JPH05270012A - Ink jet color recording device and drive device for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate color recording wherein a single color ink jet recording device is used by mounting a recording head which provides information for the kind of head to a mount part, to which different kind of single color recording head can be selectively mounted. CONSTITUTION:When record data comes into a recording device, kind of the record data and kind of record head is recognized by a data kind judging means to judge whether or not these are in conformity with each other. When the record data conforms with the record head, said record data is selected to send a signal for said data to a record element of the record head, which signal is recorded in a recording medium. When the record data is not in conformity with the record head, processing is changed by record modes. As one of the modes, a user is required to judge whether recording is interrupted and recording is continued using said record head as is or whether a record head corresponding to the record data is used. As other mode, data other than the data corresponding to the record head is prohibited ad said data is received only without recording it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color ink jet recording method and apparatus utilizing single color ink jet recording, and further to an epoch-making invention in which a single color ink jet recording apparatus can be used as a color recording apparatus. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to an apparatus that records liquid ink (hereinafter, simply referred to as ink) on a transparent recording medium such as paper, cloth, and OHP sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Although a method of recording a liquid ink by adhering it to a recording medium for forming a color recorded image is known before electrophotographic color recording, there are few products to be used, and in the market, it is exclusively electronic. Photographic color recording devices are the mainstream. Generally, a recording medium that supplies a recording medium to a recording apparatus and is ejected from the apparatus on which color images of a plurality of colors are formed is known as a color recording apparatus.

As the ink jet recording apparatus, a monochromatic ink jet recording apparatus capable of monochrome monochromatic recording and a color ink jet recording apparatus performing color recording have been put on the market in recent years, but the former is inexpensive, while the latter is It is expensive and the device becomes large. In particular, a color ink jet recording apparatus can record various kinds of recording media such as plain paper and OH even if sufficient recording can be performed on a specific recording medium.
A sheet known as a P sheet sometimes had a relatively poor image quality.

On the other hand, for a user who uses a monochrome ink jet recording apparatus, although the request frequency is low,
There is a tendency to require color records. As a result, there is a demand for a color ink jet recording apparatus that is small and inexpensive and can be used more easily by users.

(Background Art) By the way, in order to perform recording of other colors by using a single color ink jet recording apparatus, a similar recording head or an ink tank integrated recording head can be put into practical use. In this case, the recording signal itself is constant,
Only the same image to be printed is printed with different ink colors.

In the present invention, based on such a background assumption, multicolored colors are converted into color information signals (color-separated).
According to the above, when the recording is performed on the same recording medium which is recorded by the monochromatic recording apparatus, the following problems are found and the technical problem is found out.

That is, for example, in a recording apparatus in which it is decided to receive color-separated information for each color, and an ink recording head suitable for that color in the order of the information is not attached to the recording apparatus, Of course, the desired image cannot be obtained. The main reason for this is that in order to mount ink recording heads of different colors on the same mounting part, it is necessary to make the head shapes almost the same,
This may cause an erroneous operation by the operator. This is remarkable in heads that respectively include inks of the same color but different densities (also referred to as print heads including different conditions).

The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems, and multi-color color using a single-color recording mode that ensures proper single-color mode recording by cooking in various information transmission / reception systems. It is characterized by being able to achieve records.

As a recording signal, information separated by color on the host side is sequentially (determined color order or random),
Alternatively, information can be selected by an example in which it is sent to the recording device side at the same time, information that is input to the memory on the recording device side is color separated inside the recording device, or one that has a color identification memory on the recording device side. Alternatively, it is possible to envisage an example of having a driver that sends color information to the recording head in a specified order.

Further, as means for judging or selecting any one of the above information, head information (bar code, magnetic information, optical detection display or mechanical shape (protrusion) indicating which ink characteristic of the head is used. (Including the presence or absence of each), a means for permitting recording by matching the recorded information with an ID) including a change, a means for permitting recording only with information that the head itself is suitable for the head, and a predetermined color information sequence attached. Examples thereof include a means for determining the order of heads, a determination means including a display to the user, and the like.

The advantages of the color ink jet recording method using the single color ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below. This is intended to improve the processability of recorded data and the operability for the user in a color inkjet recording method using a single color inkjet recording device instead of the conventional inkjet color recording device.

In a conventional ink jet color recording apparatus, research has been conducted on how to supply a plurality of colors of ink to a recording medium in a recording area in a short time to prevent ink flow and form a high quality color image. However, under the present circumstances, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient image if the specific condition is not satisfied. That is, when a plurality of inks are supplied, not only the inks but also the expansion of the recording medium and the occurrence of extra color mixture due to the ink overflow can be seen. On the other hand, like a single-color inkjet recording device, when a recording medium is recorded in a single color and then ejected out of the device, the fixability of the image is relatively stable, and this recorded recording medium is supplied again from the paper feeding device. Then, due to sequential recording, at the time when the recording area is reached, the previously recorded image is completely fixed, and the state of the recording medium also returns to the state before performing the previously recorded ink recording. It turned out. Further, under this condition, if inks of different colors are printed on the image previously printed, the recording position of the preceding image is comparable to the position where the preceding image should be recorded on the recording medium before recording. The image formed by the ink color had high image quality and excellent color tone. Also, 3
The results were the same even when the above steps were performed using four types of ink.

