JP2000326526A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect clogging of nozzle or ink end. SOLUTION: A sensor 10 for detecting an ink drop 9 being ejected from a nozzle upon conducting the driving heater of a head 3 comprises an infrared ray detecting element 11, and a condenser lens 12 disposed in front of the detecting element 11. The ink drop 9 passes through the field of view 13 in front of the condenser lens 12 having substantially constant area from the condenser lens 12 to the place where the ink drop 9 passes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus used for OA equipment and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording apparatus for ejecting ink from a head of an ink jet system to a recording medium such as paper from a nozzle of the head is easily spotlighted in terms of size and cost reduction as compared with a laser printer or the like.

[0003]

The problem with the above conventional example is that when the nozzles of the head are clogged with ink or the like, or when the ink runs out, it cannot be detected. In this case, a recording failure occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a recording failure.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sensor for detecting ink droplets ejected from a nozzle by energizing a head, the sensor comprising: an infrared detecting element; A condenser lens provided on the front side of the detection element, wherein the ink particles ejected from the nozzles of the head pass through a visual field in front of the condenser lens, and the condenser lens The field of view has substantially the same area from the condensing lens to the place where the ink particles pass, and the ink particles ejected from the nozzles of the head are heated by energizing the head. The presence / absence and amount of the particles can be detected as the amount of infrared rays emitted from the ink particles.

In other words, when the nozzle is clogged or the ink runs out, the amount of the ink particles ejected from the nozzle is smaller than the predetermined amount or is completely eliminated. Therefore, nozzle clogging and ink shortage can be detected.

Further, the field of view of the condenser lens in front of the detection element is
By setting the area from the condensing lens to the place where the ink particles pass through to have substantially the same area, the presence / absence and amount of the ink particles can be accurately detected.

That is, although the ejection direction of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles is substantially the same direction, but precisely swings slightly right and left and up and down, the visual field of the condenser lens is substantially from the condenser lens to the place where the ink particles pass. As described above, even if the ink particles swing up, down, left, and right, almost all of them can be detected.

If the field of view of the condenser lens is too wide, the sensitivity is reduced accordingly. This makes it possible to accurately detect the presence and amount of the particles, and as a result, it is possible to prevent recording defects.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply means for supplying a recording medium to a recording position, a head for ejecting ink to the recording medium supplied to the recording position by the supply means, and A sensor for detecting ink droplets ejected from the nozzles when power is supplied to the head, the sensor having an infrared detecting element, and a condensing lens provided on the front side of the detecting element; The ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the head pass through the field of view in front of the lens, and the field of view of the condenser lens is substantially the same from the condenser lens to the location where the ink particles pass. In a recording device having an area, since the temperature of the ink particles ejected from the nozzles of the head is increased by energizing the head, the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles are determined by the amount of infrared rays emitted from the ink particles. It is possible to detect Te.

That is, when the nozzle is clogged or the ink runs out, the amount of the ink particles ejected from the nozzle is smaller than the predetermined amount or completely eliminated, and accordingly, the amount of the infrared ray detected by the detecting element becomes smaller than the predetermined amount. Therefore, nozzle clogging and ink shortage can be detected.

The field of view of the condenser lens in front of the detection element is
By setting the area from the condensing lens to the place where the ink particles pass through to have substantially the same area, the presence / absence and amount of the ink particles can be accurately detected.

That is, although the jetting direction of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles is substantially the same direction, but precisely swings slightly right and left and up and down, the visual field of the condenser lens is substantially from the condenser lens to the place where the ink particles pass. As described above, even if the ink particles swing up, down, left, and right, almost all of them can be detected.

