JP2001129997A - Liquid-jet head, its driving method, cartridge and image- forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a large quantity of ink from being consumed at a recovery process of sucking ink from a discharge port of an ink-jet head, facilitate removing air bubbles and prevent ink colors from mixing. SOLUTION: The liquid-jet head includes a plurality of primary discharge ports 13m arranged in predetermined intervals, at least one sub discharge port 13s set along an arrangement direction of the primary discharge ports 13m at least to one end side of the arrangement direction via an interval larger than the arrangement interval of the primary discharge ports 13m, a plurality of ink chambers 14 to which the plurality of discharge ports 13m and 13s are open, a common ink chamber 15 having each ink chamber 14 communicated therewith to supply a liquid, and a plurality of discharge energy-generating parts set to the common ink chamber 15 to be opposite to the discharge ports 13m and 13s for generating a discharge energy to be utilized for discharging ink drops from the discharge ports 13m and 13s.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head for discharging a liquid, a method of driving the liquid discharge head, and a cartridge in which the liquid discharge head is integrated with a liquid tank for storing the liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head. And an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a print medium, in addition to a general printing apparatus, a facsimile having a copying machine and a communication system, a word processor having a printing section, and a variety of processing apparatuses. The present invention can be applied not only to the combined industrial recording apparatus but also to a printing apparatus and a processing apparatus such as etching.

[0002] In this specification, the term "print" or "recording" means not only the case where significant information such as characters and figures are formed, but also whether the information can be perceived by human beings irrespective of significance or insignificance. Irrespective of whether or not it has become obvious, the method widely includes forming an image, pattern, pattern, or the like on a print medium, or includes processing such as etching.

[0003] The "print medium" is not limited to a piece of paper used in a general printing apparatus, but is a material that can accept ink, such as a cloth, a plastic film, a metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. In addition, three-dimensional solids other than the sheet-like object, such as a sphere and a cylinder, are also applicable.

[0004] Further, the term "liquid" is to be interpreted broadly as in the definition of "print (or recording)", and is applied to a print medium to form an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like. Or etching of the print medium, or treatment of the ink (eg, solidification or insolubilization of the color material in the ink applied to the print medium)
Including those provided for.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink jet printer is a so-called non-impact printing type printing apparatus, and is capable of printing at high speed and printing on various printing media, and is characterized by little noise during printing. Because of this, it is widely used as a device that carries a printing mechanism such as a word processor, a facsimile or a copying machine.

[0006] A typical example of the ink jet system is a processing liquid for adjusting the printability of the ink on an ink or a print medium (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as ink for convenience in the present specification). A method using an electrothermal conversion element that generates thermal energy as ejection energy of a liquid, that is, an ink droplet, is known. This method ejects a minute ink droplet from a minute ejection port to a printing medium such as paper. To print.

In general, an ink jet head using an electrothermal conversion element including a drive system for forming ink droplets and a supply system for supplying ink to the drive system includes an electrothermal conversion element. It is provided in a pressure chamber and gives thermal energy to the ink by giving an electric pulse as a print signal to this, and a rapid phase change of the ink at this time, that is, a bubble pressure generated by vaporization is used for discharging ink droplets. is there.

Further, in the case of an ink jet head using an electrothermal transducer, an edge shooter system for discharging ink along the surface of a substrate on which the electrothermal transducer is arranged;
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a side shooter method in which ink is ejected perpendicularly to a substrate surface on which electrothermal conversion elements are arranged.

FIG. 48 shows the appearance of a conventional side shooter type ink jet head, and FIG.
9 and FIG. 50 and FIG. 51 show the sectional structures taken along arrows XX and YY, respectively. That is, the electrothermal conversion element 11
Are arranged at regular intervals, a plurality of ejection ports 13 for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink chambers 14 in which these ejection ports 13 are opened, and an elongated ink for supplying ink to these ink chambers 14. A supply port 15 is formed. The ink supply port 15 extending along the arrangement direction of the electrothermal conversion elements 11 is generally formed in the heat generating substrate 12 by sandblasting, anisotropic etching, laser processing, or the like. Moreover, to provide an electrical signal for discharging ink to the electrothermal transducing element 11, the wiring board 16 and the heat generating substrate 12 are connected by TAB (T ape A utomated B onding ) method, further heating the substrate 12 is a support member 17 is fixed.

In recent years, as personal computers have been greatly reduced in price and performance has been enhanced, colorization of printers and the like has been advanced and spread. The print head of such a color printer is provided with a plurality of printheads, for example, four printheads corresponding to four color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in order to print multicolor inks. In the head, the electrothermal transducers 11 of the heat generating substrate 12 are arranged at intervals as small as possible to reduce the size of the device. In particular, in an ink jet head that performs high-definition printing such as 600 dpi and 1200 dpi, high uniformity of each of the plurality of ejection ports 13 and the ink chambers 14 is required. Is generally defined as a dummy ink chamber 14d not used in an actual print job, and is distinguished from the ink chamber 14 used in an actual print job.

Conventionally, there has been known an ink jet head that drives a driving element such as a piezoelectric element or an electrothermal conversion element and discharges a liquid based on pressure or generation of bubbles. Such an ink-jet head handles a liquid, so that a suction recovery mechanism using a cap for discharging the liquid in the ink-jet head to the outside of the ink-jet head in response to thickening of the liquid, or a preliminary ejection (a pre-ejection ( This is performed regardless of the print signal, and is also referred to as idle discharge), or is applied to an ink jet printer having a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the surface of the discharge port.

Some of such ink jet printers have a mode of performing "suction recovery", "cleaning", or "preliminary ejection" as an operation sequence, or a mode of performing "preliminary ejection" after performing only "cleaning". Used.

It is also known that a plurality of color ink jet heads are mounted and colorized. However, in a case where a plurality of color ink jet heads are provided integrally or separately, a plurality of liquids having different colors or different characteristics are provided. In some cases, the ink jet heads are mixed.

In order to solve such a problem,
Various means are known. Among them, JP-A-8-29
Japanese Patent No. 5033 discloses a technique for preventing color mixture between adjacent inkjet heads by providing dummy nozzles between the adjacent inkjet heads. By introducing ink into the dummy nozzles and discharging the mixed color ink from the dummy nozzles, the mixed color ink can be removed.

[0015]

In the conventional ink jet head shown in FIGS. 48 to 51, the area of the dummy ink chamber 14d is not limited to the number of the dummy ink chambers 14d but needs to be a certain area. Fig. 4
8 to 51, the dummy ink chamber 14d and the ejection port 13 corresponding to the dummy ink chamber 14d have the same shape and dimensions as the ink chamber 14 and the ejection port 13 used for printing. In addition, in the high-definition inkjet head in which the arrangement pitch of the ejection ports 13 is small, the number of the dummy ink chambers 14d and the number of the ejection ports 13 increase. For this reason, in order to improve the ejection state of the ink from each of the ejection ports 13 of the plurality of inkjet heads corresponding to the plurality of color inks, dummy printing is performed during the recovery process of collectively sucking the ink from these ejection ports 13. Ink chamber 14
If the above-described air bubbles are not completely removed from d, ink of a different color enters the dummy ink chamber 14d in a reduced pressure state, and there is a possibility that a mixture of a plurality of colors of ink may occur in the inkjet head.

Further, at the time of this recovery processing, ink is also sucked and discharged from the dummy ink chamber 14d, so that there is a problem that the amount of wastefully consumed ink increases.

On the other hand, during the wiping operation of the discharge port surface using the wiper blade, ink attached to the wiper blade or the discharge port surface may be pushed into the discharge port.
Since the ink pushed into the discharge port in this way is usually in a mixed color or thickened state, in order to realize high-quality printing work, a preliminary discharge operation is performed even after performing such a wiping operation. In addition, it is necessary to discharge the ink pushed into the discharge port.

The ejection port that has been wiped in advance has a longer time for the ink mixed in the ejection port to diffuse than the ejection port that has been wiped later. By performing the preliminary ejection operation in the order in which the inks are mixed, it is possible to eliminate the color mixture of the ink with a smaller number of ejections.

As described above, the purpose of the preliminary ejection operation performed after the recovery from the suction or after the wiping is to discharge the mixed color ink or the thickened ink that has entered the ink jet head. The recoverability of the ink jet head in the preliminary discharge operation, that is, the ink dischargeability, is determined by the discharge ports (hereinafter, referred to as main discharge ports) and the dummy discharge ports (hereinafter, sub discharge ports) which are used for the actual printing operation. In some cases). That is, since the discharge amount of the liquid from the sub-discharge port is generally larger than the discharge amount of the liquid from the main discharge port, the recoverability of the inkjet head in one preliminary discharge operation is better for the sub-discharge port. Good. However, since the sub-discharge port is arranged close to a portion where the flow of liquid tends to stagnate, such as the end of an elongated common liquid chamber extending along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, one sub-discharge port is usually provided. The amount of liquid to be discharged from the discharge port needs to be set much larger than the amount of liquid to be discharged from one main discharge port. Conventionally, since the recoverability of the main discharge port and the recoverability of the sub-discharge port have not been clearly distinguished, the preliminary discharge liquid amount necessary to secure the recoverability of the sub-discharge port is also required for the main discharge port. However, the amount of liquid preliminarily ejected from the main ejection port is unnecessarily large.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of types of liquids and a plurality of types of liquids to be ejected from a plurality of types of discharge ports in order to improve the state of liquid discharge. It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid discharge head in which a part of the sucked liquid does not enter the inside to cause a problem such as color mixing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge head capable of suppressing wasteful consumption of liquid during the above-mentioned recovery processing as much as possible and discharging bubbles intervening therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection head capable of fluidizing a liquid which tends to stay at a longitudinal end of an elongated common liquid chamber to which the liquid is supplied and discharging the liquid to the outside without fail. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge in which a driving method and the above-described liquid discharge head and a liquid tank for storing liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head are integrated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a print medium using the above-described liquid discharge head.

[0024]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
A plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined interval, and arranged at least at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at an interval wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. At least one sub-discharge port, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports open, a common liquid chamber to which the liquid chambers communicate with each other, and to which liquid is supplied;
A plurality of discharge energy generating units provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the main discharge port and the sub discharge port, respectively, for generating discharge energy used to discharge liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port; A liquid discharge head comprising:

According to the present invention, during the printing operation, the liquid is discharged from the main discharge port, and the discharge energy generating portion of the liquid chamber where the sub discharge port opens does not generate discharge energy, and the liquid is discharged from the sub discharge port. No ejection. However, during the preliminary ejection operation performed prior to the printing operation, the liquid can be ejected also from the sub ejection port. In addition, since the sub-discharge ports are arranged at intervals larger than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports, when the arrangement length of the discharge ports is constant, when the liquid is sucked from the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports, the discharge is performed. As a result, the number of sub-discharge ports is relatively smaller than that of the related art in which all outlets are arranged at regular intervals, so that the suction amount of liquid from the sub-discharge ports is relatively reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the arrangement of the main discharge ports is at least one end of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. A liquid ejection head having at least one sub-ejection port arranged at a wider interval than the main ejection port and ejecting the liquid only from the main ejection port when ejecting the liquid to the print medium. A step of simultaneously discharging the liquid from the sub-discharge port when discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port. It is.

According to the present invention, at the time of the preliminary ejection operation performed prior to the printing operation, the liquid can be ejected also from the sub ejection port, and the liquid in the liquid chamber in which the sub ejection port opens is interposed here. It is discharged together with the moving bubbles.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. An outlet, and a plurality of sub-discharge ports disposed on both sides of the common liquid chamber along an arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at at least one end side in the arrangement direction at an interval wider than an arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A method of driving a head, the method comprising: when ejecting a liquid from the main ejection port to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port,
A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging liquid from one of the sub-discharge ports and at least two of the main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber, and this step is sequentially performed from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the step of simultaneously discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber during a preliminary discharge operation performed prior to the printing operation. Are sequentially performed from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, and the liquid in a stagnant state at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber is reliably discharged from the sub discharge ports.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. An outlet, and a plurality of sub-discharge ports disposed on both sides of the common liquid chamber along an arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at at least one end side in the arrangement direction at an interval wider than an arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A method of driving a head, the method comprising: when ejecting a liquid from the main ejection port to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port,
A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging liquid from one of the sub-discharge ports and at least two of the main discharge ports adjacent to each other with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween; While the discharge operation is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the discharge ports, the discharge operation of the liquid from at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber is performed at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports and the other. It is characterized by being performed alternately on the end side.

According to the present invention, the step of simultaneously discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber during a preliminary discharge operation performed prior to a printing operation. Is repeated, but 1
The discharge operation of the liquid from the two sub-discharge ports is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, whereas the discharge operation of the liquid from at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber is performed by the main discharge port. It is performed alternately at one end side and the other end side in the arrangement direction of the discharge ports. As a result, the liquid in the stagnant state at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber is vibrated, fluidization is promoted, and the liquid is reliably discharged from the sub-discharge port.

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, an elongated common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. An outlet, and a plurality of sub-discharge ports disposed on both sides of the common liquid chamber along an arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at at least one end side in the arrangement direction at an interval wider than an arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A method of driving a head, the method comprising: when ejecting a liquid from the main ejection port to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port,
A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging liquid from one of the sub-discharge ports and at least two of the main discharge ports adjacent to each other with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween; The first group and the second
The discharge operation of the liquid from the sub-discharge port is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port, and the first and last liquids located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port are alternately arranged. The at least two main discharge ports for discharging liquid simultaneously with the sub discharge ports, respectively, are the first discharge ports.
In contrast, at least two of the two or more sub-discharge ports that are located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports and simultaneously discharge at least one of the sub-discharge ports other than the first and last sub-discharge ports The main discharge port is selected from the second group.