Therefore, an ink jet color recording method capable of forming an excellent color image of at least two colors even with a single color ink jet recording apparatus is equipped with an ink recording means for ejecting a single color ink to record on a recording medium.
A monochrome ink jet recording apparatus including a detachable mounting portion, a supplying means for supplying a recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means, and a discharging means for discharging the recording medium passing through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus. An inkjet color recording method for forming a predetermined multi-color image on the same recording medium by using a first recording information for recording a first ink and the first ink mounted on the mounting portion. A first step of performing first ink recording on the recording medium supplied to the recording area by the supply means using the first ink recording means for discharging the ink, and discharging the recording medium to the outside by the discharging means; Second recording information for recording a second ink of a color different from that of the second ink and a second ink record for ejecting the second ink mounted in the mounting portion instead of the first ink recording means. And a second step of supplying the recording medium on which the first ink recording is performed to the recording area by the supplying means to perform the second ink recording and discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging means. Third recording information for recording a third ink of a color different from that of the second ink and third ink recording means for ejecting the third ink mounted in the mounting portion instead of the second ink recording means. An inkjet color using a recording medium on which the first and second ink recordings are made by supplying the recording medium to the recording area by the supplying means, performing third ink recording, and discharging the recording medium to the outside by the discharging means. It is a recording method.

According to the present invention, a more reliable color color image can be obtained by performing the above control method corresponding to the correlation between the print data and the print head in the above print method.

(Outline of the Invention) The present invention is a basic concept of an inkjet color recording method in which a recording medium supply / discharge step of single color inkjet recording is performed for each color. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that performs print control corresponding to various recording data or correlations of various recording heads by providing a means for discriminating.

[0016]

Embodiments of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

11 to 16 show ink jet unit IJU, ink jet head IJH, ink tank IT, ink jet cartridge IJC, ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and carriage HC which are suitable for implementing or applying the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the two. The configuration of each part will be described below with reference to these drawings.

(I) Schematic description of the apparatus main body FIG. 11 shows an ink jet recording apparatus I applied to the present invention.
It is an example of a general view of JRA. In the figure, the driving force transmission gear 501 is interlocked with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013.
Lead screw 500 rotating through 1,5009
The carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of No. 5 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC is equipped with an ink jet cartridge IJC. Reference numeral 5002 denotes a paper pressing plate that holds the paper platen 500 in the carriage moving direction.
Press against 0. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which are home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the carriage lever 5006 in this region and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap to perform suction recovery of the recording head through the inside-cap opening 5023. 5017 is a cleaning blade.
Reference numeral 019 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these members are supported by the main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form.

Further, FIG. 9 shows a structure of a cleaner for cleaning the cleaning blade 5017. The function is to absorb or scrape large ink droplets attached to the cleaning blade 5017 to prevent reattachment to the inkjet head IJH. Specifically, as shown in FIG. ***, the ink absorber 510 provided on the carriage 5014.
0 is intended to absorb the ink droplets adhering to the cleaning blade 5017. Although this absorber is provided on the carriage in this drawing, it may be fixed on the ink jet cartridge IJC to be dedicated, and may be disposable together with the IJC.

Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, and a cam 5020 for engaging with the carriage.
And the driving force from the drive motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the home position side area. Any desired operation can be applied to this example if desired operation is performed at the timing.

Inkjet cartridge IJ in this example
As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 12, C has a large ink storage ratio, and has a shape in which the tip portion of the ink jet unit IJU slightly projects from the front surface of the ink tank IT. The ink jet cartridge IJC is fixed and supported by a positioning means (to be described later) of a carriage HC (FIG. 11) mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus main body IJRA, and is attached to and detached from the carriage HC. It is a possible type.

(Ii) Description of ink jet unit IJU structure The ink jet unit IJU performs recording by using a large number of electrothermal converters that generate heat energy for causing film boiling to ink in response to an electric signal. It is a unit of the method.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 100 denotes an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) arranged in a plurality of rows on a Si substrate, and electric wiring such as Al for supplying electric power to the electrothermal converter, which is formed by a film forming technique. It is a heater board consisting of. Reference numeral 200 is a wiring board for the heater board 100.
A wire corresponding to the wire 00 (connected by wire bonding, for example) and a pad 201 located at the end of the wire and receiving an electric signal from the main body device.

Reference numeral 1300 denotes a grooved top plate provided with a partition wall and a common liquid chamber for partitioning a plurality of ink flow paths, and an ink receiving port 1500 for receiving the ink supplied from the ink tank and introducing it into the common liquid chamber. And an orifice plate 400 having a plurality of discharge ports are integrally molded. Polysulfone is preferable as the integrally molded material,
Other molding resin materials may be used.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a support member made of, for example, a metal that supports the back surface of the wiring board 200 on a flat surface and serves as a bottom plate of the ink jet unit. Reference numeral 500 denotes a presser spring, which has an M-shape and presses the common liquid chamber at the center of the M-shape, and at the same time the front portion 5
At 01, a part of the liquid passage is pressed by linear pressure. Heater board 10
0 and the top plate 1300 are pressed, and the foot portion of the spring is the support member 300.
By engaging the back surface side of the support body 300 through the holes 3121 of the support body 300 and engaging them with each other while sandwiching them, the pressing force of the pressing spring 500 and the front slant portion 501 causes the heater board 100 and The top plate 1300 is pressure-bonded and fixed. In addition, the support 300 is the ink tank IT 2
Positioning ridges 1012 and positioning holes 31 engaging with the positioning and heat-fusion-holding ridges 1800 and 1801.
In addition to having 2,1900 and 2000, the device main body IJRA
2500 for positioning the carriage HC of the
2600 is provided on the back side. In addition, the support 300 also has a hole 320 that allows an ink supply pipe 2200 (described later) that allows ink to be supplied from the ink tank to pass therethrough. The wiring board 200 is attached to the support 300 by adhering it with an adhesive or the like. The support 300
The concave portions 2400, 2400 of the ink jet printer are provided in the vicinity of the positioning protrusions 2500, 2600, respectively, and in the assembled ink jet cartridge IJC (FIG. 12), three sides of the concave portions are formed by a plurality of parallel grooves 3000, 3001. It is located at an extension point of the formed head end region so that unnecessary matters such as dust and ink do not reach the protrusions 2500 and 2600. This parallel groove 3000 is formed. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the lid member 800 forms an outer wall of the ink jet cartridge IJC and a space for accommodating the ink jet unit IJU. The ink supply member 600 in which the parallel groove 3001 is formed is the same as the ink supply tube 22 described above.
The ink conduit 1600 continuous to 00 is formed as a fixed cantilever on the supply pipe 2200 side, and a sealing pin 602 for securing a capillary phenomenon between the fixed side of the ink conduit and the ink supply pipe 2200 is inserted. Reference numeral 601 is a packing for sealing the ink tank IT and the supply pipe 2200, and 700 is a filter provided at the end of the supply pipe on the tank side.

