 62a is not as high as the density of the recording pixels P, a gap is formed between the pixels P in this manner. By recording so that the nozzles 30 to 33 are provided, the pixels P due to the nozzles 30 to 33 can be easily and reliably associated with the line sensor 62.

The check pattern reading section 65 has a line sensor 62 as shown in FIG. The line sensor 62 has a large number of light receiving elements 62a arranged side by side in the width direction (main scanning direction A) of the recording paper 17, and reads an image in synchronization with the feeding of the recording paper 17. This read signal is sent to the controller 26. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a head state check pattern 61 is formed at the leading end of the recording paper 17 at the head of the order, so that the passage of the leading end of the recording paper 17 is detected to detect the head state. The recording area of the check pattern 61 is specified, and reading of the head state check pattern 61 is started. Then, the controller 26 analyzes the read signal of the area where the check pattern 61 is recorded, and determines whether or not the read signal indicates the head state check pattern 61. This determination is made by, for example, a well-known pattern recognition technique. The distance between the inkjet head 24 and the line sensor 62 in the recording paper transport direction is preferably shorter than the minimum length of the recording paper in the transport direction. Thus, when there is an abnormality in the head state check pattern, subsequent printing can be immediately stopped, and the problem of producing useless prints is improved.

When the head state check pattern 61 is detected by this determination, the controller 26 sends a sort signal to the sorter 13 and performs a head state check process. The sorter 13 that has received the sort signal sets a new tray 70 at the print discharge position. As a result, the prints 71 constituting one order are inserted into one tray 70 for each order, and are united for each order.

The sorter 13 is configured by arranging a number of trays 70 on endless members such as a belt conveyor 72. Then, based on the detection signal of the head state check pattern 61 as a sort mark, the belt conveyor 72 is driven to rotate by the mounting pitch of each tray 70, so that a new tray 70 is set at the print drop position.

In the head state check processing, first, the density of each pixel P of the head state check pattern 61 is detected based on a read signal from the line sensor 62.
When the density of each pixel P does not exceed the reference value,
The nozzle on which the pixel P is recorded is determined to be malfunctioning. For example, in FIG. 7, the third of the yellow odd-numbered line patterns
Since the density of the pixel P3 is low, the third nozzle on which the pixel P3 is recorded is determined to be a malfunction nozzle. Head cleaning is performed on the nozzles determined to be malfunctioning before recording on the next recording paper 17.

This head cleaning is performed when the recording paper 17 is not facing the ink jet head 24. That is, the recording is performed after the recording on the recording paper 17 is completed and before the next recording paper is sent. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the ink receiving pad 41 is set at a position facing the nozzle via the swing mechanism 42 and the movable frame 40. Then, ink clogging is eliminated by vigorously ejecting ink from the nozzle determined to be malfunctioning. The ink discharged for cleaning is collected in the ink receiving groove 41a of the ink receiving pad 41, and is stored in a waste ink tank via a tube. Since this cleaning is performed only for the malfunctioning nozzles, the nozzles can be efficiently cleaned without wasteful consumption of ink.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When a print key or the like is operated to input a print start instruction, as shown in FIG. 1, first, the motor 19 is driven, and the paper feed roller 16 and the transport roller pairs 20 to 22 are rotated.
Thereby, the recording paper 17 is sent out to the image recording unit 11. When the leading end of the recording paper 17 passes through the first transport roller pair 20, the recording paper sensor 23 detects the passage of the leading end of the recording paper. As a result, the clutch 18 is disengaged, and the paper feed roller 16 rotates freely.

