JP2000117956A - Recorder, control method thereof and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify a recording medium used for recording in trouble easily by outputting a record detected through a detecting means such that a recording medium used for recording in trouble can be identified. SOLUTION: A trouble detecting section 208 monitors occurrence of recording trouble constantly and notifies occurrence of trouble immediately to each components. In response to a notification from the trouble detecting section 208, a control section 210 stops head control based on a record data. Subsequently, a paper is fed to a specified position and when a carriage reaches a specified position, the control section 210 controls execution of trouble mark recording. More specifically, a trouble mark data stored in a mark storing section 206 is read out at a mark output section 207 and a head control section 209 controls a recording head based on the trouble mark data thus recording the trouble mark of a page where recording could not performed normally due to occurrence of trouble.

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 by discharging ink from a recording head onto a recording medium, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, OA equipment such as a personal computer, a copying machine, and a word processor has become widespread. And as a kind of recording device of these devices,
2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet recording apparatus that performs image recording by an ink jet system has been rapidly developed and spread. In particular, as OA equipment has become more sophisticated and colorized, various color ink jet recording apparatuses have been developed.

In general, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which a recording step (recording head) and an ink tank are mounted, transport means for transporting recording paper, and control means for controlling these. Then, the recording head that discharges ink droplets from the plurality of discharge ports is directed in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to a recording paper conveyance direction (hereinafter, referred to as a sub-scanning direction).
Serial scanning in the main scanning direction), while the recording paper is intermittently conveyed by an amount equal to the recording width during non-printing. In the case of a color ink jet recording apparatus, a color image is formed by superimposing ink droplets ejected by recording heads of a plurality of colors on a recording medium.

As a recording method for performing recording by discharging ink of an ink jet recording apparatus, a heating element (electric / thermal energy converter) is provided in the vicinity of a discharge port, and an ink is applied by applying an electric signal to the heating element. There are a method using an electric / thermal energy converter that causes a pressure change by locally heating to eject ink from an ejection port, and a method using an electric / mechanical converter such as a piezoelectric element. In addition, a configuration in which an electric pressure converting unit such as a piezo element is used as a unit for discharging ink and a mechanical pressure is applied to the ink to discharge the ink has been conventionally known.

In such a recording method, characters, figures, and the like are recorded by discharging ink as fine droplets from a discharge port onto a recording medium in accordance with print data. Computers have the advantages of low noise, low running cost due to non-impact, low size of the device, and relatively easy colorization. And word processors. Further, it is widely used as a recording device mounted on a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or the like used alone.

In the conventional recording method of an ink jet recording apparatus, in order to obtain a color image with high color development without ink bleeding on a recording medium, it is necessary to use a special coated paper having an ink absorbing layer. In recent years, a method has been put to practical use in which recording suitability for plain paper used in large quantities in printers, copiers, and the like is provided by improving inks. Further, it is desired to support various recording media having different ink absorption characteristics, such as OHP sheets, cloths, and plastic sheets. In order to meet such demands, recording apparatuses capable of performing the best recording irrespective of the type of recording medium have been developed and commercialized. Further, as for the size of the recording medium, it has been required to enable recording on a large-sized recording medium required for recording on posters for advertisements and woven fabrics such as clothes. The demand for such an ink jet recording apparatus has been increasing in a wide range of industrial fields as an excellent recording means, and it has been demanded to provide higher quality images, and the demand for higher speed has been further increased. I can say.

[0007]

When a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus is left without discharging ink for a long period of time, the ink thickens particularly in an ink liquid path near a discharge port, and the recording head becomes normal. Discharge may not be performed. Further, if the ejection is performed continuously, for example, when printing is performed with a relatively high print duty, fine bubbles generated in the ink in the ink liquid path due to the ejection are generated and grown, and the bubbles are formed. It may remain in the liquid path and affect the ejection, and similarly, the normal ejection may not be performed. Some of these bubbles are mixed with ink in an ink supply system such as a connection portion of an ink supply path, in addition to those generated with the ejection as described above.