If the field of view of the condensing lens is too wide, the sensitivity is reduced accordingly. The presence / absence and amount of grains can be accurately detected, and a recording failure can be prevented based on these results.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording apparatus as set forth in the first aspect, wherein the head has a heater for driving, and ink droplets are ejected from nozzles by energizing the heater. However, since the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles after the ink particles are heated and heated by energizing the heater, the amount of infrared rays emitted from the ink particles increases,
As a result, the difference between normal operation and nozzle clogging or ink shortage increases, and their detection accuracy increases.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the head has a driving electrostrictive element, and ink particles are ejected from a nozzle by energizing the electrostrictive element. In the recording apparatus described above, since the ink is heated by heating the electrostrictive element and the temperature of the ink is increased, the ink is ejected from the nozzle. The difference between nozzle clogging and out of ink becomes large, and the detection accuracy for them becomes high.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the converging lens is of a diffractive type and the detecting element is provided behind the focal point behind the converging lens. In the recording apparatus according to the above, since the detection element is provided behind the focal point behind the condenser lens, the field of view at the ink particle passage location of the condenser lens is slightly smaller than the condenser lens to increase the sensitivity. can do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a reflecting mirror is provided in the visual field of the condenser lens in front of the ink particle passing position. The detection sensitivity can be increased by reflecting the infrared rays radiated from the ink particles to the side opposite to the condenser lens toward the detection element.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is formed of any one of Au, Ag, Pt, and Al.
g, Pt, and Al have high reflection efficiency of infrared rays, which can further increase the detection sensitivity of the detection element.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the detecting circuit is provided on the output side of the detecting element, and the detecting circuit is provided with a means for integrating the output from the detecting element. In the recording apparatus described above, the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles are determined by integrating the output from the detection element by the integrating means of the detection circuit, so that the amount of infrared rays obtained from one ink particle is At least, no error occurs in the determination.

According to the invention of claim 8 of the present invention, the detection circuit comprises:
8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein after the detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles are integrated, if the integrated value is lower than the reference value, the power supply to the head is stopped. If the value is lower than the value, the nozzle is clogged or the ink has run out, so that accurate recording on the recording medium cannot be performed, so that the power supply to the heater for driving the head is stopped.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a detecting circuit comprises:
9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein after detecting outputs from a plurality of ink particles, if the integrated value is lower than a reference value, a warning is issued from a warning unit. If the value is lower than the reference value, the nozzle is clogged or the ink has run out, and in this case, accurate recording on the recording medium cannot be performed. Therefore, an alarm is issued from the alarm means to alert the user. , So that we can take immediate action.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the detection circuit is configured to integrate detection outputs from a plurality of ink droplets, and display the out-of-ink state by a display means if the integrated value is lower than a reference value. Item 7. The recording apparatus according to Item 7, wherein accurate recording on a recording medium can be performed by prompting ink replacement.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the detection circuit integrates the detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles, and if the integrated value is lower than the reference value, the supply means supplies the recording medium to the recording position. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle is stopped or the ink is out when the integrated value of the detection circuit is lower than the reference value. However, accurate recording on the recording medium cannot be performed, and the supply of the recording medium to the recording position by the supply device is stopped.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the detection circuit is configured such that, after detecting outputs from a plurality of ink droplets, if the integrated value is lower than a reference value, the amount of current supplied to the head is increased. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the integrated value of the detection circuit is lower than a reference value, and when the integrated value is caused by nozzle clogging, the amount of current supplied to the head is increased. Thus, the ink is boiled, and the clogging of the nozzles is eliminated by the energy.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, after increasing the amount of current supplied to the head, the detection circuit integrates the detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles again, and determines that the integration value is lower than the reference value. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the power supply to the head is stopped, and the integrated value by the detection circuit is set to a reference value even though the power supply amount to the head is increased to eliminate ink clogging. If it is lower than this, it means that the ink clogging cannot be eliminated or the ink has run out, so that the power supply to the head is stopped.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a head is provided with first and second nozzles, and the first and second nozzles are connected to ink tanks containing inks of different colors. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first sensor corresponding to the first nozzle, and a second sensor corresponding to the second nozzle. Since the first and second sensors are provided corresponding to the first and second nozzles to which the ink tanks storing the color inks are connected, it is possible to determine which color ink has run out, The ink tank of the exhausted ink can be quickly replaced.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a head is provided with first and second nozzles, and the first and second nozzles are connected to ink tanks containing inks of different colors. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to selectively correspond to the first and second nozzles, wherein an ink tank containing inks of different colors is connected. Since the sensors are selectively made to correspond to the first and second nozzles, it is possible to determine which color of ink has run out, and it is possible to immediately replace the ink tank of the blown ink.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, the sensor is movable to selectively correspond to the first and second nozzles. After moving the sensor, the first,
The sensor can be selectively made to correspond to the second nozzle. In this case, the sensor can be made smaller and lighter than the head, so that the sensor can be made to correspond to the first and second nozzles in a short time and accurately.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the head is movable so that the first and second nozzles are selectively associated with the sensor. If the first and second nozzles are selectively made to correspond to the sensor by being moved, one sensor can detect clogging of a plurality of nozzles or running out of ink.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, a shaft for moving the head is provided, and the shaft is slid to move the head out of the recording area on the recording medium, and then eject ink droplets from the nozzles of the head. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the head is moved out of a recording range of the recording medium for inspection such as nozzle clogging or ink out. Therefore, the recording is not stained by the ink particles ejected at the time of the inspection.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording apparatus according to any one of the twelfth to eighteenth aspects, wherein a sensor is connected to the head, wherein the head and the sensor are connected. Is stable, and the inspection by the sensor becomes stable.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus of the present embodiment comprises a supply means 2 such as a roller for supplying a recording material 1 such as paper to a recording position, and a recording medium 1 supplied to the recording position by the supply means 2. And an ink jet type head 3 for ejecting ink.