Further, the controller 26 determines whether the leading end of the recording paper 17 is the head 24 or 2 based on the recording paper leading end detection signal from the recording paper sensor 23 and the number of driving pulses of the motor 19.
5 is specified. The heads 24 and 25 are driven based on the specified timing. As a result, in the inkjet head 24, predetermined ink droplets are ejected from each of the nozzles 30 to 33 in accordance with the image data, and inkjet recording is performed. The hot air head 25 for drying blows out hot air toward the recording paper 17. Thereby, the ejected ink dries efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 6, at the break of each order,
A head state check pattern 61 is recorded by the inkjet head 25 at the leading end of the first print in the same order. At the time of recording the head state check pattern 61, for example, first, the odd-numbered K nozzles are driven to record the pixels P one by one, forming the odd-numbered line pattern 61a. Next, only one line of recording paper 17
Is sent, the even-numbered K nozzles are driven, and the pixels P are recorded one by one in the same manner, forming the even-numbered line pattern 61b. Similarly, line patterns 61c to 61h are formed for the other colors of Y, M, and C, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the check pattern reading section 65, the line sensor 62 reads an image in an area where the head state check pattern 61 is recorded. When the head state check pattern 61 is recorded based on the read signal, a sort signal is issued, and a head state check process is performed to identify a malfunction nozzle. If there is a malfunctioning nozzle, head cleaning is performed on the malfunctioning nozzle before recording an image on the next recording paper 17.

In this head cleaning, as shown in FIG. 3, the swing frame 42 moves the movable frame 40 from the print position shown in (A) to the cleaning position shown in (B). Thereby, the ink jet head 2
The ink receiving pad 41 is positioned at each of the nozzles 4. Thereafter, ink is vigorously ejected from nozzles determined to be malfunctioning, and cleaning is performed. This eliminates ink clogging.

If a malfunction is still detected after cleaning, an alarm is issued to notify the operator of ink clogging. The operator has selected a separate cleaning mode for this alarm,
Clean the nozzle. In this cleaning mode, for example, ink discharge stronger than normal discharge is performed, and efficient cleaning is performed.

Instead of or in combination with such cleaning by discharging ink, cleaning may be performed by suctioning ink or wiping off ink adhering to nozzles. In ink suction, a suction head is applied from the outside of the nozzle, and the nozzle is cleaned by sucking ink by suction. In the wiping process of the attached ink, cleaning is performed by wiping the ink attached to the nozzles. Also, instead of performing such separate cleaning, these separate cleanings may be performed first on malfunctioning nozzles. If ink clogging is not eliminated by such various cleaning processes, replacement of the inkjet head is performed.

The print 71 on which ink jet recording has been performed is discharged to a tray 70. Then, in the case of the print 71 on which the head state check pattern 61 is recorded, before the print 71 is discharged to the tray 70,
A sort signal is issued, one tray 70 is sent, and a new tray 70 is set at the print discharge position. As described above, the tray 70 is sent based on the sort signal, so that each tray 70 has prints 71 in the same order.
Are accumulated.

In the above-described embodiment, the head state check pattern 61 is recorded at the leading end position of the leading image of each order at the break of each order. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The head state check pattern may be recorded at the leading end position of the last image of. Instead of recording the head state check pattern 61 at the front end position of the image, a head state check pattern may be recorded at the rear end position of the image.

The head state check pattern 61
May be recorded for each image instead of recording for each order, and in this case, the head state can be monitored for each image recording. Further, the head state check pattern 61 may be recorded every time a fixed number of images are recorded. For example, when 10 images are recorded, when the recording paper 17 is replaced, when a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes, has passed and the leading end of the image passes, or when the first print after the start-up inspection, etc. , A head state check pattern 61 may be recorded.

Before recording the head state check pattern 61, the head may be cleaned by discharging ink from each nozzle, and thereafter, the head state check pattern may be recorded. Head cleaning
As shown in (B), the ink receiving pad 31 is
Alternatively, the cleaning pattern may be recorded by discharging ink onto the recording paper 17.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a complete head state check pattern 61 for one head is recorded at the leading or trailing end of the leading or trailing image for each order. Instead, the head state check patterns 61a and 61b for K are recorded in the first image,
The next image has a head state check pattern 61 for Y.
c and 61d, the next image is the M head state check patterns 61e and 61f, and the next image is the C head state check patterns 61g and 61h. Is also good. In the case of such a decomposition record, it may be performed for each image in the same order,
Alternatively, it may be performed for each order. When a head status check pattern divided for each order is recorded, a sort mark for identifying each order is separately recorded, and a sort signal is generated based on a detection signal of the sort mark. Constitute.