[0008] Such non-ejection of ink not only lowers the reliability of the ink jet recording apparatus, but also attempts to perform recording at a high recording duty in a state where normal recording cannot be performed, and is much higher than when the recording head is normal. In some cases, the temperature rises to the temperature, causing damage to the recording head itself, and impairing durability.

In order to cope with the discharge failure caused by these various causes, a general ink jet recording apparatus covers (caps) a discharge port surface of a recording head when discharging is not performed, thereby preventing a thickening of ink. ,
Ink suction processing for discharging ink with increased viscosity by sucking ink from the discharge port in the capping state, discharging ink to a predetermined ink receiver composed of an ink absorber, etc. in the same manner as normal recording, and increasing viscosity in the same way An ejection recovery process such as a preliminary ejection process for discharging ink is performed.

Further, as a method of detecting non-ejection, it is common to use a temperature rise occurring in the print head due to idle ejection and a temperature drop occurring in the subsequent print head. When the ejection state is normal, a part of the heat generated by the ejection is transmitted to the ink, a part of which is used to boil the ink, and a part of the heat is discharged to the outside of the recording head together with the ink droplet. go. On the other hand, when the recording head is in the non-ejection state, the temperature difference between the temperature rise and the temperature decrease becomes larger than when good ejection is performed. It is possible to determine whether or not non-discharge has occurred due to the temperature change between the temperature increase and the temperature decrease. In addition, there are known a method using an optical sensor disposed on the side of the ink flight path, a method of detecting a predetermined test pattern by recording and reading it.

[0011] The failure of the recording head typified by the above-mentioned non-ejection does not always occur at a page break. If a failure occurs in the middle of recording a page, even if the recovery can be performed later, the failed print (also referred to as a failed print) cannot be normally recorded, so this failed print must be discarded. I can't. this is,
The same applies to a case where normal recording could not be completed due to paper feeding and discharging before and after recording could not be performed normally due to a paper jam or the like.

Here, in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing large-size recording for industrial use, the operator does not always monitor the recording operation, and furthermore, the recording operation is performed overnight. A large amount of recording may be performed in an environment where no operator is present due to unmanned operation of the vehicle. However, the above-mentioned conventional ink jet recording apparatus does not have means for clearly distinguishing a failed print from a normal print. For this reason, especially after an overnight operation or the like, the operator has to visually search for a failed print from a large number of recorded pages, and there is a problem that the usability is very poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a recording apparatus, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable memory capable of easily identifying a recording medium used for recording in which a recording failure has occurred. The purpose is to provide.

[0014]

The recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, preferably, a recording apparatus for recording an image by ejecting ink from a recording head to a recording medium, wherein a detecting means for detecting a recording failure and a recording failure detected by the detecting means are generated. Output means for identifying and outputting the recording medium used for the recording.

Preferably, the output means includes a recording means for recording an identification mark on a recording medium used for the recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and the recording means generates the identification mark. By recording the identification mark on the recorded recording medium, the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output.

Preferably, the output means includes a paper discharge means for discharging a recording medium used for the recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and outputs the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred. By discharging the recording medium to the means, the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output.

Preferably, the output means includes a counting means for counting the number of recording media used for the recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and a notification for reporting the number of recording media counted by the counting means. Comprising means, by notifying the number of recording media counted by the counting means by the notifying means,
The recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output.

Preferably, the notifying means displays the number of recording media counted by the counting means.

Preferably, the notifying means outputs the number of recording media counted by the counting means as a voice.

[0020] Preferably, the detecting means detects at least a failure due to non-ejection of ink in the recording head.

Preferably, the recording head is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink.