According to the present invention, the step of simultaneously discharging the liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber during the preliminary discharge operation performed prior to the printing operation. Are repeatedly performed, but the operation of discharging the liquid from the sub-discharge ports is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. The main discharge ports are arranged in the first group and the second group in order from one end of the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction.
The first and last sub-discharge ports located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports and each of the at least two main discharge ports simultaneously discharging the liquid at the same time are selected from the first group. You. However, at least two main discharge ports located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports and simultaneously discharging the liquid with at least one sub discharge port other than the first and last sub discharge ports are selected from the second group. You.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. Outlets, and a plurality of outlets arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber along an arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at at least one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at an interval wider than an arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. A liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid from the main ejection port to perform printing on a print medium, in order to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port. A first step of discharging liquid from at least all of the main discharge ports when discharging liquid from the main discharge ports, and a second step of discharging liquid from at least all of the sub discharge ports. Also characterized by It is.

According to the present invention, when the liquid is discharged from the main discharge ports in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge ports, at least the step of discharging the liquid from at least all the main discharge ports is performed. The step of discharging the liquid from all the sub-discharge ports is set, so that the discharge amount of the liquid from the main discharge ports is suppressed.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the main discharge ports are arranged along at least one end of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. At least one sub-discharge port arranged at an interval larger than the arrangement interval, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, and a common liquid to which these liquid chambers communicate with each other and to which liquid is supplied. A plurality of discharge energies, each of which is provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the main discharge port and the sub discharge port, and generates discharge energy used to discharge liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port. A liquid discharge head having a generating section; and a liquid tank for storing a liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at a predetermined interval, and the main discharge ports are arranged along at least one end of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. At least one sub-discharge port arranged at an interval larger than the arrangement interval, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, and a common liquid to which these liquid chambers communicate with each other and to which liquid is supplied. A plurality of discharge energies, each of which is provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the main discharge port and the sub discharge port, and generates discharge energy used to discharge liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port. An image forming apparatus is provided with a mounting portion for a liquid discharge head having a generating portion.

According to the present invention, during the printing operation, the liquid is discharged from the main discharge port, the discharge energy generating section of the liquid chamber where the sub discharge port opens does not generate discharge energy, and the liquid is discharged from the sub discharge port. No ejection. However, during the preliminary ejection operation performed prior to the printing operation, the liquid can be ejected also from the sub ejection port. In addition, since the sub-discharge ports are arranged at intervals larger than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports, when the arrangement length of the discharge ports is constant, when the liquid is sucked from the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports, the discharge is performed. As a result, the number of sub-discharge ports is relatively smaller than that of the related art in which all outlets are arranged at regular intervals, so that the suction amount of liquid from the sub-discharge ports is relatively reduced.

[0039]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a liquid chamber having a sub-discharge port and a liquid chamber having a main discharge port adjacent to the sub-discharge port are common. At least one dummy liquid chamber communicating with the liquid chamber and having no discharge port may be further provided. In this case, the dummy liquid chamber and the liquid chamber having the sub-discharge port may be alternately arranged, and the dummy liquid chamber may be provided with a discharge energy generation unit. The distance between the sub-discharge port and the main discharge port adjacent to each other may be an integer multiple of 2 times or more and 5 times or less the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. It may be set larger than the area. Further, the opening shape of the sub-ejection port may be different from the opening shape of the main ejection port, and the ejection energy generating section may have an electrothermal conversion element for generating thermal energy for causing film boiling in the liquid. . Further, the discharge ports are formed in at least two rows parallel to each other,
The arrays may be arranged at intervals of 00 dpi, and the arrangement intervals of each column may be shifted from each other by a half pitch.

In the method of driving a liquid ejection head according to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention, a space wider than the arrangement interval of the main ejection ports is arranged at the other end in the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction of the main ejection ports. Further comprising a plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber with a distance therebetween, following the discharge of the liquid from the sub-discharge ports located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports,
Liquid may be sequentially discharged from the sub-discharge ports located on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. Also,
The discharge amount of liquid from one sub-discharge port may be larger than the discharge amount of liquid from one main discharge port driven at the same time. Furthermore, the ejection drive frequency when ejecting liquid simultaneously with the sub ejection port may be lower than the ejection drive frequency when ejecting liquid from the main ejection port onto a print medium.

In the liquid ejecting head driving method according to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, at least two of the main ejection ports for ejecting liquid simultaneously with one of the sub ejection ports are provided with respect to the sub ejection port. It may be at least twice as long as the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports.

In the liquid discharge head driving method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the other end in the arrangement direction of the main ejection ports is spaced apart from the arrangement interval of the main ejection ports by a distance larger than the arrangement interval of the main ejection ports. A plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber, and following the discharge of the liquid from the sub-discharge ports located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports; Liquid is sequentially discharged from the sub-discharge ports located on the other end side, and at least two of the first and last sub-discharge ports located on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports simultaneously discharge the liquid respectively. The main discharge port is selected from the second group, while at least one of the sub discharge ports other than the first and last sub discharge ports is located at the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. Discharge liquid at the same time At least two of said main discharge ports,
It may be selected from the first group.

In the liquid discharge head driving method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first step includes generating a plurality of discharge energies for generating discharge energies used for discharging liquid from the sub-discharge ports. It may include driving of a unit. In this case, the liquid in the liquid chamber in which the sub-discharge port is opened may be activated or the liquid may be discharged from the sub-discharge port by driving the discharge energy generation unit. Further, the second step may include discharging liquid from a part of the main discharge ports located on the sub discharge port side,
The first step and the second step may be alternately repeated. Further, the liquid discharge head includes one base and a plurality of substrates attached to the base, and the two substrates are configured to discharge two different liquids to each other. The main discharge ports of two types and the sub discharge ports of two types may be formed, and the first and second steps may be repeatedly performed in order for each substrate.

In the method for driving a liquid discharge head according to the second to sixth aspects of the present invention, the liquid may be a processing liquid which is discharged onto ink and / or a print medium to adjust printability of the ink. Further, the discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the main discharge port may be 5 picoliter or less.

In the cartridge according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the liquid tank may be removably mounted on the liquid discharge head.

In the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the mounting portion of the liquid discharge head has a carriage that can scan and move in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the print medium from which the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head. May be
In this case, the liquid ejection head may be detachably mounted on the carriage via the attachment / detachment means.

[0047]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 47. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, It can be applied to other technologies that should be included in the concept of the present invention described in the claims of the specification.

[Apparatus Main Body] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a printer using an ink jet recording system. In FIG. 1, an apparatus main body M1000 forming the outer shell of the printer in this embodiment includes a lower case M1001, an upper case M
1002, access cover M1003 and discharge tray M
1004, and a chassis M3019 (see FIG. 2) housed in the exterior member.

The chassis M3019 is composed of a plurality of plate-like metal members having a predetermined rigidity, forms a skeleton of a recording apparatus, and holds each recording operation mechanism described later.

The lower case M1001 forms a substantially lower half of the apparatus main body M1000, and the upper case M1002 forms a substantially upper half of the apparatus upper main body M1000. It has a hollow body structure having a storage space for storing the mechanism, and an opening is formed in each of the upper surface and the front surface thereof.

Further, one end of the discharge tray M1004 is rotatably held by the lower case M1001 so that the opening formed on the front surface of the lower case M1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. For this reason, when performing the recording operation, the discharge tray M100
By rotating the opening 4 to the front side to open the opening, the recording sheets can be discharged from here, and the discharged recording sheets P can be sequentially stacked.
Also, the paper discharge tray M1004 has two auxiliary trays M.
1004a and M1004b are stored, and the tray support area can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling out each tray as needed.

One end of the access cover M1003 is rotatably held by the upper case M1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. When the access cover M1003 is opened, the inside of the main body is opened. The stored recording head cartridge H1000 or ink tank H1900 can be replaced. Although not particularly shown here, the access cover M10
When the cover 03 is opened and closed, a projection formed on the back surface rotates the cover opening / closing lever, and the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected by detecting the rotation position of the lever with a microswitch or the like. It has become.

A power key E0018 and a resume key E0019 are provided on the rear upper surface of the upper case M1002.
Is provided so as to be pressed, and an LED E0020 is provided. When the power key E0018 is pressed, L
The ED E0020 lights up to notify the operator that recording is possible. LED E0
020 changes the blinking method and color, and sets the buzzer E0.
Various display functions, such as notifying an operator of a printer trouble or the like by leveling 021 (FIG. 7), are provided.
When the trouble or the like is solved, the recording is restarted by pressing the resume key E0019.

[Recording Operation Mechanism] Next, the recording operation mechanism according to the present embodiment which is housed and held in the apparatus main body M1000 of the printer will be described.

The recording operation mechanism in this embodiment includes an automatic feeding unit M3022 for automatically feeding the recording sheets P into the apparatus main body, and a recording sheet P sent one by one from the automatic feeding unit. A transport unit M3029 that guides a recording sheet P from a recording position to a discharge unit M3030 while guiding the recording sheet P to a desired recording position; a recording unit that performs desired recording on the recording sheet P transported to the transport unit M3029; And a recovery unit (M5000) that performs recovery processing for the same.

(Recording Unit) Here, the recording unit will be described.

A carriage M4001 movably supported by the carriage shaft M4021 and a recording head cartridge H1000 removably mounted on the carriage M4001.

Recording Head Cartridge First, the recording head cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head cartridge H1000 according to this embodiment includes an ink tank H1900 for storing ink and an ink tank H190 for storing the ink.
A recording head H1001 for ejecting ink supplied from nozzles 0 in accordance with the recording information, wherein the recording head H1001 employs a so-called cartridge system which is removably mounted on a carriage M4001 described later. It has become.

The recording head cartridge H10 shown here
In FIG. 4, in order to enable photographic high-quality color recording, for example, ink tanks for each color of black, light cyan, light magenta, cyan, magenta and yellow are prepared as ink tanks. As shown, each is detachable from the recording head H1001.

The recording head H1001, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG.
0, first plate H1200, electric wiring board H130
0, second plate H1400, tank holder H15
00, channel forming member H1600, filter H170
0, a seal rubber H1800.

On the printing element substrate H1100, a plurality of printing elements for ejecting ink to one surface of the Si substrate and electric wiring of Al or the like for supplying power to each printing element are formed by a film forming technique. A plurality of ink flow paths and a plurality of ejection ports H1100T corresponding to the recording elements are formed by photolithography, and an ink supply port for supplying ink to the plurality of ink flow paths is formed to open on the back surface. Have been. Further, the recording element substrate H110
0 is adhesively fixed to the first plate H1200,
Here, an ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink to the recording element substrate H1100 is formed.
Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200, and the second plate H1400 is connected to the electric wiring board H130.
The electric wiring substrate H1300a is held so that the recording element substrate H1100 is electrically connected to the recording element substrate H1100. The electric wiring substrate H1300 applies an electric signal for discharging ink to the recording element substrate H1100. The electric wiring corresponding to the recording element substrate H1100 and the electric wiring located at the end of the electric wiring and extending from the main body. An external signal input terminal H1301 for receiving an electric signal is provided, and the external signal input terminal H1301 is positioned and fixed to the back side of a tank holder H1500 described later.

On the other hand, a flow path forming member H1600 is ultrasonically welded to a tank holder H1500 for detachably holding the ink tank H1900.
An ink flow path H1501 extending from 900 to the first plate H1200 is formed. Also, the ink tank H19
A filter H1700 is provided at the ink tank side end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with 00, so that dust can be prevented from entering from the outside. In addition, a seal rubber H1800 is attached to an engagement portion with the ink tank H1900, so that evaporation of ink from the engagement portion can be prevented.

Further, as described above, the tank holder H1
500, flow path forming member H1600, filter H170
And a tank element comprising a recording element substrate H1100, a first plate H1200, an electric wiring substrate H1300, and a second plate H1400, which are joined together by bonding or the like. This constitutes the recording head H1001.

Carriage Next, the carriage M4001 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, the carriage M4001 is engaged with the carriage M4001 and
A carriage cover M4002 for guiding the carriage 1 to the mounting position of the carriage M4001, and a recording head H1001.
Head H10 engaged with the tank holder H1500
And a head set lever M4007 for pressing the 01 to a predetermined mounting position.

That is, the headset lever M4007
Is provided above the carriage M4001 so as to be rotatable with respect to the head set lever axis, and the recording head H1 is provided.
A headset plate (not shown) is provided on the engaging portion with the 001 via a spring, and the recording head H1001 is attached to the carriage M4001 while being pressed by the spring force.

The recording head H of the carriage M4001
A contact flexible printed cable (hereinafter, referred to as a contact FPC) E0
011 is provided, and the contact portion on the contact FPC E0011 and the contact portion (external signal input terminal) H1301 provided on the recording head H1001 are in electrical contact with each other, so that various kinds of information for recording and reception and the recording head H1 are provided.
001 can be supplied.

Here, an elastic member such as rubber (not shown) is provided between the contact portion of the contact FPC E0011 and the carriage M4001, and the contact portion is formed by the elastic force of this elastic member and the pressing force of the headset lever spring. The secure contact with the carriage M4001 is enabled. Further, the contact FPC
E0011 is connected to a carriage substrate E0013 mounted on the back of the carriage M4001 (see FIG. 7).

[Scanner] The printer in this embodiment can be used as a reading device by replacing it with a scanner showing a recording head.

The scanner moves together with the carriage on the printer side and reads the original image fed in place of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. The reading operation and the original feeding operation are alternately performed. , The image information of one document is read.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the scanner M6000.