Since the ink supply member 600 is molded, the ink supply member 600 is inexpensive, has a high positional accuracy, and eliminates a decrease in accuracy in forming and manufacturing. In addition, the cantilevered conduit 1600 is used for mass production. The pressure contact state of 1600 to the ink receiving port 1500 can be stabilized. In this example, it is possible to reliably obtain a complete communication state by simply pouring the sealing adhesive from the ink supply member side under this pressure contact state. The ink supply member 60
No. 0 is fixed to the support 300 by the hole 1 of the support 300.
Pins (not shown) on the back surface of the ink supply member 600 for the holes 901 and 1902 are provided in the holes 1901 and 190 of the support 300.
It is easily performed by projecting through through 2 and heat-sealing the portion projecting to the back surface side of the support 300. In addition,
The slightly projected area of the heat-sealed back surface is accommodated in the recess (not shown) in the ink jet unit IJU mounting surface side wall surface of the ink tank IT.
The positioning surface of U is accurately obtained.

(Iii) Description of ink tank IT structure In the ink tank, after inserting the cartridge main body 1000, the ink absorber 900, and the ink absorber 900 from the side opposite to the unit IJU mounting surface of the cartridge main body 1000, It is composed of a lid member 1100 for sealing this. Reference numeral 900 denotes an absorber for impregnating ink, which is arranged in the cartridge main body 1000.
Reference numeral 1200 is a unit I including the above parts 100 to 600.
It is a supply port for supplying ink to the JU, and the unit is connected to the cartridge cartridge main body part 1
It is also an injection port for impregnating the absorber 900 with ink by injecting the ink from the supply port 1200 in the step before arranging in 010.

In this embodiment, the ink can be supplied to the atmosphere communication port and the supply port. However, the rib 2300 in the main body 1000 and the lid member for good ink supply from the ink absorber. 1100 partial ribs 2500, 2
The air existing area in the tank formed by 400 and
The ink supply port 12 is continuously formed from the atmosphere communication port 1401 side.
Since it is formed over the farthest corner area from 00, it is important that the ink supply to the absorber is relatively good and uniform from the supply port 1200 side. This method is extremely effective in practice. The rib 1000 has four ribs parallel to the carriage movement direction on the rear surface of the main body 1000 of the ink tank to prevent the absorber from adhering to the rear surface.
In addition, the partial ribs 2400 and 2500 are the same as the rib 100.
It is provided on the inner surface of the lid member 1100 which is an extension corresponding to 0, but unlike the rib 1000, it is in a divided state, and the space in which air is present is increased compared to the former. The partial ribs 2500 and 2400 are the lid members 1.
It is distributed over less than half of the total area of 000. These ribs made it possible to more stably stabilize the ink in the corner region farthest from the tank supply port 1200 of the ink absorber, and surely guide it to the supply port 1200 side by capillary force. 1401 is an atmosphere communication port provided in the lid member for communicating the inside of the cartridge with the atmosphere. 1400
Is a liquid-generating material disposed inside the atmosphere communication port 1401, and thus ink leakage from the atmosphere communication port 1401 is prevented.

The above-mentioned arrangement of ribs is particularly effective because the ink storage space of the above-mentioned ink tank IT has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has its long sides on its side faces, but it is long in the moving direction of the carriage. In the case of having a side or a cube, the ribs may be provided on the entire lid member 1100 to stabilize the ink supply from the ink absorber 900.

The unit IJ of the ink tank IT is also
The configuration of the mounting surface of U is shown by FIG. Let L1 be a straight line that passes through substantially the center of the protrusion of the orifice plate 400 and is parallel to the mounting reference plane of the bottom surface of the tank IT or the surface of the carriage, and two positioning protrusions that engage with the holes 312 of the support 300. 1012 is on this straight line L1. The height of the protrusion 1012 is slightly lower than the thickness of the support 300, and the support 300 is positioned. On the extension of the straight line L1 in this drawing, there is located a pawl 2100 with which the 90 ° angle engaging surface 4002 of the carriage positioning hook 4001 is engaged, and the positioning force for the carriage is the straight line L1. It is configured to operate in a plane area parallel to the reference plane that includes. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 14, these relationships are effective because the positioning accuracy of only the ink tank is equivalent to the positioning accuracy of the head ejection port.