A method for controlling a recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement. That is, a method of controlling a printing apparatus that prints an image by ejecting ink from a print head to a printing medium, comprising: a detection step of detecting a printing failure; and a printing process in which the printing failure detected by the detection step occurs. And an output step of making the recording medium used for the discrimination possible and outputting it.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is,
A computer-readable memory storing a program code for controlling a recording apparatus that records an image by discharging ink from a recording head to a recording medium, wherein a program code for a detection step for detecting a recording failure, and And a program code for an output step of identifiably outputting a recording medium used for recording in which the detected recording failure has occurred.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording unit of an ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a recording head, which has four colors (Bk,
It comprises an ink tank in which color inks of Cy, Mg, and Ye are respectively sealed, and a multi-recording head in which four corresponding recording heads are integrated. Reference numeral 302 denotes a carriage that supports the recording head 301 and moves these together with recording. Carriage 30
Numeral 2 is at the home position ◎ in the figure during standby in a non-recording state or the like. Reference numeral 303 denotes a paper feed roller, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure while holding down the recording paper 306 together with the auxiliary roller 304, and feeds the recording paper 306 in the Y direction as needed. Reference numeral 305 denotes a paper feed roller that feeds the recording paper 306 and plays a role of suppressing the recording paper 306 similarly to the paper feed roller 303 and the auxiliary roller 304.
Here, the recording head 301 is composed of Bk, Cy, Mg, and Ye.
It is assumed that each of the four colors has 64 nozzles arranged in the paper feed direction.

The basic reciprocal printing operation in the above configuration will be described.

During standby, the carriage 302 at the home position ◎ discharges ink onto the recording paper 306 according to recording data by a plurality of nozzles of the recording head 301 while scanning (scanning) in the X direction according to a recording start command. And record. When the recording of the recording data is completed up to the end of the recording paper 306, the carriage 302 returns to the home position.
Return to position position ◎. When the paper feed roller 303 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the paper is fed by a predetermined width in the Y direction, and the recording in the X direction is started again. Recording of print data is realized by repeating such a scanning operation and a paper feeding operation.

Although not shown, the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment controls recording and image processing.
A control unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a dedicated circuit to be executed; an interface unit for exchanging image information and various control information (the number of recording passes) with an external host computer; A motor for driving a carriage motor, a paper feed motor for driving a paper feed roller, a paper transport motor for driving a paper transport, a driver for driving a print head for driving the print head 301, and control by a user An operation panel for inputting information is provided.

Next, the configuration of a recording head control circuit for performing a marking operation at the time of detecting a failure such as a non-discharge of ink or a paper jam will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printhead control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a memory unit for temporarily storing recording data. A first data processing unit 202 performs the first half of data processing on input recording data. 20
Reference numeral 3 denotes a memory input control unit, which is a first input to the memory unit 201.
The writing control of the output of the data processing unit 202 is performed. 204
Denotes a memory output control unit, and the second from the memory unit 201
The reading control of the input of the data processing unit 205 is performed. 205
Denotes a second data processing unit, which performs the latter half of data processing on the output of the memory unit 201 read out by the memory output control unit 204.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a mark output control unit which reads and outputs fault mark data stored in the mark storage unit 206. A failure detection unit 208 detects that a failure has occurred in the page being recorded based on information from a sensor or the like (not shown). Reference numeral 209 denotes a head control unit, which outputs the second data processing unit 205 or the mark output control unit 20.
The recording head is controlled based on the seven outputs. 210 is a control unit, which monitors the operation state of each component,
Various controls related to printhead control are executed in accordance with various instructions from a general control unit (not shown).

First, a description will be given of a printhead control operation in the case where no failure has occurred, that is, in a normal state.

In the normal operation, the print head is controlled based on the input print data. The first half of the input recording data is processed by the first data processing unit 202, and the memory input control unit 203 executes the memory unit 2.
01 is temporarily stored. The temporarily stored intermediate data is
The read processing is performed by the memory output control unit 204 according to the position of the carriage (recording head), the second half of the data processing is performed by the second data processing unit 205, and the data is sent to the head control unit 209. Here, the first data processing unit 20
The second and second data processing units 205 execute print data resolution conversion, binarization processing, multi-pass print data generation processing, and the like, and generate pass data in each scan. In a state where the occurrence of a failure is not notified by the failure detection unit 208, that is, in a state where recording is normally performed, the head recording control unit 209 controls the second data processing unit 2
A print head (not shown) is controlled to execute printing based on print data using the output 05.