The head 3 is slidably provided on a shaft 4 provided in parallel with the supply device 2. Although not shown in FIG. 1, three nozzles are opened in the horizontal or vertical direction in FIG. are doing. These nozzles are connected to ink tanks containing inks of different colors for colorization, and eject ink droplets from each nozzle toward the recording medium 1 to form a color image on the recording medium 1. A record is to be made.

Each of the nozzles provided in the head 3 is shown in FIG.
4 to FIG.

That is, a cavity 6 is provided behind the nozzle 5, and the ink 7 supplied from the ink tank into the cavity 6 is turned into ink particles 9 as shown in FIG. This is to be ejected toward the recording medium 1.

More specifically, when the drive heater 8 is energized, the ink 7 in the cavity 6 boils rapidly, and a bubble 7a is generated in the cavity 6 as shown in FIG. 2, and the bubble 7a is formed as shown in FIG. As the ink grows, the ink 7 starts to protrude from the nozzle 5 due to the pressure, and eventually jets as ink particles 9 as shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, the power supply to the driving heater 8 has already been stopped, and the temperature of the ink 7 in the cavity 6 suddenly rises due to the ink 7 newly supplied from the ink tank direction into the cavity 6. The bubble 7a also decreases from FIG. 3 as shown in FIG. 4, and eventually disappears.

Now, the color recording on the recording medium 1 is performed in this manner. When the recording is not performed, the head 3 slides on the shaft 4 and moves out of the recording medium 1,
At this location, ink droplets 9 are periodically ejected from each nozzle 5 to prevent the nozzle 5 from being clogged. Therefore, in the present embodiment, nozzle clogging and ink exhaustion are detected by detecting the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles 9 in this portion. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a sensor 10 for detecting ink particles 9 ejected from the nozzles 5 by energizing the driving heater 8 of the head 3 is provided. The sensor 10 has an infrared detecting element 11 and a condenser lens 12 provided on the front side of the detecting element 11, as shown in FIGS.
The ink droplets 9 ejected from the nozzle 5 of the head 3 pass through a visual field 13 in front of the condenser lens 12, and the visual field 13 of the condenser lens 12 as shown in FIG. The area from the optical lens 12 to the place where the ink particles 9 pass is substantially the same.

The effective portion 12a of the condenser lens 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the field of view 13 is also circular.
The ink particles 9 pass through the center of the circular visual field.