Further, the projections 1800 and 1801 of the ink tank corresponding to the fixing holes 1900 and 2000 on the side surface of the ink tank of the support 300 are longer than the above-mentioned protrusions 1012 and protrude through the support 300. This is for fixing the support 300 to the side surface by heat-sealing the portion. When the straight line passing through the protrusion 1800 perpendicular to the line L1 is L3 and the straight line passing through the protrusion 1801 is L2, the center of the supply port 1200 is located on the straight line L3. This is a preferable configuration because it acts to stabilize the connection state with the supply pipe 2200, and the load on these connection states can be reduced even when dropped or impacted. Also, the straight lines L2 and L3 do not match, and the head IJH
Around the protrusion 1012 on the discharge port side of the protrusions 1800, 180
1 is present, it further produces the reinforcing effect of positioning the head IJH with respect to the tank. The curve indicated by L4 is the outer wall position when the ink supply member 600 is mounted. Since the projections 1800 and 1801 are along the curve L4, sufficient strength and positional accuracy are given to the weight of the tip side structure of the head IJH. 270
Reference numeral 0 denotes a brim at the tip of the ink tank IT, which is inserted into a hole in the front plate 4000 of the carriage and is provided in case of an abnormal situation where the displacement of the ink tank becomes extremely bad. 21
Reference numeral 01 is an engagement portion with a further positioning portion with the carriage HC.

The ink tank IT has a shape that surrounds the unit IJU except for the lower opening by covering the unit IJU with the lid 800 after mounting the unit IJU. Since the lower opening for doing is close to the Carriage HC,
A substantial four-way surrounding space is formed. Therefore, although the heat generated from the head IJH in this enclosed space is effective as a heat retaining space in this space, the temperature rises slightly for long-term continuous use. Therefore, in this embodiment, a slit 1700 having a width smaller than this space is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge IJC in order to help the support body to radiate heat naturally, so that the temperature distribution of the entire unit IJU is prevented while preventing the temperature rise. It was possible to make the homogenization of the environment independent of the environment.

When assembled as an ink jet cartridge IJC, the ink is supplied to the inside of the supply tank 600 from the inside of the cartridge through the supply port 1200, the hole 320 provided in the support 300, and the introduction port provided on the back side of the supply tank 600. To the ink inlet 150 of the top plate 400 through the outlet.
Flow into the common liquid chamber via 0. A packing such as silicone rubber or butyl rubber is arranged at the connecting portion for ink communication in the above, and sealing is performed by this and an ink supply path is secured.

In this embodiment, the top plate 1300 is made of a resin such as polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polypropylene, etc., which has excellent ink resistance, and is integrally formed in the mold together with the orifice plate portion 400. It is molded at the same time.

As described above, since the integrally molded component is the ink supply member 600, the top plate / orifice plate integral, and the ink tank main body 1000, not only the assembly precision becomes a high level, but also it is extremely effective for improving the quality of mass production. Is. Further, since the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional one, excellent desired characteristics can be surely exhibited.

(Iv) Installation of Ink Jet Cartridge IJC to Carriage HC In FIG. 4, reference numeral 5000 is a platen roller that guides the recording medium P upward from below the paper surface. Carriage HC is
A front plate 4000 (thickness: 2 mm) that moves along the platen roller 3000 and is located on the front platen side of the carriage on the front side of the ink jet cartridge IJC.
And the pad 20 of the wiring board 200 of the cartridge IJC.
Flexible sheet 4005 having a pad 2011 corresponding to No. 1 and each pad 2011 from the back side.
Rubber pad 4 for generating elastic force to press against
A support plate 4003 for an electric connection portion holding 006 and a positioning hook 4001 for fixing the ink jet cartridge IJC to a recording position are provided. The front plate 4000 has the positioning protrusion surface 410 on the positioning protrusions 2500 and 260 of the support member 300 of the cartridge.
There are two of them corresponding to 0, respectively, and they receive a vertical force toward the projecting surface 4010 after mounting the cartridge. For this reason,
The reinforcing ribs have a plurality of ribs (not shown) on the platen roller side of the front plate, which are oriented in the direction of the vertical force. This rib also forms a head protection protrusion that protrudes slightly (about 0.1 mm) toward the platen roller from the front position L5 when the cartridge IJC is mounted. The supporting plate 4003 for the electrical connection portion is the reinforcing rib 400.
4 are provided in the vertical direction, not in the direction of the ribs, and the ratio of lateral projection from the platen side toward the hook 4001 side is reduced. This also has the function of inclining the position when the cartridge is attached as shown in the figure. or,
The supporting plate 4003 has a positioning surface 4008 on the platen side and a positioning surface 4007 on the hook side in order to stabilize the electrical contact state. A pad contact area is formed between these and a rubber pad with a pad corresponding to the pad 2011 is provided. The deformation amount of the sheet 4006 is uniquely defined. When these positioning surfaces are fixed at positions where the cartridge IJC can be recorded, they come into contact with the surface of the wiring board 300.
In this example, since the pads 201 of the wiring board 300 are distributed symmetrically with respect to the line L1 described above, the deformation amount of each bot of the rubber sheet 4006 is made uniform and the contact pressure of the pads 2011 and 201 is increased. More stable. The distribution of the pad 201 in this example is two rows above and two rows below.