Next, the operation of controlling the recording head when a recording failure has occurred will be described in detail. Note that, as described above, recording failure means that recording cannot be performed normally due to non-ejection of ink due to a failure of the recording head, paper supply / discharge failure such as paper jam, paper feeding failure during recording, and the like. It shows the state where it was turned on.

The failure detecting unit 208 constantly monitors the occurrence of such a recording failure, and immediately notifies each component when it detects that a failure has occurred. The control unit 210 responds to the failure occurrence notification by the failure detection unit 208,
Stop control of head control based on print data is performed. Subsequently, when the paper is fed to the predetermined position and the carriage reaches the predetermined position, the control unit 210 performs control to execute the failure mark recording. That is, the fault mark data stored in the mark storage unit 206 is read out by the mark output control unit 207, and the head control unit 209 controls the recording head based on the fault mark data. Here, the failure mark data may be fixedly stored, or may be transferred and updated according to user settings. In this way, a failure mark for a page for which normal recording could not be performed due to the occurrence of a failure is recorded.

Next, the processing flow of the recording head control operation when a recording failure occurs will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing flow of a print head control operation when a print failure occurs according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

During the recording operation, it is always monitored whether or not normal recording is being performed. When a recording failure is detected, first, control is performed so as to stop all recording head control based on recording data (step S1). . Next, the recording operation is stopped (step S2). Subsequently, the recording head is moved to a predetermined position by feeding the paper and moving the carriage (step S3). Control is performed so that a failure mark indicating that normal recording could not be performed due to the occurrence of a failure at a predetermined position is recorded (step S4). Then, a failure mark for identifying the page from which other normal recording has been completed is recorded (step S5). That is, by recording a failure mark at a predetermined position on a page for which recording has not been completed normally due to some failure, it is possible to easily distinguish the page from other pages that have been normally recorded.

In this manner, printing is performed at a predetermined position on a page (failed printing) where normal printing is prevented due to a malfunction of the printing head such as non-ejection of ink during printing of a page or a malfunction of a paper feeding system. By recording a mark indicating a defect (occurrence of a failure), it is possible to easily identify the page from which other normal recording has been completed (normal printing). Supports reliable separation of failed prints.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, a failure for causing the user to recognize a recording failure (occurrence of a failure) for a failed print in which correct recording could not be performed due to a malfunction of the recording head or the paper feeding system. By recording the mark, it is possible to easily determine a failed print. Therefore, to realize an ink jet recording apparatus which can greatly reduce troublesome work of a user and can reliably and easily sort failed prints without erroneously recognizing the failed prints as normal prints even when performing a large amount of output. Can be. (Embodiment 2) According to Embodiment 1, a failure mark indicating that normal recording could not be performed on a page where a recording failure has occurred is recorded, so that a failed print can be easily identified as a normal print. The ink jet recording apparatus that enables the above has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained by providing another paper discharge mechanism for failed printing.

The basic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, a paper ejection mechanism different from that for normal printing is provided for failed printing. This may be provided with another paper discharge receiver, or may be a mechanism for discharging the paper to the outside without being charged into the paper discharge receiver.

Next, a processing flow of a print head control operation when a print failure occurs will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing flow of a print head control operation when a print failure occurs according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

During the recording operation, it is always monitored whether or not the normal recording is being performed. When a recording failure is detected, first, control is performed to stop all the recording head control based on the recording data (step S11). Next, the recording operation is stopped (Step S12). Subsequently, a sheet ejection control different from the sheet ejection method for a page on which image recording has been completed normally is performed (step S13). Separate paper ejection is performed to identify the page from which other normal recording has been completed (step S14). That is,
A page for which recording has not been completed normally due to some kind of failure is separately discharged, so that it can be easily distinguished from other pages that have been normally recorded.