In the above embodiment, the head state check pattern is recorded at the leading end or the trailing end of each image. In addition, the head state check pattern 61 is not recorded together with the image, as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, the prints may be recorded as separate prints 80 and 81. In this case, the order information and the print reorder slip are printed in the margins of the prints 80 and 81, and these are used to separate each order.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an order information print. In this order information print 80, in addition to a head state check pattern 83, an order information recording section 84 and a print reorder slip 85 are recorded. ing. The order information recording unit 84 records a customer name, a contact telephone number, a reception date and time, an order number, the number of prints, a print fee, and the like, and also records the number of prints for each print identification number. The print reorder slip 85 has a print identification number and a desired print quantity entry field.

FIG. 9 shows an order information print 8 provided with an index image 88 composed of a list of thumbnail images 87 in which each ordered image is reduced in addition to the order information recording section 86.
1 shows an example. By recording the head state check pattern 89 on the order information print 81 in this manner, the head state check pattern 89 is not recorded in the image print as a product, so that the product value is not lost.

In the above embodiment, by driving each nozzle at a predetermined interval, the interval between pixels to be recorded is increased so that the case where the array density of the number of light receiving elements is lower than the array density of the nozzles. However, when the arrangement density of the number of light receiving elements is the same as the arrangement density of the nozzles, or when scanning the sensor to read each pixel as described later, the nozzles are simultaneously driven and one line is used. A head state check pattern may be formed.

In the above embodiment, the head state check pattern 61 is read by the line sensor 62. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the line sensor 100 is moved in the main scanning direction A in parallel. The head state check pattern 61 may be read. In this case, the line sensor 100 is configured by arranging the light receiving elements 100a in the sub-scanning direction B.
Are translated in the main scanning direction A by the scanning mechanism 101. Then, a mark sensor 103 is separately provided,
Based on the mark detection signal from the mark sensor 103, the head state check pattern 61 is positioned at the check pattern reading position.

Also, without using the line sensor 100, a scanning sensor composed of one or a plurality of light receiving elements may be sent by the scanning mechanism in the main scanning direction A, and each line pattern may be read one by one or a plurality of lines. .
In this case, the recording paper is fed by one or more lines after the reading, and the next line pattern is read, and thereafter, this is repeated to read the head state check pattern. When reading the check pattern by moving the sensor by the scanning mechanism, it is necessary to stop the recording paper, so that the head state check pattern is preferably recorded at the rear end of the image. In this case, since the printing on the recording paper has already been completed, even if the recording paper is stopped, the inconvenience that the printing is interrupted in the middle of the image is eliminated.

In the above embodiment, the pixel P and the nozzle on which the pixel P is recorded are associated in a one-to-one relationship. However, the relationship is not limited to one-to-one, and the pixel P recorded by a plurality of nozzles is not limited to one-to-one. When the density is detected and the detected density does not reach the predetermined value, cleaning may be simultaneously performed on the plurality of nozzles.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording sheet cassette 15 is loaded with the cut sheet-shaped recording paper 17 and is supplied to the image recording section 12. In addition to this, although not shown, the recording paper magazine is used. When the roll paper is loaded, the recording paper is cut into a predetermined length to form a cut sheet when the roll paper is supplied to the image recording unit 12, and the present invention is also applied to the case where printing is performed on the cut sheet. Is also good.

In the above embodiment, the heater 51 is uniformly driven to dry the ink on the recording paper. Alternatively, the applied heat energy by the drying air may be controlled in accordance with the ink discharge amount. For example, a unit drying area is defined, the relationship between the total ink ejection amount in this unit drying area and the applied heat energy at this time is determined in advance, and the heater corresponding to the unit drying area is set to a temperature in accordance with the ink ejection amount. Control. Thereby, efficient drying according to the ink ejection amount can be performed.

