JP2001039573A - Recording medium carrier device and picture image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of vibration in carrying a recording medium. SOLUTION: A recording medium P is carried in the arrow direction by a carrier roller 103 and discharge rollers 104a, 104b. Thereafter, recording is carried out as a recording head 100 discharges ink between the carrier roller 103 and the discharge roller pair 104a, 104b. Hereby, though the recording medium P is carried as driving is transmitted to the carrier roller 103 and the discharge roller 104a from a carrier motor, carrying force is changed ire accordance with a kind of the recording medium P (for example, ordinary paper, film). The carrying force is changed by controlling driving power of the carrier motor. For example, it is set in weaker carrying force in carrying ordinary paper and in stronger carrying force at the time of carrying a film.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium transport device provided in an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image recording apparatus, the type of a recording medium is determined for a specific purpose.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-30073 discloses that
An image recording apparatus that automatically determines the type of a recording medium and performs optimal printing according to the properties of the recording medium is shown. Here, the printing conditions such as reading the mark of the recording medium type information added to the recording medium and changing the dot size and dot ejection density of the ink of the ink jet printer are changed. It also shows that the type of the recording medium is determined, the interval between the recording medium and the recording means is changed according to the type, and the amount of heat applied to the recording medium is changed.

As a method of determining the type of recording medium, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-196207 discloses a method of measuring the amount of transmitted light of a recording medium using a transmission type optical sensor. JP-A-8-146815 discloses a method of detecting the thickness of a recording medium and determining the type of the recording medium. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-30073 discloses a method of determining the type of a recording medium by reading a barcode or an invisible mark of ultraviolet ink on the recording medium. In addition, there is a method of discriminating plain paper, coated paper, OHP film, and the like using transmitted light and reflected light.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-278934 discloses that the driving force of a conveyance motor for conveying a recording medium is changed to change the conveyance force of the recording medium in accordance with the remaining amount of the recording medium (roll paper). It is shown.

In the case of the conventional image recording apparatus, even if the type of the recording medium is determined, the conveying force and the conveying speed of the recording medium conveying means are not changed.

[0007]

However, since the weight of the recording medium and the frictional force with the recording medium conveying roller and the platen member differ depending on the type of the recording medium, and there is an optimum torque necessary for conveying the recording medium, the conventional image recording apparatus is used. When the conveyance force of the recording medium conveyance means is set irrespective of the type of recording medium, the conveyance force becomes excessive for a recording medium having a small weight or frictional force, and the conveyance force becomes large for a recording medium having a small weight or frictional force. The recording medium tends to be short. When the conveying force is excessive, noise of the apparatus due to vibration, disturbance of a printed image, and the like may be caused. In addition, when the conveyance force is slightly insufficient, a conveyance failure of the recording medium may be caused.

It is desirable that not only the conveying force but also the conveying speed be variable. Usually, a stepping motor or the like is used to drive the recording medium conveying means. However, there are cases where the vibration cannot be completely eliminated only by the balance between the load and the torque. Changing the speed is also effective to eliminate vibration at the speed of the resonance region unique to the motor. Further, when the image recording apparatus is an inkjet recording apparatus,
The time required to dry the ink varies depending on the recording medium,
For a recording medium that requires a long time to dry the ink, it may be better to reduce the transport speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a recording medium transporting apparatus which does not generate vibration when transporting a recording medium.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium conveying apparatus having a recording medium conveying means for conveying a plurality of types of recording media.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording medium type discriminating means for discriminating a type of a recording medium, a conveying force setting means for setting a conveying force of the recording medium conveying means, Control means for controlling the conveying force setting means based on the result determined by the type determination means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium type discriminating unit for discriminating a type of a recording medium, a conveying speed setting unit for setting a conveying speed of the recording medium conveying unit, Control means for controlling the transport speed setting means based on the result determined by the type determination means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium type input unit for inputting a type of a recording medium, a conveying force setting unit for setting a conveying force of the recording medium conveying unit, and the recording medium. Control means for controlling the conveying force setting means based on the information input by the type input means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium type input unit for inputting a type of a recording medium, a conveying speed setting unit for setting a conveying speed of the recording medium conveying unit, and the recording medium. Control means for controlling the transport speed setting means based on the information input by the type input means.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Fig. 1 (a)
1 is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view.

The image recording apparatus shown here is an image recording apparatus of an ink jet recording system for recording an image by discharging ink, and records an image on a small-sized recording medium such as a business card, a PVC card, or an IC card. Used as a card printer.

This image recording apparatus has two recording medium storage sections (not shown) and two recording medium transport paths 101 for transporting the recording medium P sent from each recording medium storage section to the ink jet recording head 100. , 102 are provided. Each of the transport paths 101 and 102 corresponds to each storage unit.