In this case, since the temperature of the ink particles 9 ejected from the nozzles 5 of the head 3 is increased by energizing the driving heater 8, the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles 9 are determined by the ink particles 9
It can be detected as the amount of infrared rays emitted from.

That is, when nozzle clogging or ink shortage occurs, the amount of the ink particles 9 ejected from the nozzle 5 is smaller than the predetermined amount or completely disappears. This is less than the predetermined amount, so that it is possible to detect nozzle clogging and ink shortage.

The field of view 13 of the condenser lens 12 in front of the detection element 11 is substantially the same area from the condenser lens 12 to the place where the ink particles 9 pass (in this embodiment, the left side in FIG. ), The presence or absence and amount of the ink particles 9 can be accurately detected.

That is, although the ejection direction of the ink particles 9 ejected from the nozzle 5 is substantially the same direction, but precisely swings slightly right and left and up and down, the visual field 13 of the condenser lens 12 The area is substantially the same as the area where the ink particles 9 pass, so that almost all of the ink particles 9 can be detected even if the ink particles 9 swing up, down, left, and right as described above.

If the field of view 13 of the condenser lens 12 is excessively widened, the sensitivity is reduced accordingly. As a result, the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles 9 can be accurately detected.

In this embodiment, the condenser lens 12 is of a diffractive type.
The detection element 11 is provided as shown in FIG.
If the sensing element 11 is provided behind the focal point of the focusing lens 12, the field of view 13 at the place where the condensing lens 12 passes through the ink particles 9 can be made slightly smaller than the effective portion 12a of the focusing lens 12 to further increase the sensitivity. .

That is, when the detecting element 11 is at the focal point, even if the condenser lens 12 is designed to make the two visual fields 13 the same, as shown in FIG. In this case, if the detection element 11 is slightly moved backward (to the right in FIG. 5), the field of view 13 at the place where the ink particles 9 pass is slightly larger than in FIG. It is possible to increase the sensitivity by making it smaller.

Further, if a reflecting mirror is provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 5) of the visual field 13 of the condenser lens 12 with respect to the passage of the ink particles 9, the opposite side from the ink particles 9 with respect to the condenser lens 12 ( Infrared light radiated to the left side of FIG. 5) is reflected to the detection element 11 side, and the detection sensitivity can be increased.

At that time, the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is changed to A
If formed of any one of u, Ag, Pt, and Al, Au, Ag, Pt, and Al have high infrared ray reflection efficiency, so that the detection sensitivity of the detection element 11 can be further increased.

In this embodiment, a detection circuit 14 is provided on the output side of the detection element 11 as shown in FIG. 7, and this detection circuit 14 has means for integrating the output from the detection element 11. In other words, the ink droplets 9 are as small as several tens of microns, and the temperature rapidly drops after ejection. Therefore, a sufficient amount of infrared rays cannot be obtained from one droplet, so that several tens to several hundreds of ink droplets 9 are ejected. Since the output from the detecting element 11 is sometimes integrated by the integrating means of the detecting circuit 14 and the result is compared with a reference value by the main controller 15, the presence or absence and the amount of the ink particles 9 are determined. Even if the amount of infrared rays obtained from the grains 9 is small, no error occurs in the determination.

In this embodiment, when the integrated value is lower than the reference value, the power supply to the driving heater 8 of the head 3 is stopped.

In other words, in this case, since the nozzles are clogged or the ink has run out, accurate recording on the recording medium cannot be performed, and the power supply to the heater 8 for driving the head 3 is stopped.

At this time, the display means 16 indicates that the ink has run out.
To be able to record accurately.

Of course, a configuration may be adopted in which a warning is given by a sound from the warning means to draw the user's attention so that an immediate response can be taken.

When the integrated value is lower than the reference value, the supply of the recording medium 1 to the recording position by the supply means 2 may be stopped.

That is, when the integrated value of the detection circuit 14 is lower than the reference value, the nozzle is clogged or the ink is out of ink. In this case, accurate recording on the recording medium 1 cannot be performed. In this case, the drive signal to the motor driver 18 of the motor 17 for driving the supply device 2 is stopped in order to stop the supply of the recording medium 1 to the recording position.