As shown, the scanner holder M6001
Has a box shape, and contains therein an optical system and a processing circuit necessary for reading. When the scanner M6000 is mounted on the carriage M4001, a scanner reading lens M
Reference numeral 6006 is provided, from which a document image is read. The scanner illumination lens M6005 has a light source (not shown) inside, and the light emitted from the light source irradiates the original.

A scanner cover M6003 fixed to the bottom of the scanner holder M6001 is fitted so as to shield the inside of the scanner holder M6001 from light, and the carriage M4001 is provided by a louver-shaped grip provided on the side surface.
The operability of attaching / detaching to / from is improved. Scanner holder M
The external shape of the print head 6001 is substantially the same as that of the print head H1001, and can be attached to and detached from the carriage M4001 by the same operation as the print head cartridge H1000.

The scanner holder M6001 accommodates a substrate having the processing circuit, and a scanner contact PCB connected to the substrate is provided so as to be exposed to the outside. The scanner M6000 is mounted on the carriage M4001. When attached, the scanner contact P
The CB M6004 comes into contact with the contact FPC E0011 on the carriage M4001 side to electrically connect the substrate to a control system on the main body side via the carriage M4001.

Next, an electric circuit configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit in this embodiment.

The electric circuit of this embodiment mainly includes a carriage board (CRPCB) E0013 and a main PC.
It comprises a B (Printed Circuit Board) E0014, a power supply unit E0015 and the like.

Here, the power supply unit is a main PC
It is connected to BE0014 to supply various drive power supplies.

The carriage substrate E0013 is a printed circuit board unit mounted on the carriage M4001 (FIG. 2). The carriage substrate E0013 functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the recording head through the contact FPC E0011. Based on the pulse signal output from the encoder sensor E0004, a change in the positional relationship between the encoder scale E0005 and the encoder sensor E0004 is detected, and the output signal is converted to a flexible flat cable (CRFFC) E.
0012 to the main PCB E0014.

A main PCB is a printed circuit board unit for controlling the driving of each part of the ink jet recording apparatus in this embodiment. The main PCB is a paper edge detection sensor (PE sensor) E0007, an ASF sensor E0009, a cover sensor E0022, a parallel interface (parallel interface). I
/ F) E0016, serial interface (serial I / F) E0017, resume key E0019, L
ED E0020, power key E0018, buzzer E00
I / O ports for 21 etc. on the board
In addition to being connected to the R motor E0001, the LF motor E0002, and the PG motor E0003 to control their driving,
Ink end sensor E0006, GAP sensor E000
8, PG sensor E0010, CRFFC E0012,
It has a connection interface with the power supply unit E0015.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the main PCB.

In FIG. 8, E1001 is a CPU, and this CPU E1001 has an oscillator OSC inside.
E1002 is connected to the oscillation circuit E1005 and generates a system clock by the output signal E1019. Also, RO through the control bus E1014
ME1004 and ASIC (Application Specific
Integrated Circuit) Connected to E1006, ROM
ASIC control, an input signal E1017 from the power key, an input signal E1016 from the resume key, and a cover detection signal E104 in accordance with the program stored in the
2. The state of the head detection signal (HSENS) E1013 is detected, and the buzzer signal (BUZ) E1018
Drives the buzzer E0021 to detect the state of the ink end detection signal (INKS) E1011 and the thermistor temperature detection signal (TH) E1012 connected to the built-in A / D converter E1003, and various other logical operations and conditions. It makes decisions and controls the drive of the inkjet recording apparatus.

Here, the head detection signal E1013 is transmitted from the print head cartridge H1000 to the flexible flat cable E0012, the carriage board E0013, and the contact flexible print cable E0011.
The ink end detection signal is an analog signal output from the ink end sensor E0006, and a thermistor temperature detection signal E10.
Reference numeral 12 denotes an analog signal from a thermistor (not shown) provided on the carriage substrate E0013.

E1008 is a CR motor driver which uses a motor power supply (VM) E1040 as a drive source and
CR motor control signal E1036 from IC E1006
Generates a CR motor drive signal E1037 according to
The R motor E0001 is driven. E1009 is LF / P
A G motor driver that uses a motor power supply E1040 as a drive source, generates an LF motor drive signal E1035 according to a pulse motor control signal (PM control signal) E1033 from the ASIC E1006, and thereby drives the LF motor and the PG motor A drive signal E1034 is generated to drive the PG motor.

E1010 is a power supply control circuit,
In accordance with a power control signal E1024 from CE1006, power supply to each sensor having a light emitting element is controlled.
Parallel I / F E0016 is ASIC E1006
I / F signal E1030 is transmitted to an externally connected parallel I / F cable E1031, and the signal of the parallel I / F cable E1031 is transmitted to an ASIC.
It transmits to E1006. Serial I / F E0017
Is the serial I / F signal E from the ASIC E1006.
1028 is transmitted to the serial I / F cable E1029 connected to the outside, and the signal from the cable E1029 is transmitted to the ASIC E1006.

On the other hand, from the power supply unit E0015, a head power supply (VH) E1039 and a motor power supply (V
M) E1040 and a logic power supply (VDD) E1041 are supplied. Also, the head power ON signal (VHON) E1022 from the ASIC E1006 and the motor power O
N signal (VMOM) E1023 is the power supply unit E00
15 to control ON / OFF of the head power supply E1039 and the motor power supply E1040, respectively. The logic power (VD) supplied from the power supply unit E0015
D) E1041 is voltage-converted as necessary,
It is supplied to each part inside and outside the main PCB E0014.

The head power supply E1039 is connected to the main PC.
After being smoothed on BE0014, it is sent out to the flexible flat cable E0011 and used for driving the print head cartridge H1000.

E1007 is a reset circuit which detects a drop in the logic power supply voltage E1040 and outputs a reset signal to the CPU E1007.
1 and the reset signal (RESE) to ASIC E1006.
T) Supply E1015 to perform initialization.

The ASIC E1006 is a one-chip semiconductor integrated circuit.
It is controlled by the U E1001 and outputs the above-mentioned CR motor control signal E1036, PM control signal E1033, power control signal E1024, head power ON signal E1022, motor power ON signal E1023, etc., and outputs the parallel I / F E0016 and serial I / F. F E0017
, A PE detection signal (PES) E1025 from the PE sensor E0007, an ASF sensor E
ASF detection signal (ASFS) E102 from 0009
6. The GAP detection signal (G
APS) E1027, PG from PG sensor E0007
The state of the detection signal (PGS) E1032 is detected, and data representing the state is sent to the CPU via the control bus E1014.
E1001 and based on the input data,
The EE1001 controls the driving of the LED driving signal E1038 to blink the LEDE0020.

Further, the encoder signal (ENC) E10
20 is detected to generate a timing signal, and the printhead cartridge H100 is generated by the head control signal E1021.
The interface with 0 controls the recording operation. Here, the encoder signal (ENC) E1020 is an output signal of the CR encoder sensor E0004 input through the flexible flat cable E0012. The head control signal E1021 is transmitted to the flexible flat cable E0012 and the carriage board E001.
3 and a contact FPC E0011 to the print head H1000.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the ASIC E1006.

Note that, in the figure, the connection between the blocks shows only the flow of data related to the control of the head and the mechanical components of each section, such as recording data and motor control data. Control signals and clocks related to reading and writing of the data, control signals related to DMA control, and the like are omitted to avoid complication in the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral E2002 denotes a PLL. As shown in FIG. 9, a clock signal (CLK) E2031 output from the CPU E1001 and a PLL control signal (P
LLON) E2033 generates a clock (not shown) to be supplied to most of the ASIC E1006.

E2001 is a CPU interface (CPU I / F), and a reset signal E1015,
Soft reset signal (PDWN) E2032 and clock signal (CLK) E2 output from CPU E1001
031 and a control signal from the control bus E1014,
Control of register read / write for each block as described below, supply of a clock to some blocks, acceptance of an interrupt signal, etc. (all not shown) are performed, and an interrupt signal (IN) is sent to the CPU E1001.
T) Output E2034 to notify the occurrence of an interrupt in ASIC E1006.

E2005 is a DRAM, and as a data buffer for recording, a reception buffer E2010,
Work buffer E2011, print buffer E201
4. It has various areas such as a data buffer E2016 for development and a motor control buffer E for motor control.
2023. Further, as buffers used in the scanner operation mode, there are areas such as a scanner fetch buffer E2024, a scanner data buffer E2026, and a transmission buffer E2028 instead of the above-described recording data buffers.

The DRAM E2005 has a CP
It is also used as a work area necessary for the operation of the EU 1001. That is, E2004 is a DRAM control unit, which is provided from the CPU E1001 by the control bus to the DRAM
Access to E2005 and DMA control unit E described later
Switching from access to the DRAM E2005 from 2003 is performed to perform a read / write operation to the DRAM E2005.

The DMA controller E2003 receives a request (not shown) from each block, and receives an address signal, a control signal (not shown), and write data (E2038, E2041, E2044, E2044) in the case of a write operation.
2053, E2055, and E2057) are output to the RAM control unit to perform DRAM access. In the case of reading, read data (E2040, E2043, E2045, E2040) from the DRAM control unit E2004 is read.
51, E2054, E2056, E2058, E205
9) is passed to the requesting block.

E2006 is 1284 I / F, and CPU E10 via CPU I / F E2001
01, a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) is performed through the parallel I / F E0016, and the parallel I / F E0 is used during recording.
Reception data (PIF reception data E203)
6) is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by the DMA processing, and the DRAM E2005 is read when the scanner is read.
The data (12) stored in the transmission buffer E2028
84 transmission data (RDPIF) E2059) to the parallel I / F by DMA processing.

E2007 is a USB I / F and has a CPU
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the I / F E2001, a bidirectional communication interface with an external host device (not shown) is performed through the serial I / F E0017, and at the time of printing, data received from the serial I / F E0017 (USB reception data E2037) ) Is transferred to the reception control unit E2008 by the DMA processing, and the transmission buffer E in the DRAM E2005 is read at the time of scanner reading.
2028 (USB transmission data (RD
USB) E2058) by DMA processing
Send to FE0017. The reception control unit E2008 includes:
1284 I / FE 2006 or USB I / FE
The received data (WDIF) E2038 from the selected I / F in 2007 is transferred to the reception buffer controller E2.
039 is written to the reception buffer write address managed.

E2009 is a compression / expansion DMA.
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the PUI / FE 2001, the reception data (raster data) stored in the reception buffer E2010 is transferred to the reception buffer control unit E20.
39, the data (RDWK) E2040 is compressed and decompressed in accordance with the designated mode, and the recording code string (WDWK) is read out.
K) Write to the work buffer area as E2041.

E2013 is a recording buffer transfer DMA,
CPU E1007 via CPU I / F E2001
The control reads the recording code (RDWP) E2043 on the work buffer E2011, rearranges each recording code into an address on the print buffer E2014 suitable for the data transfer order to the print head cartridge H1000, and transfers the data (WDWP E2044). I do. E2012 is a work clear DMA,
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the PUI / FE 2001, the designated work fill data (WDWF) E2042 is repeatedly written in the area on the work buffer to which the transfer by the recording buffer transfer DMA E2015 has been completed.

E2015 is a print data expansion DMA, which is a CPU E10 via the CPU I / F E2001.
01, the recording code written rearranged on the print buffer and the data for development written on the data buffer for development E2016 are triggered by the data development timing signal E2050 from the head control unit E2018 as a trigger. Read and expanded recording data (RDHDG) E2
045 is generated, and is generated as column buffer write data (WDHDG) E2047.
Write to 17. Here, the column buffer E2017 is
An SRAM for temporarily storing transfer data (expanded print data) to the print head cartridge H1000;
The print data development DMA and the head control unit share and manage the data by a handshake signal (not shown) between the two blocks.

E2018 denotes a head control unit, which is a CPU I /
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the FE2001, the recording head cartridge H is controlled via a head control signal.
1000 or the interface with the scanner, and based on the head drive timing signal E2049 from the encoder signal processing unit E2019, the print data development D
Output data development timing signal E2050 to MA.

At the time of printing, in accordance with the head drive timing signal E2049, the development print data (RDHD) E2048 is read from the column buffer, and the data is output to the print head cartridge H1000 through the head control signal E1021.

In the scanner reading mode, the fetched data (WDHD) E2053 input through the head control signal E1021 is transferred to the DRAM E200.
5 to the scanner fetch buffer E2024. E2025 is a scanner data processing DMA, which is a CPU E10 via the CPU I / F E2001.
01, the scanner capture buffer E2024
Buffer read data (RDA) stored in
V) Read the E2054 and process the processed data (WDAV) E2055, which has been subjected to averaging and the like, to the DRAM E2
005 to the scanner data buffer E2026.

E2027 is a scanner data compression DMA
CPU E10 via CPU I / F E2001
01, the scanner data buffer E2026
The above processed data (RDYC) E2056 is read out and data compression is performed, and compressed data (WDYC) E205
7 is written and transferred to the transmission buffer E2028.

E2019 is an encoder signal processing unit which receives an encoder signal (ENC) and receives a signal from the CPU E1.
In addition to outputting the head drive timing signal E2049 in accordance with the mode determined by the control of 001, information relating to the position and speed of the carriage M4001 obtained from the encoder signal E1020 is stored in a register.
1001. The CPU E1001 determines various parameters in controlling the CR motor E0001 based on this information. E2020 denotes a CR motor control unit, which is a CPU via a CPU I / F E2001.
By the control of E1001, the CR motor control signal E103
6 is output.