In each of the transport paths 101 and 102, a large-diameter transport roller 103 and a pair of discharge rollers 104a and 104b are installed.
The image is recorded by the inkjet recording head 100 between a and 104b.

The ink jet recording head 100 is mounted on a carriage 107 which is movable in directions indicated by arrows X1 and X2 (a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveying direction) along guide shafts 105 and 106. Then, the recording head 1
00 discharges ink when the carriage 107 moves in the directions of the arrows X1 and X2, and simultaneously records an image on the two recording media P and P conveyed by the conveyance paths 101 and 102, respectively. Note that the carriage 107 is moved by a belt 109 that is driven to rotate by a motor 108.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a control system of the image recording apparatus.

A main control unit 200 includes a CPU 201,
It is composed of a gate array 202, a ROM 203, and a RAM 204.

The CPU 201 controls the image recording apparatus according to a control process stored in the ROM 203.

The gate array 202 is a custom IC composed of an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. In the present image recording apparatus, processing and generation of print data, image processing,
I such as output of a drive signal of a head or the like, input of a sensor signal, etc.
It has a function such as an O port.

A RAM 204 is a memory composed of a DRAM, an SRAM, etc., and temporarily stores image data (commands) and the like input from the I / F unit 205 and a memory used when the gate array 202 performs image processing. Further, it is used as an image memory for storing image data to be transferred to the recording head 207. In some cases, C
The PU 201 is also connected via a bus, and is used as a work area when the CPU 201 performs control. Furthermore, the power supply of the main body such as an EEPROM and a non-volatile RAM is OF
In some cases, the contents of the memory may not be erased even when the state becomes F, and also include those capable of storing information unique to the main body.

Reference numeral 205 denotes an I / F section for inputting a recording signal (data or command) from a host PC (personal computer) or outputting it to a host PC or the like. If it can be directly connected to the network, input / output recording signals to / from the network.

A head driver 206 drives the recording head 207 (100 in FIG. 1).

Reference numeral 208 denotes a recording medium type determination sensor.
Here, an optical sensor such as a transmission type optical sensor that measures the amount of light transmitted from one side of the sheet-shaped recording medium P on the opposite side and a reflection type optical sensor that measures the amount of light reflected on the recording medium P is used. Use a type sensor. In some cases, the thickness of the recording medium is measured by a magnetic sensor or a mechanical sensor.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a transport motor for driving the transport roller 103 and the discharge roller 104a, and reference numeral 209 denotes a motor driver for driving the motor 210. As the motor 210, a stepping motor or a DC motor is usually used.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a recording medium sensor, which uses a photo interrupter or a photo sensor to detect a print start position and a print end position of the recording medium, and to detect an error such as a conveyance failure of the recording medium.

Reference numeral 213 denotes a carrier motor for transporting the recording head 207, which is a stepping motor or D.
C motor is used. 212 is a carrier motor 213
Is a motor driver for driving.

Reference numeral 214 denotes a recording position sensor for monitoring the position of the recording head 207 conveyed by the carrier motor 213. The sensor 214 is constituted by an encoder and the like for always checking the position of the recording head 207, and is constituted by a photo sensor and the like, and judges whether or not the actual head position is at the position to be moved. And a sensor for sending an error to the control unit when the position is not at the position to be moved.

Reference numeral 215 denotes an operation / display unit of the image recording apparatus, which comprises an LED, an LCD, a key switch, and the like. Then, power ON, error cancellation or simple information is input by a key switch, and the status (power ON, ONLINE, error, etc.) of the image recording apparatus is displayed on the LED / LCD.

FIG. 3 shows a control operation of the present image recording apparatus.

When the printing operation is started, the type of the recording medium is determined in S201. This is performed by the recording medium type determination sensor 208.
If the attachment position 08 is a recording medium storage section or a place where a recording medium is stocked, it is determined as it is. If the recording medium is attached at a position where the recording medium must be conveyed a little, the recording medium is conveyed to some extent and its type is determined. However, it is desirable that the discrimination can be made in a state where the sheet is not conveyed as much as possible. Here, a description will be given assuming that the types of recording medium discrimination are two types: plain paper and film.

If it is determined in step S201 that the paper is relatively light and easy to transport, the process proceeds to step S202 to step S20.
Proceeding to 5, the printing operation is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the film is a film in the determination of S201, it is expected that the weight of one page is relatively heavy. Perform the operation.

The image recording apparatus feeds the recording medium P by a predetermined amount at a pitch and stops the recording medium P, and repeats the operation of scanning the recording head 100 in the directions of arrows X1 and X2 to perform the recording operation. The printing operation is completed. The power of the motor 210 when conveying the recording medium P is determined according to the type of recording medium (plain paper, film), and a printing operation is performed in S205.

