JP2000037915A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder capable of improving operating speed by executing the recording operation at an operating speed corresponding to the kind of a sheet. SOLUTION: A recording paper (sheet) conveyed by a paper feed roller 2 passes through a paper kind detecting sensor 3 provided in the vicinity of a paper supplying unit 1, then a kind of the paper is judged by detecting a diffusing reflection rate of the recording paper by the paper kind detecting sensor 3. The next conveying timing of the recording paper is controlled in accordance with the kind of the paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet by an ink jet system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, an ink jet type recording apparatus of this type is an apparatus for recording an image by sequentially feeding stacked sheets (sheets), and pulling out sheets one by one from the stacked sheets. Various configurations have been implemented or proposed for the configuration of a printing apparatus that sends a sheet to a paper transport unit of a printing unit for printing.

[0003] Also, there are various controls on the relationship between the sheet position detecting means and the sheet feeding operation, the configuration of the sheet type detecting means disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-297439, and its detecting method. A proposal has been made.

In the case of ink jet recording, the fixing time of the ink greatly varies depending on the type of the ink jet recording paper. As a conventionally known technique, an OHP sheet or the like which takes a long time to fix the ink immediately after the completion of recording of one sheet. There is a case where a waiting time is provided without recording on the recording paper of the first type, or a mode in which the next recording is not performed until the recorded paper is removed from the recording apparatus.

Further, the type of paper to be recorded, which is a conventionally known technique, is determined by a paper type detection sensor, and a printing method, for example, whether or not to perform multi-pass printing by a print head is determined according to the result. A printing apparatus has been proposed which performs processing such as controlling the amount of ink and providing a standby time after printing is completed.

[0006]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

In recent years, with the progress of inks and recording methods, improvements in fixing of plain paper and the like have been made.

On the other hand, as described above, various kinds of sheets are used, and processing is performed so as to cope with a sheet having a good fixing property (short fixing time) or a sheet having a bad fixing property (long fixing time). , Even if the sheet has good fixability,
The processing speed has not been reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to improve the processing speed by performing a recording operation at a processing speed according to the type of sheet. A recording device is provided.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a stacked sheet is fed by feeding means, and an image is recorded on the fed sheet by an ink jet method. In the recording apparatus, a type detecting unit that detects a type of a sheet to be fed is provided, and based on a detection result by the type detecting unit, a feeding timing of a subsequent sheet by the feeding unit is controlled. I do.

Accordingly, the sheet is fed at the feeding timing according to the type of the sheet to be fed, and the sheet interval can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of the sheet.

In the case of a sheet of a type in which the image-recorded ink has a high fixing speed, the succeeding sheet may be fed at a feeding timing that narrows the interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet.

Therefore, in the case of a sheet of a type having a high ink fixing speed, the processing speed can be increased.

The distance c from the leading edge of the succeeding sheet to the image recording area of the sheet is c, and the most conveyed sheet from the downstream end to the downstream end of the recordable area by the recording means. When the minimum distance between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is set to g when the distance to the sheet is set to d and the precision / tolerance of the apparatus is taken into consideration, the distance b between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is defined as If c> d, then b = g. If c = d or c <d, then the following sheet may be fed at a feed timing where b = g + dc.

It is preferable that a plurality of selection modes are provided for selecting processing when the type of sheet specified by the host is different from the type of sheet based on the result of detection by the type detecting means.

The selection mode includes a host instruction priority mode for performing processing based on the type of sheet specified by the host, a type detection means priority mode for performing processing based on the type of sheet based on the detection result of the type detection means, It is preferable to have at least one of the interruption modes for interrupting the recording operation.

[0017]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, shape, relative arrangement, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

A recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the overall configuration of the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a recording apparatus that performs recording using a so-called serial scanning type ink jet printer will be described as an example.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a paper feeding unit, 2 is a paper feeding roller as feeding means, 3 is a paper type detecting sensor as type detecting means, 4 is a PE lever, 5 is a PE sensor, 6 is an LF roller. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pinch roller, reference numeral 8 denotes a recording head, reference numeral 9 denotes a carriage, reference numeral 10 denotes a discharge roller, reference numeral 11 denotes a spur, reference numeral 12 denotes a recording sheet (sheet) stocked in the sheet feeding unit 1, and reference numeral 13 denotes a recording sheet during recording. .

The recording paper 12 stocked in the paper supply unit 1 is conveyed to the main body of the recording apparatus by rotation of the paper supply roller 2.

The recording paper conveyed by the paper feed roller 2 passes through a paper type detection sensor 3 provided near the paper feed unit 1.

The paper type detection sensor 3 includes a paper feed roller 2
Is located at a position where the recording paper can be detected only after the recording paper is transported.

Here, the paper type detection sensor 3 generally uses a reflection type optical sensor, and detects the diffuse reflectance according to the paper type to determine the paper type.

The presence or absence of a recording sheet can also be detected.

Although it is possible to use the paper type detection sensor together with the paper position detection means, it is generally difficult to detect the end of the paper more accurately than the paper position detection means. In this embodiment, the paper position detecting means and the paper type detecting means are separately provided.

Next, the leading end of the recording paper comes into contact with the PE lever 4 and is conveyed further forward by the rotation of the paper feed roller 2.
The PE lever 4 is pushed and pivoted to be in a state indicated by a chain line in the figure.

Here, the PE sensor 5 uses a transmission type photo sensor.

The PE lever 4 shields the PE sensor 5 before the recording paper comes into contact with it. However, when the recording paper is conveyed, the PE lever 4 is in a state shown by a dashed line in FIG. Is canceled, and it is detected that the recording paper has passed or is present.

As described above, the paper position detecting means is constituted by the PE lever 4 and the PE sensor 5.

The leading end of the recording paper transported by the paper feed roller 2 is transported by the LF roller 6 and the pinch roller 7.

Thereafter, the paper feed roller 2 returns to the state shown in FIG. 1, and does not participate in the paper conveyance.

Then, the image is recorded on the recording paper while the carriage 9 on which the recording head 8 is mounted scans, and the recording paper is fed to the LF by a necessary amount with respect to the recording width of the recording head 8.
The sheet is conveyed by a roller 6 and a pinch roller 7.

When the trailing edge of the recording sheet is separated from the LF roller 6 and the pinch roller 7, the recording sheet is conveyed by the discharge roller 10 and the spur 11, and the recording sheet is discharged.

In parallel with this operation, the next recording paper is fed and the next recording is started.

Next, the relationship between the host and the recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

The recording device is controlled by a recording command from a host.

As recording data, in addition to the image data, a printing mode (high speed, high image quality, etc.), the type of recording paper used, and the like are sent to the recording apparatus.

In this embodiment, the host sends at least a processing instruction when the type of recording paper to be used, the recording paper specified by the host, and the recording paper actually used by the recording apparatus are different. Like that.

Here, as processing instructions at different times (selection mode), 1) processing is performed as instructed by the host ignoring the detection result (host instruction priority mode), and 2) notification of the detection result to the host. The recording is interrupted and waited, and the user is asked to determine whether the processing is to be performed as it is from the host or to be processed as the detected recording paper (interruption mode).
3) Preliminarily select any one of the three processes of ignoring the instruction from the host and performing the process according to the detection result (type detection unit priority mode).

For example, when the recording paper specified by the host is different from the recording paper detected by the recording device, a display as shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the host.

First, a caution screen is displayed, and one of three options (“replace paper”, “print according to printer paper”, and “print as it is”) is selected.

At this time, if "change paper" is selected, the operation of returning the paper at the detection position to the paper feeding unit is performed by the recording apparatus.

In this way, the screen of "about paper detection" is displayed, and "this warning will be displayed in the future", "will not be displayed in the future, will be printed according to the paper of the printer", and "will be displayed in the future". Instead, print as it is ", and perform the subsequent processing according to the selection instruction.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a case where a plurality of sheets are continuously recorded will be described.

During recording of the first sheet, each time the LF roller 6 is driven and the recording sheet is conveyed, the sheet type detection sensor 3 detects the presence or absence of the recording sheet being recorded.

At this time, if it is determined that there is no recording paper,
When the next LF roller 6 is driven to convey the recording paper,
The paper feed roller 2 is driven to start the paper feed operation.

Since the amount of conveyance carried by the LF roller 6 is known by the recording apparatus, the sheet feeding roller 2 feeds a smaller amount than the amount sent by the LF roller 6.

Here, paper feeding (feeding) by the paper feeding roller 2
The timing will be described.

The sheet feeding timing is determined according to the type of the sheet based on the detection result of the sheet type detection sensor 3.

That is, in the present embodiment, the processing speed is improved by setting the paper feed timing according to the difference in the fixing property (speed of drying) of the ink on the sheet.

More specifically, in the case of a sheet that requires a long time for fixing, such as an OHP sheet, the feeding timing of the succeeding sheet is delayed and the distance between the sheets is increased, so that the preceding sheet is removed. This prevents problems such as the next sheet being overlapped before the ink is fixed and the recorded image being stained.

On the other hand, in the case of a sheet having a fast fixation, the processing speed is prioritized, the feeding timing of the subsequent sheet is advanced, the distance between sheets is shortened, and the processing speed is improved.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a feed control and the like in a case where processing is performed with priority given to processing speed.

The distance (inter-sheet distance) between the rear end of the recording sheet (previous sheet) being recorded and the front end of the recording sheet (subsequent sheet) to be recorded next is the most downstream side of the recording section of the head to be used. Between the distance from the spur to the contact point of the spur and the discharge roller (downstream from the most downstream side of the recording unit and the foremost transporting unit), and the distance of the leading edge margin of the next recording paper Can be determined by

Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows the first and second sheets of recording paper, and a indicates the first sheet of recording paper (preceding sheet).
The distance (rear margin) from the upstream end of the image recording area to the upstream end (rear end) of the recording paper, b is the first recording paper and the second recording paper (subsequent). The distance between the sheet and the sheet (the distance between sheets (distance between sheets)), c is
This is the distance (leading edge margin) from the downstream end (front end) of the second recording sheet to the downstream end of the image recording area in the recording sheet.

In the drawing, the recording area is indicated by a rectangular oblique line for the sake of convenience. However, it is not necessary that the recording be uniform, and if the recording is partially performed, it is regarded as the recording area.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the recording head.
Is the distance (head-discharge distance) between the contact point between the discharge roller 10 and the spur 11 (the foremost downstream transport section) and the downstream end of the recordable area recordable by the recording head 8; Is the width recordable by the recording head 8 (the width of the recordable area), and f is the position of the upstream end of the recordable area recordable by the recording head 8 and the contact point between the LF roller 6 and the pinch roller 7. Distance.

In such a positional relationship, the recording paper from the state where the upstream end of the first image recording area is recorded (the state immediately after the recording is completed) to the time when the recording paper is completely discharged is recorded. Is d + e + a.

The second recording sheet, which is separated by b from the first sheet, records (starts recording) the downstream end of the second image recording area after the completion of the recording of the first sheet. The moving distance to the position is e + a + b + c.

Here, in the case of an apparatus in which the leading edge margin c of the second sheet is smaller than the head-discharge distance d (c <d), and
When the sheet-to-sheet distance b is smaller than the difference between the head-discharge distance d and the leading edge margin c of the second sheet (b <dc), the rear end of the first recording sheet is ejected. Before being discharged from the roller 10, the leading end of the second recording sheet reaches the recording position (see FIG. 5A).

As described above, when recording on the second recording sheet is started before the first recording sheet is completely discharged,
The trailing edge of the first recording sheet may be caught on the carriage 9, which causes a jam or a carriage error.

Therefore, when the leading edge margin c of the second sheet is smaller than the head-discharge distance d (c <d), the sheet distance b is set to the head-discharge distance d and the leading edge margin c of the second sheet. (B> dc) (FIG. 5 (C)).
reference).

FIG. 5B shows a state where b = dc.

Incidentally, in order to improve the processing speed (recording speed), the smaller the value of b, the higher the speed.

Therefore, it is necessary to optimize (minimize) b while satisfying b> dc and taking into account the machine difference of the apparatus, the detection speed of each sensor, the component tolerance, and the like.

In the case of a device in which the leading edge margin c of the second sheet is larger than the head-discharge distance d (c> d), the distance b between sheets can be ideally set to 0. As described above, it is necessary to set the value as small as possible in consideration of the machine difference of the apparatus, the detection speed of each sensor, the component tolerance, and the like.

From the above, if the minimum distance (minimum sheet distance) between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet in consideration of the accuracy and tolerance of the apparatus is g, the leading edge margin c of the second sheet is the head-discharge distance. b = g for a device larger than d (c> d), b = g for a device other than that (c <d or c = d), so that b = g + d−c is satisfied. By setting the feeding timing, it is possible to increase the recording speed (processing speed).

Next, a detailed process of the sheet feeding operation (a process in a case where two sheets are continuously printed) will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing only the feeding and conveyance of the recording paper.

When the first sheet is being recorded, the inter-paper distance b is calculated when the recording apparatus can recognize the leading edge margin c of the second sheet.

It should be noted that the head-discharge distance d and the minimum distance g are previously set in the recording apparatus.

At the time of LF driving, that is, when the first sheet of recording paper is conveyed by the LF roller 6, the sheet type detection sensor 3 detects the presence or absence of the recording sheet. When the absence of the recording paper is detected at the time of LF driving, the process enters the second paper feeding operation 1.