Drying of the ink may be performed by preheating the recording paper using a thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged, instead of using the warm air head 25. Also,
The platen roller may be dried by incorporating a heater in the platen roller. Furthermore, these hot air heads, thermal heads,
Alternatively, drying may be performed by combining a platen roller with a built-in heater. Further, the ink may be naturally dried without using a preheating device or a drying device.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG.
In each of the inkjet heads 24, the Y, M, C, and K nozzles 30 to 33 are formed in a line shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be carried out for those that have been. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, an inkjet head 110 for K having a nozzle for black ink,
Two print stages 112, 1 using ink jet heads 111 having respective nozzles of Y, M, and C for each color.
13, the print stages 112, 11
The thermal heads 114 and 11 are respectively provided on the recording surface side at the upstream side in the recording paper feeding direction.
5 is provided. The thermal heads 114 and 115 are provided with a number of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction. Then, the amount of ink ejected to the unit heating area on the recording paper by one heating element is obtained from the image data, and the amount of heating is controlled according to the amount of ink ejected to the unit heating area. Thus, when the ejection amount is large, the heating amount is increased, and the ink is dried efficiently and in a short time.

Also in this embodiment, each head 11
Using 0, 111, the head state check pattern 61
At the leading or trailing edge of the image. By reading the head state check pattern 61 by the check pattern reading unit 65, a malfunction nozzle is specified. In addition,
11 and 12, the same components as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the duplicate description is omitted. Note that instead of the thermal heads 114 and 115,
A warm air head 25 as shown in FIG. 1 may be used. In this case, the warm air head is arranged downstream of the inkjet heads 110 and 111 in the recording paper feeding direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, the K inkjet head 120 and the Y inkjet head 121 are used.
, An inkjet head 122 for M, and an inkjet head 123 for C,
To 128, and each of these print stages 125 to 125
The hot air heads 130, 131, 132, and 1 are located downstream of the 128 heads 120 to 123 in the recording paper feed direction.
33 are provided. Then, using each of the heads 120 to 123, the head state check pattern 61 is recorded at the leading end or the trailing end of the image, and is read by the check pattern reading section 65, thereby specifying the malfunction nozzle. In addition,
Also in this embodiment, by arranging the thermal head at a position as shown in FIG. 11, the recording paper may be preheated by the thermal head instead of the warm air head, and the ejected ink may be dried.

As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzles 30 to 3 for each color
3 may be formed by a plurality of lines in addition to being formed in one line. In this case, the nozzle density in the main scanning direction is reduced by an amount corresponding to the increase in the number of lines, thereby facilitating the manufacture. Further, instead of the nozzle having a length corresponding to the entire width of the recording paper 17, a plurality of inkjet heads having a short length in the width direction of the recording paper are used, and these are combined to form an ink jet head having a long width in the width direction of the recording paper. A head may be configured.

In the above embodiment, ink clogging in each nozzle of the ink jet head is detected. However, other than this, an operation failure of a recording element in a printer of another recording method may be detected. For example, when checking for a malfunction of the printing element of the thermal head, the malfunction is corrected by correcting the heating drive data of the malfunctioning printing element. The present invention is not limited to a thermal printer, and the present invention may be applied to a printer that exposes an instant film with a light emitting element head in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged.

In the above embodiment, the ink jet heads 24, 110, 111, 120-1 having the piezo elements are used.
Although 23 is used, various mechanisms for ejecting ink may be applied. For example, a flow control valve system comprising a piezo element and a diaphragm, a thermal ink jet system in which a heating element is used to heat ink liquid to generate bubbles and eject ink, and an ink droplet is formed by using an electrode. A continuous ink jet system that applies electric charge, collects unnecessary droplets with a deflection electrode on a baffle plate, and discharges necessary ink droplets on recording paper, applies a high voltage according to image signals, and uses this high voltage Various ink jet systems such as an electrostatic suction ink jet system in which ink droplets are sucked onto recording paper and an ultrasonic ink jet system in which ink droplets are generated by vibrating an ink liquid using ultrasonic waves may be used.
Further, the ink used may be other color inks such as light magenta and light cyan in addition to Y, M, C and K.

[0053]

According to the present invention, since the head state check pattern is recorded on the cut sheet recording paper, it is possible to easily detect a malfunction of the recording element. In particular, by recording the head state check pattern at each image boundary, at each order, at a certain number of images, at a certain time, or at every time the recording paper roll is replaced, an operation suitable for each recording device is performed. A defect inspection period can be set. In addition, since the malfunction of the printing element is detected by scanning the head state check pattern, the malfunctioning printing element can be reliably detected.

Further, by recording the head state check pattern at the end of the image, the head state check pattern is not conspicuous, and the product quality is not significantly impaired. In addition, there is no need to separately prepare recording paper, and the configuration is simplified.

By recording the head state check pattern on a recording sheet different from the recording sheet on which the image is recorded,
Since the head state check pattern is not recorded in the print image, the product quality is not impaired. Further, by recording the print order information corresponding to the image on the recording paper, the print can be reliably identified from those of other orders.

The recording head is an ink-jet head. The clogging of each nozzle of the ink-jet head and the variation of the ejection amount are inspected by the head state check pattern to identify a malfunctioning nozzle, and an alarm or head recovery operation is performed. Accordingly, occurrence of defective printing due to nozzle clogging or the like can be suppressed.

A control unit which has print data of a head state check pattern indicating a print state of a pixel corresponding to each print element by driving each print element, and prints the head state check pattern on the printing paper based on the print data. , The state of the head can be checked appropriately. In addition, since there is provided a means for reading the head state check pattern and a means for specifying a malfunctioning recording element based on the low density pixels in the read pattern, the malfunctioning printing element can be automatically identified. Can be reliably performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an ink jet printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing the ink jet head.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views showing an inkjet head, a platen roller, and an ink receiving pad, wherein FIG. 3A shows a printing state and FIG. 3B shows a cleaning state.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a hot air head.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a warm air head.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an example of a print in which a head state check pattern is recorded.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a head state check pattern and a line sensor.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of an order information print on which a head state check pattern is recorded.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of an order information print on which a head state check pattern and an index image are recorded.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a check pattern reading method according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment using two sets of an ink jet head and a thermal head.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment using four sets of ink jet heads and hot air heads.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink jet printer 11 Paper supply part 12 Image recording part 13 Sorter 17 Recording paper 20-22 Conveyance roller pair 27,28 Platen roller 24,90,110,111,120-123 Inkjet head 60 Image 61 Head state check pattern 62,100 Line sensor 65 Check pattern reading unit 114, 115 Thermal head

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyotaka Kaneko 798- Address Miyagidai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Hosono 798- Address Miyagidai, Kaisei-cho, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa Fuji Photo Film Incorporated F term (reference) 2C056 EA06 EA08 EB27 EB40 EC07 EC26 EC53 FA13 HA46 2C061 AQ05 AS06 KK03 KK13 KK18

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A method of recording an image on a recording sheet by feeding a cut sheet recording paper or a recording head in a sub-scanning direction using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a main scanning direction. An image recording method characterized by recording a head state check pattern on paper. 2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the head state check pattern is scanned to detect a malfunction of a recording element. 3. The head status check pattern is recorded every order, every fixed number of images, every fixed time, or every time a recording paper roll is replaced. Image recording method. 4. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein said head state check pattern is recorded at an end of an image. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head state check pattern is recorded on a recording sheet different from the recording sheet on which the image is recorded, and print order information corresponding to the image is recorded on the recording sheet. Item 4. The image recording method according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 6. The recording head is an ink-jet head, the clogging of each nozzle of the ink-jet head and a variation in ejection amount are inspected by the head state check pattern to identify a malfunctioning nozzle, and an alarm or head recovery operation is performed. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed. 7. An image recording apparatus which uses a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a main scanning direction, feeds a cut sheet recording paper or a recording head in a sub scanning direction, and records an image on the recording paper. A control unit configured to have recording data of a head state check pattern representing a recording state of a pixel corresponding to each recording element by driving each of the recording elements, and record a head state check pattern on the recording paper based on the recording data. An image recording apparatus characterized in that: 8. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for reading said head state check pattern, and means for specifying a malfunctioning printing element based on a low density pixel in the read pattern. Item 8. The image recording device according to Item 7. 9. An image recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for performing an alarm or a recovery operation of the malfunction when the malfunction recording element is specified by the malfunction recording element specifying means. apparatus. 10. The recording head is an ink jet head in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged, and the means for performing a recovery operation for the operation failure includes discharging the ink to the nozzle having the operation failure, and supplying the ink from the outside. The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one head recovery operation of suction and wiping of a nozzle surface is performed. 11. A printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for heating the recording paper before recording from the recording surface side.
0. The image recording apparatus according to any one of the above.