If it is determined in S206 that the printing operation is completed, the power of the transport motor 210 is returned to the initial value in S207, and the printing operation is completed. Here, the initial value is set to a value obtained by restoring the power-up amount set in S204 to the original value if it is plain paper, and if it is a film. With the above operation, the power of the transport motor can be adjusted for each page of the recording medium.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows another control operation of the present image recording apparatus.

When the printing operation is started, the type of the recording medium is determined in S301. This is performed by the recording medium type determination sensor 208.
If the attachment position 08 is a recording medium storage section or a place where a recording medium is stocked, it is determined as it is. If the recording medium is attached at a position where the recording medium must be conveyed a little, the recording medium is conveyed to some extent and its type is determined. However, it is desirable that the discrimination can be made in a state where the sheet is not conveyed as much as possible. Here, a description will be given assuming that the types of recording medium discrimination are three types: plain paper, coated paper, and OHP film.

If it is determined in step S301 that the coated paper is relatively easily transported and the ink drying time is extremely short, the speed of the transport motor 210 is increased in step S303 through step S302, and the process proceeds to step S307 to perform a printing operation. .
At this time, the power (torque) of the motor 210 may be increased at the same time.

If it is determined in step S301 that the sheet is plain paper, the default transport speed is set in step S304.
Proceeding to 7, the printing operation is performed.

If it is determined in step S301 that the film is an OHP film, it is expected that it will take time to dry the ink. Therefore, the speed of the transport motor 210 is reduced in step S306 through step S305, and then the process proceeds to step S307 to perform a printing operation. I do. At this time, the power of the transport motor 210 may be reduced at the same time.

The image recording apparatus feeds the recording medium P by a predetermined amount at a pitch and stops the recording medium P, scans the recording head 100 in the directions of arrows X1 and X2, and repeats the operation of performing the recording operation. The printing operation is completed. The speed of the motor 210 when conveying the recording medium P is determined according to the type of recording medium (coated paper, plain paper, OHP film), and a printing operation is performed in S307.

If it is determined in S308 that the printing operation has been completed, the speed of the transport motor 210 is returned to the initial value in S309, and the printing operation is completed. Here, the initial value is set to the default value for plain paper.
In step S <b> 06, the speed-down amount set in step S <b> 36 is restored, and in the case of coated paper, the speed-up amount in step S <b> 303 is restored. With the above operation, the speed of the transport motor 210 can be adjusted according to the type of the recording medium for each page of the recording medium.

<Other Embodiments> In the first and second embodiments, the recording medium type discrimination sensor 208
Is used to determine the type of the recording medium P and to set the power and speed of the transport motor 210 according to the type of the recording medium P. May be input by the input means. In some cases, both the determination of the type using the recording medium type determination sensor 208 and the input of the type by the input unit are performed. The type of the recording medium is input using the key input unit of the operation unit 215 or input from the host PC.

When the type of the recording medium P is input using the key input means of the operation unit 215, a plurality of types of predetermined motor drive tables are prepared in the RAM 204,
A table corresponding to the type of the recording medium input from the operation unit 215 is selected from among them, and the transport motor 210 is driven. This table determines the drive power and drive speed of the transport motor 210.

When the type of recording medium is input from the host PC, it is set via the I / F 205 by setting on a printer driver resident in the PC. Also in this case, the transport motor 210 is driven by selecting a table corresponding to the type of recording medium from a plurality of types of motor drive tables prepared in the RAM 204.

When both the type is determined by using the recording medium type determination sensor 208 and the type is input by the input unit, the power and speed of the transport motor 210 are set based on the type determined by the sensor 208. Do it. If the type determined by the sensor 208 is different from the type input by the input unit, the user is notified of the difference. This notification is sent to the display unit 215 of the image recording apparatus.
And on a host PC connected via the I / F 205.

Next, an example of the configuration of the means for controlling the driving power of the transport motor 210 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a general stepping motor drive circuit. 401 is a motor driver I
C, and if the PHASE signal is H (HIGH),
A current flows from OUTA, which is a one-phase output of the motor, to OUTXA. If PHASE is L (LOW), a current flows from the output OUTXA to OUTA. The signal VR determines the reference voltage of the motor driver 401. Some drivers have a plurality of comparators 402 and can select the output current in multiple stages. Monostable 403
Triggers on the rising edge of the output of the comparator 402, and performs a chopping operation at a period determined by the RC constant. The two circuits shown in FIG. 5 enable the chopping drive of the two-phase bipolar motor.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 501 denotes a motor driver in which the circuit shown in FIG. 5 is composed of two circuits, and reference numeral 502 denotes a stepping motor. A filter is configured at 503, and the duty of the PWM signal is made variable, so that the motor driver 5
01 can be varied, and the drive current of the motor 502 can be controlled.