In FIG. 7, 19 is an amplifier, 20 is a driver for the driving heater 8, 21 is a motor for driving the head 3, 22 is its driver, 23 and 24 are ROM and RAM in the main controller 15, and 25 is the main controller. It is a host computer connected to the controller 15.

In the present embodiment, ink clogging and ink shortage can be detected as described above. However, as described above, after the detection outputs from a plurality of ink particles are integrated, if the integrated value is lower than the reference value, the drive is started. It is also possible to increase the amount of current supplied to the heater 8.

That is, when the integrated value of the detection circuit 14 is lower than the reference value, and when the integrated value is caused by nozzle clogging, the amount of power supplied to the driving heater 8 is increased, thereby No. 3 is intended to increase the boiling energy of the ink, thereby eliminating nozzle clogging.

However, in spite of increasing the amount of power to the driving heater 8 in order to eliminate ink clogging as described above, if the integrated value by the detection circuit 14 is lower than the reference value in the subsequent retest, The energization of the driving heater 8 is stopped because the jam is not eliminated or the ink is out of ink.

In the present embodiment, the three nozzles 5 are provided in the head 3 as described above, and the three nozzles 5 are connected to ink tanks containing inks of different colors. Therefore, separate sensors 10 are provided corresponding to these three nozzles 5, respectively. For this reason, it is possible to determine which color ink has run out, and it is possible to immediately replace the ink tank of the run-out ink.

Of course, one sensor 10 may be configured to selectively correspond to the three nozzles 5. In such a case, the sensor 10 may be moved to selectively correspond to the three nozzles 5. In this case, the sensor 10 can be made smaller and lighter than the head 3, so that it can selectively correspond to the three nozzles 5 in a short time and with high accuracy.

Naturally, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the head 3 is moved in the opposite manner so that the three nozzles 5 selectively correspond to one sensor 10.

In the present embodiment, a shaft 4 for moving the head 3 is provided, and the shaft 3 is slid to move the head 3 out of the recording range on the recording medium 1 and then the ink is ejected from the nozzles 5 of the head 3. The structure is such that the particles 9 are ejected and detected by the sensor 10. In this case, if the sensor 10 is connected to the head 3, the position between them is stabilized,
The inspection by the sensor 10 becomes stable.

In the present embodiment, the head 3 has the heater 8 for driving, and the ink particles 9 are ejected from the nozzle 5 by energizing the heater 8, but the electrostriction element is replaced with the heater 8. The ink may be ejected by increasing the pressure in the cavity 6 by vibrating the ink and ejecting the ink particles 9. In this case, the ink is heated by the heat generated by the electrostrictive element due to the energization of the electrostrictive element. After the ink is ejected from the nozzles, the amount of infrared rays emitted from the ink particles increases, and as a result, the difference between normal operation and nozzle clogging or ink shortage increases, and those detections can be performed with high accuracy. Will be able to do it.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, a supply means for supplying a recording medium to a recording position, a head for ejecting ink to the recording medium supplied to the recording position by the supply means, and a power supply to this head A sensor for detecting ink droplets ejected from the nozzles, the sensor having an infrared detecting element and a condenser lens provided on the front side of the detecting element, and a visual field in front of the condenser lens. Inside, the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the head pass through, and the field of view of the condenser lens has substantially the same area from the condenser lens to the place where the ink droplets pass. Since the temperature of the ink particles ejected from the nozzles of the head is raised by energizing the head, the presence or absence and amount of the ink particles should be detected as the amount of infrared rays emitted from the ink particles. It can be.

That is, when the nozzle is clogged or the ink runs out, the amount of the ink particles ejected from the nozzle is smaller than the predetermined amount or completely disappears, so that the amount of the infrared ray detected by the detecting element is smaller than the predetermined amount. Therefore, nozzle clogging and ink shortage can be detected.