E2022 is a sensor signal processing unit which receives detection signals output from the PG sensor E0010, PE sensor E0007, ASF sensor E0009, GAP sensor E0008, etc., and according to the mode determined by the control of the CPU E1001. CPU information of CPU
E1001 and LF / PG motor controller D
The sensor detection signal E2052 is output to the MA E2021.

LF / PG motor control DMAE2021
Is the CPU E10 via the CPU I / F E2001
01, reads a pulse motor drive table (RDPM) E2051 from a motor control buffer E2023 on the DRAM E2005 and outputs a pulse motor control signal E. In addition, depending on an operation mode, the pulse motor is used as a control trigger by the sensor detection signal. Control signal E
1033 is output.

E2030 is an LED control unit,
CPU E1001 via CPU I / F E2001
, An LED drive signal E1038 is output.
Further, E2029 is a port control unit, and CPUI /
Under the control of the CPU E1001 via the FE2001, a head power ON signal E1022, a motor power ON signal E1023, and a power control signal E1024 are output.

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When this device is connected to the AC power supply,
In step S1, a first initialization process of the device is performed. In this initialization process, an electric circuit system check such as a check of the ROM and RAM of the present apparatus is performed to confirm whether the present apparatus can be normally operated electrically.

Next, in step S2, the apparatus main body M100
0 power key E001 provided on the upper case M1002.
8 is turned on, and the power key E00
If the button 18 has been pressed, the process moves to the next step S3, where a second initialization process is performed.

In the second initialization processing, various drive mechanisms and a head system of the apparatus are checked. That is,
When initializing various motors and reading head information, confirm that the device can operate normally.

Next, at step S4, an event is waited. That is, the apparatus monitors command events from the external I / F, panel key events due to user operations, internal control events, and the like, and executes a process corresponding to the event when these events occur.

For example, if a print command event is received from the external I / F in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, and if a power key event is generated by a user operation in the same step, the process proceeds to step S10. The process proceeds to step S11 when another event occurs in the same step.

Here, in step S5, a print command from the external I / F is analyzed to determine the designated paper type, paper size, print quality, paper feeding method, and the like. Stored in the RAM E2005 in the device,
Proceed to step S6.

Next, in step S6, paper feeding is started by the paper feeding method designated in step S5, the paper is fed to the recording start position, and the flow advances to step S7.

At step S7, a recording operation is performed. In this recording operation, the recording data sent from the external I / F is temporarily stored in the recording buffer, and then the CR motor E
0001 to start the movement of the carriage M4001 in the scanning direction and the print buffer E2014.
Is supplied to the print head H1001 to perform one-row printing, and when the printing operation of one row of print data is completed, the LF motor E0002 is driven.
The sheet is fed in the sub-scanning direction by rotating the LF roller M3001. Thereafter, the above operation is repeatedly executed, and the external I / O
When the recording of one page of recording data from F is completed,
Proceed to step 8.

In step S8, the LF motor E0002
Is driven to drive the paper discharge roller M2003, and the paper feeding is repeated until it is determined that the paper is completely fed out of the apparatus. When the paper is completely discharged, the paper is completely discharged onto the paper discharge tray M1004a. Becomes

Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the recording operation of all the pages to be recorded has been completed. If the pages to be recorded remain, the process returns to step S5. The operations from S5 to S9 are repeated,
When the recording operation of all pages to be recorded is completed, the recording operation ends, and thereafter, the process shifts to step S4 to wait for the next event.

On the other hand, in step S10, a printer termination process is performed to stop the operation of the present apparatus. That is, in order to turn off the power of various motors and heads, the state is shifted to a state where the power can be turned off, and then the power is turned off and step S4
Go to and wait for the next event.

At step S11, other event processing other than the above is performed. For example, a process corresponding to a recovery command from various panel keys or an external I / F of the apparatus or a recovery event generated internally is performed. After the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S4 and waits for the next event.

Next, a specific configuration of the above-described recording head H1001 as a liquid ejection head of the present invention will be described.
This will be described in more detail.

FIG. 11 shows the appearance of the recording head H1001 in this embodiment, FIG. 12 shows a schematic structure of the recording head H1001 in a broken state, and FIG. 13 shows its cross-sectional structure taken along the line XIII-XIII.
That is, reference numeral 12 denotes a heating substrate which is a recording element substrate H1100 in which a plurality of the electrothermal transducers 11 which are the above-described recording elements are arranged, 13m denotes a main ejection port for ejecting ink droplets at the time of printing operation, and 13s denotes a main ejection port at the time of printing operation These are sub-ejection ports from which ink droplets are not ejected. These two types of ejection ports 13m and 13s correspond to the above-described ejection port H1100T. Reference numeral 14 denotes a plurality of ink chambers for supplying ink to these two types of ejection ports 13m and 13s, and reference numeral 15 denotes an elongated slot of the present invention in which the plurality of ink chambers 14 communicate with each other and are opened on the heat generating substrate 12 to which ink is supplied. This is a common ink chamber as a common liquid chamber, and has the above-described ink supply port H12.
Corresponds to 01. Reference numeral 16 denotes a wiring board on which a signal line for giving a print signal to the heating board 12 is wired.
This corresponds to the above-described electric wiring board H1300.

The heating substrate 12 is usually formed by patterning a heating resistance layer, wiring, and the like on a Si wafer by a photolithography technique.
m, 13s are made of a photosensitive resin, and the common ink chamber 15 is formed by anisotropic etching or the like.
It is formed by cutting the wafer. And
A wiring board 16 that transfers electric signals for driving the electrothermal transducers 11 is connected to the heat generating substrate 12 by a mounting technique, and the heat generating substrate 12 is connected to a support member 17 that is a first plate H1200. Fixed on top.

In this embodiment, two rows of discharge ports 13m and 13s parallel to each other with the common ink chamber 15 interposed therebetween are arranged in a so-called zigzag manner with a half pitch shift from each other. Two sub-discharge ports 13s are arranged at both ends in the arrangement direction of 13m, and ink chambers 14 corresponding to the main discharge ports 13m used in actual printing work are provided.
Are arranged at a pitch Pm of 600 dpi, and an ink chamber 14 corresponding to the sub-ejection port 13s not used at the time of a printing operation is arranged at a pitch Ps of 300 dpi on the outside thereof.

Each of the ink chambers 14 has an electrothermal transducer 1
1 is provided to allow ink to be ejected from the ejection ports 13m and 13s, respectively. However, as described above, the sub-ejection port 13s does not eject ink droplets during actual printing work, and Only in the case of a preliminary ejection operation to be performed or the like, the electrothermal transducer 11 is driven so that ink droplets can be ejected from the sub ejection port 13s. In this case, it is preferable that the preliminary ejection from the sub-ejection port 13s is performed under conditions that make it easier to eject than the preliminary ejection from the main ejection port 13m.

Therefore, the ejection openings 13m, 13m,
At the time of suction recovery from the 13s, ink is also sucked from the ink chamber 14 in which the sub-ejection port 13s is opened, so that the bubbles interposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common ink chamber 15, that is, the bubbles are removed well. Become. In addition, sub-discharge port 1
Even if ink of a different color enters the ink chamber 14 having the opening 3s, by performing a preliminary ejection operation after the suction recovery process and ejecting ink droplets also from the sub ejection port 13s, the mixed color ink is supplied to the sub ejection port. 13s, it is possible to discharge ink, and it is possible to prevent color mixing of ink in the print head H1001.

Further, in this embodiment, the arrangement pitch Pm of the ink chambers 14 used in the actual printing operation is 60
0 dpi, and the arrangement pitch Ps of the ink chambers 14 in which the sub-ejection openings 13s are opened is arranged at a coarse pitch Ps of 300 dpi (or 150 dpi can be set). Outlet 13m
Can be arranged in the ink chamber 14 having a relatively small number of sub-ejection ports 13s from the outermost end in the arrangement direction, so that color mixing of ink can be reduced and the number of electrothermal conversion elements 11 can be reduced. Can be reduced and can be provided at low cost.

In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement pitch Ps of the ink chambers 14 having the sub-ejection ports 13s is set to twice the arrangement pitch Pm of the main ejection ports 13m used in actual printing work. It may be widened, and in this case, it is preferable that the width be an integral multiple. Further, the dummy ink chambers 14d having no ejection ports may be alternately arranged with the ink chambers 14 having the sub ejection ports 13s.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic structure of another embodiment of such a liquid discharge head according to the present invention, and FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the line XV-XV of FIG. Will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. That is, in this embodiment, the dummy ink chamber 14d having no ejection port and the sub ejection port 13S
With the ink chamber 14 having the same pitch as the arrangement pitch Pm of the ink chamber 14 in which the main ejection port 13m is opened.
Two rows are arranged per row.

As described above, the arrangement pitch Ps of the dummy ink chamber 14d and the ink chamber 14 having the sub-ejection port 13s is provided.
13m main outlet used in actual printing work
By setting the same pitch as the arrangement pitch Pm of the ink chambers 14 having the ink chambers 14, the uniformity of the ink chambers 14 used in the actual printing operation can be further improved. Discharge port 13
The uniformity of the ink chamber 14 having m can be improved.

In this embodiment, the dummy ink chamber 14d
And the ink chambers 14 having the sub-discharge ports 13s are arranged alternately. However, the ratio of the dummy ink chambers 14d is increased, for example, the ink chambers having the sub-discharge ports 13s for every two or three dummy ink chambers 14d. 14 may be arranged. In this case, the amount of ink sucked from the sub-ejection port 13s during the recovery process by the suction operation can be further suppressed.

In the above embodiment, the dummy ink chamber 14
The arrangement pitch Ps of the ink chambers 14 having the main ejection ports 13m used in the actual printing operation is the same as the arrangement pitch Ps of the ink chambers 14 having the main ejection ports 13m used in the actual printing operation. Is also possible.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic structure of another embodiment of such a liquid discharge head according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional structure as viewed from the direction of the arrow. Members having the same functions as those in the previous embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. That is, in the present embodiment, the dummy ink chamber 14d having no ejection port and the ink chamber 14 having the sub ejection port 13S have a pitch Ps twice as large as the arrangement pitch Pm of the ink chamber 14 having the main ejection port 13m. One per row.

As described above, when only one sub-discharge port 13s is formed on the outermost side of the dummy ink chamber 14d, it is possible to increase the flow velocity of the ink discharged from the sub-discharge port 13s. The effect of discharging air bubbles interposed at the longitudinal end can be enhanced. Further, since the sub-ejection ports 13s are provided at least along the arrangement direction of the main ejection ports 13m, it is possible to minimize the color mixing of ink in the recording head H1001.

In the above-described embodiment, the size and shape of the sub-discharge port 13s and the size and shape of the main discharge port 13m are the same, but these can be appropriately changed.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic structure of another embodiment of such a liquid discharge head according to the present invention, and FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along the line XIX-XIX. Members having the same functions as those of the previous embodiment are shown in FIG. Will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted. That is, in this embodiment,
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the size and shape of the sub-discharge port 13s are set to be larger than the size and shape of the main discharge port 13m.

In the case of a high-definition recording head H1001 such as 1200 dpi as shown in this embodiment, the opening area of the main ejection port 13m from which ink droplets are ejected during an actual printing operation becomes considerably small (for example, the diameter is small). 16 μm
This is disadvantageous in terms of bubble removal at the time of suction recovery. Accordingly, by setting the diameter of the sub-discharge port 13s to, for example, 20 to 30 μm as in the present embodiment, the effect of discharging bubbles from the sub-discharge port 13s can be enhanced. An optimal value is determined for the opening area of the sub-discharge port 13s according to the area and the number of arrangements of the main discharge port 13m, the bubble discharging property at the time of suction, the meniscus holding, and the like.

The shapes of the main discharge port 13m and the sub discharge port 13s may be rectangular as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 in addition to the above-mentioned circular shape, or one of them may be circular. In other words, it is not necessary to make the main discharge port 13m and the sub discharge port 13s similar to each other, and when determining the opening area, an optimum shape is selected from the stability at the time of forming the sub discharge port 13s and the bubble discharging property. It is desirable to decide. These FIG.
In FIG. 21 and FIG. 21, members having the same functions as those in the previous embodiment and the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 22 shows the arrangement of the ejection openings 13m and 13s of the print head H1001 in this embodiment. The main ejection ports 13m for ejecting different types of ink (six types in the present embodiment) are each 60 m across the common ink chamber 15.
It is arranged in a state of being shifted by a half pitch in the arrangement direction at intervals of 0 dpi by 128 on each side in the arrangement direction.
5 supplies ink. That is, a total of 25 for each color
Six main discharge ports 13m are provided, and four sub discharge ports 13s are arranged at intervals of 300 dpi at four ends at both ends in the arrangement direction.

FIG. 23 shows a sectional structure of the common ink chamber 15 in this embodiment, and FIG. 24 schematically shows a flow state of the ink supplied thereto. That is, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15, the ink easily stays without flowing,
Air bubbles intervening here are hard to be discharged to the outside of the recording head H1001. The sub-ejection port 13s is provided for improving the bubble-removing property from both ends in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter, this portion is referred to as a stagnation portion) 18 in the common ink chamber 15 during the suction recovery process. . More specifically, the auxiliary discharge port 13s is formed close to the stagnation portion 18 during the suction recovery process, and the removal of bubbles from the stagnation portion 18 is intended to be improved.

In this embodiment, the opening area of the main discharge port 13m is about 200 μm ² and the opening area of the sub discharge port 13s is about 300 μm ² . The larger the opening area of the sub-discharge port 13s is, the smaller the flow resistance at the time of the suction recovery process is.
It is preferable to increase the opening area of.