Similarly, reference numeral 501 in FIG. 7 denotes a motor driver,
502 is a stepping motor, and the signal SW is L (L
ow), when the transistor 604 is OFF, the reference voltage is determined by VZ of the Zener diode 605,
When the signal SW is H (High), the transistor 604 is turned on.
In this case, the reference voltage is determined by the parallel VZ of the Zener diodes 606 and 605.

As described above, the V of the motor driver 501
By controlling the voltage of R, the driving power of the motor 502 can be easily controlled.

In the above embodiment, plain paper, coated paper, film, and OHP film are listed as the types of the recording medium P to be determined. Any recording medium may be used as long as it is provided.

As means for determining the recording medium, a transmission type or reflection type optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a mechanical sensor, or the like has been described. It may be a method of reading with a sensor or the like, or a method in which the type of the recording medium is previously stored as information in the recording medium and read by some sensor.

As a method of changing the power of the transfer motor 210, an example in which the reference voltage VR of the motor driver 501 is changed to change the current value of the constant current drive, and a method of changing the speed of the transfer motor 210 is as follows. Although an example in which the table for giving the phase excitation signal is changed has been described, other methods such as changing the driving voltage of the motor 210, changing the driving method, changing the gear ratio, and the like are conceivable. . At this time, the motor torque and the speed can also be changed by making the motor drive acceleration / deceleration table variable. Also, the motor 21
0 is not limited to the stepping motor, and the speed and the power can be controlled by changing the drive voltage and the PWM duty of the control signal and the like even with a DC motor.

In the above embodiment, an ink jet printer has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can be widely applied to an image recording apparatus using a plurality of types of recording media.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the conveyance force of the recording medium conveyance means for conveying the recording medium is set according to the type of the recording medium, the recording medium is conveyed with an excessive conveyance force, or the recording medium is conveyed with an insufficient conveyance force. And no more. For this reason, the vibration caused by the excessively small conveying force does not occur. Also,
Insufficient conveyance force does not cause conveyance failure.

Further, according to the present invention, since the transport speed of the recording medium transport means for transporting the recording medium is set according to the type of the recording medium, vibrations due to the transport speed do not occur. Further, in the case of an ink jet type image recording apparatus, the recording medium can be transported at a transport speed in consideration of the ink drying time after printing, and the print quality is improved regardless of the type of the recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (FIG. 1 (a)) and a cross-sectional view (FIG. 1 (b)) showing an overall configuration of an ink jet type image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another control operation of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general stepping motor drive circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit for controlling a reference voltage of a motor driver.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a circuit for controlling a reference voltage of a motor driver.

[Explanation of symbols]

103 Conveyance Roller (Recording Medium Conveying Means) 104a, 104b Ejection Roller Pair (Recording Medium Conveying Means) 201 CPU (Control Means) 208 Recording Medium Type Discrimination Sensor (Recording Medium Type Determining Means) 210 Conveying Motor (Conveying Force Setting Means, Conveying) Speed setting means) 215 Operation unit (recording medium type input means) P Recording medium

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium transport device including a recording medium transport unit that transports a plurality of types of recording media, wherein a recording medium type determining unit that determines a type of the recording medium, and a transport force of the recording medium transport unit are set. A recording medium transport device, comprising: a transport force setting unit; and a control unit that controls the transport force setting unit based on a result determined by the recording medium type determination unit. 2. A recording medium transporting apparatus comprising a recording medium transporting means for transporting a plurality of types of recording media, wherein a recording medium type determining means for determining a type of the recording medium, and a transport speed of the recording medium transporting means are set. A recording medium transport apparatus, comprising: a transport speed setting unit; and a control unit that controls the transport speed setting unit based on a result determined by the recording medium type determination unit. 3. A recording medium transporting device comprising a recording medium transporting means for transporting a plurality of types of recording media, wherein a recording medium type inputting means for inputting a type of a recording medium, and a conveying force of the recording medium transporting means are set. A recording medium conveying device, comprising: a conveying force setting unit; and a control unit that controls the conveying force setting unit based on information input by the recording medium type input unit. 4. A recording medium transporting device comprising a recording medium transporting means for transporting a plurality of types of recording media, wherein a recording medium type inputting means for inputting a type of a recording medium, and a transport speed of the recording medium transporting means are set. A recording medium transport apparatus comprising: a transport speed setting unit; and a control unit that controls the transport speed setting unit based on information input by the recording medium type input unit. 5. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a fed recording medium, comprising: the recording medium transport device according to claim 1. Description: