JP2000085199A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a good image in conformity with a state of recording paper. SOLUTION: A recording paper set on an auto-sheet feeder 202 is conveyed to a paper feed roller 204 by a paper feed roller 203 and is passed through a portion above a line sensor 208 for detecting a meandering or a size of the recording paper to be conveyed to a platen 206 as a recording position by the paper feed roller 204. A carriage 201 slidably attached to a shaft 205 is scanned in a main scanning direction and a printing head mounted on the carriage 201 forms an image on the recording 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, and more particularly to a recording apparatus which detects that a fed recording sheet is skewed and corrects print data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device such as a printer or a facsimile drives a print recording element of a head based on print data and forms an image composed of a dot pattern while feeding paper (sub-scanning). Have been. As a recording method, a line recording method in which recording is performed only by paper feed (sub-scanning) using a print head in which print recording elements for one line are arranged, and a recording head in the width direction of recording paper (main scanning). Direction), a carriage is mounted on a carriage which is reciprocally scanned in the direction (i.e., direction), and recording is performed while repeating reciprocal scanning of the carriage and one-line feeding of recording paper.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional serial printer.

A conventional serial printer generally includes a carriage 101 on which a print head (not shown) is mounted, an automatic seed feeder 102, a paper feed roller 104, and a discharge roller 107.

[0005] The recording paper 110 set on the auto-seed reader 102 composed of the paper feed roller 103 and the paper feed tray 109 is fed to the paper feed roller 104 by the paper feed roller 103, and is fed by the paper feed roller 104. It is transported to the recording position. When the recording paper 110 is fed to the platen 106, the carriage 101 slidably mounted on the shaft 105 is scanned in the main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction), and the print head mounted on the carriage 101 performs recording. An image is formed on paper 110. After that, the recording paper 110 on which the image is formed is discharged
7 is discharged. The above operation forms an image for one page.

[0006]

However, in the conventional printer described above, when a recording sheet is fed obliquely from an auto-seed feeder, which is a sheet feeding section, during a print recording operation, a printed image is recorded. Printing was performed diagonally on paper, and good printing results were often not obtained. Also, since the recording paper is sent while being skewed,
Since printing is performed on a portion having no recording paper, for example, a platen or the like, the platen is soiled, and the subsequent recording paper is often stained with ink.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of recording an excellent image in accordance with the state of recording paper.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a recording unit for recording on a recording medium based on a recording signal; a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium; A recording medium detecting means for detecting a recording medium, wherein the recording is performed only on a recording area of the recording medium based on an output from the recording medium detecting means. And correcting means for correcting the recording signal.

In the recording apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the correcting means performs recording only on the recording area of the recording medium based on the output from the recording medium detecting means.
To correct the recording signal to the recording means, for example,
Even when the recording paper as the recording medium is skewed and conveyed, the recording is not performed outside the recording paper. Further, when a recording medium having a width smaller than a predetermined recording width is conveyed, if the reduced recording is performed on the recording medium according to the width, it is possible to perform recording outside the recording paper. There is no.

[0010] The correcting means may correct the recording signal on the skewed recording medium so that the recording signal is equivalent to the recording when the recording medium is not skewed. When a recording medium having a width smaller than the predetermined recording width is conveyed, the recording signal may be corrected so that reduced recording is performed on the recording medium according to the width. , A line sensor.

Further, the recording means may include an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for discharging ink, and the recording means may apply heat to the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. The ink may be ejected from the ejection port using the generated film boiling.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a print head 40
3 and a data correction unit 402
, Auto seed feeder 202, paper feed roller 20
4, a line sensor 208, and a paper discharge roller 207.

The auto sheet feeder 202 includes a paper feed tray 209 on which recording paper 210 is stacked and a paper feed tray 2.
And a paper feed roller 207 for feeding out the recording papers 210 stacked on the sheet 09 one by one. Paper feed roller 204
Is for conveying the recording paper 210 sent out from the auto sheet feeder 202 in the direction of arrow A. The recording paper 210 conveyed by the paper feed roller 207 passes over the platen 206 and is discharged by the paper discharge roller 207. Configuration.