The hook 4001 has an elongated hole that engages with the fixed shaft 4009, and the platen roller 500 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction from the position shown in the figure by utilizing the movement space of the elongated hole.
By moving to the left along 0, the ink jet cartridge IJC is positioned with respect to the carriage HC. The hook 4001 may be moved by any means, but it is preferable that the hook 4001 can be moved by a lever or the like. In any case, when the hook 4001 rotates, the cartridge IJC moves to the platen roller side, and the positioning protrusion 2500,
2600 moves to a position where it can abut the positioning surface 4010 of the front plate, and the hook 4001 moves to the left by 90 °.
Hook surface 4002 of the cartridge 2100 of the cartridge IJC
While contacting the 90 ° surface of the cartridge cartridge IJC, the cartridges IJC are swung in the horizontal plane around the contact area of the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010, and finally the contact between the pads 201 and 2011 starts. When the hook 4001 is held at a predetermined position, that is, a fixed position, the pads 201 and 2011 are in perfect contact with each other, the positioning surfaces 2500 and 4010 are in perfect contact with each other, and the 90-degree surface 4002 and the 90-degree surface of the claw are in contact with each other. The two-side contact and the surface contact between the wiring board 300 and the positioning surfaces 4007 and 4008 are simultaneously formed, and the holding of the cartridge ridge IJC to the carriage is completed.

(V) Description of Heater Board FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the heater board 100 of the head used in this embodiment. The temperature adjustment (sub) heater 8d for controlling the temperature of the head, the ejection portion array 8g in which the ejection (main) heater 8c for ejecting ink is arranged, and the drive element 8h are positioned as shown in FIG. Because of this, they are formed on the same substrate. By arranging each element on the same substrate in this way, the head temperature can be detected and controlled efficiently, and the head can be made compact and the manufacturing process can be simplified. The figure also shows the positional relationship of the cross section 8f of the outer peripheral wall of the top plate, which is divided into a region where the heater board is filled with ink and a region where it is not. The discharge heater 8d side of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate functions as a common liquid chamber. In addition, the liquid passage is formed by the groove portion formed on the discharge portion row 8g of the outer peripheral wall cross section 8f of the top plate.

(Vi) Description of Control Configuration Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of each unit of the above-described apparatus configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 10 is an interface for inputting a recording signal, 11 is an MPU, 1
Reference numeral 2 is a program ROM that stores a control program executed by the MPU 11, and 13 is a dynamic RAM that stores various data (the above-described recording signals and recording data supplied to the head). A gate array 14 controls the supply of print data to the print head 18, and also controls the transfer of data between the interface 10, the MPU 11, and the RAM 13. Reference numeral 20 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 18, and 19 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 15 is a head driver for driving the head, and 16 and 17 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 19 and the carrier motor 20, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing the details of each part of FIG. The gate array 14 includes a data latch 141,
It has a segment (SEG) shift register 142, a multiplexer (MPX) 143, a common (COM) timing generation circuit 144, and a decoder 145. The recording head 18 has a diode matrix configuration, and a drive current flows through the ejection heaters (H1 to H64) where the common signal COM and the segment signal SEG match, and the ink is heated and ejected.

The decoder 145 decodes the timing generated by the common timing generation circuit 144 and selects any one of the common signals COM1 to COM8. The data latch 141 latches the recording data read from the RAM 13 in units of 8 bits, and the multiplexer 143 stores the recording data in the segment shift register 1
According to 42, it outputs as segment signals SEG1-8. The output from the multiplexer 143 can be variously changed according to the contents of the shift register 142, such as 1 bit unit, 2 bit unit, or all 8 bits as described later.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 10, the recording signal is converted between the gate array 14 and the MPU 11 into recording data for printing. Then, the motor drivers 16 and 17 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 15 to perform printing.

(Vii) Description of Single Color Inkjet Color Recording Method Next, the single color inkjet color recording method using the above apparatus will be described below with reference to the system configuration diagram shown in FIG. As a constitution, a stable recording state is maintained from the recording means, the IJC unit and a blade for performing head maintenance on the IJC unit at the home position, a blade cleaner (first cleaner) for cleaning the blade, and the recording means. In order to do so, a recording unit which provides a recording signal to the recording unit and a recording unit, which includes an ink receiving member (second cleaner) for receiving the ejected ink, an ink forced ejection unit for forcibly ejecting the ink from the nozzle of the recording unit, and the like. A control unit having a memory driving means and a memory means such as a line buffer memory for giving a printing pattern to the recording element driving means, and a printer driver for correcting the printing pattern from the host to the control unit to the control unit. Na It is composed of the host unit. Further, it has a recording medium conveying means for recording an image on the recording medium by the recording means, and preferably a registration adjusting means for aligning the recording medium at that time. As a result, even if the same recording medium is conveyed a plurality of times by the recording medium conveying means to perform print recording, the position for each recording time is prevented from shifting. Further, it has a paper discharge means for discharging the recording medium after recording. At this time, some methods have already been shown for the sheet discharging means, but in general, a sheet discharging spur is generally used to discharge the recording medium after printing while holding the printing surface of the recording medium by the spur.