In this embodiment, since the suction recovery process is simultaneously performed for all six colors with one cap (not shown), inks of all colors are mixed in this cap. For this reason, the mixed color ink in the cap is used for the recording head H100.
After the suction operation is stopped, the mixed color ink in the cap is ejected from the ejection ports 13m and 13s by the negative pressure in the ink tank H1900, and adheres to the ejection port surface of the recording head H1001.
There is a risk of being sucked inside. If a printing operation is performed in this state, ink of a color different from the originally intended color is ejected, so that the print quality is significantly deteriorated.

In order to prevent such a problem, it is necessary to perform a preliminary ejection process in order to discharge the mixed color ink sucked into the recording head H1001 from the ejection openings 13m and 13s after the suction recovery process.

The recording head H10 by this preliminary ejection process
Regarding the recovery of 01, it is necessary to consider two characteristics, that is, a case in which intense color mixing occurs in some of the ejection openings, but a quick recovery and a case in which the color mixing remains for a long time.

FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 schematically show such two characteristics. The state shown in FIG. 25 is a case where the mixed-color ink mixed into the common ink chamber 15 is immediately subjected to the preliminary ejection processing in the suction recovery processing, and the mixed-color ink is discharged before being diffused in the common ink chamber 15. , Discharge port 13m
The mixed color ink is ejected for a certain period from a part of the ejection ports 13m along the arrangement direction. Although the degree of color mixing in this mixed color portion is intense (dark), a small number of preliminary ejections can be eliminated. FIG. 26 shows a case where a lapse of time is several seconds or more after the mixed-color ink is mixed into the common ink chamber 15, and then the preliminary ejection process is performed. Since the preliminary ejection process is performed after the mixed-color ink is diffused in the common ink chamber 15, the degree of color mixture in the mixed-color portion is light (thin), but all over substantially the entire area along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports 13m. The mixed color ink is ejected from the ejection port 13m for a long period of time. By continuing the preliminary ejection processing, the flow rate of the ink becomes relatively high in the central portion of the common ink chamber 15 along the arrangement direction of the ejection ports 13m. Although he can finish his recovery sooner,
In the case as shown in FIG. 26, it is necessary to set the number of preliminary ejections to be very large.

FIG. 27 shows the electrical configuration of one heat generating substrate 12.
FIG. 28 shows the electrical configuration of the recording head H1001. That is, in the present embodiment, the three heating substrates 1
2 are mounted on the support member 17, and the first heat generating substrate 12 has black ink (hereinafter sometimes referred to as K) and light cyan ink (hereinafter sometimes referred to as Lc). And two ink jet heads for ejecting light magenta, respectively, and a light magenta ink (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as Lm) is provided on the second heat generating substrate 12.
And two ink jet heads for ejecting cyan ink (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as C), respectively, and the third heat generating substrate 12 has a magenta ink (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as M). ) And yellow ink (hereinafter sometimes referred to as Y) are incorporated therein.

With respect to the sub-ejection port 13s, the case where the electrothermal transducer 11 is energized to normally eject ink droplets, the case where the electrothermal transducer 11 is energized does not eject ink, and There are three states, one in which the stored ink stops heating and the other in which the electrothermal transducer 11 is not driven.

When the electric heat conversion element 11 of the sub-ejection port 13s is energized and ink droplets are normally ejected, the ink droplets are ejected from all the ejection ports 13m and 13s. When the ink droplets are discharged from all the discharge ports 13m and 13s again, the mixed color ink and the like in the common ink chamber 15 can be efficiently discharged.

If ink is not ejected even when the electrothermal transducer 11 of the sub ejection port 13s is energized, the main ejection port 13
Ink is ejected only from m, and the ink is not ejected even though the sub-ejection port 13s is driven. In this case, the viscosity of the ink interposed in the ink chamber 14 of the sub-ejection port 13 s is reduced by the electrothermal conversion element 11, and the electrothermal conversion of the main ejection port 13 m located at both longitudinal ends of the common ink chamber 15 is performed. By driving the elements 11 at the same time, ink staying in the stagnation portions 18 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common ink chamber 15 can be efficiently discharged.

When the electrothermal transducer 11 of the sub-ejection port 13s is not driven, no ink is ejected from the sub-ejection port 13s, but ink can be favorably ejected from the main ejection port 13m.

Unlike the main discharge port 13m, the sub-discharge port 13s drives the electrothermal conversion element 11 by the heat enable signal HEKCL, the block division signals BE0 to BE3, and the sub-discharge port discharge signal DHE. It can be controlled independently of the discharge port 13m. Moreover,
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The number of inkjet heads has been reduced to half by using one inkjet head.

The method of ejecting ink droplets from the main ejection port 13m and the sub ejection port 13s in this embodiment will be described.
First, a normal ink ejection operation will be described.

[0157] Ordinary ink ejection during printing or the like is performed by ANDing the print data signal and the heat pulse signal. The print data signal determines whether or not ink droplets are ejected, and the heat pulse signal is involved in controlling ejection energy. Further, if all the ejection ports 13m and 13s capable of ejection are simultaneously driven, the power and the heat become excessively large. Therefore, these are usually driven separately.

FIG. 29 shows a drive circuit for the electrothermal transducers 11 of the ink jet head for one color, and FIG. 30 shows the drive timing. The ink jet head for one color has 256 main ejection ports 13m divided into 16 by a 32-bit shift register and four block signals.
Equipped.

The electrothermal conversion element 11 is driven by a power transistor. When the electrothermal conversion element 11 is heated, the ink present in the ink chamber 14 causes film boiling, and the ink is discharged from the main discharge port 13m. It can be made to be.

The print data is serially transferred using the HCLK signal and the Si signal, and is latched by the BG signal. The block division signals are BE0, BE1, BE2, B
The decoder decodes the four signals E3 into 16 signals, and enables each of the electrothermal conversion elements 11 divided into 16 parts. Therefore, ejection control is performed by AND of the data signal, the selected block designation signal, and the heat pulse signal HE.

On the other hand, since print data is not required for discharging ink droplets from the sub-ejection port 13s, the sub-ejection port ejection signal DHE, the heat signal HE, and the block division signal B
It can be controlled by E0, BE1, BE2, BE3.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show the drive circuit and drive timing of the sub-ejection port 13s for one color for the electrothermal conversion element 11 respectively. When driving the sub ejection port 13s, the DHE signal is turned on from the beginning,
Control is performed by the heat signal HE while switching the block signal. At this time, whether the print data is transferred or not is not related to the driving of the sub-ejection port 13s, so the print data may be transmitted in accordance with necessary control.

The discharge order of the sub-discharge ports 13s will be described with reference to FIG. The central part of the figure shows the positional relationship between the discharge ports 13m and 13S, and D0 to D
7 represents the sub-discharge port 13s, and N0 to N255 represent the main discharge port 13m. Discharge ports 13 of even numbered row and odd numbered row
m and 13 s are shifted by half of these arrangement pitches.

[0164] Two sub-discharge ports 13s are provided on each of the upper and lower sides of each row. As is clear from the figure, the sub-ejection ports 13s of D0 to D7 are respectively connected to different block enable signal lines, and the block enable signal is a signal obtained by decoding the block division signals BE0 to BE3 as shown in FIG. It is.

As a result, the power consumption when the sub-ejection port 13s is used is dispersed, and the power supply is not largely affected. Further, by using the block enable signal for this purpose, the dummy heater can be driven without adding a special signal line.

The main discharge port 13m and the sub discharge port 13s
Is not limited to the above method.

Next, the discharge order including the discharge port 13m will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 34, each discharge port 13
The circled numbers near the sides of m, 13s indicate that each outlet 1
A block enable signal corresponding to 3m, 13s is shown, and preliminary ejection is performed in the order of circled numbers. As described above, the electrothermal conversion elements 1 of the ejection ports 13m and 13s are sequentially arranged from one end in the longitudinal direction of the common ink chamber 15.
1 can be driven, but the discharge ports 13m, 13m
As shown in FIG. 35 showing the arrangement state of s and FIG. 36 showing the driving order thereof, 16 main ejection ports 13m are alternately arranged in two sets of A block and B block along the longitudinal direction of the common ink chamber 15 by 16 blocks. And discharge can be performed as described below. That is, the liquid ejection operation from the sub-ejection port 13s located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main ejection ports 13m is performed from D0 to D3 from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main ejection ports 13m.
And at least two main discharge ports 13m for discharging liquid simultaneously with the first and last sub discharge ports DO and D3 located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports.
Is selected from block A, while at least two main discharge ports 13 that discharge liquid simultaneously with at least one of at least two sub discharge ports D1 and D2 in the middle.
m is selected from the B block. Following the discharge from the sub-discharge port 13s located on one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports 13m, the discharge operation of the liquid from the sub-discharge port 13s located on the other end side starts from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports 13m. D4-D
7, the first and last sub-discharge ports D located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports 13m in the same manner as the previous case.
Each of at least two main discharge ports 13m for discharging liquid simultaneously with each of D4 and D7 is selected from the block A, while two sub-discharge ports D1 and D2 therebetween.
At least one of the main discharge ports 13m that discharges the liquid simultaneously with at least one of them (the sub discharge port of D6 in the D embodiment) is selected from the A block.

In the preliminary ejection process used in this embodiment, there are eleven modes as shown in Table 1 below, and the preliminary ejection process in each mode is performed at the timing shown in Table 1. However, the preliminary ejection D is performed after the suction recovery process, and the preliminary ejection G is a mode performed after the wiping process, and is a later-described pattern preliminary ejection process including the preliminary ejection from the sub-ejection port 13s.

[0169]

[Table 1]

In this embodiment, the discharge amount per discharge from the main discharge port 13m is about 4.5 picoliter, and the discharge amount per sub discharge port 13s is about 9 picoliter.

Next, a series of suction recovery operations will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in step S11, the PG motor E0003 is driven, and the tube pump M5100 described later is rotated to discharge the outlets 13m and 13m.
The recording head H1001 is sucked from s. In step S12, the LF motor E0002 is driven to open the later-described atmospheric communication valve M7001, and the cap M50 described below is opened.
01 is forcibly set to the atmospheric pressure, and the suction is terminated. Since the tube pump M5100 is still rotating, S
23 empty suction steps are executed to remove the cap M5001.
And the ink remaining in the cap tube M5009 can be discharged to a waste ink absorber (not shown). Next, in step S24, the tube pump M5100 is stopped, and the cap M5001 is retracted from the discharge port surface. Then, in step S25, the discharge port surface is wiped. It is possible to wipe off the mixed color ink adhering to the cap M500.
It is possible to prevent the color mixture after the 1 is retracted from the discharge port surface. Then, in step S16, a preliminary ejection process for discharging the mixed color ink is performed.

The preliminary discharge processing in S16 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 38. First, K, Lc
In the first heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to the above, the ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 1000 times each from all the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s. This is repeated according to the procedure shown in FIG. It is. Thereafter, in the second heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C, ink droplets are similarly pre-discharged 1000 times from all the main discharge ports 13m and the sub discharge ports 13s, respectively, and then the second discharge substrate corresponding to M and Y In the third heating substrate 12, ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 1000 times from all the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s.

Next, the first heat generating substrate 1 corresponding to K, Lc
2, a total of 100 (50 per side) main discharge ports 13m located on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15
And preliminary ejection of ink droplets 2,000 times from all the sub-ejection ports 13S, respectively, and this is also repeated according to the procedure as shown in FIG. Similarly, in the second heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C, ink is supplied from 50 main discharge ports 13m on each side located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15 and from all the sub discharge ports 13S. Pre-discharge the droplets 2000 times each, and then
In the third heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to M and Y, ink droplets are respectively discharged from 50 main discharge ports 13m on each side located on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15 and all sub discharge ports 13S. Pre-discharge is performed in the same manner 2000 times.

Next, the ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 500 times each from all the main ejection ports 13m and all the sub ejection ports 13s. Similarly, the second heating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C is similarly ejected. The ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 500 times each from all the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s, and then all the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports are respectively formed on the third heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to M and Y. The ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 500 times each from the ejection port 13s.

Next, the first heat-generating substrate 1 corresponding to K, Lc
2, ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 1000 times each from 50 main ejection ports 13 m on each side and all the sub ejection ports 13 S located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15. In the second heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to C, ink droplets of 1000 are respectively discharged from 50 main discharge ports 13m on each side located on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15 and from all the sub discharge ports 13S.
Pre-discharge each time, and then the third discharge corresponding to M and Y
In the heat generating substrate 12, 50 main discharge ports 13 m on each side located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15.
, And ink droplets are similarly pre-discharged 1000 times from all the sub-discharge ports 13S.

Then, again, all the main discharge ports 1
3m and the sub-ejection port 13s, 500
The main discharge ports 13m are similarly discharged on the second heating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C in the same manner.
And preliminary ejection of ink droplets 500 times each from the sub ejection openings 13s. Thereafter, all the main ejection openings 13m are formed on the third heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to M and Y.
And the sub-ejection port 13s, preliminary ejection of ink droplets 500 times each.

FIG. 39 shows the concept of the preliminary ejection pattern in the preliminary ejection D mode.

Note that the number of ejections in the preliminary ejection process is as follows.
This is a value determined from the amount of ink mixed into the common ink chamber 15 and the time after mixing, that is, the time during which the mixed-color ink is diffused in the common ink chamber 15. Experiments have confirmed that it is sufficiently effective.