The field of view of the condenser lens in front of the detection element is
By setting the area from the condensing lens to the place where the ink particles pass through to have substantially the same area, the presence / absence and amount of the ink particles can be accurately detected.

That is, although the direction of ejection of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles is substantially the same direction, but precisely swings slightly right and left and up and down, the field of view of the condenser lens is substantially from the condenser lens to the place where the ink particles pass. As described above, even if the ink particles swing up, down, left, and right, almost all of them can be detected.

If the field of view of the condensing lens is too wide, the sensitivity is reduced accordingly. This makes it possible to accurately detect the presence and amount of grains.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the nozzle portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing components of the sensor unit.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the sensor unit.

FIG. 7 is the same circuit diagram

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording body 2 Supply means 3 Head 4 Shaft 5 Nozzle 6 Cavity 7 Ink 8 Driving heater 9 Ink droplet 10 Sensor 11 Sensing element 12 Condensing lens 13 Field of view 14 Detection circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeo Nagai 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term (reference) 2C056 EA14 EA29 EB08 EB40 EB52 EC07 EC11 EC12 EC24 EC26 EC28 EC35 EC54 FA03 FA04 FA10 KD06 2C061 AQ05 HJ01 HJ03 HJ05 HJ07 HJ10 HK11 HV01 HV14 HV21 HV32 HV44 HV46

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A supply unit for supplying a recording medium to a recording position, a head for ejecting ink to the recording medium supplied to the recording position by the supply unit, and an ink droplet ejected from a nozzle by energizing the head. The sensor has an infrared detecting element, and a condensing lens provided on the front side of the detecting element, and a nozzle of the head in a visual field in front of the condensing lens. And a field of view of the condensing lens having substantially the same area from the condensing lens to a location where the ink particles pass. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head has a heater for driving and ejects ink droplets from nozzles by energizing the heater. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head has an electrostrictive element for driving, and ejects ink particles from a nozzle by energizing the electrostrictive element. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condenser lens is of a diffractive type, and a detection element is provided behind a focal point behind the condenser lens. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting mirror is provided in a field of view of the condenser lens in front of a place where the ink particles pass. 6. The reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror is composed of Au, Ag, Pt,
The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording apparatus is formed of any one of Al. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detection circuit is provided on an output side of the detection element, and the detection circuit includes a means for integrating outputs from the detection element. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection circuit integrates detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles, and stops energizing the head when the integration value is lower than a reference value. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection circuit integrates detection outputs from the plurality of ink droplets, and issues an alarm from an alarm when the integration value is lower than a reference value. . 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection circuit integrates the detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles, and, if the integrated value is lower than the reference value, displays the ink exhaustion by the display means. 11. The detection circuit according to claim 7, wherein after the detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles are integrated, if the integrated value is lower than a reference value, the supply means stops supplying the recording medium to the recording position. The recording device according to any one of claims 10 to 10. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection circuit integrates detection outputs from the plurality of ink particles, and increases the amount of current supplied to the head when the integration value is lower than a reference value. . 13. A configuration in which after the amount of current supplied to the head is increased, detection outputs from a plurality of ink particles are again integrated by the detection circuit, and if the integrated value is lower than a reference value, the current supply to the head is stopped. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: 14. A head having first and second nozzles, and ink tanks containing inks of different colors are connected to the first and second nozzles, and the first and second nozzles correspond to the first nozzles. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor corresponding to the first sensor and the second nozzle. 15. A head having first and second nozzles, ink tanks containing inks of different colors are connected to the first and second nozzles, and the sensors are connected to the first and second nozzles. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is configured to selectively correspond to the nozzles. 16. The recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a sensor is movable to selectively correspond to the first and second nozzles. 17. A sensor, comprising:
2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the second nozzle is selectively associated with the second nozzle.
5. The recording device according to 4. 18. A structure in which a shaft for moving the head is provided, and the shaft is slid to move the head out of a recording range on a recording medium, and then ink droplets are ejected from nozzles of the head and detected by a sensor. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein: 19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is connected to the head.
19. The recording device according to any one of 2 to 18.