FIG. 1 shows the sequence of an example when the system of the ink jet color recording method is carried out. The procedure for performing print recording a plurality of times using the same recording medium is shown. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the first print recording is about to be performed. 6005 is an auto sheet feeder and 6001 is a pickup roller. Reference numeral 6002 denotes a needle roller, which is installed in pressure contact with the platen roller 5000 in parallel and generates a conveying force for feeding the recording medium in the conveying direction. 60
Reference numeral 03 denotes a paper ejection spur, which is also for generating a conveying force for paper ejection with the paper ejection roller 6004. FIG. 1B shows a state in which the recording medium after the printing is once completed and the sheet is discharged is reset in the auto sheet feeder 6005 and the IJC is replaced with another type. Therefore, the state in which the ink (A) printed by the first print recording is attached on the recording medium is shown. FIG. 1C shows a state in which the recording medium is set for exchanging the IJC again for printing and recording.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an image printed according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the printing state at the end of the first printing. Figure 3 shows the state at the end of the second printing,
FIG. 4 shows the state at the end of the third printing.
Any known image processing may be used for the print pattern, and dot superposition may or may not be used. Further, it is possible to provide density gradation and area gradation by combining with IJC of large and small ink density and ink ejection amount.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which spur traces are output only when passing over different inks. FIG. 7A is a diagram of a paper ejection system using an ink non-transfer paper ejection spur, FIG. 7B is a diagram using a star-shaped paper ejection spur, and which is a spur cleaner that co-rotates with the spur, which is not shown in the figure. In the case of, there is also a combined type.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the structure of the cleaning unit of the recording apparatus main body used in the present invention. 70
Reference numeral 00 denotes an ink absorber for absorbing and removing ink droplets attached to the cleaning blade 5017. The operation is such that ink around the nozzle of the IJC is scraped off and then the ink is made to come to the absorber of 7000. This ink absorber may be attached to the carriage or to the IJC. In the case of being attached to IJC, it can be a very preferable configuration in terms of durability and color mixing.

First, consider printing in CMYK. The head of Y is attached to the recording device and the recording medium is set. At this time, an auto sheet feeder may be used to register the recording medium. That is, a structure that allows vertical registration to be performed or performs a vertical registration operation, and uses a side plate for positioning according to the paper width to match the horizontal registration, or a horizontal registration operation that presses against a reference side plate Preferably. Next, the host sends Y data to the printing apparatus to start printing. In this way, when the Y data is first printed, it is normally ejected. Of course, if the printer driver receives a print command of a different color during printing, the head may be replaced during printing without discharging the paper. Next, when printing M, the recording medium once ejected is inserted again into the auto sheet feeder. Next, IJC is replaced with M and printing is performed again. At this time, a certain degree of registration accuracy can be ensured for the registration by the above-mentioned configuration that allows registration to be completed or the registration operation. When such an automatic sheet feeder is not used, a manual sheet feeding section may be provided with an abutting section or positioning marks. After that, color printing is completed by repeating printing in the same manner.

Normally, in this mono-color printing, printing is performed in a single color, and therefore, in comparison with a printing apparatus having a plurality of recording elements of different colors on the same carriage, printing is performed at substantially the same time, as a result of color mixture bleeding and boundary bleeding. It is very difficult to cause image defects such as. Therefore, it is possible to print with very high image quality without using a special paper such as coated paper. Furthermore, even if the same recording medium that has been printed at least the first time is re-passed, it will take at least several tens of seconds for head replacement and data exchange, so retransfer of ink to the paper feed system and others. Etc. are less likely to occur.

In some cases, it may be better to change the printing order depending on the color type, print pattern, and recording medium type.
For example, when there is a background color when printing and a pattern such as characters is on it. That is, when there is a print area surrounded by the background color, it is better to print the portion surrounded by the background color such as characters and lines last.

This may be extracted by software such as a printer driver to instruct the optimum printing order. In addition, it is possible to print multiple times using different nozzles called staggered or reverse zigzag overlay printing or fine mode, which is usually performed in color printing, and use a method to eliminate image defects due to uneven discharge amount of nozzles and twisting. Is also good. At this time, as a method, the first printing may be performed with the thinned pattern, and after the paper is discharged, the pattern thinned by the same head or a different head may be interpolated. Further, the image may be completed by feeding the paper and scanning a plurality of times such that at least one nozzle is displaced from the number of used nozzles. Further, an image improving method may be added in which the number of used nozzles is changed for each color or the registration position of the joint between lines is changed. Also, in the case of mono-color, since printing is usually performed by superposing each single color, unlike a color ink jet that has a plurality of recording heads arranged side by side, the order in which colors are imprinted is different on the forward and return paths even when bidirectional printing is performed. Since there is no such a case, even if bidirectional color printing is performed, there is no difference in color tone due to the difference in the order of driving in the forward pass and the return pass, so bidirectional printing is possible without special color tone control, so there is no bleeding, Moreover, since the color tone is stable, it is possible to obtain a color printed matter with a considerably high image quality.

Up to now, it has been described that high-quality printing can be obtained, but when printing and recording a plurality of times on the same recording medium, the problem that has been solved by single-color printing may be highlighted. It is a matter of spur ejection. There are several practical examples of paper ejection spurs, but one of the most high-performance and simplest methods was to make the peripheral surface continuously contact the surface to be printed and rotate, and to use a material such as a fluorine compound. A device that has a high Hassui performance and is designed so that ink does not transfer to the peripheral surface has been put into practical use. In this case, not only when printing once on the same recording medium, but also when printing multiple times, do not transfer the ink of the printed part to the non-printing part and print without so-called spur marks. Was possible. However, when recording is performed a plurality of times on the same recording medium by using IJCs of a plurality of colors, the problem shown in FIG. 7 may occur. That is, there is a problem that when a spur passes over a print with a high print ratio of different colors, a spur mark is generated only on the different colors. This is because, in principle, the ink droplets adhering to the side surface of the spur rather than the peripheral surface are mixed on different colors. If the colors are the same, there is no problem even if the inks on the side surfaces are mixed, but there is a problem because the colors are different. The ink on the side of the spur did not cause a problem because the paper was not deformed due to swelling in a non-printed area or a low printed area. In order to print a plurality of different colors, it is optimal to replace the spur unit or the like. Specifically, a combination of well-known means such as one with a spur cleaner and one without spur cleaner may be considered.