In the ink jet printer of this embodiment, in order to prevent a discharge failure due to ink droplets or the like adhering to the discharge port surface, a wiping process is performed after the number of discharges in a printing operation or a preliminary discharge process reaches a predetermined number. I have. The procedure of the wiping process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S21, a counter (not shown) of the number of ejection dots is cleared to zero. Next, S22
The paper is fed in accordance with the print signal in the step (3), and the printing operation is performed in the step S23. At this time, the number of ejected dots of ink ejected for the printing operation on the print medium and the number of ejected dots of ink ejected in the preliminary ejection process are counted and added to the counter. After the printing operation is completed, the printed print medium is discharged in step S25, and the value of the counter is compared with a predetermined value set in step S26. If the value of the counter is smaller than the predetermined value,
The process returns to step S22 without performing the wiping process, and waits for a print signal input. If the value of the counter is equal to or more than the predetermined value in step S25, wiping processing for removing ink droplets adhered to the ejection opening surface is performed in step S26, and further, color mixing accompanying this wiping processing is prevented. Therefore, after performing the preliminary ejection processing in step S27,
Returning to step 21, the counter value is reset to zero.

Here, the content of the preliminary ejection process in S27 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, the first heating substrate 1 corresponding to K and Lc
In 2, the ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 500 times from each of the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s, respectively, and this is repeated according to the procedure shown in FIG. Thereafter, in the second heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C, the ink droplets are similarly preliminarily ejected 500 times each from all the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s, and then the second ejection board corresponding to M and Y Heating board 1 of 3
In 2, the ink droplets are preliminarily ejected 500 times from each of the main ejection ports 13m and the sub ejection ports 13s.

Next, the first heat generating substrate 1 corresponding to K, Lc
2, a total of 32 (16 per side) main discharge ports 13m located on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15
And the preliminary ejection of ink droplets 1000 times from all the sub-ejection ports 13S, respectively, and this is also repeated according to the procedure shown in FIG. Similarly, in the second heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to Lm and C, ink is supplied from 16 main discharge ports 13m on each side located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15 and ink from all the sub discharge ports 13S. Pre-discharge the droplets 1000 times each, and then
In the third heat generating substrate 12 corresponding to M and Y, one side 516 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber 15 respectively.
The ink droplets are similarly preliminarily ejected 1000 times from each of the main ejection ports 13m and all the sub ejection ports 13S.

FIG. 42 conceptually shows a pattern obtained by such a preliminary ejection process. However, when compared with the preliminary ejection process performed after the above-described suction recovery process, only a small amount of ink is mixed into the common ink chamber 15. It is possible to eliminate color mixture with a relatively small number of preliminary ejections, and to prevent contamination and ink waste inside the printing apparatus housing without unnecessarily increasing the number of preliminary ejections, that is, the occurrence of ink mist due to the preliminary ejection process. The color mixture can be eliminated without inviting.

The preliminary ejection pattern is not limited to the above-described one. For example, as shown in FIG. 43, ink droplets are ejected, for example, 2,000 times from all the main ejection ports 13m and all the sub ejection ports 13s. After, the sub-discharge port 13s
The ink droplets may be ejected 3000 times at a time only.

Next, the structure of the tube pump M5100 for performing the suction recovery process will be described.

The tube pump M5100 includes the pump tube M5019 and the cap tube M5, as described above.
It is connected to the cap M5001 via the 5009. The pump M5100 is connected to the automatic feeding unit M302.
2 and the pump M5100 are connected to a PG motor E0003 via a drive switching means for switching the transmission path of the driving force to the pump M5100 and a pump drive transmission gear train M5130.

The tube pump M5100 is a pump that generates pressure by squeezing the pump tube M5019 with a pump roller M5018.
5 shows the configuration. FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a state where the pump roller M5018 is pressed against the pump tube M5019, and FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a state where the pressure contact of the pump roller M5018 with the pump tube M5019 is released.

The pump M5100 is a pump tube M5
109 and an inner wall of a semi-cylindrical diameter (180 degrees or more) centered on a pump central axis M5076, and a pump tube M5
019 along the inner wall of the pump tube guide M5
022, a pump roller M5018 for generating pressure by pressing the pump tube M5019 against the pump tube guide M5022 and generating pressure, and a pump roller holder M50 for supporting the pump roller M5018 rotatably and movably.
20 and the pump roller holder M5020 to the rotating shaft M502.
0a, the pump roller guide M5021, the pump roller guide M5021, and the pump roller holder M502, which are rotatably supported at 0a and are also rotatably supported by the rotating shaft M5076.
0, and the pump roller M5018 is constituted by a pump roller press-contact spring M5025 which serves to press the pump tube M5019 against the pump tube guide M5022.

The pump roller M5018, the pump roller holder M5020, and the pump roller pressing spring M5025 are
Two pump rollers are provided on the pump roller guide M5021 with an angle phase difference of 180 degrees with respect to the pump center axis M5076.

The pump M5100 is provided with a mechanism capable of releasing the pressing force of the pump roller M5018 against the pump tube M5019 by pressing the pump tube M5019.

[0192] The pump roller M5018 is configured such that the shaft can move in a moving groove M5020b provided in the pump roller holder M5020.

In the state shown in FIG. 44, the pump roller M5018
The positional relationship between the pump roller holder M5020 and the moving groove M5020b is as follows.
The distance to 5018 is large, and the pump roller M5018 comes into pressure contact with the pump tube M5019 (a state in which the inner wall of the tube is brought into close contact).

In the state shown in FIG. 45, the pump roller M5018
The distance from the pump center shaft 5076 is short, and the pump tube M5019 is not pressed.

When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the normal rotation direction, each member in the pump M5100 rotates in the direction of the arrow F2 in FIG. 45 around the pump central axis M5076, and the pump roller M5018 rotates in the pump tube M501.
9, the moving groove M5020b of the pump roller holder M5020 is relatively moved in the direction of arrow G2. Therefore, when the PG motor E0003 rotates forward, the pressure contact force of the pump roller M5018 is released, and no suction pressure is generated.

When the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction, each member in the pump M5100 rotates in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 44 around the pump center axis M5076, and the pump roller M5018 is rotated by the roller damper M5016.
, The moving groove M5020b of the pump roller holder M5020 is generated by the urging force of the roller damper M5016.
Is relatively moved in the direction of arrow G1. Therefore, when the PG motor E0003 rotates in the reverse direction, the pump roller M501
The pressure contact force of 8 acts, and the pump tube M5019 can be squeezed and a suction pressure can be generated.

FIG. 46 shows a schematic configuration of the control and drive system related to the suction recovery process. That is, the CPU E1
001 controls the drive of the PG motor E0003 and the LF motor E0002 via the LP / PG motor driver E0017.

One shaft of the PG motor E0003 has a one-way clutch M5041, a cap drive transmission gear train M
5110 and cap cam and cap lever M5
004 is connected to the cap M5001 via
The cap M5001 is brought into close contact with the recording element substrate H1100 of the recording head H1001 by the rotation of the PG motor E0003 in the normal rotation direction.

The other shaft of the PG motor E0003 is provided with a drive switching means including a pendulum arm M5026 and a switching lever 1M5043, and a pump drive transmission gear train M.
Rotation axis M of tube pump M5130 via 5130
5076. As described above, when the PG motor E0003 reversely rotates, the tube pump M5
130 can generate suction pressure, but when the PG motor E0003 rotates forward, the tube pump M5
130 cannot generate suction pressure. The LF motor E0002 drives the discharge roller M2003 to rotate. The discharge roller M2003 is provided with a valve drive transmission gear train M
5140, valve clutch M5048, valve cam M50
36 is connected to the atmosphere communication valve M7001 via a valve drive system M7002. Atmospheric communication valve M
Reference numeral 7001 is used to open and close the valve tube M5010 with respect to the atmosphere, and includes the valve lever M5038 and the valve rubber M5036 described above. When the LF motor E002 is rotated in the reverse direction and the discharge roller M2003 is driven in the reverse direction, the atmosphere communication valve M7001 is opened, and the LF motor E002 rotates forward and the discharge roller M200 is rotated.
3 is driven in the normal direction, the atmosphere communication valve M7001
Is closed.

Next, the operation sequence of the suction recovery process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, the PG motor E003, which is a pulse motor, uses 478 pulses of the command pulse signal,
It is assumed that the pump roller M5018 makes one rotation (one rotation) around the rotation axis M5076.

First, the CPU E1001 rotates the PG motor E0003 forward and drives the cap cam and the cap lever M5004, thereby causing the cap M50 to rotate.
01 is the printing element substrate H1100 of the printing head H1001.
It is moved to the (ejection port face) side to cap the ejection port face (step S11). At this time, the PG motor E0003
, The tube pump M5100 also operates, but at this time, as described above, the pump roller M50
Since the press-contact force of the pump tube M5019 with the pump tube M5019 is released, the pump roller M5018 does not squeeze the pump tube M5019, and no suction pressure is generated. Also,
In this state, the atmosphere communication valve M7001 is open.

Next, the CPU E1001 sets the LF motor E
002 is driven in the forward direction to close the atmosphere communication valve 7001 and the PG motor E0003 is driven in reverse by a predetermined command pulse at a predetermined rotation speed, so that the pump roller M5018 is used. The tube M5019 is pressed against and squeezed, whereby the pressure in the cap M5001 reaches a predetermined target negative pressure (steps S12 and S13). For example, 700PPS
Is driven at a rotational speed of 400 pulses. As a result,
The pump tube M5019 is squeezed by the pressing force of the pump roller M5018, and the cap tube M5009 is pressed.
A negative pressure acts on the print element substrate H1100 of the print head cartridge H1000 via the cap M5001 and the ejection ports 13m, 13 on the print element substrate H1100.
The ink or air bubbles that are no longer suitable for the printing operation are forcibly sucked from s.

At the above-mentioned rotational speed of 700 PPS, 40
By driving the motor for 0 pulses, the negative pressure rises to a target value, for example, 0.19 atm.

When the motor drive for 400 pulses is completed, the CPU E1001 stops the PG motor E0003 for a predetermined time td, for example, 200 ms (step S14). During this stop, the cap M50
When the ink sucked from the ejection ports 13m and 13s on the printing element substrate H1100 by the negative pressure in the print element 01 flows into the pump tube M5019, the tube pump M510
Since 0 is stopped, the negative pressure in the cap M5001 is reduced (decreased) by the volume of the ink that has flowed in. The decrease width of the negative pressure while the pump is stopped is, for example, 0.02a.
tm.

The CPU E1001 executes the predetermined time td.
When the standby is completed, the PG motor E0003 is again driven to rotate in the reverse direction at a predetermined rotation speed by a predetermined number of command pulses (drive amount). For example, at a rotation speed of 700 PPS, driving is performed for 96 pulses (step S15).

By the re-driving of the PG motor E0003, the negative pressure becomes almost the same value as the decrease (for example, 0.02 atm).
m) only rise again. That is, the negative pressure is the target value 0.19 at.
Ascend towards m. Thus, the PG motor E
By repeatedly stopping and driving 0003, it is possible to continue applying a negative pressure near the target value (for example, 0.17 to 0.19 atm) to the cap M5001.

Next, the CPU E1001 executes step S
13, the elapsed time T from the start of driving the PG motor E0003 is set to a predetermined time Tc (for example, 1.5).
Is determined (step S16). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the number of repetitions n in which the processes of steps S14 and S15 are performed is set to a predetermined value nc (for example, (Step S18), and if not, the procedure returns to Step S14, and the processes of Step S14 and Step S15 are repeated again.

When the elapsed time T reaches the set time Tc in the judgment of step S16, the CPU E1
001 drives the LF motor E0002 in the forward direction, drives the paper discharge roller M2003 in the forward direction, and outputs the air communication valve M7001.
Is released (step S17). Atmospheric communication valve M7001
Is released, the pressure in the cap M5001 becomes atmospheric pressure, and the suction of the ink from the recording head H1001 ends. The opening timing of the atmosphere communication valve M7001 is set at the set time Tc so that the PG motor E0003 is being driven.
And the set number of times nc is adjusted. PG motor E0003
When the air communication valve M7001 is opened during the driving of the printer, the ink drawn from the recording head H1001 and present in the cap M5001 can be quickly removed from the cap M5001. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of ink remaining on the head ejection port surface, which is effective in preventing color mixing.

[0209] The suction amount in this embodiment is defined by the elapsed time Tc from the start of driving the PG motor E0003 in step S13 to the release of the atmosphere communication valve M7001.

Even after the atmosphere communication valve M7001 is opened, the PG motor E is maintained until the repetition number n reaches a predetermined number nc.
The drive and stop (wait) of 0003 are repeated.

That is, even after the atmosphere communication valve M7001 is opened, P is maintained until the repetition number n reaches the predetermined number nc.
The drive and stop of the G motor are repeated, whereby the ink remaining in the tubes M5009 and M5019 of the printer recovery device is discharged to a waste ink absorber provided in the printer main body (this is called idle suction).

In order to reduce the initial volume at the time of suction in order to increase the pump efficiency, the tube of the printer recovery device is often made as thin as possible. In this case, the atmosphere communication valve M
Even when 7001 is in the open state, a small negative pressure is generated in the cap M5001 due to the flow resistance of the tube during empty suction. When the negative pressure exceeds a certain value specific to the head,
Since the ink is drawn from the head, it causes color mixing and the like.

For this reason, in the present apparatus, the generation of negative pressure in the cap at the time of idle suction is minimized by repeatedly driving / stopping the PG motor E0003 even during idle suction. Problems such as color mixing can be suitably avoided.

As described above, in this embodiment, after the tube pump M5100 is continuously rotated to quickly bring the inside of the cap M5001 to the target negative pressure, the driving / stopping of the tube pump M5100 is repeated a plurality of times, and the inside of the cap M5001 becomes the target negative pressure. Is maintained within a predetermined range in the vicinity of the recording head H1001, the suction can be recovered with an appropriate suction amount and suction pressure for the print head H1001, ink waste can be suppressed, and bubbles can be prevented from being sucked. .