In this manner, a page (failure print) for which normal recording is prevented due to a failure of the recording head such as non-ejection of ink during the recording of the page or a defective operation of the paper feeding system. By performing the paper ejection method
The page can be easily identified from other pages on which normal recording has been completed (normal printing), which not only reduces the troublesome work of the user, but also supports reliable separation between normal printing and failed printing.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, a failed print in which correct printing could not be performed due to a malfunction of the print head or the paper feed system is ejected separately from a normal print, thereby allowing the user to perform a poor print operation. (Failure occurrence) can be easily recognized. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus is provided which greatly reduces user's troublesome work, and enables reliable and easy sorting without failing to recognize a failed print as a normal print even in a case where a large amount of output is performed. be able to. (Embodiment 3) According to Embodiment 1 and above Embodiment 2,
Record a failure mark on the page where the recording failure occurred,
Alternatively, an ink jet recording apparatus has been described in which a page where a recording failure has occurred is separately discharged so that a failed print can be easily distinguished from a normal print. In addition, by disclosing the number of failed prints to the user, it is possible to increase the certainty of sorting.

The basic configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. However, it is possible to notify the user of the number of failed prints by adding a counting unit that counts failed prints and a notification unit that externally notifies the counted number of failed prints. The notification method for the user is L
It may be a method of displaying on a CD or the like, or a method of notifying by sound or the like. Alternatively, a method of displaying a monitor on a computer or the like connected to the apparatus may be used.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the total number of failed prints is notified by counting the number of failed prints for which correct printing could not be performed due to a malfunction of the recording head or the paper feeding system and notifying the user of the quantity. It becomes possible to confirm. As a result, it is possible to realize an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reliably and easily sorting failed prints without erroneously recognizing the failed prints even when a large amount of output is performed. (Other Embodiments) In the first to third embodiments, the separation of normal prints and failed prints is reliably and easily performed by a single method. However, these can be easily combined. Needless to say, it exerts a greater effect.

Further, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the one provided integrally or separately as an image output apparatus of an information processing apparatus such as a computer or a word processor, and may be combined with a reading apparatus. It may be a copying machine or a facsimile machine having a communication function.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the ink jet recording apparatus equipped with a recording head constituted by a multi-head in which four heads corresponding to four color inks are integrated has been described. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a multi-head composed of correspondingly independent single-color heads is mounted. Further, the ink color is not limited to the four colors of Cy, Mg, Ye, and Bk, but may be the case of using other four colors, or three or less colors and five or more colors, and inks having different densities. May be used.

The recording head has a structure in which the ink tank and the recording head are integrally formed and are replaceable.
The ink tank and the recording head may be configured to be separable so that only the ink tank can be replaced when the ink runs out. FIG. 5 shows an example.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing the structure of an ink cartridge IJC in which the ink tank and the recording head can be separated.

In the ink cartridge IJC, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink tank IT and the recording head IJH can be separated at the position of the boundary line K. Ink cartridge IJ
C is provided with an electrode (not shown) for receiving an electric signal supplied from the carriage 403 when mounted on the carriage 403, and the electric signal causes the recording head IJH to operate as described above. It is driven to eject ink. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes an ink ejection port array. In the ink tank IT,
A fibrous or porous ink absorber is provided to hold the ink, and the ink is held by the ink absorber.

Further, it has been described that the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head are ink, and the liquid contained in the ink tank is ink. However, the contained matter is not limited to ink. . For example, an ink tank may contain a processing liquid discharged to a recording medium in order to improve the fixability and water resistance of the recorded image or to improve the image quality.