Examples of the apparatus and recording method as described above according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the entire system of the present invention. As a configuration, a means for determining the type of print data from the print data in the printing apparatus main body
It further has a means for identifying the recording element. When the print data enters the main body of the printing apparatus, the type of print data and the type of print head are recognized by the means and it is determined whether they match. The method of coping with this determination is determined by the recording mode. Depending on the print pattern in which the print data corresponding to each print head is sent to the printing apparatus, the user's labor for replacing the print head or re-feeding the print medium is different. Recording is possible. First, when the print data and the print head match, this print data is selected and a signal corresponding to the data is sent to the print element of the print head to print on the print medium. Next, if the print data and the print head do not match, the process is changed depending on the print mode. In one mode, recording is interrupted and the user's judgment is asked.
The content of this determination is whether to perform recording with the recording head as it is or to restart recording by changing the recording head corresponding to the recording data. In other modes, data other than the data corresponding to the recording head is prohibited and the data is not received and recorded, that is, only the recording data corresponding to the recording head is selected and sent to the recording element for recording. In other modes, a warning is issued and recording is resumed after a fixed time. Also in this mode, it is desirable to accept the above-mentioned user's judgment within a fixed time.

When the recording mode for selecting the recording data is set in advance as shown in FIG. 23, it is determined whether the recording data selected by the user and the recording head match. The handling of this determination may be the same as the processing for the relationship between the print data and the print head described above.

Further, when the type of print data and the type of print head are recognized to determine whether they match, information for identifying the print head is displayed on the print head, the printing apparatus main body, and the host. This makes it easier for the user to recognize and improves operability for the user.

It is also useful to identify the type of print head and request only the print data corresponding to the type of the print head from the host side. By using this method, the efficiency of replacement of the recording head can be improved. This method is particularly effective for full-color recording.

As an example of the ID of the recording head, the recording head is provided with a resistor having a resistance value indicating the type of the head, and a contact between the recording device main body and the resistor is provided to the recording device. There is a method of reading the resistance value and a method of identifying the type of the recording head from the resistance value.

As another example of the ID of the recording head,
As shown in FIG. 28, a bar code indicating the type of the head is provided on the surface of the recording head in the carriage movement direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, the recording apparatus main body is provided with a means for irradiating the bar code with a light beam and a means for detecting the reflected light, the means is fixed, and the carriage is moved at a constant speed in the detection means section, Then, there is a method of identifying the type of the head by reading the information of the barcode by the time change of the signal of the reflected light. It is also effective to use a magnetic code and a magnetic sensor instead of the bar code.

(Second Embodiment) Next, another embodiment for discriminating print data and printing will be described.

In the previous embodiment, the recording apparatus main body side sends the print data to the print head in accordance with the print head, but in the present embodiment, the print head itself prints the print data as shown in FIG. The signal is selected from the signals and recorded on the recording medium. Contact terminals (Va, Vb, V) that supply a voltage to the recording head for each recording data type in the recording apparatus main body
Only c) is divided, and other contact terminal portions for driving signals and the like are common. As shown in FIG. 25, the print head side has voltage supply contact terminals (Va, Vb, Vc) for each print data type, and only the voltage driven contact terminals (Va in the figure) corresponding to the print head type print. The other voltage-driven contact terminals (Vb, Vc in the figure) coupled to the element are insulated from the recording element. In the main body of the printing apparatus, the drive voltage is applied to the drive voltage terminal of the print head corresponding to the print data only when the print data is sent to the print element. With these configurations, the print head can print only the corresponding print data on the print medium.

The same effect can be obtained with the configuration shown in FIG. When the recording data is sent from the recording apparatus main body to the recording head, a signal for identifying the type of the data is simultaneously sent to the recording head terminals (Tri.A, B, C in FIG. 27), and the recording head responds to the corresponding recording. It is judged whether or not it is data, and if it corresponds (signal to Tri.A in the figure), the drive voltage (Vh) is applied to the recording element to perform recording. If the print data discrimination signal does not correspond, the drive voltage is not applied to the printing element, and the signal is returned as it is to the printing apparatus main body side. When the recording apparatus main body receives the signal, the carriage does not move for recording, so that the carriage can be prevented from making unnecessary movements.

(Other Embodiments) Next, another embodiment of discriminating print data and performing printing will be described with reference to FIG.

The first embodiment has means for judging whether or not the print head and print data match, but as shown in FIG. 28, the user can select which of the print data to select. The selection is left to the discretion, and the coincidence with the recording head is left to the user's judgment, thereby omitting sending the information regarding the type of the recording head to the main body of the recording apparatus.

This system configuration requires the user to easily identify the type of recording head. Therefore, a label or the like indicating the type is attached to the recording head, or a color or shape expressing the type is used. Further, the type of recording data sent to the recording apparatus main body and the type of recording data selected by the recording apparatus main body are displayed on the main body or the host.

With these configurations, it is possible to easily execute a recording method in which the recording head is selectively used according to the type of recording information. The description of FIGS. 29 to 31 can be understood from the outline of the invention and the background art.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Color recording can be easily realized in a single-color ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a single-color ink to perform recording.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic concept of a monochrome ink jet color recording method to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image state after recording with the first ink of single-color inkjet color recording.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image state after recording with first and second inks of single-color inkjet color recording.