The carriage 201 is located at a position facing the platen 206 with the recording paper 210 therebetween, in a direction parallel to the recording surface of the recording paper 210 and perpendicular to the arrow A direction which is the transport direction of the recording paper 210. It is slidably supported by the shaft 205 so as to be capable of reciprocating scanning (in the main scanning direction). A print head 403 for performing printing based on a print signal is detachably mounted on the carriage 201. As the print head 403, an ink jet head that discharges ink from a discharge port using film boiling generated in ink by thermal energy applied by an electrothermal converter is used. The line sensor 208 detects the width and position of the recording paper 210 being conveyed, and is installed upstream of the carriage 201 with respect to the conveying direction of the recording paper 210 (the direction of arrow A).

Based on the above configuration, the recording paper 210 set in the auto seed feeder 202 is
03, the paper is fed to the paper feed roller 204, and after passing through the line sensor 208 by the paper feed roller 204,
It is transported to the recording position. Recording paper 210 is platen 2
When the print data is transmitted to the position 06, the carriage 201 is scanned in the main scanning direction, and the print head 403 forms an image on the recording paper 210. At this time, the print head 403 performs printing based on the print data output from the data correction unit 402 after correcting the input from the line sensor 208. Thereafter, the recording paper 210 on which the image is formed is ejected by the ejection rollers 207. The above operation forms an image for one page.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the recording paper 210 conveyed to the platen 206 by the paper feed roller 204 is inclined,
When the paper is skewed, an image may be formed obliquely to the recording paper 210, and may be printed outside the range of the recording paper 210, that is, on the platen 206. Therefore, in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, the recording paper 210 is provided by the line sensor 208 provided on the paper conveyance path.
Of the recording paper 2 as shown in FIG.
The print data is corrected so that printing is not performed in an area having no 10.

The detection of skew by the line sensor 208 is as follows.
For example, as proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-183605, this can be achieved by disposing an image sensor at right angles to the paper transport direction and reading the full width of the transported paper. That is, since the data pattern of the entire width of the sheet read by the image sensor is unique according to the conveyance state, it is possible to know the state of the sheet being conveyed by examining the data pattern. Things.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a print control circuit of the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The control circuit of this embodiment includes a data correction circuit 404 and a skew detection circuit 405.
, A print pulse control circuit 406 and a data transfer circuit 40
7 and a data correction unit 402 as data correction means. Data from the image buffer 401 that stores print data is input to a data correction unit 402 that performs skew detection, data processing, print pulse control, and the like, and the data generated here is input to a print head 403.

A method of detecting the skew of the recording sheet 210 and a method of printing on the skewed recording sheet 210 will be described below.

First, the skew of the recording paper 210 is detected by the skew detection circuit 405 based on the output signal from the line sensor 208 shown in FIG. 1, and the output signal from the skew detection circuit 405 is detected by the data correction circuit 404. Image buffer 4 based on
The data read from 01 is corrected to the actual print data. Next, the print data generated by the data correction circuit 404 is transferred to the print head 403 by the data transfer circuit 407, and the print head 403 is printed by the print pulse control circuit 406 based on the output signal from the skew detection circuit 405. Control the print pulse.

Data correction for skew feed can be realized by temporarily latching data read from the image buffer 401 and shifting the data in the nozzle direction and scanning direction of the print head 403. .

The data shift will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D which schematically show print data.

One column indicated by a rectangular frame holds a total of 16 data D0 to D15 corresponding to each nozzle of the print head 403.

FIG. 4A shows an image buffer 401.
5 shows schematically represented data of the m-th column and the (m-1) -th column in the column direction. In the data of the m-th column, all data from D0 to D15 are data indicated by hatched circles, and in the data of the (m-1) th column, all data from D0 to D15 are data indicated by white circles.

As shown in FIG. 2A, despite the state in which the conveyed recording paper 210 is skewed,
If printing is performed with this data as it is, the recording paper 210 will protrude and be printed, and the platen 206 will be soiled. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The correction is performed by the data correction circuit 404 shown in FIG.

The data in the m-th column is corrected to m '. That is, data from D0 to D12 are hatched circle data, data from D13 to D15 are bit-shifted to white circles, and the data in the (m-1) th column is corrected to m'-1. Are white circles, and bits D13 to D15 are bit-shifted to black circles.

The black circles from D13 to D15 are:
In FIG. 4A, the data is not shown. In FIG. 4A, the data in the column above the (m-1) th column is m-
This is the first shift.

Similarly, data correction in the main scanning direction is also performed in FIG.
The correction shown in FIG. 4D is performed from (c).