In the above embodiment, step S
13 and S15, the drive of the tube pump M5100 is specified by designating the drive speed and the number of command pulses of the PG motor E0003.
The drive of the tube pump M5100 may be defined by the drive speed and drive time of the motor E0003.

Further, in the above embodiment, the PG motor E00
03 was driven for 96 pulses and the stop time was set to 200 ms. However, if these are controlled more finely, the cap M5
The pressure range within 001 can be managed more narrowly.

In the present embodiment, the number of drive pulses of the PG motor E0003 is fixed at 96 and the wait time is fixed at 200 ms in the repetition of the drive / wait of the PG motor E0003 in S14 to S15. , The number of drive pulses and the wait time may be changed. For example, when the viscosity of the ink in the vicinity of the ejection ports 13m and 13s of the head has increased due to leaving, etc., the ejection ports 13m and 13s
The thickened ink in the vicinity of 13s has poor fluidity and is difficult to be discharged, but normal ink that has not been thickened in the head flow path can be discharged relatively easily. In such a case, it is effective to increase the drive of the PG motor E0003 only in the initial suction by repeating the PG motor drive / weight. For example, the weight is fixed at 200 ms, the number of driving pulses for the first time is 154 pulses, and the number of driving pulses is 1 for the second time.
By using 34 pulses, 115 pulses for the third time, and 96 pulses for the fourth time, the initial suction is strengthened and the thickened ink can be quickly discharged. Of course, in the repetition of the drive / weight of the PG motor E0003, the number of drive pulses is fixed and the wait time is changed.
The same effect can be achieved by changing both the drive pulse and the wait time.

As described above, it is desirable that the suction method be optimized and used according to the state of the head and the type of ink.

[0219]

According to the present invention, an interval wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports is provided at least at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined interval. Since at least one sub-discharge port arranged at a distance is provided, the liquid can be pre-discharged also from the sub-discharge port during the recovery process of the liquid discharge head. As a result, bubbles interposed at both ends of the common liquid chamber are discharged from the sub-discharge port together with the liquid, so that different types of liquids are discharged from the sub-discharge port during the recovery process of the liquid discharge head by the collective suction operation. In addition, it is possible to prevent a problem such as mixing of colors by being mixed in the ejection head, and it is possible to suppress the amount of liquid sucked from the sub ejection port. In particular, since the flow of the liquid can be promoted between the longitudinal end of the elongated common liquid chamber to which the liquid is supplied and the sub-discharge port, the liquid intervenes at the longitudinal end of the common liquid chamber that tends to stay. The thickened liquid can be smoothly and reliably discharged from the sub discharge port to the outside of the liquid discharge head.

At least one dummy liquid chamber communicating with the common liquid chamber and having no discharge port is provided between the liquid chamber having the sub-discharge port and the liquid chamber having the main discharge port adjacent to the sub-discharge port. Is provided, this dummy liquid chamber can function as a buffer during a printing operation.

When the discharge energy generating section is formed in the dummy liquid chamber, the liquid chamber having the discharge port is different from the dummy liquid chamber only in the presence or absence of the discharge port, so that the high-precision liquid discharge head can be stabilized. And can be molded.

When the dummy liquid chambers and the liquid chambers having the sub-discharge ports are alternately arranged, the amount of liquid sucked from the sub-discharge ports during the recovery processing of the liquid discharge head can be suppressed.

When the opening area of the sub-discharge port is set to be larger than the opening area of the main discharge port, the buffer function of the liquid chamber in which the sub-discharge port opens during the printing operation can be further enhanced.

When the opening shape of the sub-discharge port is made different from the opening shape of the main discharge port, the buffer function of the liquid chamber in which the sub-discharge port opens can be optimally set.

When at least two rows of discharge ports are formed in parallel with each other and are arranged at intervals of 600 dpi, and the arrangement intervals of each row are shifted by half a pitch from each other,
A high performance liquid ejection head of 1200 dpi can be obtained.

The discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the main discharge port is 5
In the case of picoliter or less, the image quality obtained by improving the resolution of the image can be greatly improved.

In the preliminary ejection operation performed prior to the printing operation, the step of simultaneously ejecting liquid from one sub-ejection port and at least two main ejection ports adjacent to each other with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween is defined as the main ejection port. In the case where the liquid ejection is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction, the liquid in a stagnant state at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber can be reliably discharged from the sub-discharge port.

At the time of the preliminary ejection operation performed prior to the printing operation, when repeatedly performing the step of simultaneously ejecting liquid from one sub ejection port and at least two main ejection ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber. While the liquid discharge operation from one sub-discharge port is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, the liquid discharge operation from at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber is mainly performed. When the discharge is performed alternately at one end side and the other end side in the arrangement direction of the discharge ports, the liquid that is in a stagnant state at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber is subjected to vibration and fluidization is promoted. This can be reliably discharged from the sub-discharge port.

When the step of discharging the liquid from at least all of the sub-discharge ports is set when discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port, the main discharge port is set. Unnecessary ejection of liquid from the outlet can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state shown in FIG. 1 with an exterior member removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording head cartridge used in the embodiment of the present invention is assembled.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the recording head cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the recording head shown in FIG. 4 as viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a scanner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an electric circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a main PCB shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the ASIC shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an embodiment of a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the arrow XIII-XIII in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of another embodiment of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of another embodiment of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along arrow XVII-XVII in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a liquid ejection head according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view illustrating an internal structure of still another embodiment of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of still another embodiment of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of ejection ports of a liquid ejection head according to the present invention in a broken state.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of a common ink chamber of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

24 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow state of ink flowing in the common ink chamber illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an ink discharge state of mixed-color ink.

FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another example of an ink ejection state using mixed-color ink.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of one heating substrate of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a signal diagram for an electrothermal transducer at a sub ejection port of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a drive circuit diagram for one color of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a driving waveform diagram showing driving timing for one color of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a drive circuit diagram for one color according to another embodiment of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a drive waveform diagram showing drive timing for one color according to another embodiment of the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 33 is an electric circuit diagram relating the discharge order of the sub-discharge ports of the liquid discharge head according to the present invention to the electric circuit.

FIG. 34 is a conceptual diagram showing an ejection order for ejection ports of a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a plan view illustrating an example of an arrangement state of ejection ports of a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

36 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a driving order of the ejection ports illustrated in FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a suction recovery operation for the liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a preliminary ejection process for a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

39 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a preliminary ejection pattern in the preliminary ejection process illustrated in FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a wiping process for a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a preliminary ejection process for a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a conceptual diagram showing a preliminary ejection pattern in the preliminary ejection process shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a conceptual diagram showing another example of a preliminary ejection pattern in a preliminary ejection process.

FIG. 44 is a front view showing a schematic structure of a tube pump field used for a suction recovery process, in a state where a pump roller is pressed against a pump tube.

FIG. 45 is a front view showing a schematic structure of a tube pump used in the suction recovery process, and shows a state in which the pressure contact force of the pump roller with respect to the pump tube is released.

FIG. 46 is a conceptual diagram of a control and drive system relating to a suction recovery process of a liquid discharge head according to the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of a suction recovery process for a liquid ejection head according to the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a conventional side shooter type inkjet head.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the inkjet head illustrated in FIG.

50 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a sectional view taken along the arrow YY in FIG. 49;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 11 electrothermal conversion element 12 heating substrate (printing element substrate H1300) 13m main discharge port 13s sub discharge port 14 ink chamber 14d dummy ink chamber 15 common ink chamber (H1201) 16 wiring board (electric wiring board H1300) 17 support member (first) 1 plate H1200) 18 Stagnation portion Pm Arrangement pitch of ink chambers used in actual printing work Ps Arrangement pitch of ink chambers and dummy ink chambers opening sub-discharge ports M1000 Main body M1001 Lower case M1002 Upper case M1003 Access cover M1004 Discharge tray M2003 Discharge roller M2015 Sheet gap adjusting lever M2003 Discharge roller M3001 LF roller M3019 Chassis M3022 Automatic feeding unit M3029 Transport unit M3030 Discharge unit M4001 Carriage M4002 Cap Ridge cover M4007 Headset lever M4021 Carriage shaft M5000 Recovery system unit M5001 Cap M5004 Cap lever M5009 Cap tube M5010 Valve tube M5019 Pump tube M5036 Valve rubber M5038 Valve lever M5041 One-way clutch M5043 Switch lever M5100 Valve clutch M5100 Valve clutch M5148 Tube pump M5140 Valve drive transmission gear train M6000 Scanner M6001 Scanner holder M6003 Scanner cover M6004 Scanner contact PCB M6005 Scanner illumination lens M6006 Scanner reading lens 1 M6100 Storage box M6101 Storage box base M6102 Storage box Bar M6103 Storage box cap M6104 Storage box spring M7001 Atmospheric communication valve E0001 Carriage motor E0002 LF motor E0003 PG motor E0004 Encoder sensor E0005 Encoder scale E0006 Ink end sensor E0007 PE sensor E0008 GAP sensor (paper interval sensor) E0009 ASF sensor E0010 PG sensor E0011 Contact FPC (flexible flat cable) E0012 CRFFC (flexible flat cable) E0013 Carriage board E0014 Main board E0015 Power supply unit E0016 Parallel I / F E0017 Serial I / F E0018 Power key E0019 Resume key E0020 LED E0021 Buzzer E0022 -Sensor E1001 CPU E1002 OSC (Oscillator with built-in CPU) E1003 A / D (A / D converter with built-in CPU) E1004 ROM E1005 Oscillation circuit E1006 ASIC E1007 Reset circuit E1008 CR motor driver E1009 LF / PG motor driver E1010 INK (E1011INK) End detection signal) E1012 TH (Thermistor temperature detection signal) E1013 HSENS (Head detection signal) E1014 Control bus E1015 RESET (Reset signal) E1016 RESUME (Resume key input) E1017 POWER (Power key input) E1018 BUZ (Buzzer signal) E1019 Circuit output signal E1020 ENC (encoder signal) E1021 Head control signal 1022 VHON (head power ON signal) E1023 VMON (motor power ON signal) E1024 power control signal E1025 PES (PE detection signal) E1026 ASFS (ASF detection signal) E1027 GAPS (GAP detection signal) E0028 serial I / F signal E1029 serial I / F cable E1030 Parallel I / F signal E1031 Parallel I / F cable E1032 PGS (PG detection signal) E1033 PM control signal (pulse motor control signal) E1034 PG motor drive signal E1035 LF motor drive signal E1036 CR motor control signal E1037 CR motor Drive signal E0038 LED drive signal E1039 VH (head power supply) E1040 VM (motor power supply) E1041 VDD (logic power supply) E1042 C VS (cover detection signal) E2001 CPU I / F E2002 PLL E2003 DMA controller E2004 DRAM controller E2005 DRAM E2006 1284 I / FE2007 USB I / F E2008 Receiver controller E2009 Compression / decompression DMA E2010 Work buffer E2011 Work buffer E2011 Area DMA E2013 Recording buffer transfer DMA E2014 Print buffer E2015 Print data expansion DMA E2016 Expansion data buffer E2017 Column buffer E2018 Head controller E2019 Encoder signal processor E2020 CR motor controller E2021 LF / PG motor controller E2022 Sensor signal processor E2023 Motor control buffer E2024 Scanner capture buffer E 025 Scanner data processing DMA E2026 Scanner data buffer E2027 Scanner data compression DMA E2028 Sending buffer E2029 Port control unit E2030 LED control unit E2031 CLK (clock signal) E2032 PDWM (soft control signal) E2033 PLLON (PLL control signal) E2034 INT (interrupt signal) E2036 PIF reception data E2037 USB reception data E2038 WDIF (reception data / raster data) E2039 reception buffer control unit E2040 RDWK (reception buffer read data /
Raster data) E2041 WDWK (work buffer write data /
Recording code) E2042 WDWF (work fill data) E2043 RDWP (work buffer read data / recording code) E2044 WDWP (rearrangement recording code) E2045 RHDDG (recording / development data) E2047 WHDDG (column buffer write data / development recording data) E2048 RDHD (column buffer read data / developed recording data) E2049 Head drive timing signal E2050 data developed timing signal E2051 RDPM (pulse motor drive table read data) E2052 sensor detection signal E2053 WDHD (captured data) E2054 RDAV (capture buffer read data) E2055 WDAV (data buffer write data /
E2056 RDYC (data buffer read data / processed data) E2057 WDYC (transmission buffer write data / compressed data) E2058 RDUSB (USB transmission data / compression data) E2059 RDPIF (1284 transmission data) H1000 recording head cartridge H1001 recording Head H1100 Recording element substrate H1100T Discharge port H1200 First plate H1201 Ink supply port H1300 Electric wiring board H1301 External signal input terminal H1400 Second plate H1500 Tank holder H1501 Ink flow path H1600 Flow path forming member H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber H1900 Ink tank

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 18, 2000 (2007.1.
8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 10

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 11

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 12

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 14

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 19

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 28

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 30

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0024]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
A plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals, are arranged at a distance larger than the arrangement interval of the main discharge port arrangement direction of the main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction of the main discharge port At least one sub-discharge port, a plurality of liquid chambers in which the plurality of discharge ports are respectively opened, a common liquid chamber in which the liquid chambers communicate with each other, and a liquid is supplied, and the main discharge port and the sub-discharge port. A plurality of discharge energy generating units respectively corresponding to the liquid chambers and generating discharge energy used for discharging liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port. In the ejection head.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of main discharge ports, the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports on both end side of the main discharge port arrangement direction of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals A liquid ejection head having at least one sub-ejection port arranged at a wider interval than the main ejection port and ejecting the liquid only from the main ejection port when ejecting the liquid to the print medium. A step of simultaneously discharging the liquid from the sub-discharge port when discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port. It is.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. an outlet, a plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at a distance greater than in the arrangement direction of main discharge port arrangement intervals of the main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A head driving method,
When discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port, at least two main discharge ports which are in close proximity to one sub discharge port with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween. A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging the liquid from the outlet are provided, and this step is sequentially performed from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0030

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. an outlet, a plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at a distance greater than in the arrangement direction of main discharge port arrangement intervals of the main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A head driving method,
When discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port, at least two main discharge ports which are in close proximity to one sub discharge port with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween. A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging the liquid from the outlet, and the discharging operation of the liquid from one of the sub-discharge ports is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, while the common liquid chamber is interposed therebetween. The discharge operation of the liquid from at least two of the main discharge ports that are close to each other is performed alternately at one end side and the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, an elongated common liquid chamber to which a liquid is supplied and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. an outlet, a plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at a distance greater than in the arrangement direction of main discharge port arrangement intervals of the main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction And a plurality of liquid chambers, each of which has a main discharge port and a sub discharge port, each of which is open and communicates with the common liquid chamber, and which discharges liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium. A head driving method,
When discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the discharge state of the liquid from the main discharge port, at least two main discharge ports which are in close proximity to one sub discharge port with the common liquid chamber interposed therebetween. A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging the liquid from the outlet, and the main discharge ports are alternately divided into a first group and a second group sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction, and The discharge operation of the liquid from the first and second sub-discharge ports is sequentially performed from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, and the liquid is discharged simultaneously with the first and last sub-discharge ports located on one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. At least two of the main discharge ports are selected from the first group, while at least one of the main discharge ports is located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports except for the first and last sub discharge ports. At least two of said main discharge ports at the same time discharging the liquid and the discharge port is characterized in being selected from the second group.