FIG. 4 is the first, second and third of single color inkjet color recording.
It is a diagram showing an image state after recording with the ink of FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an image printed by single-color inkjet color recording.

FIG. 6 shows a final recording ink state of single-color inkjet color recording.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which spur traces appear only when passing over different inks.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the basic concept of single-color inkjet color recording.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a cleaning unit of the recording apparatus main body used in the monochrome inkjet color recording method.

FIG. 10 shows a discrimination method for discriminating whether or not the recording element and the recording data match in the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing an inkjet recording device main body to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an inkjet recording apparatus main body to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating details of part of the inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the attachment of the inkjet cartridge.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a heater board.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the monochrome ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing details of the control configuration shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a recovery configuration of a recording head of a monochrome ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of blade cleaning in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a detailed configuration example of the waste ink recovery path of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a system configuration diagram in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a system configuration diagram in an embodiment of the present invention in which the judgment of the user has priority.

FIG. 24 is a system configuration diagram in a second embodiment of the present invention.

25 is a circuit diagram of the ink jet recording head in FIG.

FIG. 26 is a system configuration diagram in the second embodiment of the present invention.

27 is a circuit diagram of the ink jet recording head in FIG.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a system configuration diagram in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a barcode configuration of an example of head information in the example of the invention.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of the main body reading configuration of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a system configuration diagram according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8c Ejection heater 11 MPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Gate array 18 Recording head 81 Nozzle 82 Common liquid chamber

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 29/00 9012-2C B41J 3/04 103 B 8804-2C 29/00 U (72) Inventor Kentaro Yano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kiichiro Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yuji Akiyama Tokyo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Nishikori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A mounting section capable of selectively mounting different single-color recording heads, and a recording head equipped with means for giving head type information is mounted on the mounting section to determine the head and the head type information. And a unit for executing monochromatic recording according to the above. 2. A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting an ink recording means for discharging a single color ink to record on a recording medium, a supplying means for supplying the recording medium to a recording area of the ink recording means, Ejecting means for ejecting the recording medium that has passed through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus, and nth recording information for recording the nth (n> 1) ink and the nth ink mounted on the mounting portion. Single-color inkjet recording by performing the n-th ink recording on the recording medium supplied to the recording area by the supplying means using the n-th ink recording means for discharging In an inkjet recording apparatus for forming an image with a plurality of predetermined inks on the same recording medium by using the apparatus, a mounting portion capable of selectively mounting different single color recording heads,
An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a recording head provided with means for giving head type information; and a means for determining the head by performing mounting on the mounting portion and performing monochromatic recording according to the head type information. .. 3. A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting an ink recording means for discharging a single color ink to record on a recording medium, a supply means for supplying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means, and Ejecting means for ejecting the recording medium that has passed through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus, and nth recording information for recording the nth (n> 1) ink and the nth ink mounted on the mounting portion. Single-color inkjet recording by performing the n-th ink recording on the recording medium supplied to the recording area by the supplying means using the n-th ink recording means for discharging In an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of predetermined inks on the same recording medium using the apparatus, the type of recording head is at least the recording apparatus main body and the recording head. Ink jet recording method comprising a means for either is determined. 4. A mounting portion for mounting and dismounting ink recording means for discharging a single color ink to record on a recording medium, a supplying means for supplying the recording medium to a recording area by the ink recording means, and Ejecting means for ejecting the recording medium that has passed through the recording area to the outside of the apparatus, and nth recording information for recording the nth (n> 1) ink and the nth ink mounted on the mounting portion. Single-color inkjet recording by performing the n-th ink recording on the recording medium supplied to the recording area by the supplying means using the n-th ink recording means for discharging In an inkjet recording apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of predetermined inks on the same recording medium using the apparatus, the recording head has means for selecting necessary information in image data Ink jet recording method. 5. The recording head comprises a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink and an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy corresponding to each ejection port to form bubbles in the ink. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus includes means for supplying a drive signal for driving the electrothermal converter according to the recording signal. 6. A single color ink is discharged to record on a recording medium.
A mounting part that allows the ink recording means to perform mounting and dismounting
The recording medium by the ink recording means.
The supply means for supplying the recording medium and the recording medium passing through the recording area
A single-color ink jet equipped with a discharging means for discharging the ink to the outside of the apparatus.
Can be mounted on a storage device to produce the same multicolor image
Implemented an inkjet color recording method for forming on a recording medium.
A driving device for ejecting the first ink attached to the attachment portion.
1-ink recording means is used to record by the supplying means.
The first ink recording is performed on the recording medium supplied to the area
In the first process, the first in
The first recording information for recording the ink is supplied to the mounting portion instead of the first ink recording means.
Second ink that ejects a second ink of a color different from that of
The first ink recording is performed by using the ink recording means.
The recording medium supplied to the recording area by the feeding means is
Two-ink recording is performed and the recording medium is discharged to the outside of the device by the discharging means.
Second note for recording the second ink in the second step of issuing
The recording information is supplied to the mounting portion in place of the second ink recording means.
Ejecting a third ink of a color different from the first and second inks
First and second ink recording is not performed by using the third ink recording means.
Is supplied to the recording area by the supply means
The third ink recording is performed on the recording medium, and by the discharging means,
The third ink is recorded in the third step of discharging the ink outside the device.
By supplying the third recording information for
Image with a monochrome ink jet recording device
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
Ra recorder.