The paper feeding operation 1 is performed until immediately before the paper position detecting means can detect the leading edge of the paper, that is, when the PE sensor 4
Paper feeding is performed until just before N.

Although the sheet feeding operation 1 is performed in parallel with the recording of the first sheet, it may be performed only at the time of driving the LF of the first sheet.

During the LF driving of the first sheet in parallel with the sheet feeding operation 1, the sheet position detecting means detects the presence or absence of a sheet.

Waiting until the PE sensor 4 is turned off, and when the PE sensor 4 is turned off, the movement amount (sum of the LF feed amount) of the sheet by the first LF drive is obtained, and the distance between the sheets is set to b. The second sheet feeding operation 2 is performed in synchronization with the driving of the first sheet LF.

In this manner, after the first sheet has been discharged, the second sheet cueing (the leading end of the recording area comes to the most downstream position where the recording head 8 can record) is completed.
The second sheet is recorded.

In this way, the same operation (the above-described first image is operated as the second image and the second image is operated as the third image) is performed for the third and subsequent images.

As described above, when the type of sheet to be processed is a sheet having a short fixing time (such as plain paper) by providing the type detecting means, the inter-sheet distance is made as short as possible by the above-described control. By setting the feeding timing of the succeeding sheet as described above, it is possible to improve the processing speed.

Needless to say, even in the case of special paper, if there is no problem such as ink fixability, such processing may be performed.

On the other hand, in the case of special paper having a poor ink fixing property, it is considered that if the distance between sheets is shortened, the recorded image may be adversely affected. Take it.

For example, if it is detected that the special paper has poor ink fixability after the end of the paper feeding operation 1, the processing can be performed with a preset waiting time.

When the content of the second recording is known in advance, the above-described processing is performed in the case of a pattern requiring a long recording time, and when the recording time is expected to be short, the supply is performed with a waiting time. You may enter paper operation.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, the feeding timing of the succeeding sheet by the feeding means is controlled based on the detection result by the type detecting means.
The sheet interval can be fed according to the sheet type, and the recording operation can be performed at a processing speed according to the sheet type.

In the case of a sheet of a type in which the image-recorded ink has a high fixing speed, the succeeding sheet is fed at a feeding timing that narrows the interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet. The processing speed is improved.

By providing a plurality of selection modes for selecting a process when the type of sheet specified by the host and the type of sheet based on the detection result by the type detection means are different, an erroneous instruction or the like is given. In this case, appropriate processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a display example of a host of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship of a sheet being conveyed by the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a sheet and each part.

FIG. 6 is a main flowchart of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 paper feed unit 2 paper feed roller 3 paper type detection sensor 4 PE lever 5 PE sensor 6 LF roller 7 pinch roller 8 recording head 9 carriage 10 paper discharge roller 11 spur

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 7/02 B41J 3/04 101Z F-term (Reference) 2C056 EA01 EB13 EB45 EC12 EC37 HA28 HA29 2C058 AB08 AB22 AC07 AD01 AE02 2C059 AA26 AA34 AA50 AA62 3F048 AA05 AB01 BA06 BB02 BC03 CA00 CC00 DA06 DC12 EA15 3F343 FA02 FA09 FB04 KB06 KB20

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a printing apparatus for feeding loaded sheets by feeding means and recording an image on the fed sheets by an ink jet method, a type detecting means for detecting a type of the fed sheet is provided. A recording apparatus for controlling a feeding timing of a subsequent sheet by the feeding unit based on a detection result by the type detecting unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the fixing speed of the ink on which the image is recorded is high, the succeeding sheet is fed at a feeding timing that narrows an interval between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The distance from the leading edge of the succeeding sheet to the image recording area of the sheet is c, and the downstream end of the recordable area of the recording means from the downstream end to the front end. When the distance between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is set as g, and the distance between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet in consideration of the accuracy and tolerance of the apparatus is set as g, the distance b between the preceding sheet and the following sheet is set. The following sheet is fed at a feed timing of b = g + dc when c> d or b = g c = d or c = d when c <d. 3. The recording device according to 2. 4. A plurality of selection modes for selecting processing when a sheet type specified by a host and a sheet type based on a result of detection by the type detection means are different. , 2 or 3. 5. The selection mode includes a host instruction priority mode for performing processing based on a sheet type specified by a host, and a type detection means priority processing for performing processing based on a sheet type based on a detection result by a type detection means. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording apparatus has at least one of a mode and an interruption mode for interrupting a recording operation.