That is, FIG. 4C shows the data read from the image buffer 401 and schematically represented in columns from the n-th column to the (n-2) -th column in the main scanning direction. In the n-th column, all data from D0 to D15 are indicated by hatched circles, and in the (n-1) -th column, data from D0 to D15
, The data of all the black circles D0 to D15 are stored in the n-2th column.

In FIG. 4D, the data in FIG. 4C is corrected by the amount of the recording paper 210 skewed. That is, the data in the (n-1) th column is a white circle from D0 to D11 and the data from D11 to D15 is the same as the n'-1st column.
Up to this point, the data is bit-shifted to shaded circle data. Further, the data in the (n-2) th column is a black circle from D0 to D11, and the data in the D11 to D15 is the same as the n'-2th column.
Up to this point, the data is bit-shifted to the data indicated by white circles.

Here, D11 to D11 in the n′-1 column
Data indicated by hatched circles up to No. 15 is data obtained by bit-shifting D11 to D15 in the n-th column, and similarly, data indicated by white circles in the n′-th column is n-th column in the n−1th column The eyes D11 to D15 are bit-shifted. Further, D11 to D1 in the n'th column
The data indicated by hatched circles up to 5 are bit-shifted from the left column of the n′-th column (not shown).
The data of the black circles D0 to D4 in the −2nd column are bit-shifted to the right column of the n′th column (not shown).

4 (c) and 4 (d) show only one column in the column direction for simplicity.

When the actual printing range is not normally skewed, it is the range of L shown in FIG.
When 0 is skewed, the output of the skew detection circuit 405 is in the range of L 'in FIG. In this embodiment,
The actual print range is determined from the output signal of the skew detection circuit 405 and the print data is corrected as described above. Printing on the platen can be prevented.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the skew of the recording sheet 210 is detected, and even if the skew is corrected by correcting the print data for the skew, a good image can be obtained without soiling the platen. It is possible to provide. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the skew of the recording paper 210 is detected by the line sensor 208 (see FIG. 1) disposed in front of the printing position, and the skew of the recording paper 210 is detected. The data was corrected accordingly and printing was performed. In this embodiment, by adding a simple circuit to the print control circuit of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the width of the recording paper 210 is automatically detected and printing is performed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the recording paper 210 having a recording width L ″ smaller than the predetermined recording width L is conveyed, the recording paper 210
The printing operation is performed outside the recording paper 21 and the recording paper 21
It is also printed on the platen 206 without “0”.

Accordingly, the paper width is detected by a line sensor 208 provided on the paper transport path, a print pulse is controlled so that a printing operation is not performed in a range where the recording paper 210 is not present, and a simple reduction is performed by data correction means described later. Correct the data to perform

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a print control circuit of the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The basic configuration is the same as that of the print control circuit of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but has a paper width detection circuit 605 as a detection circuit instead of the skew detection circuit 405. However, although the skew detection circuit 405 is not shown in FIG. 3, the data correction unit 402 may include both the skew detection circuit 405 and the paper width detection circuit 605 as a detection circuit.

In this embodiment, the paper width of the recording paper 210 is determined based on the output signal from the line sensor 208.
05, and the data correction circuit 404 uses the image buffer 401 based on the output signal from the paper width detection circuit 605.
Is corrected to the actual print data.
Next, the data transfer circuit 407 causes the data correction circuit 4
04 is transferred to the print head 403, and the print pulse control circuit 406 controls the paper width detection circuit 6.
The print pulse of the print head 403 is controlled based on the output signal from the print head 05.

The correction of the printing data for the recording paper 210 having a size other than the standard size can realize a simple image reduction by thinning out the data read from the image buffer 401 in the nozzle direction and the scanning direction of the print head 403. It is.

The thinning-out of data will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C which schematically show print data.

FIG. 7A shows an image buffer 401.
5 shows schematically represented data of the m-th column and the (m-1) -th column in the column direction. In the data of the m-th column, data of black circles are arranged in D0 and D1, data of hatched circles are arranged from D2 to D4 and D8 to D15, and data of white circles are arranged from D5 to D7. ing. The data of the (m-1) th column is data of white circles from D0 to D2 and D8 to D12, data of black circles from D3 to D7, and data of hatched circles from D13 to D15. Are arranged respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5A, even if the recording width of the conveyed recording paper 210 is the width L ″, if this data is printed as it is, the recording paper 210 protrudes. Printing is performed, and the platen 206 is soiled. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the data is corrected by the data correction circuit 404 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the recording width.