The above-described embodiment is particularly provided with a means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating thermal energy as energy used for performing ink ejection even in an ink jet recording system. By using a method in which a change in the state of the ink is caused by energy, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical structure and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type.
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the film boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Since thermal energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer and film boiling occurs on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. It is valid. By discharging the liquid (ink) through the discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, at least one droplet is formed. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped driving signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge part of an electrothermal transducer, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge part. A configuration based on 138461 may be adopted.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition to the cartridge-type recording head in which the ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself described in the above embodiment, the recording head is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by being mounted on the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip-type recording head, which enables a simple connection and supply of ink from the apparatus main body, may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like to the configuration of the printing apparatus described above, since the printing operation can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof. It is also effective to provide a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection that is different from printing, in order to perform stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a single recording head or a combination of a plurality of recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments described above, the description is made on the assumption that the ink is a liquid. However, even if the ink is solidified at room temperature or lower, or an ink that softens or liquefies at room temperature is used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. It suffices if the ink is in a liquid state when a signal is applied.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0071]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a recording apparatus and a control method thereof capable of easily identifying a recording medium used for recording in which a recording failure has occurred. Can provide memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printhead control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a print head control operation when a print failure occurs according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of a print head control operation when a print failure occurs according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view illustrating a configuration of an ink cartridge IJC in which an ink tank and a recording head are separable.

[Explanation of symbols]

 301 recording head 302 carriage 303 paper feed roller 304 auxiliary roller 305 paper feed roller 306 recording paper 201 memory unit 202 first data processing unit 203 memory input control unit 204 memory output control unit 205 second data processing unit 206 mark storage unit 207 mark Output control unit 208 Fault detection unit 209 Head control unit 210 Control unit

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording an image by ejecting ink from a recording head onto a recording medium, comprising: a detecting unit for detecting a recording failure; and a recording unit having a recording failure detected by the detecting unit. And an output means for identifying and outputting the recording medium used for the recording. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a recording unit that records an identification mark on a recording medium used for recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred by the recording unit. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording device records the identification mark so that the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output. 3. The output means includes a paper discharge means for discharging a recording medium used for recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and discharging the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred to the paper discharge means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus outputs the recording medium in which a recording failure has occurred by making the recording medium identifiable. 4. The output means includes: a counting means for counting the number of recording media used for recording in which the recording failure has occurred; and a notifying means for notifying the number of recording media counted by the counting means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of recording media counted by the counting unit is notified by the notifying unit, so that the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output. . 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said notifying means displays the number of recording media counted by said counting means. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said notifying means outputs the number of recording media counted by said counting means by voice. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects at least a failure due to non-ejection of ink in the recording head. 8. The printing head according to claim 1, wherein the printing head uses thermal energy to eject ink, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 2. The recording device according to Item 1. 9. A control method for a printing apparatus for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printhead to a printing medium, comprising: a detecting step of detecting a printing failure; and a printing failure detected by the detecting step. An output step of identifying and outputting a recording medium used for the generated recording. 10. The recording step in which the output step includes a recording step of recording an identification mark on a recording medium used for recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred in the recording step. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identification mark is recorded on the recording medium, so that the recording medium in which the recording failure has occurred can be identified and output. 11. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the outputting step includes a discharging step of discharging a recording medium used for the recording in which the recording failure has occurred to a discharging unit. The method according to claim 9, wherein a recording medium in which a recording failure has occurred is identifiably output by discharging the recording medium to the discharge unit in a paper process. 12. The output step includes a counting step of counting the number of recording media used for recording in which the recording failure has occurred, and a notifying step of notifying the number of recording media counted in the counting step. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the number of recording media counted in the counting step is notified in the notifying step, so that a recording medium in which a recording failure has occurred can be identified and output. Control method. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in the notifying step, the number of recording media counted in the counting step is displayed on a display unit. 14. The control method according to claim 12, wherein, in the notifying step, the number of recording media counted in the counting step is output as a sound using a sound output unit. 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detecting step detects at least a failure due to non-ejection of ink in the print head. 16. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head ejects ink by using thermal energy, and includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 10. A control method for a recording device according to Item 9. 17. A computer readable memory storing a program code for controlling a printing apparatus for printing an image by ejecting ink from a printing head to a printing medium, wherein the program code is for a detection step for detecting a printing failure. ,
And a program code for an output step of identifiably outputting a recording medium used for recording in which a recording failure detected in the detection step has occurred.