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0034

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied, and a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber. plurality being disposed on either side of the common liquid chamber at a wider spacing than the outlet and, arrangement interval of the main discharge port arrangement direction of main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction of the main discharge port A liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid from the main ejection port to perform printing on a print medium, in order to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port. When discharging liquid from the main discharge port,
The method includes a first step of discharging liquid from at least all of the main discharge ports, and a second step of discharging liquid from at least all of the sub discharge ports.

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0036

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The seventh embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals and, main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction of the arrangement direction of main discharge ports the main discharge port At least one sub-discharge port arranged at an interval larger than the arrangement interval, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, and a common liquid to which these liquid chambers communicate with each other and to which liquid is supplied. A plurality of discharge energies, each of which is provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the main discharge port and the sub discharge port, and generates discharge energy used to discharge liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port. A liquid discharge head having a generating section; and a liquid tank for storing a liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head.

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0037

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The eighth form of the present invention includes a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals, the main discharge port along the arrangement direction of main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction of the main discharge port At least one sub-discharge port arranged at an interval larger than the arrangement interval, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, and a common liquid to which these liquid chambers communicate with each other and to which liquid is supplied. A plurality of discharge energies, each of which is provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the main discharge port and the sub discharge port, and generates discharge energy used to discharge liquid from the main discharge port and the sub discharge port. An image forming apparatus is provided with a mounting portion for a liquid discharge head having a generating portion.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0219

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0219]

According to the present invention, the distance larger than the arrangement intervals of the main discharge port more along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports on both end side of the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals Since at least one sub-discharge port arranged at a distance is provided,
The liquid can also be preliminarily ejected from the sub ejection port during the recovery process of the liquid ejection head. As a result, bubbles interposed at both ends of the common liquid chamber are discharged from the sub-discharge port together with the liquid, so that different types of liquids are discharged from the sub-discharge port during the recovery process of the liquid discharge head by the collective suction operation. In addition, it is possible to prevent a problem such as mixing of colors by being mixed in the ejection head, and it is possible to suppress the amount of liquid sucked from the sub ejection port. In particular, since the flow of the liquid can be promoted between the longitudinal end of the elongated common liquid chamber to which the liquid is supplied and the sub-discharge port, the liquid intervenes at the longitudinal end of the common liquid chamber that tends to stay. The thickened liquid can be smoothly and reliably discharged from the sub discharge port to the outside of the liquid discharge head.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Murakami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Emura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Takayuki Murata 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C056 EA12 EA25 EC03 EC54 FA03 2C057 AF30 AF91 AG15 AM03 AM32 AR17 BA04 BA13

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined interval, and at least one end of the main discharge ports in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. At least one sub-discharge port arranged at a distance from each other, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, a common liquid chamber communicating with each of the liquid chambers, and supplying a liquid, and the main discharge port And a plurality of discharge energy generating units respectively provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the sub-discharge ports and generating discharge energy used for discharging liquid from the main discharge port and the sub-discharge port. A liquid ejection head. 2. A liquid discharge port having communication with the common liquid chamber is provided between the liquid chamber in which the sub-discharge port opens and the liquid chamber in which the main discharge port adjacent to the sub-discharge port opens. 2. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, further comprising at least one dummy liquid chamber. 3. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the dummy liquid chambers and the liquid chambers having the sub-discharge ports are alternately arranged.
3. The liquid ejection head according to item 1. 4. The liquid discharge head according to claim 2, wherein the discharge energy generation section is provided in the dummy liquid chamber. 5. The space between the sub-discharge port and the main discharge port which are adjacent to each other is an integral multiple of not less than twice and not more than 5 times the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1. 6. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1, wherein an opening area of the sub ejection port is set larger than an opening area of the main ejection port. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening shape of said sub discharge port is different from an opening shape of said main discharge port.
The liquid ejection head according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The liquid according to claim 1, wherein the discharge energy generating section includes an electrothermal conversion element that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling in the liquid. Discharge head. 9. The discharge ports are formed in at least two rows in parallel with each other, are arranged at intervals of 600 dpi, and the arrangement intervals of each row are shifted from each other by a half pitch. The liquid ejection head according to claim 1. 10. A plurality of main discharge ports arranged at a predetermined interval, and at least one end side of the main discharge ports along a direction in which the main discharge ports are arranged, spaced apart from the main discharge ports by an interval wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. A method of driving a liquid ejection head having at least one sub-discharge port to be arranged and discharging liquid from the main discharge port to perform printing on a print medium, wherein the state of discharge of the liquid from the main discharge port is A method for driving a liquid discharge head, comprising the step of discharging liquid from the sub-discharge port at the same time as discharging the liquid from the main discharge port in order to improve the liquid discharge. 11. An elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied,
A plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and the main discharge ports are arranged on at least one end in the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. A plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at intervals wider than the arrangement interval of the discharge ports, and the main discharge port and the sub-discharge ports are respectively opened and communicate with the common liquid chamber. A plurality of liquid chambers,
A method for driving a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid from the main ejection port to perform printing on a print medium, wherein the liquid is ejected from the main ejection port in order to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port. The method further comprises a step of simultaneously discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber, and this step includes one end in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. A method for driving a liquid ejection head, which is performed in order from the side. 12. An elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied;
A plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and the main discharge ports are arranged on at least one end in the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. A plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at intervals wider than the arrangement interval of the discharge ports, and the main discharge port and the sub-discharge ports are respectively opened and communicate with the common liquid chamber. A plurality of liquid chambers,
A method for driving a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid from the main ejection port to perform printing on a print medium, wherein the liquid is ejected from the main ejection port in order to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port. A plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber, and discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port. The operation is performed sequentially from one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, whereas the discharge operation of the liquid from at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber is performed by the arrangement of the main discharge ports. A method for driving a liquid discharge head, wherein the method is performed alternately at one end side and the other end side in the direction. 13. A plurality of sub-discharges disposed on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at the other end side in the arrangement direction at an interval wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. An outlet is further provided, following the discharge of the liquid from the sub-discharge port located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port, the liquid is sequentially discharged from the sub-discharge port located at the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port. The method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid is ejected. 14. An elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied;
A plurality of main discharge ports are arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and the main discharge ports are arranged on at least one end in the arrangement direction along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. A plurality of sub-discharge ports arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber at intervals wider than the arrangement interval of the discharge ports, and the main discharge port and the sub-discharge ports are respectively opened and communicate with the common liquid chamber. A plurality of liquid chambers,
A method for driving a liquid ejection head that ejects liquid from the main ejection port to perform printing on a print medium, wherein the liquid is ejected from the main ejection port in order to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port. When performing this, there are provided a plurality of steps for simultaneously discharging liquid from one sub-discharge port and at least two main discharge ports adjacent to each other across the common liquid chamber, and the main discharge ports are arranged along the arrangement direction. The liquid is alternately divided into a first group and a second group sequentially from one end in the arrangement direction, and the operation of discharging the liquid from the sub-discharge ports is performed sequentially from one end in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. The first and last sub-discharge ports located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the discharge ports and the at least two main discharge ports respectively discharging the liquid simultaneously are selected from the first group, At least two of the main discharge ports which are located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports and discharge liquid simultaneously with at least one of the sub discharge ports other than the first and last sub discharge ports are the second group. A method for driving a liquid ejection head, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of: 15. A plurality of sub-discharges arranged on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports at the other end side in the arrangement direction at an interval wider than the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. An outlet is further provided, following the discharge of the liquid from the sub-discharge port located at one end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port, the liquid is sequentially discharged from the sub-discharge port located at the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge port. Each of the at least two main discharge ports for discharging liquid simultaneously with the first and last sub discharge ports located on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports, respectively,
While being selected from the second group, the liquid is discharged at the same time as at least one sub-discharge port other than the first and last sub-discharge ports located at the other end side in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least two main ejection ports are selected from the first group. 16. The method according to claim 16, wherein at least two of the main discharge ports for discharging liquid simultaneously with one of the sub discharge ports are separated from the sub discharge ports by at least twice the arrangement interval of the main discharge ports. The method of driving a liquid ejection head according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein 17. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a discharge amount of the liquid from one of the sub-discharge ports is larger than a discharge amount of the liquid from one of the main discharge ports which are driven at the same time. The method for driving a liquid discharge head according to any one of the above. 18. A discharge driving frequency when discharging liquid simultaneously with the sub-discharge port is lower than a discharge driving frequency when discharging liquid from the main discharge port onto a print medium. A method for driving a liquid discharge head according to any one of claims 10 to 17. 19. An elongated common liquid chamber to which liquid is supplied;
A plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals on both sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber, and at least one end in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports along the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports And a plurality of sub-discharge ports disposed on both sides of the common liquid chamber at a larger interval than an arrangement interval of the main discharge ports, and discharges liquid from the main discharge port to print on a print medium. A liquid ejecting head that performs liquid ejection, wherein when ejecting the liquid from the main ejection port to improve the ejection state of the liquid from the main ejection port, the liquid is ejected from at least all the main ejection ports. A method for driving a liquid discharge head, comprising: a first step of discharging liquid; and a second step of discharging liquid from at least all the sub discharge ports. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first step includes driving a plurality of ejection energy generation units for generating ejection energy used for ejecting liquid from the sub ejection openings. The driving method of the liquid discharge head according to the above. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the liquid in the liquid chamber in which the sub-discharge port is opened is activated by driving the discharge energy generation unit. 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein a liquid is discharged from the sub-discharge port by driving the discharge energy generation unit. 23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the second step includes discharging liquid from a part of the main discharge ports located on the sub discharge port side. The driving method of the liquid discharge head according to the above. 24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first step and the second step are alternately repeated. 25. The liquid discharge head has one base and a plurality of substrates attached to the base, and discharges two different liquids to the plurality of substrates, respectively. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein two types of the main discharge ports and two types of the sub discharge ports are formed, and the first and the second steps are sequentially repeated for each of the substrates. A method for driving a liquid ejection head according to any one of claims 1 to 24. 26. The liquid processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the liquid is a processing liquid for adjusting printability of the ink and / or the ink ejected onto a print medium.
6. The method for driving a liquid discharge head according to any one of 5. 27. The method of driving a liquid discharge head according to claim 10, wherein a discharge amount of the liquid discharged from the main discharge port is 5 picoliters or less. 28. A plurality of main outlets arranged at a predetermined interval, and an interval wider than the array interval of the main outlets on at least one end side in the arrangement direction of the main outlets along the arrangement direction of the main outlets. At least one sub-discharge port arranged at a distance from each other, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, a common liquid chamber communicating with each of the liquid chambers, and supplying a liquid; And a plurality of discharge energy generating units that are provided in the liquid chambers corresponding to the sub-discharge ports and generate discharge energy used for discharging the liquid from the main discharge port and the sub-discharge port. A cartridge, comprising: a discharge head; and a liquid tank for storing a liquid supplied to the liquid discharge head. 29. The cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the liquid tank is removably mounted on the liquid ejection head. 30. A plurality of main outlets arranged at a predetermined interval, and an interval wider than the array interval of the main outlets on at least one end side in the arrangement direction of the main outlets along the arrangement direction of the main outlets. At least one sub-discharge port arranged at a distance from each other, a plurality of liquid chambers each having the plurality of discharge ports opened, a common liquid chamber communicating with each of the liquid chambers, and supplying a liquid; And a plurality of discharge energy generating sections each of which is provided in the liquid chamber corresponding to the sub-discharge port and generates discharge energy used for discharging liquid from the main discharge port and the sub-discharge port. An image forming apparatus comprising a mounting portion for a discharge head. 31. A mounting part for the liquid ejection head,
31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a carriage that can scan and move in a direction intersecting a transport direction of a print medium from which liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge head. 32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the liquid ejection head is detachably mounted on the carriage via an attaching / detaching means.