The data in the m-th and (m-1) -th columns are corrected to m '. That is, the data of the black circles of D0 and D1 in the m-th column is changed from two data to one data of the black circle of D0, and the data of the hatched circles from D2 to D4 is the data of the hatched circle of D1. From 3 to 1 from D5 to D7, the data from white circles from D5 to D7 from 3 to 2 from D2 and D3, and from D8 to D15 Data with hatched circles is D4
The data is thinned out from eight to four, for example, to the data indicated by hatched circles from D to D7. Similarly, D0 to D2 in the (m-1) th column
The number of data is 5 from the data of the white circle of D to the data of the white circle of D8 from 3 to 1, and the data of the black circle from D3 to D7 is the data of the black circle from D9 to D11. To three, and the data of the white circles from D8 to D12 have the data number of 5 to the data of the white circles of D12 and D13.
The data with diagonal circles D13 to D15 are thinned out from three to two, and the number of data is reduced from three to two.

Similarly, the data correction in the main scanning direction is also performed in FIG.
Data is decimated as shown in FIG.

That is, of the data from the n-th column to the (n + 5) -th column, only the data of the n, n + 2, and n + 4 columns indicated by arrows B, B ', and B''are used.
By thinning out the data of the other columns n + 1, n + 3, and n + 5, simple image reduction can be performed.

FIG. 7C shows only one column in the column direction for simplicity. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the column direction (the nozzle direction of the print head), the (m-1) th data and the mth data read from the image buffer 401 are held, and the data is thinned out every other dot. To generate the m'th data.
Further, in the main scanning direction (the scanning direction of the print head), as shown in FIG.
In the data of the (n + 2) th column,..., only the column with the arrow in the figure is printed, so that the image can be easily reduced.

The actual printing range is a fixed size recording paper 2
10 is in the range of L in FIG. 5A, but when the recording paper 210 of a size other than the standard size is fed, the output of the paper width detection circuit 605 causes L ″ in FIG. Range. As described above, the actual print range is determined from the output signal of the paper width detection circuit 605. By controlling so that a print pulse is generated only in the print range, printing on a platen portion having no paper can be prevented.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the width of the recording paper 210 is detected and the image is easily reduced, so that the platen is not stained even when the recording paper 210 having a size other than the standard size is fed. It is possible to provide a perfect image.

In each of the above embodiments, a serial printer has been described as an example. However, the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a serial printer, but can be applied to a line printer.

The print head is not limited to the ink jet type, but may be a wire dot type, a thermal type or the like.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect that the recording paper is skewed, and correct the skewed print data to prevent the platen portion from being stained even when skewed. It is possible to obtain a printing result. Further, it is possible to automatically detect the printable range on paper of a size other than the standard size and perform printing in accordance with the paper width.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printing state when a recording sheet is skewed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a print control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating bit shift of print data with respect to skew.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing situation when a recording sheet of a size other than the standard size is conveyed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a print control circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating thinning out of data when performing reduced printing.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional serial printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 201 Carriage 102, 202 Auto sheet feeder 103, 203 Paper feed roller 104, 204 Paper feed roller 105, 205 Shaft 106, 206 Platen 107, 207 Paper discharge roller 208 Line sensor 109, 209 Paper feed tray 110, 210 Recording paper 401 image buffer 402 data correction unit 403 print head 404 data correction circuit 405 skew detection circuit 605 paper width detection circuit 406 print pulse control circuit 407 data transfer circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording on a recording medium based on a recording signal; conveying means for conveying the recording medium; and recording medium detecting means for detecting the recording medium. A correction unit that corrects the recording signal to the recording unit based on an output from the recording medium detection unit so as to perform recording only in a recording area of the recording medium. Recording device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit corrects the recording signal on the skewed recording medium so that the recording signal is equivalent to recording when the recording medium is not skewed. apparatus. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein the correction unit is configured to, when a recording medium having a width smaller than a predetermined recording width is conveyed, perform the recording signal so as to perform reduced recording on the recording medium in accordance with the width. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction is performed. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium detection unit is a line sensor. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ink ejection. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means discharges the ink from the discharge port by using a film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. The recording device as described in the above.